CIA/FBI manual on subversion?

October 22, 2011 5:25 PM

A couple years ago I read a CIA or FBI manual about subversion in other countries. I believe it was written in the 1950s, and it focused on "mundane" subversion methods. I don't believe it was "The Official C.I.A. Manual of Trickery and Deception." Does anyone have any ideas what this could be?

It was a free PDF, and I remember it because the methods were eerily similar to how people behave in my office, e.g., being purposely obtuse when asked to perform a task, being late, spreading rumors, having a bad attitude so morale would be lowered, and, non-office-related: letting moths go in a movie theater. The idea was to throw a wrench in the system without anyone being able to call you out on it.

posted by ellaminnowpea to law & government (4 answers total)

The Freedom Fighter's Manual
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:32 PM on October 22, 2011

What you're thinking of is the OSS (Office of Strategic Sabotage, predecessor of the CIA) "Simple Sabotage Field Manual -- Strategic Services (Provisional)" from World War II. With foreword by "Wild Bill" Donovan himself.
posted by McCoy Pauley at 6:13 PM on October 22, 2011 [2 favorites]

D'oh! That should be "Office of Strategic Services". I appear to have sabotaged myself.
posted by McCoy Pauley at 6:14 PM on October 22, 2011

Thanks so much to both of you! That was super fast--I've literally been looking for this for years--shoulda known to come to mefi first ;)
posted by ellaminnowpea at 7:21 PM on October 22, 2011