New CIA Tech Museum: Spy Scat and Robo-Fish 91
PSaltyDS writes "According to this AP story, the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology is celebrating its 40th anniversary by revealing a few dozen of its secrets for a new museum inside its headquarters near Washington.
When the CIA's secret gadget-makers invented a listening device for the Asian jungles, they disguised it so the enemy wouldn't be tempted to pick it up and examine it: The device looked like tiger droppings. Besides the jungle transmitter, the exhibits include a robotic catfish, a remote-controlled dragonfly and a camera strapped to the chests of pigeons and released over enemy targets in the 1970s.
There is also an International Spy Museum in D.C. with more pics, including an early version of the Pigeon-Cam."
Pigeon cam? (Score:1)
Re:Pigeon cam? (Score:2, Funny)
I, for one, welcome our new pigeon overlords...
Re:Pigeon cam? (Score:2)
Tiger droppings? (Score:5, Funny)
Wouldn't it find its way into traditional Chinese medicine or something?
Re:Tiger droppings? (Score:4, Interesting)
Check this out [tigers.ru]
If these cool gadgets are in a museum NOW... (Score:5, Interesting)
What's also interesting is that the gadgets are not the type you would expect. I.e., not what we are used to see in movies and all.
Re:If these cool gadgets are in a museum NOW... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:If these cool gadgets are in a museum NOW... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:If these cool gadgets are in a museum NOW... (Score:1)
You had to have at least a secret clearance to go through it. That was back in the 80's though.
Where are they in the 24th century? (Score:5, Insightful)
You're NOT supposed to pick up tiger scat? (Score:3, Funny)
By the way, is that limited to tiger scat? Are there acceptable scats to pick up, paw through, wear at a business casual dinner party?
Re:You're NOT supposed to pick up tiger scat? (Score:2)
Hrmm (Score:5, Funny)
You mean Acoustic Kitty? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:You mean Acoustic Kitty? (Score:1)
I sure hope Corporate America does not get a hold of this technology. Then again, it may be the only way to make citizen coders be able
Re:Hrmm (Score:2)
That really says something about cats.
In a related story: (Score:4, Funny)
Re:AP? (Score:3, Informative)
Alumni (Score:1)
from Alumni [cia.gov]
Tiger crap? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tiger crap? (Score:1)
Interesting, but ... (Score:5, Informative)
It is accessible only to CIA employees and guests admitted to those closed quarters.
The International Spy Museum mentioned is open to the public, but admission is quite pricey: about $10 per head, if I recall correctly.
Re:Interesting, but ... (Score:1)
Re:Interesting, but ... (Score:3, Interesting)
BTW, the ISM is pretty cool.
Odd place to build a commercial museum... (Score:2)
Decent, cheap food, however - now there's a business opportunity :)
Re:Odd place to build a commercial museum... (Score:2)
Re:Interesting, but ... (Score:1)
The lines to get into this place literally go around the block. When I was in Washington in October we had taken the Metro to Chinatown for lunch, and literally ran into this place while walking around.
It looked alot like people lined up waiting to get into a nightclub. Buy your tickets in advance, online... and expect it to be packed like the Smithsonian's on Saturday or Sunday.
Re:Interesting, but ... (Score:2)
A mere pittance when I recall the hilarity at seeing the rectal tool kit on display (I kid you not). I've had less laughs at some movies I've been to!
Accomplished super secret research project (Score:4, Funny)
I loved the NSA museum (Score:5, Informative)
this place has a enigma you can touch, and free coloring books for the kids (free as in tax dollars)
Re:I loved the NSA museum (Score:2)
Re:I loved the NSA museum (Score:4, Interesting)
You mean something like this? [whatreallyhappened.com]
Re:I loved the NSA museum (Score:3, Interesting)
Also included: sniper's eye view of the cafeteria [cia.gov], and the evidence destroying facility in action [cia.gov].
In the 70's, the USSR had a spycam... (Score:1, Funny)
Spy scat? (Score:5, Funny)
Do they show (Score:1, Offtopic)
Re:Do they show (Score:2)
The Dark Side (Score:4, Interesting)
But what about the assassination devices -- shellfish toxins [aarclibrary.org], flechette umbrellas [uri.edu], that sort of thing?
What about MK-ULTRA [druglibrary.org] -- the covert testing of hallucinogens on unsuspecting civilians?
What about CIA/Mafia alliances [rose-hulman.edu]?
What about Operation Phoenix [serendipity.li]?
-kgj
Re:The Dark Side (Score:1, Funny)
2. The CIA never tested drugs on anyone - it was an Army doctor that did the testing (only once) on his own.
3. The CIA only asked the Mafia for help once - it didn't work out.
4. Operation Phoenix was operated *by South Vietnam agents* the CIA only offered intelligence.
I suggest you pick up a couple of good history books and turn off the TV.
Re:The Dark Side (Score:1)
Pigeon-cam (Score:2)
Officer: No, the enemy would never make it THAT obvious!
-----
Who are they trying to fool? The camera is hardly covert!
Tiger poop (Score:3, Informative)
Vietnam vets have talked about these for years, I also heard stories that they disguised radio beacons as tiger droppings as well. Special forces could call in air strikes and guide the fighter/bombers to the target with a beacon that looked like tiger poop.
LK
Spy Museum not that great...yet. (Score:5, Interesting)
A lot of stuff was recreations. Few of the exhibits seemed to be the actual items. There is a "James Bond" car exhibit which is literally just a car that has spotlights shined at certain parts while a radio says what secret weapon could be hidden inside.
There is one section where children can climb through air ducts. The racket that is created as dumb parents let their children stomp and yell through the air ducts ruins the whole exhibit room.
I think all museums are a little rough around the edges when they first open. Maybe I'll check out the Spy Museum again in several years. As it currently stands, you'll learn more about spies by surfing around on google.
There was this Pigeon walking down the street... (Score:2, Funny)
"The pigeons' missions remain classified, made possible only after the CIA secretly developed a camera weighing only as much as a few coins. An earlier test with a heavier camera in the skies over Washington failed after two days whe
War surplus scat (Score:1)
Pigeon Cam but what network? (Score:1)
rfc1149 info [interbug.com]
National Cryptological Museum (Score:3, Informative)
Re:National Cryptological Museum (Score:1)
And by sheer bad luck... (Score:1)
Cool, I want (Score:1)
We win again (Score:3, Insightful)
Now our 21st Century CIA is again rising to the occasion in the War on Terrorism. Just as their partnership with justice in the War on Drugs has eliminated that scourge from the American prospect, our tech supremacy in Afghanistan and Iraq is swiftly delivering peace and freedom from the forces of fear. We can learn so much from the CIA museum, with its smart turds and omniscient birdbrains. With our arsenal and steely-eyed leaders, not to mention god on our side, American supremacy will remain as unsullied as it has been since the 1960s.
Re:We win again (Score:2)
South Vietnam was conquered by NVA regulars, not by the VC, who were effectively destroyed during the Tet Offensive.
Re:We win again (Score:2)
Fun With ePoop (Score:1)
Japan did the Pigeon-Cam first (Score:2)
During the months leading up to Pearl Harbor, the ONI (Office of Navel Intelligence) spotted pigeons flying over critical installations on the West Coast. After bringing them down, they found cameras (ingenuously small considering this was the late '30s) with timers, rigged to take pictures of the installations.
Apparently, the Japanese would send out pigeons until they got what they wanted (since, of course, the pigeons might be eaten by predators or just decide to avoid the installation). This was descr
CIA is evil (Score:2)
I would urge Americans to limit their agents to WITHIN their country. Overthrowing other governments, killing innocent people, and spreading torture techniques is not my idea of defense. You want to protect your country? Use the agents to track and monitor people WITHI
Re:CIA is evil (Score:2)
BTW, if you are going to attack me on such an important issue, why don't you post with your real name like I do? Scared of agents?
Sivaram Velauthapillai
Re:CIA is evil (Score:2)
That's not funny
Sivaram Velauthapillai
Mirror so my DNS doesn't look up "spymuseum.org" (Score:1)
I guess I'm that paranoid...
Do they have the stuff (Score:1)