Monday, July 26, 2004

CIA foreign officials directory used mainly for inter-office gambling

It has come to light that the directory of Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments, maintained by the CIA, serves to announce results of an agency gambling ring.  Sources claim that agents and officials habitually place bets on who will be added and removed from the list, and by what means (election, coup, assassination, natural causes, "natural causes", etc.).  The decision to release the list outside the agency came only after Pentagon workers expressed interest in inter-agency wagers.  However, it's official purpose is listed as referential aid.  Congress has scheduled an investigation and hearing into misappropriations and illegal gambling for early November.
Several employees have stepped forward to testify against the agency in the last 15 days.  Prompted by the results of their gambling addiction, they have described how the use of the list encouraged miscommunication between offices and abuse of priviledged information by higher ups.
The Agency has so far denied the allegations and insisted on the legitimate purpose of the list.  Furthermore, plans are underway for another list entitled, "the Directory of CIA Employees & Close Relatives," but it is not yet decided whether the list will be publicly available.


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