The CIA's Scariest Weapon

This article delves into one of the most chilling tools developed by the CIA: the heart attack gun. Designed to eliminate targets without detection, this weapon represents a dark chapter in the agency’s history, revealing the lengths to which it went during the Cold War.

Key Takeaways

• The heart attack gun was developed in response to Cold War tensions.
• It utilized a deadly poison that mimicked natural causes of death.
• The CIA’s secretive operations led to significant public scrutiny.

The Birth Of A Deadly Weapon

In the 1970s, the CIA faced intense scrutiny after being implicated in scandals involving domestic spying. This led to the formation of the Church Committee, which aimed to investigate the agency’s activities. During this investigation, a shocking discovery was made: the CIA had stockpiled 11 grams of saxitoxin, a potent shellfish poison capable of killing hundreds of thousands.

Senator Frank Church, leading the hearings, questioned the CIA’s motives. Why did they need such a lethal substance? The agency claimed it was for a more humane alternative to cyanide pills for agents in the field. However, skepticism loomed large.

The Cold War Context

The Cold War was a period of heightened tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both nations were engaged in a covert arms race, testing the limits of their capabilities without triggering outright war. In this environment, the CIA sought to develop a weapon that could eliminate targets discreetly.

In the late 1950s, the KGB had already employed a poison vapor gun to carry out assassinations. This prompted the CIA to explore similar technologies, aiming to create a weapon that could induce death while appearing natural.

The Role Of Mary Embry

Mary Embry, a CIA secretary, played a crucial role in the development of the heart attack gun. Tasked with finding an undetectable poison, she discovered a substance that could cause a heart attack without leaving traces. This discovery set the stage for the CIA’s next steps.

Development Of The Heart Attack Gun

The CIA collaborated with the Army Special Operations Division to create a delivery system for the poison. The result was the non-discernable microbio inoculator, commonly known as the heart attack gun. This weapon resembled a standard .45 caliber pistol but had a unique mechanism.

• How It Works: The gun fires a small dart coated with saxitoxin. The dart is so thin that the target often doesn’t realize they’ve been hit.
• Delivery Mechanism: The poison is delivered in a way that mimics a heart attack, leaving no trace during autopsy.

The Hearing And Its Aftermath

During the Church Committee hearings, the CIA presented the heart attack gun as a prototype. However, it was revealed that the agency had developed multiple versions of poison guns, capable of hitting targets from greater distances.

Despite the weapon’s potential, it was already illegal under U.S. law due to President Nixon’s orders to end chemical warfare. Yet, some within the CIA chose to ignore these directives, hoarding dangerous substances like cobra venom and saxitoxin.

The Church Committee’s Findings

The Church Committee’s final report, spanning over 2,700 pages, painted a grim picture of the CIA’s operations. It detailed plans for political assassinations and mind control experiments, including the infamous MK Ultra program. The report raised serious questions about the agency’s accountability and transparency.

The Mystery Of The Heart Attack Gun

When asked if the heart attack gun had ever been used, CIA Director William Colby stated there were no records of its deployment. However, the absence of documentation does not guarantee it was never utilized. The fate of the heart attack gun remains shrouded in mystery, leaving many to wonder about its potential use in covert operations.

In conclusion, the heart attack gun symbolizes the darker side of intelligence operations during the Cold War. Its development and the subsequent revelations about the CIA’s activities serve as a reminder of the ethical dilemmas faced by intelligence agencies in their pursuit of national security.