PART III
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vincing cover story and some fake but noble sounding reason to leak “important” information to the public. Some may even be shown misleading evidence and documents and stealthily nudged into becoming whistleblowers, thereby spreading deception with full conviction that they are somehow undermining their superiors when, in actuality, they are doing the opposite. Weakness of Vector: Insiders gain increasing levels of security clearance by demonstrating a need to know, passing tests of allegiance and usability, signing secrecy oaths, giving away personal rights, and agreeing ahead of time to the punishments for breaking these oaths. Secretive networks have numerous methods for ensuring that security stays intact including monetary incentives, blackmail, threats to livelihood, hypnotic mind control, and selecting only highly manageable and obedient candidates for recruitment. Personnel are only told what they need to know to do their jobs, which often includes false but plausible stories to compel their cooperation. Compartmentalization makes it difficult for an insider to compare notes with others to detect disinformation fed to him by superiors. Despite having secret knowledge, insiders are still woefully in the dark concerning information beyond their clearance level. Compartmentalization keeps the bigger picture out of sight, and without that context insiders may not always detect disinformation in what they have already been told. Strength of Vector: Anyone who is verifiably on the “inside” is venerated for being in so privileged and qualified a position, and for being courageous and generous enough to risk leaking precious information to the public. This bestows upon their words great credence because what they say amounts to expert witness testimony, words by those who are positioned to know. Of course this appearance of authority creates the perfect vehicle for seeding disinformation. Secrecy oaths and national security laws are also good excuses for dodging certain inconvenient questions and adding an atmosphere of intrigue. Weakness of Audience: Compartmentalization and secrecy laws prevent the public from more thoroughly investigating in-