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(John F. Kennedy, April 21 1961, Speech to the Press) |
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The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. |
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For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence--on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice, on guerrillas by night instead of armies by day. |
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It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations. |
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Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined... |
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No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed .. |