Some of this piece on Mitt Romney and Mormonism slides a bit close to assumptions of conspiracy, but I found these bits fascinating:
In the government, there are numerous Mormons in the intelligence and security services. This is largely due to the fact that many of them speak foreign languages from their missionary years and they are also easy to clear for security since they do not drink, smoke, do drugs, or fornicate. A recent visitor to CIA headquarters noted with some amusement the large numbers of earnest young men walking around carrying the Book of Mormon.
... Once overseas, Mormons were seldom good intelligence officers because, it was felt, many of them preferred proselytizing to recruiting spies. A Mormon Chief of Station would virtually guarantee that the Station would quickly become a magnet for more Mormons, many of whom would regard their desire to gain new co-religionists as a top priority. Some stations – including Mexico City – were well known for being Mormon fiefdoms.
I knew there were lots of Mormons in the FBI; Howard Hughes used to hire them post retirement because they were 'clean'. But imagine being some defector staggering into a CIA station somewhere with extravagant dreams of the West and being intoduced to the Angel Moroni and his works. But at least it wasnlt scientologists.
I hear that Q issues them with special underwear.
Posted by: bert | February 17, 2012 at 12:07 AM
I had the exact opposite impression. I'd thought the CIA being chock-full of squeaky clean Mormons speaking exotic languages - just not in bars or whorehouses among other places they're needed to hang out in with current or potential agents- problem was long and well known. It's the FBI connection that's been news to me. The Hughes thing just adds another layer to the bizarre.
Posted by: Barry Freed | February 17, 2012 at 01:05 PM
But at least it wasnlt scientologists.
You're kidding! With the level of secrecy that's maintained by the Scientologists, I suspect they're very talented in the art of stealth. And we know they're skilled in interrogation and emotional manipulation. I'd hire 'em.
Posted by: BenSix | February 17, 2012 at 02:01 PM
But how do you stop them going rogue, or even just "Cruise on Oprah"?
Posted by: skidmarx | February 17, 2012 at 03:49 PM