[qohen]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/world/asia/12dna.html

In the months before Osama bin Laden was killed, the Central Intelligence Agency ran a phony vaccination program in Abbottabad, Pakistan, as a ruse to obtain DNA evidence from members of Bin Laden’s family thought to be holed up in an expansive compound there, according to an American official.

[qohen]

BTW, it appears the CIA has committed to not doing that sort of thing again, as a result of complaints from the public health community about this operation:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/19/politics/cia-vaccination/

A newly disclosed CIA policy mandates that it won't use vaccination programs as part of its operations, according to the Obama administration.

The directive by CIA Director John Brennan, made nine months ago but only coming to light now, followed concerns raised by leaders of a dozen U.S. public health schools in a letter to President Barack Obama.

They spoke out following revelations the CIA had enlisted a doctor to oversee a false immunization campaign in Pakistan ahead of the 2011 raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.

[wavefunction]

So they say. The CIA are liars by trade (like the NSA) and I would give their pronouncements and oaths as much attention as I give their pathetic apologies for their past and ongoing inhumanity. They will break their "word" tomorrow if they feel it is in their best interests.

I'm an American and I'm repulsed by what is often done in my name by my "intelligence" agencies.

[scott_karana]

Even if they hold to their word, they'll do so literally and immorally.

> it won't use vaccination programs

Next up, "immunization" programs? Disease tests? Vitamin supplements?

[PhantomGremlin]

> BTW, it appears the CIA has committed to not doing that sort of thing again

I don't think the CIA could ever find another doctor to help it with a similar scheme. Not after what happened to Dr. Afridi. [1]

This doctor has been put thru a living hell. Prison in Pakistan is probably no Sunday picnic in the best of circumstances. But in this case there are allegations of torture involving cigarette burns and electric shocks.

So if the CIA ever approaches anyone who's ever heard of The Information Superhighway, aka The Internet, maybe that new guy will be smart enough to google for whatever happened to the guy who help us catch Bin Laden.

Also, if you believe the claims by Pakistan that the doctor is being prosecuted for crimes other than helping the USA, I'll leave you with how Seth Meyers put it on SNL Weekend Update after OJ Simpson was convicted of robbery in Las Vegas:

   Today, a jury in Las Vegas found OJ Simpson
   “guilty” on all seven counts against him,
   including kidnapping, aggravated assault,
   and theft. But really... Murder. [2]

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakil_Afridi [2] http://kellig.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/but-really-murder/

[mcherm]

What they have promised not to do is to masquerade as a vaccination program (thus harming the reputation of all who attempt to implement vaccination programs). They have NOT promised to cease using DNA surveillance of relatives to locate a person of interest.

[jacquesm]

> What they have promised not to do is to masquerade as a vaccination program (thus harming the reputation of all who attempt to implement vaccination programs).

The damage is done. What the CIA promises afterwards is not going to carry any weight where this matters.