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submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by sadschmuck@hexbear.net to c/history@hexbear.net

No.

According to a claim circulating online, there is a CIA document or internal communication from the 1950s asserting that Joseph Stalin was not a dictator. The existence of this document is cited as proof either that Stalin was not a dictator after all, or at least that even the CIA didn't think he was. However, looking at the document in question, we see it is not a pronouncement of fact by the CIA whatsoever, but an anecdotal information report submitted to CIA information gatherers. As such, the document is a primary source representing the perspective of one anonymous informant, not the opinion of the CIA as a whole. Additionally, the document is contradicted by dozens of more reliable or detailed documents obtained or created by the CIA in the same period, indicating that they did not believe Stalin was non-dictatorial as claimed.

The transcript is in the comments.

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[-] RedDawn@hexbear.net 7 points 7 months ago

Idk how much the CIA’s analyses can be relied on regardless of what they said about him.

Does the CIA think Maduro is a dictator?

[-] Awoo@hexbear.net 8 points 7 months ago

Does the CIA think Maduro is a dictator?

Publicly? Or internally?

Same situation as Stalin. Public propaganda does not reflect the internal understanding of the organisation.

[-] RedDawn@hexbear.net 1 points 7 months ago

Idk, it’s hard to say due to the secretive nature of the org but going off pure vibes, I get the feeling that these days the CIA is staffed with a lot of true believers and that they actually believe the BS.

As the video here highlights their understanding of Stalin was, contrary to that one frequently cited page, that he was pretty much an autocrat. And back then they were probably more objective than now, when the people working there grew up soaked in the propaganda from birth.

I’d be willing to bet their internal understanding of Maduro mostly aligns with the propaganda. I think that may be part of the reason that their various regime change attempts over the last 10 years (and more going back to Chavez) have failed so completely.

[-] Awoo@hexbear.net 2 points 7 months ago

High on their own supply, with a contingent of extremely capable people who are not and understand the difference between propaganda and reality.

[-] Tabitha@hexbear.net 5 points 7 months ago

I guess we'll have to wait until 2070 to know for sure

this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2025
52 points (98.1% liked)

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