Foolishness III.

This is coolbert:

"When asked about Yardley's technical competence, Olmstead replied by asking the Canadians whether, if they were hiring a chef and one applied who was a known criminal, they would be interested in his ability to make an omelet."

As cited in my previous blog entry, Foolishness II.

From this statement one can reasonably infer that American military intelligence officers ONLY desire to employ "high born Christians". Persons of the highest and most impeccable character and integrity.

ALL OTHERS NEED NOT APPLY!!

Is this so??

NO!! Emphatically NO!!

During time of war, the U.S. military HAS employed persons of unsavory reputation. Persons whose "abilities" were found to be VITAL to the war effort.

From the very entry of the U.S. into World War Two [WW2], the U.S. government was MOST desirous to protect the docks of major American sea ports from sabotage.

Especially New York City [NYC]. The largest and busiest port in the U.S. Secure functioning of this port was A MUST for a successful war effort.

The threat from Axis sabotage against U.S. port facilities was clearly on the mind of U.S. authorities. During World War One [WW1], there HAD BEEN a whole series of sabotages directed against the NYC port facilities. These were called "The Black Tom Explosions". Click here to read about the "Black Tom" explosions. Sabotage in the case of "Black Tom" was directed against warehouses storing munitions [in many cases black powder], destined for shipment to the WW1 Western Front in France.

Keep in mind that U.S. security and investigators were neither able to STOP OR CATCH the perpetrator or perpetrators of "Black Tom".

A recurrence of "Black Tom" was totally unacceptable. A quick and dirty solution to the sabotage threat HAD to be found.

A solution WAS found. A solution for which the U.S. government had to swallow it's pride and accept. A solution that would NOT be normally even be considered except for the dire need that existed at the time.

This solution was the American Mafia.

It was well understood that the Mafia already had in place for decades prior to the start of WW2 a very, very, very strong presence on the docks of NYC. Shippers would actually take into account that about 10 % of all goods being shipped through the docks of NYC would be pilfered by the Mafia.

The Mafia already had, IN PLACE, it's own very effective intelligence and security apparatus at work on the docks of NYC. The U.S. government must have reasoned, "why spend the time, money, effort to train and put in place our own security organization to guard the docks of NYC, and maybe not even be successful, when there is already an organization in place? An organization that perhaps can succeed where we CANNOT."

[the reader may ask, "well, how good is the Mafiosi intelligence apparatus?? Consider the comments of a Chicago police officer as contained in the book, "What Every Cop Knows". "they [the Mafia] have more and better intelligence on us [Chicago police] than we have on them!!"]

A deal WAS made between the American Mafia and the U.S. government concerning the docks of NYC.

FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR, THE MAFIA WAS GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR SECURITY OF THE DOCKS OF NYC.

Security which proved to be outstanding. So much so, that there WAS NOT ONE incident of sabotage on the docks of NYC for the duration of the war.

The Mafia WAS able to succeed. Perhaps WAS able to do what the American governmental agencies responsible for security COULD NOT do.

Of course, please keep in mind that when you make a pact with the devil, the devil will give you what you want, but, also, the devil WANTS something in return. You must give the devil something that he wants. Something you ordinarily WOULD NOT be willing to give him.

One "thing" given to the Mafia was for the "boss of bosses", Lucky Luciano, to be released from prison. As a good will gesture.



A second "thing" the Mafia obtained was an assurance that the U.S. government would "turn a blind eye" to any pilferage that would occur at the NYC docks for the duration of the war. The Mafia would get "it's" 10 % to sell on the blackmarket. Items that were rationed were of high value. Consumers WOULD pay a premium price on the black market for certain items. Rubber tires, meat, gasoline, etc.

Such is the price when you deal with the devil. YOU get something YOU want, but in return, YOU MUST give something the devil wants. This was so in WW2 on the docks of NYC.

coolbert.