Overview of the Octopus

Danny Casolaro's "Octopus" refers to a sprawling and shadowy network of individuals, corporations, and intelligence agencies engaged in covert operations, government subversion, and global manipulation. According to Casolaro's research, this network pursued its interests through illegal activities, including espionage, arms trafficking, financial fraud, and political interference. The Octopus was characterized by its ability to operate across national boundaries, influencing both domestic and international affairs.

Key Components of the Octopus

1. Government and Intelligence Agencies
   • The Octopus allegedly included members from various government and intelligence agencies, particularly within the U.S. These agencies were implicated in activities ranging from the theft of PROMIS software to involvement in significant political scandals.
   • PROMIS Software: The software was central to the Octopus conspiracy. It was allegedly stolen by the U.S. Justice Department and modified for espionage purposes, allowing intelligence agencies to spy on users worldwide (p. 5, p. 6, p. 10).
2. Corporate Interests
   • Powerful corporations played a significant role in the Octopus network. These entities were involved in manipulating markets, controlling information, and influencing political decisions to serve their interests.
   • Inslaw and Hadron, Inc.: Inslaw developed the PROMIS software, which was allegedly stolen by the Justice Department. Hadron, Inc., owned by Earl Brian, was implicated in the illicit distribution of the modified software (p. 18, p. 19).
3. Media Manipulation
   • The Octopus used media control to shape public opinion and obscure its activities. Prominent media figures and outlets were said to be complicit in disseminating disinformation and covering up the network’s operations.
   • Robert Maxwell: Maxwell, a media proprietor, was alleged to have connections with intelligence agencies and played a role in the distribution of the modified PROMIS software. His mysterious death and financial scandals added another layer of intrigue to the conspiracy (p. 23).
4. Financial Operations
   • The Octopus engaged in extensive financial fraud and manipulation. This included money laundering, embezzlement, and funding covert operations.
   • BCCI Scandal: The Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was involved in laundering money for drug cartels and financing illegal arms deals, activities allegedly connected to the Octopus network (p. 2).

Key Events and Scandals

1. PROMIS Software Theft
   • The theft and modification of PROMIS software by the U.S. Justice Department were central to Casolaro's investigation. The software’s backdoor allowed intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance on users globally, facilitating the network’s espionage activities (p. 6, p. 10).
2. Iran-Contra Affair
   • This political scandal involved the secret sale of arms to Iran by the Reagan administration and the use of proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Casolaro connected this affair to the broader operations of the Octopus, suggesting coordinated efforts to manipulate political events (p. 3).
3. October Surprise
   • The October Surprise conspiracy theory alleged that members of the Reagan campaign negotiated with Iranian officials to delay the release of American hostages until after the 1980 presidential election, undermining Jimmy Carter’s re-election bid. Casolaro believed this event was part of the Octopus’s efforts to influence U.S. politics (p. 2).
4. Cabazon Indian Reservation
   • The Cabazon Indian Reservation in Indio, California, was a site for manufacturing advanced weaponry, including biological weapons and fuel-air explosives. This venture was allegedly connected to the modification of PROMIS and other covert operations within the Octopus network (p. 30).

Key Figures in the Octopus

1. Earl Brian
   • Businessman with close ties to the Reagan administration. Implicated in the theft and distribution of PROMIS software. His company, Hadron, Inc., was involved in selling the modified software to foreign intelligence agencies (p. 18, p. 19).
2. Michael Riconosciuto
   • Former research director who claimed he modified PROMIS for espionage. His testimony linked high-ranking officials and intelligence agencies to the Octopus conspiracy (p. 10, p. 14, p. 16).
3. Robert Maxwell
   • Media proprietor with alleged connections to intelligence agencies. Involved in the distribution of the modified PROMIS software and implicated in financial scandals (p. 23).
4. Ari Ben-Menashe
   • Former Israeli intelligence officer who corroborated Riconosciuto’s claims. Provided details about the international sale and use of PROMIS (p. 19).

Casolaro’s Investigation and Death

Danny Casolaro’s investigation into the Octopus aimed to uncover the interconnected web of corruption and clandestine activities. He meticulously gathered evidence, conducted interviews, and connected various political scandals to the broader conspiracy. His work suggested that the Octopus had significant influence over global events and government actions (p. 3, p. 30, p. 47).

Casolaro’s death in August 1991, officially ruled a suicide, is widely believed to be a murder meant to silence his investigation. He was found in a hotel room in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with deep gashes on his wrists. The suspicious circumstances of his death, combined with the sensitive nature of his research, fueled further speculation about the Octopus’s reach and power (p. xi, p. 1).

Conclusion

The Octopus, as detailed by Danny Casolaro, represents a transnational power bloc that pursued its interests through subversion, espionage, and the overthrow of governments. The network’s ability to operate across borders, manipulate political events, and engage in illegal activities made it a formidable and dangerous entity. Casolaro’s investigation into this network highlighted the complexities and risks of uncovering deep-seated corruption and clandestine operations on a global scale (p. 3, p. 30, p. 47).