Many of we veterans had security clearances, which were necessary to accomplish our duties. Yes, we worked secretively, but we were not doing so for any nefarious reason. The reason for secrecy was to keep adversarial foreign forces from gaining that information.
Some industries have secrets they keep very close to the vest. Surely, Apple, Microsoft, Lockheed and even Lucas oil products, have some secrets, they must keep from the competition. The world is full of secret keepers...I have heard that even recipies are kept secret..(e.g. Coca Cola).
Yes; over the centuries there have been dangerous secret societies, but I am confident that some secret societies are only "secret" so they can
harbor a sense of exclusivity..
So as I see it, we perhaps should not paint with too broad a brush..
We're talking about two different things here IG.....You know that!
Not necessarily, NW.. I personally believe there are numerous, formerly effective "secret societies' that are no longer as effective as they once were.
When the Knights Templar were at their apogee, they were perhaps the greatest, most powerful secret society ever. They possessed more wealth than most nations, and were the source of thj bank checking system that we still use today.
However King Philip II of France, conspired with the pope to destroy them..and seize their wealth. The survivors went underground and later emerged as the freemasons, who did have a modicum of power for some time, but is now just a shadow of itself...as attested by some right here on GBO.
The scandal that erupted near Rochester, caused many to leave the organization, and others to refrain from joining. ..They are not what they once were.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morgan_(anti-Mason)
There were the Illuminati, the Rosicrucians etc..all rise and recede. I view many of the old "secret societies" to be akin to the Greek frat clubs,
holding secrets that are important to them,. but not so much to others.
When Gen Nathan Bedford Forrest founde the KK in Pulaski, TN on the day before Christmas, they quickly rose to power through terrorist tactics, but today what is the klan.. some say, just a bunch of disgruntled losers, and convenient scape goats for BLM and Antifa.. the other terrorists.
I can recall when there were Odd Fellows clubs almost everywhere..but doubt they even exist anymore. Many, like the Rotary or Kiwanis are not
"deep secret" clubs, but do hold some things close. ..But I believe they are more used for business connections.
Then there is the Eastern Star...once a hush group, but basically a social club now. It seems that if there were a truly powerful secret society, they would already be either absorbed into aor closely cooperating with the WEF ! ..Perhaps, The Club of Rome?
