The FBI - Back To Reality - Writers Forum

Peter Glassman · 06-15-2005, 01:34 PM

During the last days of Vietnam I was in the Navy and got caught up in an FBI investigation about narcoitcs being smuggled in to the U.S. At the time I was astounded and dumbfounded as a bystander in the sitaution. Now, having authored 3 novels (none yet publishied) I've developed a story line based on the operation but when I queried the FBI for some research I was told there was never any such case.
Can I go ahead and write about it anyway? Can I say in a disclaimer that the events and characters are based on a true story but the "names were changed to protect the innocent"?

Nickie · 06-15-2005, 01:44 PM

In my opinion, you'd better say that your story is entirely fictional and any resemblance with known events/fact is only in the mind of the reader... Tread very carefully when dealing with FBI or other services...

Nickie

playstation60 · 06-15-2005, 04:12 PM

I agree with Nickie.....the government in general can be incredibly fickle in what is published about itself...best to be cautious.

Drzava · 06-15-2005, 04:44 PM

Move to Waco/abroad and bill the entire story as true

Ilan Bouchard · 06-15-2005, 04:48 PM

Indeed. 'Tis a shame it must be done; seems oppressive, but that's certainly better than refusal of publishing... or worse.

Ajax · 06-15-2005, 04:57 PM

Did you sign a security clearance when you were in the Navy?

Be aware that you may be under a non-disclosure clause, and that they can use that against you in court if you do something that they feel requires such an action.

I think the best thing to do would be to discuss it with your publisher if you find one. They should be made aware of the issue, and they should be able to advise you as to what the legal ramifications are and what your own rights are.

mammamaia · 06-16-2005, 09:38 AM

ajax offers the best advice here...

basically, if you didn't sign a "secrecy oath" [the military version of what homeland security is now calling a "non-disclosure agreement"] you are free to write about it, and the 'based on' disclaimer would be all you need to cya...

however, if you did, your worst worry may not be a simple court action... breaching one is a federal offense and can earn prison time... if you're still in the reserves, it's a military issue and you can draw the full wrath of a court martial...

my addition to ajax' advice is to consult a literary attorney before you even write it... it'll be well worth a couple of hundred bucks for a consultation, compared to wasting time on a book you can't get published...

the alternative, of course, is to use a pen name and write it as pure fiction... face it, everything that anyone can dream up, in re military/gummint misdeeds, has been done... in that realm, art imitates life...

Ilan Bouchard · 06-16-2005, 04:39 PM

Huh, ever since this thread I've been hearing weird clicking sounds on the phone. And there's a beige van across the street that's been parked and running for the past two days.

Ajax · 06-16-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

there's a beige van across the street that's been parked and running for the past two days.

That must be the government. No one else could afford to waste that much gas.

mammamaia · 06-17-2005, 09:45 AM

"That must be the government. No one else could afford to waste that much gas."

it's not 'wasting'... remember, georgie-porgie's pals are oil men!

barnsturm · 06-21-2005, 12:28 PM

A relative of mine was a CIA spook during the Viet Nam era; he was "maybe" there in a clandestine role. (Probably not in Viet Nam...)

He absolutley hates the FBI and has never trusted them.

My own experience with the FBI has been favorable, as long as what I was giving them was links to child pornographers.

To sum up: Don't bad mouth the FBI; even our own government doesn't trust them.

And don't ever send me child porn unless you want to experience prison sex.

Verago · 06-29-2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnsturm

And don't ever send me child porn unless you want to experience prison sex.

I'm sorry. I couldn't stop laughing when I read that.

LensmanZ313 · 06-29-2005, 04:58 PM

The Boston office of the FBI once allowed an innocent man go to prison for a murder he didn't commit; why this happened was the FBI needed to protect the real murderer, an informant. Rat bastards.

An old fraternity brother of mine is an FBI agent. I ran into him a few times while I worked for the paper. He changed over the years, being a little too much in love with the USA-Patriot Act.

LensmanZ313 · 06-29-2005, 04:58 PM

The Boston office of the FBI once allowed an innocent man go to prison for a murder he didn't commit; why this happened was the FBI needed to protect the real murderer, an informant. Rat bastards.

An old fraternity brother of mine is an FBI agent. I ran into him a few times while I worked for the paper. He changed over the years, being a little too much in love with the USA-Patriot Act.