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The CIA began as the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a military branch that conducted espionage and undercover operations during World War II. In 1947, the OSS was reorganised and rebranded as the CIA.
The Cold War began in the aftermath of World War II. The conflict was primarily between the United States and its allies, representing the capitalist Western bloc, and the Soviet Union and its allies, representing the communist Eastern bloc. The division of Germany and the establishment of the Eastern Bloc, along with the ideological differences between communism and capitalism, set the stage for this prolonged period of political and military tension. The Cold War lasted until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Officially, the CIA’s primary mission was to counter Soviet influence.
In its early years, the CIA engaged in covert operations, such as the 1953 coup in Iran and the 1954 coup in Guatemala, both aimed at overthrowing democratically elected leaders who were perceived as threats to Western interests.
These operations represent a mix of military, political, and intelligence activities, some of which were initially kept secret from the public and later exposed.
During the Cold War, the CIA was heavily involved in various secret operations.
For example, the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 was a failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba.
The agency also played a role in the Vietnam War, conducting covert actions and supporting anti-communist forces.
Operations like MK-Ultra, a mind-control program, further demonstrated the agency’s willingness to push ethical boundaries.
In the early 1970s, investigations into the methods of collecting information by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the US Army, and other government agencies were revealed in American newspapers. These reports included accusations of wrongdoings in gathering intelligence, such as unnecessary spying on American citizens by government officials. Facing pressure from both the media and the public, the United States Senate set up the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, commonly known as the Church Committee, named after its chairman, Frank Church. The committee released a series of reports in late 1975 and 1976, in which it stated that the FBI, CIA, and other agencies had engaged in actions “unworthy of a democracy and occasionally reminiscent of totalitarian regimes.”
After the Cold War, the CIA shifted its focus to new ‘threats’, such as terrorism (through drug trafficking to fund covert operations).
As a reminder, the following is a short list of confirmed covert operations by the CIA. There are many more.
- Operation Ajax (1953): Overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
- Operation PBSUCCESS (1954): Overthrow of Guatemalan President Jacobo Árbenz.
- Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961): Failed invasion of Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro.
- Operation CHAOS (1967-1974): Domestic espionage on US citizens during the Vietnam War.
- Operation Condor (1970s): Collaboration with South American dictatorships to eliminate political opponents.
- Operation Cyclone (1979-1989): Funding of Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War.
- Iran-Contra Affair (1985-1987): Secret arms sales to Iran to fund Nicaraguan Contras.
- Operation Gladio (Cold War Era): Secret NATO project involving “stay-behind” paramilitary organisations.
- Operation Northwoods (1962, not executed): Proposed plan for false flag attacks to justify war with Cuba.
- Operation Midnight Climax (1950s-1960s): Part of MK-Ultra; involved administering LSD to unwitting subjects.
Lest we forget the CIA’s history in Ukraine.
Basically, as Jeremy Kuzmarov – editor of CovertAction Magazine points out – the CIA’s history is, pretty much, wholly destructive.
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