Covert operation

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A covert operation is a military or political activity performed in secrecy that would break specific laws or compromise policy in another country. Covert operations are almost always illegal in the target state and are sometimes in violation of the laws of the enacting country.

Covert operations employed in situations where openly operating against a target would be politically or diplomatically risky, or jeopardize the mission's success. In the case of enemies, there may be issues regarding military strength, treaties, laws, moral principles, or aversion to negative media attention. Operations may be directed at allies and friends to secure their support or to influence their policy against an enemy. Covert operations differ from espionage by attempting to influence events in another country rather than gathering information about it.

Covert operations have been employed by many national and sub-national governments and other organizations for centuries, with or without a formal intelligence agency. They are an established and often controversial component of foreign policy throughout the world. The equivalent Soviet terminology would be "active measures".

Law enforcement agencies also use covert operations to infiltrate suspected criminal organizations.

Contents

[edit] Forms of covert operations

Covert action takes many different forms reflecting the diverse circumstances in which it is used. There are paramilitary operations, in which a state trains, supports, or advises a military force in another country. There is political subversion, in which a state supports or advises a political group in another country or directs propaganda at its population. In disinformation operations, a government provides forged documents to another government to turn that government against an enemy. Some of the most controversial covert actions are those directed against individuals, such as kidnappings, assassinations, and coups d'état.

A common tactic in covert operations is to establish a front business or organization through which agents can operate unrecognized. Air America, the CIA-owned airline that supplied Hmong fighters in Laos during the Second Indochina War, is an example of such a front organization.

[edit] Examples of covert operations

"Studies and Observation Group" (1964-1972)

This campaign against North Vietnam—the largest and most complex covert operation since World War II—was conducted by the Pentagon's Special Operations Group (under the cover name "Studies and Observation Group") between 1964 and 1972. It involved dispatching spies, psychological warfare, manipulation of North Vietnamese POWs, kidnapping, dirty tricks, commando raids, and operations on the Ho Chi Minh trail.[1]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The creation of Bangladesh is rated as one of the most successful covert operation in modern times. It was well planned and carried out by India's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). A RAW assessment sent to the Prime Minister of India spelt out the need for surgical intervention as the reports that came in gave positive indications that Pakistan was preparing for war. RAW received the green signal. RAW established guerrilla training camps along the border and began to train an illegal army, known as Mukti Bahini. The Bangladesh operation took place in two phases: covert subversion (Indian operatives would get into East Pakistan, arm the local population and capitalise on the frustrations brewing) and military intervention. Phase one was coordinated by R.N Kao, the director of RAW and phase two was carried out under the leadership of Indian Army's Chief General, Manekshaw, both reporting directly to Indira Gandhi, India's then Prime Minister. The mission was a success, with Pakistani Army surrendering to India within four days of intense combat resulting in the formation of Bangladesh.

Operation Wrath of God

Operation Wrath of God was conducted by Mossad and resulted in the assassination of Palestinians who organized the murder of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.

COINTELPRO (Late 1960s - Mid 1970s)

In Operation COINTELPRO, the FBI infiltrated and disrupted domestic left-leaning political groups during the Cold War.

Iran-Contra Affair (1980s)

The Iran-Contra Affair, also known as Irangate, took place in Nicaragua. Former National Security advisor Robert McFarlane and Admiral John Poindexter helped the National Security Council raise private and foreign funds. The United States sold military arms to the Contras for three main reasons: first, to aid the Contras against the Sandanista government in Nicaragua; second, to use the weapons sale proceeds to fund the exchange of the 66 hostages from the United States embassy in Iran; and third, to hinder the advancement of communism.

[edit] Notable covert operators

The following persons are known to have participated in covert operations, as distinct from clandestine intelligence gathering (espionage) either by their own admission or by the accounts of others:

[edit] Representations of covert operations in popular culture

Covert operations have often been the subject of popular novels, films, TV series, comics, etc.

[edit] Literature

See Spy fiction.

[edit] Film

See Spy film.

[edit] Television

[edit] See also

[edit] References

1. Shultz, Richard H., Jr. The Secret War against Hanoi: Kennedy's and Johnson's Use of Spies, Saboteurs, and Covert Warriors in North Vietnam. HarperCollins, 1999. ISBN 0-06-019454-5.

[edit] External links

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