Covert Operations

CIA-MI6 coup overthrowing democratically elected Prime Minister Mossadegh to protect British oil interests. Installed Shah Pahlavi.

Operation TPAJAX: The CIA and MI6 overthrew Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh after he nationalized British oil interests. The coup installed Shah Pahlavi, whose brutal 26-year dictatorship created the conditions for the 1979 Islamic Revolution — and 45+ years of US-Iran hostility. The entire modern Middle East crisis traces partly back to this single covert operation.

The original sin of US Middle East policy. Overthrowing Iran's democracy for oil profits created the chain of events leading to the Islamic Revolution, the hostage crisis, and decades of conflict. The blowback is still shaping world events 70 years later.

CIA-orchestrated coup against democratically elected President Árbenz to protect United Fruit Company interests. Led to 36-year civil war and genocide.

Operation PBSUCCESS: The CIA overthrew Guatemala's democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz because his land reform threatened United Fruit Company profits. The coup installed a military dictatorship that began a 36-year civil war, killing 200,000 people — mostly indigenous Maya — in what a UN truth commission later called genocide.

The CIA overthrew a democracy to protect a fruit company's profits. The result: 36 years of military dictatorships and 200,000 dead — predominantly indigenous people. This is what happens when government serves corporate interests with military force.

CIA-organized invasion of Cuba using Cuban exiles. Complete failure — all invaders killed or captured within 3 days.

The CIA trained and armed 1,400 Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro. The invasion was a catastrophic failure — most invaders were captured within 72 hours. The humiliation pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union, directly leading to the 1962 Missile Crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Covert regime change attempt that backfired spectacularly. The CIA trained and armed exiles to overthrow a sovereign government, failed, then the resulting Cuban Missile Crisis nearly caused nuclear war.

CIA destabilization campaign and support for military coup against democratically elected President Allende. Installed Pinochet dictatorship.

The CIA supported the military coup that overthrew Chile's democratically elected President Salvador Allende. General Augusto Pinochet seized power and ruled for 17 years — 3,200 people were murdered, 40,000 tortured, and 200,000 exiled. Declassified documents confirm extensive CIA involvement in destabilizing Allende's government.

"I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people." — Henry Kissinger. The US overthrew a democracy because voters chose the "wrong" candidate. 3,200 murdered. 40,000 tortured.

Beyond the major wars, the US conducts counterterrorism operations in at least 78 countries. Special Forces deployed to 149 countries (75% of the world). Includes training missions, intelligence operations, drone strikes, and special operations raids across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Sixty words written in 3 days after 9/11 have been used to justify military operations in 22+ countries for over two decades. No sunset clause. No re-authorization required. The founders would be appalled.

Ongoing drone assassination program across multiple countries. The US kills people in countries it has never declared war on, often including civilians.

The government claims the power to execute people — including American citizens — anywhere on earth without trial, evidence, or oversight. A 16-year-old American citizen was killed in a drone strike. When asked about it, the White House press secretary said he "should have had a more responsible father."