C.A.I

The question of the CIA's involvement in controversial actions over the years is not merely a subject of journalistic investigation but also touches upon profound sociopolitical issues. Drawing upon Machiavellian philosophy that "the end justifies the means," one might ponder whether historical contexts like the Cold War have served as a backdrop to justify various agency operations.

A key element of this dynamic is how the CIA often manages to cast itself in a favorable light, largely due to its influence over the media. Operation Mockingbird, which exposed the CIA's infiltration into newsrooms, serves as a striking example. This media control contributes to marginalizing and discrediting those who criticize the agency, a tactic philosopher Alexis termed "conspiracy sophism."

It is also important to note that some "conspiracy theories" have later proven to be true, adding a layer of complexity to the discussion. For instance, some continue to believe that the Russians sabotaged their own pipeline as part of the Nord Stream affair.

The CIA's influence over media does not seem to have waned, as evidenced by its role in promoting the Iraq War. Organizations like Campus Watch, which stigmatize academics opposed to the war, appear to employ tactics similar to those of the agency to intimidate critics.

Since its inception, the CIA has not had a decade without involvement in questionable activities, as revealed by sources like Seymour Hersh, the Pentagon Papers, Julian Assange, and Edward Snowden. To understand this trend, it is necessary to examine the institutional structures that enable the CIA to operate in the shadows. Only by addressing the issue at this structural level can one truly understand the reasons for such actions.

The credo of France's General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), "Where necessity makes law," could equally apply to the CIA. This indicates a willingness to transgress laws if the situation demands it. As Alain Chouet highlighted in his work "Wisdom of the Spy," the intelligence world is often guided by imperatives of "necessity."

Setting aside diplomacy and rhetoric, it is crucial to examine the structures and practices of these agencies. The CIA operates in the shadows, and its overseas operations often fall outside legal frameworks, making them appear as criminal activities. In fact, agents are even encouraged to engage in behaviors that would be considered criminal.

This reality sometimes leads them to collaborate with criminal groups to infiltrate countries. For example, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the CIA's precursor, collaborated with the Italian-American mafia to facilitate the landing in Sicily during World War II. This collaboration allowed General Patton to make rapid progress on the island and even led to the installation of mafia figures in positions of power in occupied areas.

This dynamic has implications for how certain states manage their organized crime. Vladimir Putin in Russia and the Chinese Communist Party, for example, exert control over their respective criminal organizations to prevent foreign infiltration. This explains why the CIA often has to use NGOs rather than criminal groups to operate in places like Hong Kong.

There are exceptions, however. During the Tiananmen Square protests, some triads helped to exfiltrate dissidents in collaboration with the CIA or other Western intelligence services.

In France, political figures like Charles Pasqua and Gaston Defferre have also exerted control over the criminal milieu, each in their own way and for different reasons.

In Italy, political control over organized crime has sometimes been exercised through networks like the P2 lodge or initiatives supported by NATO or the CIA. Giulio Andreotti, a controversial Italian political figure, disclosed information about the CIA's "Stay Behind" networks, also known as Gladio, after the end of his political career.

These networks were designed to serve as resistance forces in case of communist occupation during the Cold War and were present in several European countries. The film "Death of a Corrupt Man" offers a fairly accurate representation.

The Stay Behind networks, designed to remain active in countries likely to shift towards communism, included individuals with dubious backgrounds, like former fascist Delle Chiaie. Daniel Ganser has addressed this topic in depth. Giulio Andreotti, a devout Catholic, revealed the existence of these networks in 1991, leading to what he considered CIA "revenge." This revenge was not physical but rather a "character assassination," a tactic often employed by intelligence agencies to discredit individuals while maintaining plausible deniability.

The Clearstream affair is another example where the CIA is suspected of acting against a political opponent, in this case, Dominique de Villepin, for his resistance to the Iraq War. The CIA has also been involved in criminal activities, such as drug trafficking in the context of the Iran-Contra affair.

Since its inception, the CIA has been implicated in wrongful actions in every decade, while successfully portraying itself as being on the "right side" of history. Among these actions are the overthrow of Mossadegh in Iran in the 1950s, Operation Midnight Climax, and the MK-Ultra program in the 1960s and 1970s, which violated the most fundamental human rights. The Phoenix Program in Vietnam and Operation Condor in South America are further examples of such transgressions.

The CIA has also maintained relationships with organized crime, as evidenced by its collaborations with the mafia during the Bay of Pigs operation and even earlier, during World War II. These relationships have been documented and are now public knowledge.

In more recent decades, the CIA has been involved in torture programs and "extraordinary renditions," as well as drone strikes, as revealed by Julian Assange. All these actions raise the question of why these darker aspects of the CIA's history are often overlooked.

It is important to note that the CIA is not the only intelligence agency to engage in such activities. Agencies like Russia's SVR or Chinese intelligence services have also been involved in similar actions. This suggests that the problem is structural and inherent to the very nature of intelligence work, which often operates outside legal boundaries to achieve its objectives.

According to Machiavellian logic, if a state does not control its own organized crime, external forces will use it as a vector for infiltration. This is why entities like the Chinese Communist Party and Russian intelligence services maintain a firm grip on their respective criminal organizations. This dynamic also manifests in cases of oligarchs meeting mysterious ends.

The secretive and often illegal nature of intelligence operations necessitates interaction with the criminal underworld. Political figures like Giulio Andreotti and Silvio Berlusconi in Italy are examples. When their positions were aligned with American interests, their compromising dossiers remained hidden. But as soon as they deviated from the line, these dossiers were exposed, manifesting what is known as "plausible deniability."

It is important to note that the CIA is not unique in this regard. Agencies like the KGB or its successor, the SVR, have also employed similar methods of subversion. The KGB was particularly effective in its operations of demoralization and infiltration, forcing the CIA to adapt accordingly. This competition is part of a legacy of brutality, as seen with the KGB's predecessors, the NKVD and the Cheka, who were notoriously violent.

This brutality is not confined to one country or one agency. In the United States, Martin Luther King was targeted by the FBI rather than the CIA. As King pointed out, combating darkness with darkness or hate with hate is not the solution.

This leads us to crucial questions: What are the ethical and legal boundaries that intelligence services should adhere to? And why does the CIA, despite its history laden with controversies, still seem to enjoy favorable media coverage? These questions require serious reflection and thorough examination.