COUNTRY (Location of operation)
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Brief Description of [CIA’s] Covert Operations (Detail of CIA activities)

Update (Result of action)

*** Notes to reading this timeline of the CIA’s clandestine activities from the 1950s to the 1970s

IRAN
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CIA covert operations and financing, masterminded by Kermit Roosevelt, succeeded in overthrowing popular but left-leaning Premier Mohammed Mossadegh, and in installing to power Shah Reza Pahlavi.

Update
The Shan ruled for 26 years, when popular discontent, religious fanaticism and political upheaval against U.S. domination forced the Shah's exile, and replaced him with Ayatollah Khomeini.

PHILIPPINES
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Under CIA auspices, Col. Edward Lansdale went to the Philippines in the early 1950's to aid in the defeat of local communist guerillas (the Huks), and to help engineer the 1953 election of President Magasaysay.

Update
Magsaysay, a progressive, was killed in a plane crash in 1957. After several moderate leaders intervened, Ferdinand Marcos was elected in 1965. He declared martial law in 1972.

GUATEMALA
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The CIA is generally perceived and credited with masterminding and financing the coup which ended 10 years of progressive governments which had sought to promote labor unions, social measures, and land reform (a majority of the land was owned by the United Fruit Company.) The CIA's rebels attacked from Honduras, and with the help of the Army, forced the President from office and set up a military government Political confusion and instability has continued since the 1950's, with both army and civilian governments in power. Since 1970, the government has been run by military leaders, amidst charges of fraudulent elections. The most recent coup d'etat (this month) raises further questions about the future of US-Guatemalan relations.

Update
Political confusion and instability has continued since the 1950's, with both army and civilian governments in power. Since 1970, the government has been run by military leaders, amidst charges of fraudulent elections. The most recent coup d'etat (this month) raises further questions about the future of US-Guatemalan relations.

CHINA
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The CIA supported, on its own and in cooperation with Chiang-Kai-shek, guerilla operations against China. Operations were reduced or eliminated after the shooting down in 1954 of two agents Richard Fecteau and John Downey.

Update
Para-military operations against China were short-lived and without positive result. President Nixon visited China in 1972, paving the way to full diplomatic relations.

VIETNAM
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Agents had been present in Vietnam through the early 1950's, although not in paramilitary operations. Col. Lansdale (see above) is generally credited with eliminating the political rivals of Ngo Dinh Diem, and designing the election ballots which elected him in 1955.

Update
Diem's victory and tenure lasted approximately eight years (see Covert Operations, 1963.)

INDONESIA
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CIA agents and operatives sought to overthrow the government of President Sukarno; operations included B-26 bombing missions in support of insurgents on Sumatra.

Update
Sukarno solidified power by defeating the insurgents, and balancing the Army and the Communist Party. He was replaced in 1965 by President Suharto.

TIBET
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After the Chinese take-over of Tibet and the escape of the Dalai Lama to exile in India, the CIA secretly trained and equipped his troops, also in exile in India, for operations against the Chinese in Tibet.

Update
Several raids into Tibet did yield the capture of important Chinese documents, but the Chinese hold over Tibet remains today. Serious destabilization efforts were abandoned by 1964.

GUATEMALA
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While training Cuban exiles for the CIA's planned overthrow of Castro, the CIA used Guatemalan territory as its `jumping off point' for the Cuban operation. When a rebellion grew against the Guatemalan government, the CIA sent in B-26's to crush the insurgency and to ensure the secrecy of its operations.

Update
As noted above, Guatemala remains one of the most repressive nations in Central America, and continues to experience violence.

CONGO
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Two CIA officials were dispatched to assassinate Congolese leader Lumumba, who had threatened to bring the Congo under Soviet influence after independence. This particular attempt was never made, but Lumumba was killed in 1961 by the orders of CIA-supported Congolese officials.

Update
Civil disorder, along with a secession movement by the Katanga province, followed in 1961. After UN troops restored order and a coalition government was formed and then deposed, President Mobutu took over.

LAOS
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One of the largest secret operations in CIA history was the `secret war' in Laos. Some 50 CIA agents and hired contractors recruited over 35,000 [Hmong] and other Lao tribesmen into a secret `L'Armee Clandestine,' and financed some 17,000 Thai mercenaries, to oppose communism in Indochina.

Update
The war in Laos eventually lost its `secret' nature, but the country remained a battleground between the U.S. and Vietnam for years. Vietnamese-supported forces eventually prevailed. Even now, turmoil continues amidst charges of the use of chemical weapons in Laos.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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Dictator Trujillo was shot to death by Dominicans who had received weapons and support from the CIA, according to the Senate Select Committee report.

Update
Efforts at economic development in the early `60's came to a halt in 1965, when President Johnson sent in U.S. troops. The peaceful transfer of power in 1978 to President Guzman has resulted in some progress in promoting civil and political rights, but poverty and unemployment remain.

CUBA
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The Bay of Pigs operation against Castro, which had entailed massive planning, training and financing, is generally regarded as the CIA's most notable failure.

Update
The Bay of Pigs operation resulted in the departure of Allen Dulles as CIA director, and continued deterioration of US-Cuban relations.

CONGO
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After Lumumba's death, the CIA sought to influence politics with payments to candidates. By 1964, CIA B-26 aircraft were in bombing missions, with Cuban pilots on contract to the CIA.

Update
President Mobutu's takeover, with CIA help, has lasted through the present, although charges of corruption and excessive authoritarianism recurrently threaten stability.

VIETNAM
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President Diem, elected in 1955 with CIA help, was overthrown and assassinated by a military coup about which the CIA knew, but in which they did not participate, according to the Senate Select Committee.

Update
Diem was replaced by President Thieu and Gen. Ky, who remained in power until the communist takeover in 1975.

CUBA
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The CIA concocted `at least eight plots' according to the Senate Committee, to assassinate Castro, involving exotic devices such as poison pens, pills and cigars, and powder designed to make Castro's beard fall out--thus `ruining his charismatic image.' Sabotage raids against oil refineries and other industrial targets also existed in the early '60's.

Update
All the assassination and covert plots failed, and Castro's image and standing in the Third World was enhanced, in the eyes of many.

PERU
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According to at least one former CIA agent, the CIA, at the request of the Peruvian government facing guerilla insurrection, financed construction of a major military installation in the jungle, furnished helicopters, arms and other equipment, and provided training of forces by Green Berets on loan from the Army.

Update
The Peruvian guerillas were defeated by a government generally regarded as an oligarchy. In 1968, a coup installed a `revolutionary government of the armed forces,' which has since become more moderate.

VIETNAM
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In a disinformation (but not paramilitary) campaign, according to a recent Washington Post story, the CIA allegedly planned to `con' public opinion by taking communist-made weapons from CIA warehouses, planting them in a Vietnamese battle, and calling in reporters to see the captured weapons as proof of communist weapons in South Vietnam.

Update
This particular plan was not implemented in 1965, but the ex-agent making the claim in the Post suggested that the same concept might be being used in El Salvador today.

VIETNAM
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CIA involvement in Vietnam continued with development and implementation of the Phoenix Program, which allegedly `neutralized' (killed) some 20,000 Viet-Cong.

Update
The Phoenix Program apparently ended by 1970, but the war continued until the communist takeover in 1975.

CHILE
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For ten years, `extensive and continuous' CIA covert action aimed at influencing Chile's elections and overthrowing the government of popularly elected Salvador Allende. Although there were no paramilitary operations, some $3 million went into the 1964 election, resulting in the presidency of Eduardo Frei, and some $8 million opposed Allende after his 1970 election.

Update
Allende's overthrow and death resulted in the succession of Gen. Pinochet in a military junta government.

BOLIVIA
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The CIA provided aid to Bolivian President Barrientos to deal with rebel guerilla forces soon discovered to be being led by Che Guevara.

Update
Che Guevara was killed by Bolivian forces. Barrientos' death in a plane crash was followed by two leftist military governments, and then by other military leaders.

IRAQ
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At the request of the Shah of Iran, the CIA provided arms to Kurdish rebels fighting for autonomy in Iraq.

Update
Iranian and US aid apparently ended in 1975; but the Kurds are generally perceived today as a potentially destabilizing element in Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

ANGOLA
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Covert activities during transition to independence sought to help two factions. One of these factions, headed by Jonas Savimbi, is still seeking power.

Update
Overt Cuban involvement helped shift the balance from South African and CIA-backed forces, and the Clark Amendment ended covert U.S. activities. Angola's government is now officially Marxist, but allows U.S. businesses to operate in its country.