After WWII tensions between the East and West would intensify following US concerns over Soviet plans for expansion and global influence, along with Russia’s attitude towards the West, which had put a strain on any peaceful co-existence that the US may have envisioned. Similar to US concerns, Russian Kremlin Joseph Stalin had also viewed the Western world as a threat to the long term goals of communist Russia. The creation of government agencies such as the CIA, MI6, and the KGB had been formed with the purpose of through secrecy operate in other countries with the goal of infiltrating, influencing, or interfere with events that occurred for the purpose of seeing ideal results that best suit foreign interests. Through secrecy nations had engaged in what they viewed problematic or beneficial to one another’s goals pertaining to foreign political developments, events, and circumstances. Till the end of the Cold War covert activity by nations would increase as each of them had engaged in a series of espionage and spy efforts to acquire military intel, secrets, and plans, along with valuable national data and information. Most covert operations attempted were not limited to one particular method used, but included just about anything that was viewed effective. It can be seen that political manipulation and interference, infiltration of spies, space and aerial surveillance were some of the notable efforts attempted during the Cold War. Furthermore, the initial reason for increased funding of spy operations during the Cold War can be accredited to the global anxiety which had existed after WWII leaving superpowers such as the US and Russia in a fight to secure their dominance. 1 One of the first US efforts to deploy the newly created Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to meddle in foreign affairs would be in Italy during 1948. Over fears of the communist party winning government, US president Harry Truman, along with the secretary of State George Marshall, and other government officials requested the CIA to operate in Italy seeing to that the communist party was defeated. William Colby, former director of the CIA, had indicated that due to the communist party gaining influence in Italy it had led “to the formation of the Office of Policy Coordination, which gave the CIA the capability to undertake covert political, propaganda, and paramilitary operations” (Blum). Additionally, while the US had interfered with Italian affairs, it was done so to “counteract Russian attempts to secure communist control of government” (69 Johnson). Russia at the time under Joseph Stalin’s leadership had established plans to back much of the existing communist parties in Europe in secrecy (27 Keylor). Aware of Russian backing of the communist party in Italy, the US would take similar actions in securing a
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In an effort to minimize risk without compromising a nation, potentially facing serious repercussions in the act of being exposed, secret agencies had carried out almost any form of action believed to be effective in securing national interests. Anything that could not be done publicly by the Americans, Soviets, or British openly, however, could be done in secrecy through their spy divisions the CIA, MI6, and the KGB. Using just about any form of method believed to be effective it can be seen that during the Cold War to secure political, nuclear, and military interest, along with influence, superiority, and advantage the US, Russia, and Britain had engaged in all forms of spy and espionage attempts. Whether it meant interfering in political developments in other countries to secure political ideologies, assassinating political figures, funding spies to collect national and atomic secrets, or develop better Ariel superiority these efforts would be pursued seriously. It can be noted that events such as the murder of Patrice Lumumba, spy activities carried out by agents such as Klaus Fuchs or Kim Philby, and Soviet and American measures to secure and use their Ariel superiority were all government funded activities carried out by secret agencies to secure US, Soviet, and British interests. Furthermore, the high volume of spy activity by intelligence agencies carried out during the Cold War can be viewed today as both having contributed to the global anxiety which had existed during the Cold War, and influencing a number of the foreign and diplomatic policies, and relations that nations today have with one another.
In an effort to minimize risk without compromising a nation, potentially facing serious repercussions in the act of being exposed, secret agencies had carried out almost any form of action believed to be effective in securing national interests. Anything that could not be done publicly by the Americans, Soviets, or British openly, however, could be done in secrecy through their spy divisions the CIA, MI6, and the KGB. Using just about any form of method believed to be effective it can be seen that during the Cold War to secure political, nuclear, and military interest, along with influence, superiority, and advantage the US, Russia, and Britain had engaged in all forms of spy and espionage attempts. Whether it meant interfering in political developments in other countries to secure political ideologies, assassinating political figures, funding spies to collect national and atomic secrets, or develop better Ariel superiority these efforts would be pursued seriously. It can be noted that events such as the murder of Patrice Lumumba, spy activities carried out by agents such as Klaus Fuchs or Kim Philby, and Soviet and American measures to secure and use their Ariel superiority were all government funded activities carried out by secret agencies to secure US, Soviet, and British interests. Furthermore, the high volume of spy activity by intelligence agencies carried out during the Cold War can be viewed today as both having contributed to the global anxiety which had existed during the Cold War, and influencing a number of the foreign and diplomatic policies, and relations that nations today have with one another.