Covert Operations Research Paper

From Nicaragua to Guatemala, The Philippines to The Middle East, U.S. covert operations have played a significant role in past conflicts. The implementation and impact of these operations can be seen in many different instances, but the most noteworthy occurred during the Vietnam War. From 1963 to 1975 The CIA, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam(MACV), and other defense and intelligence agencies planned and conducted countless counterinsurgency and covert operations in Vietnam and the surrounding areas. These operations ranged from intelligence gathering and propaganda, to sabotage and assassination missions. The operations went under many titles and responsibility for the operations continued to move hands as the war went on. Even as names and people changed, the common trend was the uptick in missions conducted and the goals of these missions. As the U.S. got more involved and intrenched in the Vietnam War, covert operations expanded and became more secretive. The end result of these expanding operations was far from what Washington and other responsible organizations could have predicted. While the CIA believed in the effectiveness of their operations, in reality, the reliance on covert operations doomed the future of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. It made the U.S. responsible for Saigon’s …show more content…
One of the plans was to “undertake the development of a long-range economic development program,” to show “U.S. confidence in the economic and political future of the country.” More ways to show this U.S. confidence in the future of South Vietnam was to “undertake a series of economic projects,” some of which include rural and urban development. These plans and confidence for South Vietnam were initially well placed, but as Diem became less reliable and more oppressive towards his people, additional forms of support would be necessary to salvage the Diem regime and ensure a viable future in