Introduction to Intelligence Studies

185

Chapter 9

Covert Operations

[e Vice President] laughed and said, ‘at’s a no-brainer. Of course it’s

a violation of international law, that’s why it’s a covert action. e guy is a

terrorist. Go grab his ass.’

Quote attributed to then-Vice President Al Gore by RichardClarke

in Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terror

Chapter Objectives

1. Describe the history of covert operations utilized by the U.S. intel-

ligence community.

2. Provide a denition for a covert operation, fully describing each ele-

ment that is essential for its successful implementation.

3. Identify various tactics that can be used in a covert operation, rang-

ing from nancial support and propaganda to military action and

force.

4. Using examples from histo ...