LibGuides: Henley-Putnam's Intelligence Management Subject Guide: Case Studies in Covert Action

Library Resources Case Studies

Introduction to Case Studies

Case Study Methodology

Covert Case Study Format
Please use the template for your case study. Feel free to modify it to fit your case but keep an eye on the grading rubric if you do so.

Library Resources Covert Operations

Covert Operations and Covert Action

Covert Action Programs and Operations

TP-AJAX August 1953

Van Hook, J. C. (Ed.) (2018). Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954, Iran, 1951–1954, 2nd. Ed. Department of State GPO
United States Efforts To Understand Mosadeq, February 1951–February 1952 (Documents 1-66)
The July 1952 Iranian Political Crisis and Its Aftermath, March 1952–February 1953 (Documents 67-168)
Planning and Implementation of Operation TPAJAX, March–August 1953 (Documents 169-308)
The Aftermath of Operation TPAJAX, September 1953–December 1954 (Documents 309-375)
Taafe-McMenamy M. (2015). Operation Ajax: A case study on analyst-policy maker tensions and the challenges of estimative intelligence U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

China Cold War

Dujmovic, N. Review Essay: Covert Action to Promote Democracy in China during the Cold War.

HTMERLIN: CIA's Third Force operations against Peoples's Republic of China 1949-1954

Leeker, J. F. (2013). CAT and Air America in Japan.
Contains a section on HT Merlin CIA covert action Third Force

Iran-Contra 1983

Memorandum for the President 1986, Jan 17, Covert Action Finding Iran
Col. North's background memo for the authorization of covert actions regarding Iran signed by Admiral Poindexter
Reagan's 1986 Presidential Finding “to induce the Sandinistas to halt their transformation of Nicaragua"
Top Secret, Presidential Finding, January 9, 1986, Pursuant to Section 662 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 as Amended, concerning Operations Undertaken by the Central Intelligence Agency in Foreign Countries, Other Than Those Intended Solely for the Purpose of Intelligence Collection

Brown University's Collection on Understanding the Iran Contra Affair

PLUTO Bay of Pigs, 17-20 April 1961

CIA's page on The Bay of Pigs Invasion

Chile

Operation Mongoose During Cuban Missile Crisis November 1961-October 1962

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XI, Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath Editors: Edward C. Keefer Charles S. Sampson Louis J. Smith General Editor: David S. Patterson United States Government Printing Office Washington 1996
McAuliffe, M. S. (Ed.) (1992). CIA documents on the Cuban missile crisis. CIA . Part One
CIA Cuban Missile Crisis pp. i-90.pdf
McAuliffe, M. S. (Ed.) (1992). CIA documents on the Cuban missile crisis. CIA . Part Two
CIA Cuban Missile Crisis pp. 91-202
McAuliffe, M. S. (Ed.) (1992). CIA documents on the Cuban missile crisis. CIA . Part Three
CIA Cuban Missile Crisis Documents pp. 203-356.

Paramilitary Operations 1776-2000

Berlin

CIA's page on Berlin Tunnel

OXCART

CIA's page on A-12 Oxcart

Covert Actions in General

Bowman, M. E. (1998) Secrets in plain view: Covert action the U. S. Way.In J. Grunawalt & M. Schmitt (Eds.) International Law Studies. 72(1). 1-16.

U-2 Program

Study Questions

• What precipitated the U-2 program?
• Were there any lasting consequences of the program's unraveling?
• How was the program kept secret for so long?
• Was Francis Gary Powers a traitor?

Definitions

Close, R. H. (2004) Statement to Congress
so- called covert action--which I define as the effort to achieve... of another country. As you all know, the term ``covert action'' can also include the employment of... "
DeVine M. E. (2019). Covert action and clandestine activities of the Intelligence Community: Selected definitions in brief. Congressional Research Service
Erwin, (2013). Covert action: Legislative background and possible policy questions. Congressional Research Service
The article presents a report titled "Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions" released by Congressional Research Service, public policy research arm of the U.S. Congress, on April 10, 2013. The topics discussed include counterterrorism intelligence activities by U.S. Department of Defense, the functioning of U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and concern expressed by the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence regarding Intelligence Activities. Includes the Congressional definition of CA and the requirements of the acts.

National Security Council Directive on Office of Special Projects (1948).
National Archives and Records Administration, RG 273, Records of the National Security Council, NSC 10/2. Top Secret. Although undated, this directive was approved by the National Security Council at its June 17 meeting and the final text, incorporating changes made at the meeting, was circulated to members by the Executive Secretary under a June 18 note. (Ibid.) See the Supplement. NSC 10/2 and the June 18 note are also reproduced in CIA Cold War Records: The CIA under Harry Truman, pp. 213–216
National Security Council Directive (1951).
Eisenhower Library, Special Assistant to President for National Security Affairs Records, President’s Papers. Top Secret. This directive was transmitted to the NSC under cover of a December 28 note from NSC Executive Secretary Lay. Lay stated that the President had approved the directive on the same date

Office of Counterintelligence Defense and HUMINT Center, DIA. (2011). The Counterintelligence Glossary