In Search of Asia's Gladio
JFK, the CIA, Vietnam, and Momentum
In searching for an operation that that would be comparable to Operations GLADIO and CONDOR, that focused on the Asian continent and would have acted as the launchpad for an expansion (explosion) of follow-on military intelligence initiatives, I came across a very interesting research chain.
Southeast Asia
The Vietnam War (1955–1975) was a brutal and testing period for U.S. military and intelligence operations in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Golden Triangle. Encompassing parts of Burma, Thailand, and Laos—known for opium production. This era saw significant heroin smuggling, often facilitated by complex networks involving local warlords, U.S. military personnel, and intelligence agencies. Remember Frank Lucas and his ‘Blue Magic’ from the film American Gangster?
The Secret War
Several operations during the Vietnam War involved military intelligence and criminal networks, particularly around drug trafficking, though not always under a single named operation.
CIA Involvement in Laos: The CIA supported anti-communist forces in Laos, including OPERATION MOMENTUM, which involved paramilitary activities and support for the Hmong tribes led by General Vang Pao. This operation transformed the CIA into a war-fighting entity, as noted in Joshua Kurlantzick's article, “How a Tiny Southeast Asian Country Changed the CIA Forever.”
Allegations of Drug Trafficking: Alfred McCoy, in his 1972 book “The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia,” accused the CIA of being complicit in the drug trade by supporting Laotian generals like Ouane Rattikone and Vang Pao, who were involved in heroin distribution. McCoy claimed that the CIA chartered Air America aircraft and helicopters to transport opium harvested by their “tribal mercenaries.” A review in The New York Review of Books, “Heroin, Laos, & the CIA,” further discusses these allegations, noting the CIA's potential role at three levels: coincidental complicity, abetting, and active engagement.
U.S. Government Response: The United States Department of State responded to McCoy's initial allegations, stating they were “unable to find any evidence to substantiate them, much less proof.” Subsequent investigations by the Inspector General of the CIA, United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and United States Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (Church Committee) also found the charges unsubstantiated. Historian William M. Leary, after two decades of research, stated Air America was not involved in drug trafficking, emphasizing the CIA's focus was on fighting the war, not policing the drug trade.
CIA and Golden Triangle: Declassified CIA documents, such as “COVERT ACTION: THE CIA AND DRUGS,” highlight the mingling of American intelligence activities with the opium trade in the Golden Triangle from 1948 onward. The document notes that CIA-backed Kuomintang (KMT) troops settled in Burma after World War II and controlled the opium traffic, with established routes used by both commandos and drug smugglers.
Military Personnel Involvement: U.S. servicemen were also involved in smuggling heroin, often through personal luggage or military channels. “Guns, Drugs, And The CIA,” states that by 1970, 30,000 Americans in Vietnam were hooked heroin, with smuggling facilitated by military assets. Ron Rickenbach, a former official with the U.S. Agency for International Development, mentioned in the article that early on, they believed they were involved in “not so desirable aspects of the drug traffic” for a larger good.
Over the coming weeks I will be sending detailed information on the joint operations between the CIA, Special Operations Forces (SOF), the French, and Laotian revolutionary forces.
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