Updated 2010
Cold War
CIA/Covert Operations Projects
Directions: Use the reputable Internet sites (great resource- Killing Hope- William Blum
on my website), textbooks, video clips (use discovery education video) and encyclopedia
to find as much information on the topic as possible. The library has many Internet
resources and books on the CIA operations.
Each country assigned was involved in a CIA operation during the Cold War. Typically
the CIA operation was presented to the American people as a struggle to defeat
communism. But as we saw in the example of Guatemala, the real reason for CIA
intervention had nothing to do with fighting communism. You and your group members
will research to present the “true” reasons why the American CIA operation occurred in
these countries. The groups will research and present the why, when, what, who and
where for each operation.
Specific Instructions:
Students should use brief and concise explanations/summaries, or titles to explain all of
the information in your project. You must have visual representation
(images/videos/graphs/statistics) for each piece of written information. Do not just
list out facts about the event, summarize each topic well and describe the events visually.
Make sure summaries are in your words and not a cut and paste from another
resource.
Label each section on the Wiki/google document according to the topics below. Please
make sure you put the first name and last initial of the group members that worked on
each topic.
Make sure each topic/section is connected to the previous topics and is organized in a
manner that makes sense of the operation. The Wiki/document should read like a
story/visual story, so that anyone reading the Wiki could understand the “true” reasons
for the CIA involvement and what happened in that country.
Make sure to site the sources used for each topic/subheading at the end of each section.
Remember: Finding the “true reasons” for the CIA operation is often very difficult. You
and your partners should research several different reputable sources and discuss and
collaborate with each other to make sure you truly understand the information and
present the information well.
Depending on the operation, the American CIA could have been involved in many
different ways. The CIA may have been involved with a coup of the existing leader, or
CIA may have helped an existing leader stay in power against a group of rebels or
popular movement. The CIA may be helping one side in a civil war.
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Topics/sections/subheadings

Country and crisis background information about the country, the present
crisis, civil war and or authoritarian government in power. Please explain the
relevant historical events that are necessary to understand the reasons for the CIA
intervention. Example- if a civil war is going on explain who is fighting, why they
are fighting and give facts to support the information. If poor people are rebelling
for change, describe what life is like for the impoverished in that country.

When & Why did the CIA get involved. Make sure to include any relevant
information. If it has to do with American business in the country, explain and
give examples of the American investments. How much of the economy did the
U.S. control…. Make sure to include the stated reasons for the CIA intervention
and the “true” reasons for CIA actions. Leaders or important people that are
involved in the situation. (Relevant history, CIA coups, leaders put in to power
etc)

How did the CIA (and any other groups working with the CIA) complete their
mission? Clearly explain the different stages to the CIA operation. Typically
there are combinations of methods used by the CIA, propaganda, economic,
military, etc. Be specific and give statistics and facts.

What were the effects of the CIA involvement, both short term and Long term
to the citizens of that country? The effects to the United States?
Note: Your project should read like a story. The information should be organized so it is
easy to understand and is visually appealing. Students should chose the font, the
alignment and the style of the presentation and make sure it applies to all parts of the
presentation.
Anyone that doesn’t know anything about your topic should be able to read your wiki and
analysis the images, graphs, videos, links and understand exactly what happened in your
assigned country.
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