Surprise, Kill, Vanish

1. Covert Action: The President's Third Option

Some might say this is a book about assassination, but really it is a book about covert action, Tertia Optio, the president’s third option when the first option, diplomacy, is inadequate and the second, war, is a terrible idea.

Beyond Diplomacy and War. Covert action emerged as a middle ground, a tool for presidents to exert influence without resorting to open conflict or ineffective negotiations. This "third option" allows for deniability and flexibility in addressing national security threats.

Hidden Hand Operations. These actions are classified and designed to be plausibly denied, making them the president's "hidden hand." This secrecy allows for operations that might be politically or diplomatically sensitive if publicly acknowledged. The most extreme form of covert action involves targeted killings.

Legal Framework. While assassination is illegal, killing a leader or prominent person at the behest of the president is legal under Title 50 of the U.S. Code. This legal distinction allows for the elimination of threats to U.S. national security while maintaining a degree of separation and deniability.

2. The Birth of the CIA's Guerrilla Warfare Corps

With its ethos in unconventional warfare, the Central Intelligence Agency officers and operators who conduct covert action were originally called the president’s guerrilla warfare corps.

Post-WWII Origins. The need to avert World War III led to the creation of a specialized unit within the CIA, designed to conduct unconventional warfare. This "guerrilla warfare corps" was intended to counter Soviet influence and expansionism.

Modeled After SOE. The CIA's covert action arm drew inspiration from the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), known as Churchill's "Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare." This influence shaped the CIA's approach to sabotage, subversion, and other unconventional tactics.

Surprise, Kill, Vanish. The motto of the OSS Jedburghs, "Surprise, Kill, Vanish," encapsulates the ethos of these early covert operations. The focus was on disrupting enemy operations, creating paranoia, and weakening their hold on power through targeted actions.

3. The Murky Morality of Targeted Killing

The idea that most people find hand-to-hand killing repugnant but mechanized killing somehow more palatable is central to this book.

Moral Ambiguity. The book explores the moral complexities of targeted killing, questioning why some forms of killing are considered more acceptable than others. This raises questions about the ethics of covert action and the justifications for taking a human life.

Evolving Terminology. Over time, the language used to describe targeted killing has shifted, from "eliminating" and "neutralizing" to "lethal direct action" and "targeted killing." These changes reflect an ongoing effort to grapple with the moral and legal implications of these operations.

Legal Justification. Killing a leader or prominent person is legal under Title 50 of the U.S. Code, but the question remains: how does killing any one person advance U.S. foreign policy objectives? The book aims to shed light on the rationale behind these decisions.

4. Korea: A Testing Ground for Unconventional Warfare

Korea became a testing ground for the support of conventional warfare with unconventional efforts, or black operations behind enemy lines.

Early Failures. The CIA's initial efforts in Korea were marked by intelligence failures and disastrous operations. The agency struggled to identify reliable local forces and faced challenges in operating behind enemy lines.

Rise of Special Forces. The Korean War highlighted the need for a dedicated special operations capability within the U.S. military. This led to the creation of the 10th Special Forces Group, an unconventional warfare unit designed to operate behind enemy lines.

Invention of HALO. The Korean War also saw the development of high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) parachute drops, a technique pioneered by Jack Singlaub. This method allowed for more clandestine insertion of covert action operators into denied territory.

5. The Perils of Regime Change: Guatemala and Beyond

To understand and embrace OSS-style guerrilla warfare was to reject preconceived notions of honor, chivalry, and fair play as the gentleman’s way of war.

Operation Success. The CIA's covert operation to overthrow Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz served as a model for future interventions. However, it also had unintended consequences, including the rise of Che Guevara.

Assassination Lists. The CIA compiled lists of individuals to be "disposed of" during the coup, highlighting the agency's willingness to engage in targeted killing. This operation set a precedent for future regime change efforts.

Unintended Consequences. The intervention in Guatemala led to decades of violence and instability, demonstrating the potential for covert action to backfire. The rise of Che Guevara, who was radicalized by the coup, is a prime example of these unintended consequences.

6. The Escalating Cold War: Assassination and Proxy Wars

Cold War concerns convinced President Eisenhower to order the removal of the democratically elected leader by force.

Iran and the Shah. The CIA's involvement in the 1953 Iranian coup, which overthrew Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and strengthened the Shah's rule, demonstrated the agency's willingness to intervene in foreign governments to protect U.S. interests. This action had long-term consequences for U.S.-Iranian relations.

The KGB's "Liquid Affairs." The defection of KGB assassin Nikolai Khokhlov revealed the Soviet Union's use of assassination as a tool of foreign policy. This revelation heightened Cold War tensions and fueled the U.S. government's own covert operations.

The Special Group. President Eisenhower's advisors openly discussed plans to assassinate foreign leaders, highlighting the increasing acceptance of targeted killing as a legitimate tool of statecraft. This group formalized the process of selecting and approving assassination targets.

7. The Green Berets: Masters of Unconventional Warfare

What I want you to do is get the dirtiest, bloodiest, ideas in your head that you can think of for destroying a human being.

Birth of Special Forces. The U.S. Army Special Forces were created to conduct unconventional warfare behind enemy lines, training and equipping guerrilla fighters to resist communist expansion. This marked a shift in U.S. military doctrine, embracing tactics previously considered "ungentlemanly."

Larry Thorne: The Quintessential Green Beret. The story of Larry Thorne, a Finnish soldier who fought for three different armies, exemplifies the unique skills and mindset of Special Forces operators. His expertise in irregular warfare made him an invaluable asset to the U.S. military.

Training Foreign Armies. Special Forces teams were deployed around the world to train and equip foreign armies, building alliances and preparing for potential conflicts. This effort aimed to contain Soviet influence and promote U.S. interests.

8. The Secret World of MACV-SOG

The mission of these Jedburgh teams was to blow up infrastructure, kill Nazis, and disappear without a trace. In this way the official motto of the Jedburghs became “Surprise, Kill, Vanish.”

Top Secret Operations. MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group) was a highly classified unit that conducted covert operations behind enemy lines in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. These missions were designed to disrupt enemy supply lines, gather intelligence, and conduct sabotage.

Cross-Border Missions. SOG operators often crossed into neutral countries like Laos and Cambodia, violating international law in pursuit of U.S. objectives. These operations were kept secret to maintain plausible deniability.

High-Risk, High-Reward. SOG missions were incredibly dangerous, with a high casualty rate. The unit attracted some of the most skilled and daring soldiers in the U.S. military, who were willing to take extreme risks to achieve their objectives.

9. The Secret Service: Guardians Against Assassination

The fighting I’m going to show you is not a sport. It’s every time, and always, fight to the death.

Deterrence and Protection. The U.S. Secret Service plays a crucial role in deterring assassination attempts against the president. The agency's Counter Assault Team (CAT) is a highly trained paramilitary force designed to respond to any threat with overwhelming force.

Lessons from Vietnam. The experiences of Secret Service agents who served in Vietnam as Green Berets shaped their approach to presidential protection. These agents brought a unique understanding of unconventional warfare and the importance of anticipating threats.

Constant Vigilance. The Secret Service is constantly adapting its tactics and strategies to counter evolving threats. The agency's focus on speed, surprise, and violence of action reflects the need to be prepared for any eventuality.

10. The Enduring Legacy of Covert Action

I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.

A Cycle of Violence. The book highlights the cyclical nature of violence, with each act of covert action often leading to retaliation and escalation. This raises questions about the long-term effectiveness and consequences of these operations.

The Moral Twilight Zone. Covert action often operates in a "moral twilight zone," where the lines between right and wrong become blurred. This can lead to ethical dilemmas and unintended consequences for those involved.

The President's Burden. Ultimately, the decision to authorize covert action rests with the president. This responsibility weighs heavily on the commander in chief, who must balance national security interests with moral considerations.

Last updated: March 30, 2025