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CIA Guide to Overthrowing a Nation // Jake Tran
Jake Tran | Trusted Newsmaker
A Simple Guide to Overthrowing a Nation: Lessons from the CIA’s Playbook
For decades, coups have been a favorite tool of global superpowers. The United States, through the CIA, orchestrated at least 70 attempts to topple governments during the Cold War alone. These operations were dressed up as “liberation,” but in reality, they were about securing resources, geopolitical advantages, and influence. Today, the same playbook continues to echo in conflicts worldwide.
The Cold War Obsession
Between 1947 and 1989, Washington’s intelligence operatives treated coups as routine. From Iran to Guatemala to Nicaragua, the CIA used a mix of propaganda, military infiltration, and bribery to replace unfriendly governments with pliant “puppets.” Manuals like the *Psychological Operations in Guerrilla Warfare* and the *Manual for Trickery and Deception* even codified the process, showing how deeply coups became institutionalized in U.S. strategy.
Step One: Pick the Right Target
The first step in any overthrow is identifying a vulnerable country. The ideal candidate is plagued by political instability, weak institutions, and a corruptible military. Add valuable resources like oil, gold, or rare minerals, and the incentives multiply. As history shows, soldiers rarely care who signs their paychecks, so long as the money flows.
Step Two: Find the Inside Man
Every coup needs a frontman. The CIA often groomed military officers or ambitious politicians who could act as both the public face and the muscle behind a takeover. Sometimes these allies were discarded once their usefulness ended. Iran’s 1953 coup saw General Zahedi sidelined for the Shah; in Guatemala, Carlos Díaz was replaced by Castillo Armas once U.S. backing was secured.
Step Three: Buy Support
Military loyalty is just the start. Political elites and big business must be courted too. In Guatemala, U.S. fruit companies partnered with the government to crush reforms that threatened their profits. With money and promises of deregulation, corporate giants often bankroll coups. The international community’s blessing is also critical — and in practice, that means securing Washington’s approval.
Step Four: Psychological Warfare
Once the pieces are in place, propaganda softens the battlefield. Media outlets — often influenced or directly supported by foreign interests — flood the air with accusations of corruption, human rights abuses, or foreign subversion. Protests are stoked, sometimes turning violent, while religious or cultural leaders are pushed to denounce the government. The goal is simple: convince the population that collapse is inevitable, and only a new regime can restore stability.
Step Five: The Coup Itself
Most coups are swift. Military units seize government buildings, airports, and communications hubs. The sitting leader is captured or forced to flee. Internet blackouts, curfews, and checkpoints paralyze resistance. Timing matters: Thursday nights or Friday mornings are preferred, leaving citizens to “return to normal” after a weekend of shock. If control is held for 24 hours, the odds of success rise dramatically.
Aftermath: Nation-Building or Asset Stripping?
Post-coup governments typically promise modernization and democracy, but the reality is often exploitation. Roads, schools, and token reforms serve as window dressing while resources are siphoned off. For foreign backers, the reward is access to oil fields, tax havens, or new military bases. For citizens, it usually means trading one form of corruption for another.
The Dark Side: MKUltra and Beyond
Parallel to coups abroad, the CIA experimented with mind control at home under Project MKUltra. Using drugs, torture, and psychological conditioning, they sought to create “Manchurian candidates” — assassins or spies who could operate without memory of their actions. The overlap between foreign manipulation and domestic experimentation underscores the agency’s fixation on control at any cost.
The CIA’s coup playbook shows how power is manufactured, not just seized. By blending propaganda, corporate collusion, and military coercion, governments can be toppled in days. While the Cold War may be over, these methods still resonate in modern geopolitics. Understanding the mechanics is essential — because nations that forget history risk waking up under regimes built not by ballots, but by backroom deals and foreign interests.
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