ALL
Must Read part one of two:
The Fifth Man
The Iran Operation
by Alex Cline
Ever wanted to know what covert operations are like? Ever wanted to know how covert operations influence national and international politics?
Then read The Fifth Man series, beginning with this episode.
It's purely fictional, but fiction is one of the primary, and most pleasant, means of education. However, to be truly educational, such fiction must be written by someone who knows what they are writing about. Someone who has been there.
My trashbin is filled with manuscripts (also purely fictional, although the authors of them didn't think so) replete with references to the CIA, the New World Order, the Illuminati--most all of it comprised of wonderful hallucinations and assorted claptrap. It's a sad state of affairs when people don't know that they don't know.
So we found someone who knows the field. A teacher who can write truthful fiction, instead of the fictional "truths" you normally see scattered throughout the Internet. Alex Cline will teach you about covert operations and the hidden side of politics.
Enjoy.
--Zola
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"The security team had been in place for almost twenty-four hours. The four stage tasking was quite standard for such an operation.
Stage 1
Clear the AO (area of operation) for any impending or actual threat.
Stage 2
Secure the AO until mission security arrives.
Stage 3
Provide back-up security for mission forces.
Stage 4
(This is the one they really hated.) In case of mission failure or abort, sterilize the AO.
Stages one and two were complete. Now it was just a waiting game.
An advance team had been on sight throughout the night preparing the airfield. Working through a sandstorm, trying to locate the underground bunker which housed the generator and lighting controls for the secret airfield had been quite a challenge. The airfield had been built four years earlier and the constant shifting of sand in the Great Salt Desert of Iran caused more than a few problems for advance team. Not only had the sands of time altered terrain features on the air strip, but the CIA had built the airfield on a main road leading into a village. Security was quite a handful as vehicles passed throughout the night entering the local village.
The security team, as ordered, remained out of sight from the two-man advance team. On constant vigil, working quietly in a stealth mode in order to remain undetected.
The advance team had departed shortly after midnight leaving the four-man security team to the tasking of security of the AO.
Mission forces arrived a few hours later. First the C-130's, cargo aircraft to be used as refuelers, then the choppers. According to the mission brief ground time was not to exceed four hours.
But almost twelve hours had passed since the C-130's had touched down with very little movement of the mission forces. An occasional civilian car, even a bus, but mission security had handled the situation "by the book", all quite professional.
Twelve hours after they had arrived, mission forces finally began moving. Choppers were repositioning to the C-130 refuelers to take on fuel. Every time a chopper cranked up and moved, the sand was thrown into a huge cloud completely engulfing the chopper - "white out" they called it.
One chopper seemed to be finished refueling and was repositioning. It disappeared in a cloud of sand and suddenly there was a thundering crash of metal followed by an explosion. The chopper had drifted into the C-130 refueler. Black smoke pillared into the Iranian skies.
The security team, not knowing the reason for the delay, knew that if the mission had not yet been aborted, it certainly would be now. The security team lay stealthily in position, knowing that mission sterilization would be quite a lengthy process. At least two, maybe more aircraft were down and an unknown number of task force members were dead or wounded.
Mission forces regrouped and departed the AO. The mission designed to rescue the American hostages held in Iran was over. The mission designed to "clean up" the AO and ensure any classified material or equipment wasn't left behind was just beginning.
With the departure of the last aircraft, the four-man security team moved quickly. First, the intact aircraft; all comm equipment was removed or destroyed in place. White phosphorous grenades were the weapon of choice. The extreme heat melted the equipment to the point of being unusable.
When the four-man team completed their task, they returned to the PZ (pickup zone) where they were met by their team commander. It was the team commander's tasking to ensure mission success and to oversee containment. In this particular mission, only a few civilians were considered a threat. To ensure mission security, the threat would have been eliminated. Whether the civilians lived or died would be decided by the security team commander... But since the mission was aborted in such a way as to leave an abundant amount of evidence behind, there was no need to eliminate the civilians. That was the decision of the Team Commander...The Fifth Man.
"And I was The Fifth Man," the gentleman sitting across from me stated completing his story.
I wanted more. "A few questions if you don't mind," I asked hoping to hear more about the events in the desert.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cline. That is all the information I will give you on the mission, at this time. You'll find there are many issues and assignments which I will not talk to you about, but I am sure that you will be happy with what I am willing to offer....but all in good time." Mr. Colt said explaining the rules of his interviews.
Sam Colt. Twenty seven years with the CIA. Heir to the Colt empire, and named in honor of his Grandfather, Samuel Colt. For a man of 50 he had certainly aged well. He reminded me of a silver haired Sam Elliott complete with the gruff voice and lizard skin boots.
My Name is Alex Cline
My name is Alex Cline and I am a journalist for a prominent Chicago based publication.
Several weeks ago I received a call from my publisher to interview a gentleman living in Colorado. A retired CIA officer.
We were preparing to run a story concerning the government's methods used to influence or control national and international policies. Research to this point had proven that congressional controls on the various US Intelligence entities and their covert or black operations were being bypassed under the new National Security Directives. Our research department had spent weeks on the Internet gathering data and collecting names of published and self-proclaimed intelligence officers from a number of countries. This particular gentleman, however, was referred to us by an ex-Deputy Director of Operations (DDO) for the CIA. He was now retired from the CIA and living a quiet life in Colorado.
I was wanting for more. But it was obvious from Mr. Colt's response that I would have to wait.
Understanding my quizzical look, the ex-spook offered a more in-depth explanation.
"You are missing my point Mr. Cline. The story of the failed rescue attempt in the desert is a matter of public record. But I have just revealed to you and confirmed the existence of special teams operating within the hierarchy of the CIA and other governmental agencies. How do you think that the mission I just spoke of could possibly have succeeded without "specialized teams" on-site to assist or cause a diversion. Do you think that six US Military helicopters would have just dropped in on the Ayatollah and seized the hostages, loaded them in the choppers and flown into the sunset? Do the words not a chance in hell strike a familiar chord? Look, you are here to find out if I am aware of the use of government assets to influence or align differing parties. The answer is yes, of course we do that. Politicians do it, businessmen do it, the military does it, hell son, everyone has used some form of undue influence to achieve their goal...but the question you want to ask is...Does the CIA or any other Governmental agency have specialized teams or personnel used to align those who oppose their bosses. It is actually called a neutralization. We used intimidation, coercion, and termination as our 'tools of the trade' if you will. There's your answer. Can't get anymore direct than that son."
Mr. Colt sat back in anticipation of my next question. But quite frankly, I was at a loss for words. Searching my mind for something to say in response to his answer, a word blurted out..
"Why?" I heard myself ask? It was as if I were standing in a tunnel, I heard the word come out but it didn't really sound as if it came from me. The sound in my ears was intense...a rushing sound now...My adrenaline was flowing. And flowing hard. Had I heard right? Did I just hear a career Intelligence Officer tell me that the US Government used specially trained squads to 'neutralize' people? To make people bend to the whim of and involuntarily follow the direction our government wants them to take? That can't be possible!
My whole life has been one of an honest, taxpaying, stand by your Uncle Sam, citizen. I had spent four years of my life in the the Air Force and would have given anything to work in the intelligence field. But, I had a tough time keeping within the weight standards...and the two mile run or walk once a year just about killed me! So when it came time to re-up I decided that I really didn't want to get gung-ho. I'd just as soon keep with my dancin', dippin' and drinkin'. I knew that there was a place for me...outside of the military...and when I came across the position of investigative reporter, well I knew I could help save the world, it seemed to fit me perfectly. I was in pretty good with my boss...I guess because he was a John Belushi fan and I'm told that I favor the late comedian.
"Why? Why are you telling me this? Doesn't this jeopardize you in some way?" I asked as I regained my composure.
"Every time you ask me more than one question at a time I'm gonna charge you a sawbuck" Colt said smiling at me.
Watching the changing expression in my eyes as reality began to set in, Colt says, "I think you know the answer why I would come forward with this information.
"As a career Intelligence Officer, it was my calling in life to collect data, analyze that data and, finally, act upon my analysis. What I have seen in the last twenty years has struck me deep in the gut. The spirit of the American dream was based upon entrepreneurialism...America was founded by those who had the guts, intelligence, spirit and will to go out and take a chance. Our forefathers put their very lives on the line in order to achieve that dream. But what I see today is a group of "lifers" (permanent government employees) who have never had the guts to get out of their security blankets in an effort to succeed in business, creating more rules and laws which continue to restrict the ability for our citizens to achieve the American dream. In effect, they are destroying the American spirit. The spirit on which our country was founded. Will we all become nothing more than zombies, working to satisfy the needs of a few who have managed to place themselves, by various means, into upper government positions?
"One of our appointed tasks, as a 'manipulator' for our government, was not restricted to (cont)
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