Covert Action as an Instrument of National Policy

Abstract : The relationship of covert action to national security policy is described as one of the many elements of power used in generating national security and foreign policy. Covert action is defined and the legal basis for US covert action is described. The planning of covert action and the conditions necessary for the successful execution of covert action are discussed and applied to several examples of covert action. The failure modes for covert action are also discussed.