2. Operation Cyclone: Afghanistan
One of the most infamous operations in which USAID played a role involved Afghanistan in the 1980s. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989), the CIA ran a covert operation known as Operation Cyclone, which funneled billions of dollars to Afghan resistance groups fighting the Soviet forces. USAID, in this context, was used to provide logistical support and infrastructure to these groups, as well as to oversee the distribution of funds and supplies.
- Funneling Resources: While the CIA's role in supporting the Afghan mujahideen is well-documented, USAID was also involved in providing development aid to the region under the guise of civilian support. The agency was a conduit for many of the resources that helped fund the resistance groups. Some of these groups, later on, became affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, raising questions about the long-term consequences of U.S. foreign policy decisions and the use of aid programs for strategic purposes.
- Support for Militants: The U.S. supported extremist groups like Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, whose party was heavily involved in anti-Soviet fighting and was later linked to the Taliban. USAID’s programs, in some cases, facilitated the distribution of resources that were also used by such groups, though these links were not always clear at the time.
3. USAID’s Role in Latin America: Support for Anti-Communist Governments
In Latin America, the CIA and USAID were both involved in efforts to contain the spread of communism during the Cold War. In several countries, USAID funded anti-communist political parties or pro-U.S. military regimes, often under the guise of promoting democracy and development.
- Chile (1970s): Following the election of Salvador Allende, a Marxist president in Chile, the CIA worked to destabilize his government, supporting opposition parties and creating a climate of unrest. USAID, meanwhile, provided resources to pro-U.S. groups that were opposing Allende's government, sometimes indirectly helping to create the conditions for the 1973 military coup that brought Augusto Pinochet to power.
- El Salvador (1980s): During the civil war in El Salvador, the U.S. government, including USAID, provided significant support to the Salvadoran government, which was fighting leftist rebels. The CIA was heavily involved in gathering intelligence, and USAID’s aid was often used to fund anti-communist political parties, military operations, and paramilitary groups.
- Guatemala (1950s): USAID’s activities also intersected with covert CIA operations in Guatemala in the 1950s. The CIA’s operation to overthrow the democratically elected Jacobo Árbenz government, which was seen as leaning toward communism, was supported by a narrative that involved USAID assistance to anti-communist groups and destabilizing actions.
4. Humanitarian Aid and Intelligence Gathering
USAID’s mission is to promote humanitarian aid, economic development, and democracy. However, because the agency often operates in conflict zones or politically sensitive regions, its activities sometimes overlap with those of intelligence agencies, including the CIA.
- Cover for Intelligence Operations: In some cases, USAID's development efforts have been used to gather intelligence. Humanitarian aid workers and development professionals are often well-placed to gather information about political dynamics, military capabilities, or rebel movements in regions of strategic interest to the U.S. government. Critics have argued that the line between civilian aid and intelligence gathering can be blurred in some countries.
- Spying Allegations: A notable example of this was in Honduras, where USAID-funded programs were accused of being used to spy on leftist groups and monitor dissidents. USAID-funded programs also came under scrutiny in other parts of Latin America, where critics argued that its programs were used to further U.S. geopolitical interests rather than purely humanitarian goals.
