Book SummarySurprise, Kill, Vanish, by Annie Jacobsen

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Surprise, Kill, Vanish

The evolution and expansion of the United States' covert and unorthodox combat capabilities, including the CIA's use of targeted assassinations and non-traditional military strategies as tools of foreign policy.

The book's opening section delves into the historical development of covert operations in the United States, charting their origins back to World War II, examining their expansion during the Cold War era, and outlining the major transformations they underwent following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Jacobsen meticulously traces the development of covert activities from their inception within the Office of Strategic Services to their present-day manifestation in the CIA's specialized operations division, highlighting key individuals, strategic policies, and significant global conflicts that have shaped its trajectory.

The emergence of covert operations in the United States during World War II played a crucial role in the establishment of the CIA.

The origins of the CIA's covert paramilitary activities, including targeted assassinations, can be traced back to its predecessor, the Office of Strategic Services. During World War II, the OSS participated in unconventional warfare against the Nazis, and the techniques and strategies honed by its Special Operations Branch were later adopted by the CIA.

The OSS Special Operations Branch excelled in executing guerrilla warfare tactics within the United States.

The OSS, founded in 1942 and under the command of General William "Wild Bill" Donovan, focused on disrupting and obstructing Nazi activities throughout the war. Jacobsen offers an in-depth depiction of the rigorous training that OSS operatives, including individuals like Aaron Bank and William Casey, received, preparing them to operate autonomously and with flexibility, carrying out surprise attacks, sabotaging structures, and engaging in close combat. The CIA's clandestine operational capabilities were built upon tactics that strayed from traditional warfare and were frequently viewed as dishonorable by mainstream military commanders.

The Office of Strategic Services developed strategies influenced by Operation Anthropoid, the British Special Operations Executive's assignment targeting Reinhard Heydrich, which was emulated during the war.

Jacobsen recounts the daring assassination of SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich in 1942, a key architect of the Holocaust, and examines how this event influenced the development of irregular warfare tactics by the Office of Strategic Services. Jan Kubiš, along with Josef Gabčík, were inserted into Nazi-occupied Prague via parachute as members of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE)'s Operation Anthropoid, which ultimately led to their successful assassination of Heydrich with a modified explosive device. The SOE deemed the operation a success, even in the face of severe Nazi reprisals, because it demonstrated how targeted removals could weaken the enemy's command framework and bolster the determination of those opposing through clandestine efforts. The Office of Strategic Services employed similar methods that...

Surprise, Kill, Vanish Summary The book scrutinizes particular events and their interpretations, emphasizing the intentional and unintended consequences that had emerged from America's clandestine activities.

This section of the story explores a range of important events linked to the global undercover missions carried out by the CIA, providing insight into numerous examples that demonstrate their successes, challenges, and at times unforeseen and far-reaching consequences of these covert activities.

The Korean War was a critical testing ground for covert operations.

Jacobsen highlights the profound impact the Korean War had on the CIA's approach to covert operations, as early efforts to strengthen anti-communist factions in North Korea faltered because of inaccurate intelligence and the infiltration of double agents, leading to considerable obstacles.

The disastrous results of Operation JACK stand as evidence of a considerable intelligence oversight committed by the CIA.

The Central Intelligence Agency commenced Operation JACK in 1951, a campaign that underscores the inherent risks and ethical dilemmas linked to covert operations aimed at undermining the military capabilities of North Korea. Jacobsen chronicles the catastrophic results stemming from the Agency's operations, which involved sending paramilitary forces into enemy regions from the skies, resulting in a...

Surprise, Kill, Vanish Summary Debate on the United States' worldwide strategy frequently revolves around the moral, ethical, and legal implications of engaging in clandestine activities and the deliberate elimination of specific individuals.

Jacobsen emphasizes the profound ethical and legal challenges that arise during the conduct of covert operations, particularly when they involve targeted killings to protect the security interests of the United States. The author examines how various governments have subtly circumvented the ban on targeted killings mandated by Executive Order 11905 by using euphemistic language, redefining terms, and exploiting the ability to deny involvement credibly.

The principle that forbids targeted killings has slowly been undermined through the employment of softening language and altered interpretations.

Jacobsen delves into how, despite Congress and executive orders consistently reaffirming the ban on assassination, this rule has been interpreted with significant flexibility, allowing for the elimination of specific targets under different pretenses.

An attempt embodied by Executive Order 11905 failed to restrict the actions of future presidents.

In 1975, President Ford's Executive Order 11905 explicitly prohibited any member of the U.S. Government from engaging in or conspiring to execute political assassinations. Jacobsen emphasizes that the directive was vague, failing...

Surprise, Kill, Vanish Summary The dynamic relationship between competition and collaboration within the secretive realms of the CIA and the U.S. military, especially during the Cold War era and following the events of September 11th.

This section of the text explores the evolving relationship between the CIA and the US military regarding their respective roles and authority in carrying out covert operations. Jacobsen explores how the tensions of the Cold War and the deficiencies observed in unconventional warfare methods throughout the Korean and Vietnam conflicts sparked competition among agencies for supremacy in controlling operations.

The framework was established during a time marked by the intense geopolitical competition between the Eastern and Western alliances.

During the Cold War, there was frequent competition between the CIA and the US military to take the lead in conducting covert activities. Each agency held the belief that it was the most adept at addressing the threat posed by the Soviets and executing the president's alternative strategy.

During the Korean War, there was a heated dispute over who would control secret operations, pitting the...