True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics
Behind the Bamboo Curtain | CIA
Jun 12, 2023
54:20
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Operation Merlin aimed to infiltrate 1950s China via covert paramilitary teams led by inexperienced CIA officers.
- John T. Downey's release, after years of captivity, was a result of diplomatic efforts and his mother's relentless campaigning.
Deep dives
Operation Merlin: The Covert CIA Plan to Overthrow Communist China
The podcast reveals the remarkable, often secretive Operation Merlin, aiming to infiltrate China in the 1950s. The operation involved paramilitary-trained teams dropped into Communist China to subvert the government. Key figures like Jack Downey, a young CIA officer, played significant roles in training these teams despite lacking in-depth region knowledge. The operation faced challenges like the risk of capture and precarious logistics in a hostile territory.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
