The Pete Quiñones Show Operation Gladio with Thomas777 - Complete
Jan 8, 2026
Thomas777, a podcaster and writer specializing in historical and political commentary, dives into the intriguing world of Operation Gladio. He discusses its origins during the Cold War, the parallels with the Phoenix Program, and the moral complexities of counterinsurgency warfare. Delving into Italy's strategic significance, Thomas reveals Giulio Andreotti's explosive revelations about NATO's clandestine operations. The conversation explores the integration of far-right networks and how Gladio has shaped political radicalism across Europe, including its impact on Northern Ireland.
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Cold War Created A Permanent Gray Zone
- The Cold War created a permanent gray zone where political warfare and clandestine planning were treated as normal statecraft.
- NATO developed stay-behind networks to prepare civilian resistance if Warsaw Pact forces overran Western Europe.
Kitson: Cultivate Organic Counter-Gangs
- British counterinsurgency doctrine emphasized creating or cultivating counter-gangs tied to local social realities.
- Frank Kitson's model favored organic proxy forces over massive conventional firepower to limit collateral insurgent creation.
Stay-Behind Networks Were Tactical Contingency
- NATO planned stay-behind elements from the early 1950s with hidden arms caches, escape routes, and clandestine cells.
- These networks aimed to generate an internal insurgency to harass occupiers and aid liberation after a Soviet conquest.
