• Western intelligence agencies, in collaboration with criminal networks and fascist groups (including ex-Nazis), employed the “Strategy of Tension” to orchestrate or permit acts of terrorism. This strategy aimed to instill fear, justify authoritarian measures and suppress the rise of leftist movements in Europe.
• Cottrell’s book delves into the covert operations of NATO’s secret armies, established through Operation GLADIO. These clandestine forces, often comprising ex-Nazis and fascist sympathizers, operated with the approval of high-ranking officials like U.S. Army Gen. Lyman Lemnitzer, a key figure in Cold War psychological warfare.
• The book explores significant events such as the 1969 bombing of the National Agriculture Bank in Milan, the assassination of Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro and the murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.
• Cottrell highlights the intricate links between intelligence agencies and criminal entities. For instance, the death of “God’s Banker” Roberto Calvi and the assassination of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov are depicted as outcomes of this complex web of alliances.
• The Gladio network is portrayed as a manifestation of a broader strategy that persists in influencing global politics. The use of psychological warfare, manipulation of public opinion and collaboration between intelligence agencies and criminal organizations remain relevant in contemporary disinformation and hybrid warfare.

Richard Cottrell’s book “GLADIO, NATO’s Dagger at the Heart of Europe: The Pentagon-Nazi-Mafia Terror Axis” reveals how Western intelligence agencies worked with criminal networks and fascist terrorist groups – including those with former Nazis – to manipulate the political landscape of Europe.

Through a tactic known as the “Strategy of Tension,” these covert forces orchestrated or permitted acts of terrorism to instill fear, justify authoritarian measures and prevent the rise of leftist movements. From the assassination of Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro to the mysterious murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, Cottrell’s work uncovers a web of deception that challenges conventional narratives of post-war democracy and stability.

The book delves into the shadowy operations of the secret armies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, assembled through the networks built by Operation GLADIO.

These clandestine forces, often composed of ex-Nazis and fascist sympathizers, were established with the blessing of high-ranking officials like United States Army Gen. Lyman Lemnitzer, a key architect of Cold War-era psychological warfare.

Lemnitzer, who once proposed staging terrorist attacks on U.S. soil to justify war with Cuba under Operation Northwoods, extended his influence to Europe, where he oversaw operations that blurred the lines between counterinsurgency and state-sponsored terror.

Cottrell’s research highlights the role of figures like Col. Edward Lansdale, a Central Intelligence Agency operative renowned for his unorthodox methods. Lansdale’s tactics included exploiting local culture and superstitions, such as having his men impersonate vampires to intimidate Filipino communist rebels. This psychological warfare, Cottrell argues, was emblematic of a broader strategy that prioritized extreme measures to combat communism, often at the expense of democratic principles.

One of the most striking examples of the Strategy of Tension is the 1969 bombing of the National Agriculture Bank in Milan, which killed 17 people and injured 88. The attack, orchestrated by French terrorist Yves Guerin-Serac, was part of a broader effort to destabilize Italy and prevent a political shift to the left.

Guerin-Serac, a former French officer turned mercenary, founded Aginter Press, a front organization that served as a hub for terrorist activities across Europe. His methods included infiltrating left-wing groups to carry out acts of violence, which were then blamed on communists to justify crackdowns.

The book also examines the intricate connections between intelligence agencies and criminal organizations. Roberto Calvi, known as “God’s Banker” for his ties to the Vatican, was found hanging under London’s Blackfriars Bridge in 1982. Cottrell suggests that Calvi’s death was linked to a web of financial scandals involving the Vatican, the Mafia and intelligence agencies.

Similarly, the assassination of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov, who was killed with a ricin-tipped umbrella in London in 1978, is portrayed as part of a larger operation involving Western intelligence agencies.

The assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986 is another focal point. Cottrell argues that Palme’s murder was not the act of a lone gunman but part of a conspiracy involving NATO and the CIA.

The book highlights the role of figures like Francesco Gullino, a Danish-Italian with ties to intelligence agencies, who is suspected of involvement in the assassination. These revelations underscore the deep connections between national intelligence services and the Gladio network, which operated with impunity across Europe.

The book also sheds light on the role of influential figures like Jacques Foccart, a key player in the French secret services who orchestrated coups in Africa to serve French interests. Foccart’s ties to NATO and his involvement in plots to assassinate General Charles de Gaulle reveal the extent to which Cold War-era intelligence operations were intertwined with domestic and international politics.

As Cottrell’s narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the Gladio network was not an isolated phenomenon but part of a broader strategy that continues to influence global politics. The use of psychological warfare, the manipulation of public opinion and the collaboration between intelligence agencies and criminal organizations are tactics that remain relevant in an era of disinformation and hybrid warfare.

Watch this video discussing Richard Cottrell’s book “GLADIO, NATO’s Dagger at the Heart of Europe: The Pentagon-Nazi-Mafia Terror Axis.”

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

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