In this newly revised and updated edition of his essential work, John Prados adds his concluding findings on U.S. covert operations in Angola, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, and the Persian Gulf. Acclaimed as a landmark book about U.S. intelligence agencies in the postwar era, Presidents' Secret Wars describes the secret warfare mounted by the president, the CIA, and the Pentagon-operations aimed at altering the destinies of nations and the course of global politics. Mr. Prados uses many newly declassified documents to open a vital window on this most secret aspect of American foreign policy. "A worthy and informative book"-Washington Post. "An important book....Prados's recounting of the often neglected early days of the C.I.A. and its covert activities is especially enlightening."-New York Times Book Review. "For those concerned with the study of intelligence, Presidents' Secret Wars will be highly useful because Dr. Prados has done serious archival research....This volume moves the study of covert operations to a higher and more sophisticated plane"-Intelligence and National Security.

Part 1 Introduction 9 Part 2 The Cold War Crucible 13 Part 3 The Secret War Against Russia 30 Part 4 "We'll Get It Right Next Time" 45 Part 5 Adventures in Asia 61 Part 6 The Covert Legions 79 Part 7 Bitter Fruits 91 Part 8 "Create and Exploit Troublesome Problems" 108 Part 9 Archipelago 128 Part 10 The War for the Roof of the World 149 Part 11 Cuba I: "Another Black Hole of Calcutta" 171 Part 12 Cuba II: From Pluto to Mongoose 194 Part 13 Cold War and Counterinsurgency 218 Part 14 Vietnam 239 Part 15 The High Plateau 261 Part 16 Global Reach 297 Part 17 "Rogue Elephant" to Resurrection 326 Part 18 New Wave Covert Actions 357 Part 19 Bill Casey's War 396 Part 20 Project Democracy 419 Part 21 Secret Wars Reprise 476 Part 22 Abbreviations and Acronyms 489 Part 23 Notes 493 Part 24 Bibliography 525 Part 25 Index 549