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== Operation Gladio ==
 [[File:Gladio-logo.png|200px|thumb|right|Operation Gladio Wiki Seal]] [[Operation Gladio]] was a covert [[NATO]] initiative from 1948 until present, originally justified to counter Soviet imminent attack into western Europe in the aftermath of [[World War II]]. It involved creating secret [["stay-behind" networks]] of "anti-communist" operatives trained to resist potential Soviet invasions or communist takeovers. However, its main function was for domestic terror events and foreign coups or destabilization efforts. 

Coordinated by NATO, the [[CIA]] and all post World War II intelligence agencies, including [[MI6]], Gladio operated in countries like Italy, Belgium, and Germany, often with local intelligence and national police agency's support. These networks were linked to paramilitary activities, weapons caches, and, controversially, alleged involvement in false-flag terrorism to destabilize countries and movements that opposed western imperialistic activities. Declassified in the 1990s, Gladio remains a subject of debate regarding its methods and impact.

Operation Gladio’s legacy endures as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked covert operations.