Editing Lyman Lemnitzer (section)

==Operation Gladio==
Lyman Lemnitzer (August 29, 1899 – November 12, 1988), a four-star U.S. Army General, was a key figure in [[Operation Gladio]], NATO’s clandestine “stay-behind” program designed under the premise of countering Soviet influence in Western Europe during the Cold War. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1960–1962), Lemnitzer endorsed aggressive anti-communist strategies, including the infamous [[Operation Northwoods]], a 1962 proposal for staged terrorist acts to justify a U.S. invasion of Cuba. Rejected by President Kennedy, this led to Lemnitzer’s reassignment. In 1963, he became Supreme Allied Commander Europe at NATO (SACEUR), where he directly oversaw Gladio’s operations until 1969.

Gladio, initiated post-World War II, involved secret paramilitary units trained and armed to resist Soviet occupation or conduct guerrilla warfare. Under Lemnitzer’s command, these networks, particularly in Italy, Turkey, and Greece, were coordinated through NATO’s Allied Clandestine Committee and Clandestine Planning Committee. Beyond defense, Gladio units allegedly executed a “Strategy of Tension,” orchestrating false flag attacks, assassinations, and political subversion to destabilize leftist governments and suppress communist influence. 

In Italy, Gladio was linked to terrorist acts like the 1969 Piazza Fontana bombing and the 1980 Bologna massacre, with connections to neo-fascist groups and the [[Propaganda Due P2]] Masonic lodge.

Lemnitzer’s tenure saw Gladio’s expansion and its controversial ties to anti-communist regimes and figures. He reportedly supported plots to undermine French President Charles de Gaulle, who opposed NATO’s U.S.-centric structure, including assassination attempts tied to Gladio operatives. Lemnitzer’s oversight also involved collaboration with intelligence agencies, organized crime, and far-right militants, fostering networks that later fueled Europe’s Years of Lead. Declassified documents and Italian investigations, particularly the 1990 revelations by Prime Minister [[Giulio Andreotti]], confirmed Gladio’s existence and Lemnitzer’s role, though he faced no formal accountability. His legacy remains tied to the ethical controversies of covert warfare and its unintended consequences.