Editing Theodore Shackley (section)

==Post-CIA Career and Le Cercle==
After retiring, Shackley became a private security consultant and remained active in intelligence and conservative circles, notably through his involvement with [[Le Cercle]], the secretive anti-communist forum.

	•	Le Cercle Involvement:
	◦	Shackley joined Le Cercle in the 1970s, reportedly chairing its U.S. meetings during the late 1970s and 1980s, when the group shifted to a transatlantic focus under his influence. Le Cercle, founded by Antoine Pinay and Jean Violet, included intelligence veterans, politicians, and business leaders like Brian Crozier, Julian Amery, and Franz Josef Strauss. Shackley’s participation is documented in sources like David Teacher’s Rogue Agents and Joël van der Reijden’s research, based on Monique Garnier-Lançon’s papers.
	◦	Le Cercle’s activities during Shackley’s tenure included supporting conservative politicians (e.g., Margaret Thatcher), backing anti-communist movements like [[UNITA]] in Angola, and influencing NATO’s nuclear policies. Shackley’s CIA background and connections to figures like [[Ray Cline]] (a [[World Anti-Communist League]] leader) made him a key figure in aligning Le Cercle with U.S. intelligence priorities.

	•	Iran-Contra and Private Ventures:
	◦	In the 1980s, Shackley was implicated in the Iran-Contra affair, a scandal involving the illegal sale of arms to Iran to fund Nicaraguan Contras. He worked with Thomas Clines, a former CIA colleague, and [[Edwin P. Wilson]], a rogue agent convicted of smuggling arms to Libya. Shackley and Clines operated through companies like API Distributors and [[EATSCO]], which facilitated arms deals and covert funding.
	◦	Shackley was investigated but not charged in Iran-Contra, though his associate Richard Secord was a central figure. His private security firm, Research Associates International, provided risk analysis to corporations and governments, often leveraging his CIA contacts.

	•	Controversial Associations:
	◦	Shackley’s post-CIA activities included ties to Albert Hakim, an Iranian-American businessman involved in Iran-Contra, and [[Adnan Khashoggi]], a Saudi arms dealer. These connections fueled speculation about his role in global arms and intelligence networks.
	◦	He co-authored The Third Option (1981) with Donald Jameson, advocating for covert action as a middle ground between diplomacy and war, reflecting his lifelong belief in clandestine operations.