Editing Edwin P. Wilson (section)

==Private Arms Dealing and Libyan Scandal==
After leaving government service, Wilson leveraged his CIA-honed skills to become a private arms dealer, amassing a fortune estimated at $20–23 million. His lifestyle was lavish, including:

	•	A 2,338-acre estate in Fauquier County, Virginia, where he entertained congressmen, generals, and CIA officials.
	•	Properties in Geneva, England, Tripoli, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Lebanon, and Mexico.
	•	Three private planes and familiarity with Concorde flight attendants.
	•	Gifts of mink coats and jewelry to his mistress, dubbed “Wonder Woman.”

	•	Libyan Operations:
	◦	In the late 1970s, Wilson claimed Ted Shackley, a high-ranking CIA official, tasked him with going to Libya to monitor Carlos the Jackal, a notorious terrorist. Wilson posed as a wealthy American businessman, advising Muammar Gaddafi’s regime and operating from bases in Libya, England, and Switzerland.
	◦	Wilson’s most infamous deal was supplying 20 tons of military-grade C-4 plastic explosives to Libya in 1977, equivalent to the entire U.S. stockpile. The explosives, hidden in barrels of oil drilling mud, were flown to Libya on a chartered jet. He also provided former Green Berets to train Libyan troops and pilots for Libyan operations.
	◦	A Libyan official requested pistols for Libyan embassies, one of which was used to kill a dissident in Bonn, Germany, in 1980, which Wilson later expressed regret over.
	◦	Another scandal involved a company Wilson formed to ship U.S. military aid to Egypt, which was convicted of overcharging the Department of Defense by $8 million.

	•	Connection to [[Ted Shackley]]:
	◦	Wilson’s claim that Shackley directed him to Libya is significant. Shackley, as CIA station chief in Laos and Saigon, oversaw [[Air America]] and other covert operations. As Associate Deputy Director for Operations (1976–1979), Shackley had the authority to assign such missions. David Corn, author of Blond Ghost (a biography of Shackley), noted that Wilson was likely framed for actions he undertook on CIA orders, suggesting Shackley’s involvement. However, the CIA denied any post-1971 engagement with Wilson.