Covert operation facts for kids

A covert operation or undercover operation is a secret mission where the people carrying it out pretend to be someone else. They do this to hide who they really are, or to hide who is actually in charge of the mission. Sometimes, these operations are also clandestine, meaning they are meant to stay completely secret. However, many covert operations are not meant to stay secret forever, only the sponsor is hidden.

Secret Missions in Other Countries

Covert operations often happen in other countries. The main goal is to complete a mission without anyone knowing who planned or carried it out. The United States Department of Defense says a covert operation is planned to hide who is sponsoring it, or to allow them to deny they were involved. This is different from a clandestine operation, where the operation itself is hidden.

These secret missions are used when openly acting against a target would cause problems. They might be used with allies to get their support for difficult foreign policy goals. Covert operations can involve things like secretly damaging something (sabotage) or helping to change a government (supporting coups). Sometimes, they use a "false flag" (making it look like someone else did it) or a "front group" (a fake organization).

Who is in Charge?

In the United States, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) usually leads covert operations. However, the President can decide another agency should do it. The CIA's power to do these actions comes from a law called the National Security Act of 1947.

Before the CIA can start a covert operation, the President must give a special approval called a "Presidential Finding." This finding then gets checked by special committees in both the US Senate and House of Representatives. This means the CIA is watched very closely by Congress. The Special Activities Division (SAD) is a part of the CIA that handles these secret political and military missions.

Covert vs. Clandestine

It's easy to mix up covert and clandestine operations, but they are different.

• A covert operation hides who is behind it. The operation itself might be noticed, but no one knows who sponsored it. Think of it as "deniable."
• A clandestine operation hides the operation itself. It's meant to go completely unnoticed. Think of it as "hidden."

Sometimes, both types of operations use "stealth" to surprise the target and reduce resistance.

Why They Are Used

Some experts believe that covert operations can actually help prevent bigger wars. By keeping military actions secret, leaders can try to solve problems without making things worse. It also lets leaders communicate with other countries while keeping their actions private from their own public. Often, other major countries do find out about these secret operations.

Undercover Work at Home

To go "undercover" means to avoid being noticed by the people you are watching. This usually involves pretending to be someone else or using a fake identity. The goal is to gain trust to learn secret information or gather evidence. Undercover operations are often used by police and private investigators. The people doing this work are called undercover agents.

A Look Back in Time

Undercover police work has a long history. In the early 1800s, a man named Eugène François Vidocq in France created one of the first organized undercover police groups. He called it the Brigade de la Sûreté (Security Brigade). This group started with a few agents and grew over time. Many of Vidocq's agents were former criminals, just like him.

Vidocq taught his agents how to pick the right disguise for each job. He even went undercover himself, pretending to be a beggar to catch criminals. He once even faked his own death!

In England, the first modern police force, the Metropolitan Police of London, was set up in 1829. They sometimes used plainclothes detectives. However, people worried about police power, so in 1845, all undercover operations had to be approved by a police leader. In 1869, a formal plainclothes detective division was created.

Special Branch detectives on an undercover operation at the London Docks, 1911

The first Special Branch of police was formed in London in 1883. It was created to fight a bombing campaign by an Irish group. This branch was the first to get training in fighting terrorism. Later, its name changed to Special Branch, and it started dealing with general terrorism, foreign threats, and organized crime. Other police forces around the world created similar branches.

In the United States, the New York City Police Department created the Italian Squad in 1906 to fight crime in Italian neighborhoods. Soon after, federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) started their own undercover programs.

Challenges for Undercover Agents

Working undercover can be very difficult. Agents face two main problems: keeping their fake identity believable and returning to normal life after the mission.

Living a double life is stressful. Undercover agents are often separated from their friends and family, which can lead to loneliness and worry. The need for secrecy and unpredictable work hours can also strain their personal relationships.

Another source of stress is not knowing when an investigation will end. The amount of planning and risk involved can make agents feel a lot of pressure to succeed. Because undercover agents are not always supervised directly and don't wear uniforms, there's a risk of them becoming too close to the criminals they are watching.

Agents might also feel guilty about betraying the trust of the people they are investigating. This can cause anxiety or, in rare cases, even sympathy for the target. This is especially true when agents infiltrate political groups, as they might share similar backgrounds with the people in the group.

It can be hard for agents to go back to normal police work after being undercover. They get used to working their own hours and ignoring strict rules about dress and behavior. So, returning to a regular police role means changing old habits. They might feel uncomfortable, suspicious, or always on guard. Other serious risks include being caught or harmed.

Plainclothes Police Officers

It's important to know that undercover agents are different from regular plainclothes police officers. Plainclothes officers wear normal clothes instead of a uniform to blend in. However, they usually carry their police equipment and identification. They must identify themselves as police officers when using their police powers. Sometimes, they might drive unmarked cars that look like regular vehicles.

Examples

• Black operations
• COINTELPRO
• False flag
• Iran–Contra affair
• Operation Anthropoid
• Operation CHAOS
• Operation Gladio
• Operation Storm-333
• Project MKULTRA

Images for kids

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  Special Branch detectives on an undercover operation at the London Docks, 1911

See also