CIA Operations in Tibet, 1957-1974: 1957-1974

(Paperback)

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From training camps in the Colorado Rockies to clandestine operations in the Himalayas, this book introduces readers to one of the CIA's most remote covert campaigns of the Cold War. This is the story of how the US government - primarily through the CIA and often in cooperation with India - came to harness, nurture, and encourage Tibetan defiance in one of the most extreme covert campaigns of the Cold War. In particular, it details an important chapter in the CIA's paramilitary history. In Tibet, new kinds of equipment - aircraft and parachutes, for example - were combat-tested under the most extreme conditions imaginable. New communications techniques were tried and perfected. In many cases, these lessons learned would be applied to other Cold War battlefields like Vietnam, Laos, and elsewhere. Tibet, therefore, became a vital proving ground for CIA case officers and their spycraft. AUTHOR: Kenneth Conboy was South East Asian policy analyst and deputy director of the Asian Studies Centre in Washington D.C., 1986-1992. Since then he has held roles in risk management companies in Indonesia, and he currently serves as Risk Management Advisory Country Manager in Indonesia. He has written a number of books about war in Asia, as well as several articles. 45 b/w photos, 18 colour photos, 3 colour profiles, 3 maps

Reviews

"Conboy seems to do a good job of balancing his sources, not relying too heavily on any one person's or group's perspectives or memories...a useful study of a little-known aspect of American covert operations."-- "The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation"
"This heavily illustrated monograph covers the history of CIA's involvement in supporting anti-Chinese rebels in Tibet. The author includes a lot of detail..."-- "Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies"
"Modelers and historians will enjoy this book... Ken Conboy has provided the Asia@War series a concise, well researched and easy to read book to help fill in gaps in the little-known covert wars in Asia."-- "IPMS/USA"
"...a very readable book that provides not only a look at the events leading up to the events of the book, but also the men and equipment that were used."-- "ModelingMadness.Com"
"Highly recommended."-- "AMPS Indianapolis"

Author Bio

Kenneth Conboy was South East Asian policy analyst and deputy director of the Asian Studies Centre in Washington D.C., 1986-1992. Since then he has held roles in risk management companies in Indonesia, and he currently serves as Risk Management Advisory Country Manager in Indonesia. He has written a number of books about war in Asia, as well as several articles.