Ep 4. Cold War: Eisenhower?s Operatives

In the season 5 episode 4 of Secrets of War, titled Cold War: Eisenhower's Operatives, viewers are taken on a journey into the world of espionage during the Cold War era. The focus of this episode is on the network of agents and operatives that supported President Eisenhower's efforts to win the Cold War against the Soviet Union.

The episode opens with a brief overview of the political climate of the Cold War and the escalating tensions between the US and the USSR. It then goes on to explore how President Eisenhower turned to covert operations as a means of gaining an advantage over the Soviets. We learn how he created a network of operatives that spanned the globe, working behind the scenes to gather intelligence and carry out sabotage operations.

Throughout the episode, we are introduced to some of the key players in this network, including Allen Dulles, who served as director of the CIA during the early years of the Cold War. We learn about his role in the CIA's efforts to undermine Soviet influence in Europe, as well as his involvement in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba.

The episode also sheds light on the role of other key operatives, such as Richard Bissell, who oversaw the development of the U-2 spy plane, and William J. Donovan, who helped to create the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the CIA.

One of the most interesting aspects of this episode is the way it explores the ethical dilemmas faced by these operatives. We learn about the controversial use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" by the CIA, as well as the agency's involvement in regime change and other forms of covert action. While some of these actions were justified as necessary to protect American interests, others raised serious questions about the morality of spying and covert operations.

As the episode draws to a close, we see how the Cold War ultimately came to an end, as the Soviet Union collapsed and the balance of power shifted in favor of the United States. However, we also see how the legacy of the Cold War continues to shape American foreign policy to this day, as the country grapples with new threats and challenges.

Overall, this episode of Secrets of War provides a fascinating look at the world of espionage during the Cold War. It is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of the moral and ethical questions raised by covert operations, and the ways in which these operations shaped the course of world history.