Dan Kovalik

CIA document from 1952 outlines how they embarked on programme to promote right-wing Christian currents to clamp down on what was later called "liberation theology" in Latin America. "The present rather weak and uncoordinated efforts of religious groups to combat Communism should be vigorously reinforced," the CIA noted. "Tremendous advantages to the Western program would ensue if it were possible to persuade all religious groups to unite in a campaign attacking Communism because of the Godlessness inherent in the Marxist doctrine." It continued: "It is therefore vital, if covert activities are to be effective, that they are carefully concentrated where they can accomplish the most". At the time the CIA complained that "its assets as to personnel and covert mechanisms are not capable of covertly supporting many different and wide-spread activities" in Latin America. This soon changed - and support for ultra conservative Christian currents in Latin America continues to this day. One big victim of this operation has been Brazil, where conservative Evangelical and Pentecostal churches have been promoted relentlessly. They were, later, a key element of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro's base - and now his son. The CIA (and MI6) did exact same in West Asia using, in this case, ultra conservative Wahhabis and Salafis as a bulwark against secular nationalism, socialism and anti-imperialism. Nasser in Egypt was the biggest target of all after he nationalised the Suez Canal in 1956 and the resulting UK/France/Israel invasion failed.