Chief of Station, Congo

Fighting the Cold War in a Hot Zone

Nonfiction, History, Africa, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, International
Cover of the book Chief of Station, Congo by Lawrence Devlin, PublicAffairs
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Lawrence Devlin ISBN: 9780786732180
Publisher: PublicAffairs Publication: April 1, 2008
Imprint: PublicAffairs Language: English
Author: Lawrence Devlin
ISBN: 9780786732180
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Publication: April 1, 2008
Imprint: PublicAffairs
Language: English

Larry Devlin arrived as the new chief of station for the CIA in the Congo five days after the country had declared its independence, the army had mutinied, and governmental authority had collapsed. As he crossed the Congo River in an almost empty ferry boat, all he could see were lines of people trying to travel the other way-out of the Congo. Within his first two weeks he found himself on the wrong end of a revolver as militiamen played Russian-roulette, Congo style, with him.

During his first year, the charismatic and reckless political leader, Patrice Lumumba, was murdered and Devlin was widely thought to have been entrusted with (he was) and to have carried out (he didn't) the assassination. Then he saved the life of Joseph Desire Mobutu, who carried out the military coup that presaged his own rise to political power. Devlin found himself at the heart of Africa, fighting for the future of perhaps the most strategically influential country on the continent, its borders shared with eight other nations. He met every significant political figure, from presidents to mercenaries, as he took the Cold War to one of the world's hottest zones. This is a classic political memoir from a master spy who lived in wildly dramatic times.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Larry Devlin arrived as the new chief of station for the CIA in the Congo five days after the country had declared its independence, the army had mutinied, and governmental authority had collapsed. As he crossed the Congo River in an almost empty ferry boat, all he could see were lines of people trying to travel the other way-out of the Congo. Within his first two weeks he found himself on the wrong end of a revolver as militiamen played Russian-roulette, Congo style, with him.

During his first year, the charismatic and reckless political leader, Patrice Lumumba, was murdered and Devlin was widely thought to have been entrusted with (he was) and to have carried out (he didn't) the assassination. Then he saved the life of Joseph Desire Mobutu, who carried out the military coup that presaged his own rise to political power. Devlin found himself at the heart of Africa, fighting for the future of perhaps the most strategically influential country on the continent, its borders shared with eight other nations. He met every significant political figure, from presidents to mercenaries, as he took the Cold War to one of the world's hottest zones. This is a classic political memoir from a master spy who lived in wildly dramatic times.

More books from PublicAffairs

Cover of the book Fallout by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book Agent M by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book Uprising by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book Bob Dylan by Greil Marcus by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book My War by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book Excellence Without a Soul by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book The Assist by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book The Lure of Long Distances by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book Seeing What Others Don't by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book The Hour of Sunlight by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book The Frugal Superpower by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book The Big Nine by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book Tropic of Chaos by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book War Against All Puerto Ricans by Lawrence Devlin
Cover of the book George Soros On Globalization by Lawrence Devlin
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy