"Operation Gladio: The Unholy Alliance Between the Vatican, the CIA, and the Mafia" is a non-fiction book authored by Paul L. Williams. It was published in 2015 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. The book delves into a secret alliance allegedly forged after World War II between the CIA, the Sicilian and U.S. Mafia, and the Vatican. This alliance aimed to prevent a potential Communist invasion of Europe.
Williams presents evidence suggesting the existence of "stay-behind" units in various European countries, comprising thousands of military operatives. These units were supposedly funded by sources like smuggled Nazi morphine and counterfeit British banknotes. As the Cold War intensified, these units were allegedly used to thwart left-wing movements through terror attacks in South America and NATO countries. The book further claims that Operation Gladio led to government overthrows, genocide, death squads, large-scale financial scandals, the creation of the Mujahideen, and an international narcotics network.
While specific page counts and awards are not readily available, "Operation Gladio" is described as a controversial exposé that connects various historical events often overlooked by mainstream media. It explores the alleged connections between intelligence agencies, religious institutions, and organized crime. There is an audiobook version of the book. No film or TV adaptations are explicitly mentioned in the search results.
