Operation Cedar (KGB)

Operation Cedar was a purported disinformation campaign allegedly conducted by the KGB against the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The primary objective of Operation Cedar, according to various sources, was to sow discord and racial tension within the United States, specifically targeting the Black Power movement and attempting to undermine the credibility of civil rights leaders.

The alleged methods employed in Operation Cedar included the creation and distribution of forged documents, letters, and leaflets designed to inflame existing racial prejudices and promote distrust between different groups. These forgeries were often attributed to rival civil rights organizations or white supremacist groups, with the intention of sparking conflict and violence.

Reports suggest that the KGB operatives involved in Operation Cedar attempted to infiltrate various activist groups, feeding them fabricated information and manipulating events to further their objectives. Another tactic involved anonymously sending inflammatory materials to media outlets and government officials, hoping to exacerbate existing social and political divisions.

The effectiveness and extent of Operation Cedar remain a subject of debate. While some scholars and intelligence officials maintain that the operation had a significant impact on American society, others argue that its influence was overstated and that internal factors within the United States were more responsible for the social unrest of the era.

The existence of Operation Cedar is primarily based on information from defectors and declassified KGB documents. Verifying the details of the operation remains challenging, as much of the evidence is circumstantial or based on secondhand accounts. However, the allegations surrounding Operation Cedar highlight the Soviet Union's interest in exploiting racial tensions within the United States during the Cold War.