Russian covert actions

As we learned only years later,  the CIA was very active in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s around the globe. It overthrew governments in Iran and Guatemala and tried to do it in Cuba and elsewhere. It secretly aided non-communist political parties in Italy and France and numerous intellectual organizations and publications.

At the same time, of course, the Soviet Union was engaged in its own dirty tricks and interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

That was then. Nowadays U.S. help to struggling democratic governments is more transparent. But Russia seems determined to play the old cold war games with increasing vigor. I'm not going to look up all the links, but the international press has been full of stories reporting Russian support to numerous right-wing political parties in Europe as part of its efforts to weaken NATO and divide the EU so it will not continue sanctions against Russia over Crimea. Russia even tried, but failed, to organize a coup in Montenegro. Pro-Russian officials are gaining power in Hungary, Austria and the Baltics. And who knows where Russia-sponsored hacking is disrupting elections besides the United States or spreading fake news with insidious impacts?

I hope we're fighting back secretly. In any event, we should be more open about recognizing this renewed threat.