Miles Copeland Jr.

Miles Copeland Jr.
Miles Copeland
Born
Miles Axe Copeland Jr.

(1916-07-16)July 16, 1916
DiedJanuary 14, 1991(1991-01-14) (aged 74)
Oxfordshire, England
Occupation(s)Musician, businessman, CIA founder
SpouseLorraine Copeland
ChildrenMiles Copeland III, Ian Copeland, Lorraine (Lennie) Copeland, Stewart Copeland
Espionage activity
Allegiance United States
Service branchCentral Intelligence Agency
Counterintelligence Corps
Strategic Services Unit
Corps of Intelligence Police
Service years1940–1957
OperationsProject FF
Operation Ajax
March 1949 Syrian coup d'état (alleged)
Operation Overlord

Miles Axe Copeland Jr. (July 16, 1916 – January 14, 1991) was an American musician, businessman, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) founding member[1] best known for his relationship with Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser and his public commentary on intelligence matters.[2] Copeland participated in numerous covert operations, including the March 1949 Syrian coup d'état and the 1953 Iranian coup d'état.[3]

A conservative who was influenced by the ideas of James Burnham, Copeland was associated with the American political magazine National Review.[4][5] In a 1986 Rolling Stone interview, he stated "Unlike The New York Times, Victor Marchetti and Philip Agee, my complaint has been that the CIA isn't overthrowing enough anti-American governments or assassinating enough anti-American leaders, but I guess I'm getting old."[6]

  1. ^ CIA. Jazz, Spies and Games: The Extraordinary Life of CIA Founding Member Miles Copeland. Retrieved on 24 Oct. 2023
  2. ^ Wilford 2013, pp. xi, 67–68, 137, 153, 225, 283.
  3. ^ Wilford 2013, pp. 101–104, 166–167.
  4. ^ Wilford 2013, pp. 149–150, 229, 296.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference NR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Eringer, Robert (January 16, 1986). "Secret Agent Man—Interview with Miles Copeland, Jr". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 9, 2018.