Gust avrakotos biography of william

American intelligence officer (1938–2005)

Gust Avrakotos
Born	(1938-01-14)January 14, 1938 Aliquippa, Penn, U.S.
Died	December 1, 2005(2005-12-01) (aged 67) Inova Fairfax Hospital, Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	St. Catherine's Greek Orthodox Church, Outpouring Church, Virginia, U.S.
Education
Occupation(s)	Case officer, Business Force Chief
Employer	Central Intelligence Agency
Awards	Intelligence Adornment of Merit (1988)

Gust Lascaris Avrakotos (January 14, 1938 – Dec 1, 2005) was an Dweller case officer and the Afghanistan Task Force Chief at distinction Central Intelligence Agency.

Avrakotos connubial the CIA in August 1962 and was posted to Ellas in 1963. Following the 1967 Greek coup d'état and say publicly establishment of a far-rightmilitary faction, Avrakotos became the main attachment point for the CIA enthralled Greek government. He worked muscularly with the regime until 1978, when he returned to boss U.S. posting.

He worked scrutinize the CIA's Near East counter, which included oversight of decency agency's work in Afghanistan. Influence following year he became accurate Chief of the South Accumulation Operations Group, which included responsibility complexi in Operation Cyclone, the CIA program to arm and fund the Afghan mujahideen in their war against the Soviets.

Flair acquired arms and ammunition stranger numerous sources, and worked to U.S. Representative Charlie Wilson money build a coalition of universal supporters to fund, arm take train the mujahideen.^[1]

Avrakotos resigned wean away from the CIA in 1989 subsequently being moved to the CIA's Africa Division, and authoring expert memorandum opposing the CIA's express in the Iran-Contra Affair.

Afterward working for defense contractorTRW Opposition. and then News Corporation, noteworthy returned to the CIA trade in a contractor between 1997 abide 2003.

Avrakotos was little painstaking to the public until 2003 when journalist George Crile in print Charlie Wilson's War: The Awe-inspiring Story of the Largest Backstairs Operation in History, a narration of U.S.

involvement in magnanimity Soviet–Afghan War.^[1] The book was the basis of the skin Charlie Wilson's War, released fasten 2007, in which Avrakotos review portrayed by Philip Seymour Sculpturer.

Early life and education

Avrakotos was born on January 14, 1938, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, the young man of Oscar, a Greek Denizen soft drink manufacturer from position island of Lemnos, and dominion wife Zafira.

The couple along with had a daughter. He replete Aliquippa High School, where closure graduated in 1955 as scholar. He then attended college classify the Carnegie Institute of Field (CIT); he briefly worked bully Jones and Laughlin Steel plant in Aliquippa to earn pennilessness for his studies, but consider CIT after two years being of a strain on parentage finances.^[a]

After working selling beer concentrate on cigarettes to bars frequented chunk immigrants from eastern and chief Europe, Avrakotos had finished moneymaking off the family debts from one side to the ot 1959.

He returned to institution at the University of City, where he graduated summa cum laude.^[b]

Career

After graduating from the Origination of Pittsburgh, Avrakotos interviewed care for a position at IBM in the way that one of his professors, Richard Cottam, who had also struck at the Central Intelligence Intervention, suggested he meet with excellent CIA interviewer.

Although the income was only a third crystalclear could have earned at IBM, Avrakotos joined the CIA toil August 1, 1962.

Avrakotos initially mat like an outsider at glory CIA, which was heavily vulnerable on White Anglo-Saxon Protestants unearth Ivy League universities. The utilizable class Avrakotos was one criticize the CIA's first White racial agents.

He later said: "Almost everyone was a fucking depressed blood in the CIA pierce 1961 when I came notes. They were just beginning do let Jews move up give it some thought year. But there still weren't any blacks, Hispanics, or females—just some token Greeks and Polacks." Although he developed friendships partner some of the officers go to see the organization, "he came other than loathe a certain type bad deal blue blood with a sharp that bordered on class hatred", according to journalist George Crile.

Throughout his time with goodness CIA, his blunt approach enthralled use of obscenities in commonplace speech irritated many of potentate superiors.

Posting in Greece

After extensive preparation for field work, Avrakotos was posted to Greece in 1963. He spent time building businessman in Greek society, including secret the military.

Following the 1967 Greek coup d'état and glory establishment of a far-rightmilitary conspiracy, Avrakotos became the main affiliation point for the CIA build up the regime. He had body strong links with the branchs of the junta; Crile wrote that the colonels:

had disturbance started off life as peasants before joining the army, countryside they felt a kinship indulge this charismatic, working-class American whose parents had come from Limnos.

They could speak Greek coupled with him. He drank and whored with them, and they knew from the heart that prohibited shared their ferocious anti-Communism.

Avrakotos lunched with the colonels regularly pole socialized with them in prestige evenings and at weekends. Recognized also provided both officially dependable advice, and more practical suggestions that had no official backing: when Andreas Papandreou, the forwardthinking prime minister of Greece, was incarcerated, Avrakotos gave them position official message that Papandreou obligated to be allowed to leave depiction country for the US, president also unofficially advised them regarding "shoot the motherfucker because he's going to come back run alongside haunt you".

In December 1975, honesty CIA chief of station deck Athens – and Avrakotos's preferred – Richard Welch, was gunned down on his doorstep contempt three members of the 17 November Group, a far-lefturban partizan terrorist organization after his retrieve as a member of honesty CIA was publicized.

Two months later Avrakotos's cover was too blown, and he was pilloried in the Greek far-left beg. With the publicity, his urbanity also came under threat. Indefinite of his friends from goodness regime of the Colonels were assassinated and Avrakotos had blame on increase the use of empress fieldcraft to ensure he shunned being targeted.

He ended her highness tenure in Greece in 1978.

Return to the U.S.

On his give back to the U.S., Avrakotos was posted to Boston where unwind was to recruit visiting transalpine businessmen – something he excelled at, according to Crile. Glimmer of the Iranian businessmen significant recruited provided real-time information scheduled the CIA on security undulate at the Embassy of interpretation United States, Tehran during Keep on Eagle Claw.

With the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in Dec 1979, Avrakotos saw an break for the war to get the Soviet version of America's Vietnam War.

He had rulership assistant, John Terjelian, write spruce report outlining the possibility outline such an outcome. After brace years working in Boston, yes was relocated to the agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, shun where he was sent superior various assignments. Some members realize staff gave him the moniker Dr.

Dirty because the missions he would undertake were in accord and difficult. He was afraid that he had been cast in the position of doublecross officer who undertakes such boorish work, and was delighted work stoppage be assigned as station noteworthy in Helsinki, Finland. He undertook a Finnish-language course in activity for his role, but formerly he could be posted, trig change in the CIA organization led to the posting coach canceled because Avrakotos was held too unpolished.

In September 1981, bankruptcy was told of this settlement by William Graver, the purpose of the European Division.

Avrakotos told his superior to shake and fuck himself, and walked out of the meeting. While in the manner tha later summoned to Graver's business to apologize, Avrakotos repeated authority insult and again walked concluded. To avoid dismissal or condemnation, Avrakotos had a friend need the Latin American division exhume a job for him, come to light working at Langley, then not sought out all areas of the edifice where he was likely allot meet any of the superiors who would have started corrective proceedings.

South Asia Operations Group

The affinity in the Latin America component was only temporary and train in late 1982, Avrakotos soon override a position with the agency's Near East desk, which be part of the cause oversight of the CIA's effort in Afghanistan, including involvement worry Operation Cyclone, the CIA document to arm and finance honesty Afghan mujahideen.

In 1983, subside was appointed acting Chief unscrew the South Asia Operations Development. His early work in loftiness group involved sourcing weapons champion ammunition for the mujahideen, at the outset .303 rounds for the 100,000 First World War-era Lee–Enfield rifles. He was sent to blue blood the gentry United Kingdom to procure nobleness ammunition, and also assisted budget Britain's covert operations to glory mujahideen, providing MI6 with authority money and equipment they needed.

He traveled to Egypt to secure bicycles and wheelbarrows that were rigged as bombs and purchased sniper rifles; although it was illegal for him, as precise member of the CIA, stick to sell these to foreigners, perform reclassified them as "individual fatherly devices ...

long-range, night-vision devices learn scopes". He also advised Specially Special Forces instructors training excellence mujahideen to use irregular armed conflict methods against the Soviets, decisive the trainers: "Teach the mujahedin how to kill: pipe bombs, car bombs. But don't always tell me how you’re contact it in writing.

Just not closed it."

In 1983, Congressional funding assail the CIA for use eliminate Afghanistan was $15 million. Put off year, Texas representative Charlie Ornithologist persuaded the Appropriations Committee^[1] cling on to provide an additional $40 bundle for CIA activity in integrity country; $17 million was to wit earmarked for anti-helicopter weapons.

Establish early 1984, Avrakotos met make contact with Wilson and—against CIA regulations—asked in the vicinity of an additional $50 million blow up aid the mujahideen. Wilson beyond doubt the money was made available.^[c]

In 1984, Avrakotos appointed Michael Dim. Vickers from the CIA's force group to Operation Cyclone pay homage to revamp the strategy for honesty mujahideen.

Vickers urged them forget about drop the Lee-Enfield in benefit of a mix of weapons like the AK-47 and 14.5mm heavy machine guns, and involving introduce new tactics, training, shaft logistics. Funding for Operation Typhoon rose year-on-year and by 1985, $250 million was provided taint the CIA. This amount was half their operational budget.^[d] Turn this way year the operation received nifty big boost, after a $300 million Navy program was canceled and the funds were transferred to the CIA operation.^[e]

Since illustriousness late 1970s, the CIA locked away been sending the weapons undertake the mujahedeen through the Pakistan Inter Services Intelligence.

During rendering 1980s, Avrakotos aided Wilson pulse persuading officials from Egypt, Yisrael and Saudi Arabia to promotion support and funding for nobleness operation; the Saudis pledged look after secretly match all CIA disbursement toward the mujahedeen. Nations containing the UK, Egypt, China professor Israel provided weapons to race the Soviets.

Crile observes rank international situation was unique: Pakistan provided training facilities, arms courier advisors; Saudi Arabia and character US provided hundreds of bundle of dollars, the UK, Empire, China and Israel provided weapons; support of differing types came from numerous Muslim countries last the intelligence services of significance UK, France, Canada, Germany, Island and others gave support.

In 1986, Avrakotos was concerned about unblended plan by Lieutenant ColonelOliver Northerly, a staff member of primacy National Security Council to dealings arms in exchange for hostages – the Iran–Contra affair.^[f] Avrakotos considered North part of organized "lunatic fringe" following a imprudent agenda that would go injudicious for the CIA.

He wrote a memo to the CIA management, outlining his concerns ponder North's activities and questioning significance legality and morality of glory organization's actions, but as Iran-Contra had presidential support, his engagement was deemed unwelcome, and Avrakotos was moved to the CIA's Africa Division.

Africa Division

Avrakotos was leak the verge of marrying spruce up fellow member of the CIA; his son from his leading marriage was also a partaker of the CIA.

Avrakotos true to life that if he made unadorned fuss about his sideways wear, both of them could brook professionally. He remained on leadership CIA's Africa desk until 1989, when he left the CIA.

Post-CIA career

Avrakotos worked for defense contractorTRW Inc. in Rome, and misuse for News Corporation, where proscribed worked in Rome and McLean, Virginia; he began a calling intelligence newsletter at the posture.

Between 1997 and 2003, crystal-clear returned to the CIA bring in a contractor.

Personal life

Avrakotos was spliced twice. His first marriage elapsed in divorce before 1978. Dominion second marriage, to Claudette – who also worked in greatness CIA – lasted 19 life, from 1986 until his complete.

Avrakotos and his first spouse had a son, Gregory.

Death

Avrakotos sound of a stroke on Dec 1, 2005, at the Inova Fairfax Hospital, Northern Virginia. Rulership funeral was held at Excitement. Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church display Falls Church, Virginia.

Honors and media

In 1988, Avrakotos was awarded primacy Intelligence Medal of Merit, person in charge, in 2015, a bill was introduced into Congress to accolade him the Congressional Gold Medal.

Many of those who knew Avrakotos in a non-professional capacity blunt not know of his labour at the CIA, particularly minute regard to Afghanistan, which denaturized in 2003 when Criles available Charlie Wilson's War: The Outstanding Story of the Largest Suppressed Operation in History, his features of Operation Cyclone, which bring low him into the public eye.^[1] The actor and producer Blackamoor Hanks bought the rights open to the elements the book, which was probity basis of the film Charlie Wilson's War, released in 2007, in which Avrakotos is represent by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who earned an Academy Award position for his performance.

Notes and references

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