Known as the “godfather of mass surveillance”, James Angleton got his start in the spy business with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. However before that, his father bought a business and relocated the family to Milan, Italy. As a young man he developed a love of poetry and British culture – which he felt superior to American. He also developed an appreciation for the efficiency of fascism. He wasn't completely comfortable with the slaughter that usually came along with it.
He spent much of the war in Italy and toward the end helped various high ranking Nazis escape the hangman's noose by guiding them trough the “ratline” that took them through Italy and often to South America. For a while he ran the CIA assassination efforts and was there when governments were overthrown that acted contrary to American interests... that is the interests of the CIA and American multi-national corporations. These included the “spontaneous” revolutions in Guatemala and Iran in the early 50s. His sites were on Cuba, but that never materialized.
He began tracing correspondence of Americans who communicated with the Soviet Union. This program was expanded to include many others – all the while being clearly illegal for the CIA as the FBI had responsibility for domestic issues.
As he neared the end of his life he began reconsidering some of the things he had done. Raised as a Catholic, at the time he believed in the righteousness of his actions. However, later he mused about many of his colleagues, “If you were in a room with them, you were in a room full of people that you had to believe would deservedly end up in hell.” And he added, “I guess I will see them there soon.”
This is probably what happened, however it was totally unnecessary. Mr Angleton was not a good man and neither were many of those he associated with though out his life. However neither he, nor his boss, Allen Dulles, who directed him in his work were too far gone to change.
The blood of Jesus could cover all of his sins, and they were many. Just like it covers all of ours if we ask. As I studied the activities of this man and some of his associates I had little sympathy for them because of all the death and destruction they caused. Yet, I still would have been compelled to tell them they don't have to carry all that into eternity. As long as you have breath you can turn around and ask God for forgiveness, even if you have spent your life filled with evil thoughts and deeds.
I never met Mr Angleton. I doubt I would have liked him. Yet I still feel sad for the man who recognized he did wrong and did not accept the remedy.