Book · 2015 · History
Operation Gladio
The Unholy Alliance Between the Vatican, the CIA, and the Mafia
Why people recommend it
Operation Gladio by Paul L. Williams is an investigative history book detailing the covert Cold War operations, secret stay-behind armies, and illicit financial ties involving intelligence agencies, the Vatican, and organized crime. The book was recommended by Mike Benz on The Joe Rogan Experience during two separate appearances. In February 2026, Benz brought up the work to explain the historical nexus and funding relationships connecting the Vatican Bank, the CIA, and criminal syndicates. He previously recommended the publication in February 2025 as part of an extensive reading list covering intelligence history and covert operations. Benz characterized it as a great book published in 2017 that sheds light on deep-state networks and hidden geopolitical structures. These repeated mentions highlight the book's utility as a key text for researchers and podcasters investigating historical intelligence operations, shadow governance, and the complex entanglements of state power and organized crime during the twentieth century.
Who recommended it
- Mike Benz Recommended
Mike Benz — 2 mentions
“There's a great book on this by Paul Williams. I think it was published in 2017. It's called Operation Gladadio, the CIA, the Vatican, and the mob.”
“like operation gladio by Paul Williams and uh I mean there's there's there's so much in this field”