Truman authorized covert operations to induce trouble in Russia.

Evidence

In October 1949, the president showed James Webb, acting secretary of state, a map of Russia, color-coded to indicate where Muslims and Buddhists were to be found: they formed a wide belt across southern Russia. Both groups were antagonistic to the Soviet regime, Truman pointed out to Webb; perhaps they could be induced to make trouble at the border? — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 981

Categorization

• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 981
• XREF: connects to: US covert operations were justified as necessary for national security. — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 385; The CIA aimed to create fear through deception operations. — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 1203; New bases near China and Russia may create the threats they guard against

Broader Connections

• The CIA aimed to create fear through deception operations. #expands (0.75) — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 1203