The CIA, The Congo, and a GIANT Mess (History of Everything Podcast ep 128)

When the Democratic Republic of Congo gained independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960, it was part of a wave of optimism sweeping through Africa. Its new prime minister, the 35-year old Patrice Lumumba, was one of the faces of that optimism. But just two-and-a-half months later he had been removed from office by military officers and was killed by a firing squad in January 1961. But what happened with the CIA?
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[@iainawatson]

I can never get over what a bunch of unaccountable, cartoonishly evil James Bond villains the CIA are.

[@SM-cv8sv]

Ever hear about the time they drone struck an orphanage.

[@prestonjones1653]

​@@SM-cv8sv I mean, who hasn't done that at least twice?

[@cynthiaherbst3909]

KGB says : hold my vodka And that is even more depressing when other intel groups, aware of the unhinged stuff the CIA would do from time to time...and then do other unhinged sus stuff too. Yay humanity?

[@MonkeyJedi99]

CIA established: 1947. Israel declared by the UN: 1947. Coincidence? You decide.

[@gamingforever9121]

⁠@@MonkeyJedi99yes it’s a coincidence stop blaming Jews for all the problems of the world.

[@nager.1654]

A popular beverage on Christmas Markets here in Germany is a "Lumumba". No Joke: it's a hot chocolate with a shot.

[@dioniscaraus6124]

Is it good though?

[@JLo83]

@@dioniscaraus6124 it's a little radical

[@prestonjones1653]

Om my G-d. Germans DO gave a sense of humor!

[@Blargaha]

Here in Sweden, it's more codified in that a Lumumba is hot chocolate, with brandy or cognac, finished with some lightly shaken heavy cream.

[@lilyeti985]

@@prestonjones1653Yeah when it comes to being racist yeah

[@julonkrutor4649]

You know it was bad, when becomeing a colony is an upgrade.

[@KT-pv3kl]

surprisingly most colonies were an upgrade except for the belgians their colonies sucked for everyone involved...

[@mjisabelle18]

For those that want to know more about this, Behind The Bastards have done multiple episodes on the Congo, Gotleib, and King Leopold. Pairs well with this video.

[@orboakin8074]

Great video and objective analysis is so welcome. The Congo crisis is a mixture of Congo's own socioeconomic, geographic and historical problems and some actions by foreign entities. As an African (Nigerian) it's frustrating to hear so many people ALWAYS ascribe every single problem in our continent as "imperialism" or western interference. These people genuinely act as if we Africans have no responsibility for our own destiny or that we are sinply eternal victims eho must never have accountability or reality.

[@dioniscaraus6124]

It's just pure arrogance on their part to think they can take responsibility for every bad thing that happened in Africa and Middle East

[@Dinawartotem]

@@ChangeEvery14Days The question I would have to your disagreement is. Compared to what? Slavery, tribal warfare, genocide and disease were a fact of life before the Kongo were colonized. You cannot just take a geographic location and turn it into a prosperous, democratic state with everyone getting along. There's no reality where that happens. So, what exactly was the alternative? You cannot simply say, "Well, this was bad, but also Europe bad, so blame it all on Europe." The truth is there would be no Congo without European colonialism, and without the Europeans providing medicine, infrastructure and education, there would be no industrial-scale population to speak about. The Belgians were hardly any worse than anyone else. Anyone suggesting otherwise is just taking British propaganda as facts.

[@lloydgush]

Don't forget geography. Who's to blame? Everyone and nature.

[@orboakin8074]

@@lloydgush I completely forgot! Thabks

[@kwabenasakyi]

@@Dinawartotem Something was called the Kongo empire, Bro look at Congo now after the colonialism The Europeans didn't did shit. They only want the resources and the labor. That's why the belgains and the congoelse people have an mini civil fight of the country before the independence day.

[@DogeickBateman]

Nice to see a long form video on the Congo crisis

[@CarbonatedGravy]

The two of you are a perfect dynamic for a KZbin channel, Gabi does a great job at molding the academic/factual history type of knowledge you offer into something anyone in the modern day can get a grip on and make sense of

[@warkijiji4474]

I was thinking about the CIA and all the assassinations and plots they were Involved in *Shows Picture of JFK*

[@DogeickBateman]

"Nothing bad happens to the Kennedys!"

[@JLo83]

That's the joke

[@MonkeyJedi99]

1945: "Begun, the Cold War has." - Yoda, director of operations and training, OSS.

[@OR56]

Wendigoon has a great video about how the CIA killed JFK.

[@The_king567]

Ridiculous

[@josecoronadonieto6911]

I can't believe you snuck a mount and blade warband meme at 24:44 xd

[@JLo83]

As the editor for this video, it makes me smile when people notice my jokes memes and gags. Thanks! ❤🙏

[@chugachuga9242]

4:31 this map got more unhinged the closer I looked at it

[@JLo83]

As the editor, I can say that one was an accident. My bad!

[@chugachuga9242]

@@JLo83 np it was funny once I noticed it

[@alexiel4406]

honestly i like that maps boarders alot

[@steel8231]

56:19 i like how the presumably "Military Advisor" is standing directly in the prime location to feel the backblast of that recoilless rifle.

[@soffren]

Bro really married an actual scientist and thought his daughter would pick history 🤣 classic, rookie mistake

[@morgangallowglass8668]

Shout out for Rolland the Headless Thompson Gunner!

[@jamauln1]

"Why was his golf ball near his doctor?" "Because he threw it at him."

[@prestonjones1653]

$80 million is actually a lot LESS than I was expecting the government to fork out for a project. I guess I've gotten used to seeing numbers like "40 billion" and "2 trillion" thrown around on other projects that led nowhere like Afghanistan.

[@AJadedLizard]

I've never seen one of these where your wife was also present, but you guys are really funny together.

[@markrichichi8484]

I enjoy your show great job !

[@juanpedrowallace1117]

Thanks!

[@andrewplowman1002]

Good piece

[@MisterQueeb]

Great video thx

[@Athena_Light]

Great podcast

[@mlyssy2]

That was one of (yes I’m riffing on the last part where you’re explaining how this was one of the most expensive operations) the best podcasts that you guys have released so far! I was thoroughly riveted until the VERY end of it! I’ve never heard of it before but it totally tracks with everything you ever hear about the way the CIA has either been known to work in the past or is portrayed by Hollywood. However I’m not sure if I’m supposed to look at this as an expensive bungle or an overly expensive win for the CIA? I kinda see both of their usual wins and losses in the same way. You can never be sure unless they tell you and then still you’re not sure because even if it’s declassified, is it? It’s all “Eyes Only” stuff and even in their notes I’m just not going to believe anything they say. It’s kinda their job to lie. To everyone. EVERYONE! Anyway, thanks you guys. I was thoroughly entertained and just glued to the screen even without y’all being live (well, taped, but you know what I mean 😊) and thought you did a great job filling in the blanks with relevant photos that made up for it just being audio. I really hope that I can save up the money for one of your trips someday because I really dig history and travel, but y’all do such a great job at it and seem like the nicest people on KZbin. Exactly the opposite of that guy who goes by MiniMinuteman. I do watch some of his videos because he is entertaining sometimes and kinda smart but he’s a real a$$h@l3 and I can only take so much. 😂 keep the great content coming!

[@caboosenom3rson]

I'd be willing to bet that the most expensive covert operation is the "war" on drugs

[@brianbrianmckeown5481]

Ya just know these two will last forever….perfect match , very likeable couple, who are genuinely nice …and im just a tad jealous…but in the good wish them the best way…

[@chuckesthedoughboy703]

Damn we need that full cobalt video fr

[@pirateadam3686]

Stasi: We have created the greates web of civilian informants and intelligence agents to monitor our entire population to minute detail. KGB: We have an entire shadow organisation dedicated to monitoring the entire world and enforcing our will through guile and power. CIA: Well how about the power to kill a yak? From two hunderd yards away. With MIND BULLETS!

[@muellermat]

About the Munich trip. There is an amazing pub near the Gisela Straße called the old Irish.

[@Queen731.]

Lumumba was extremely intelligent. He is said to have spoken most or all local languages. I thought this was the time when Congo had just discovered uranium.

[@zachcolpaert5171]

Do the longest and most expensive operations!!!! That would be awesome!

[@tentaken8755]

CIA is such a pain ass that won't leave you alone.

[@antonvernooy6186]

where is the link for the trips? I am interested but cant find them

[@oisinm332]

A video on Hyperborrea would be good.

[@martinstuhr-rommereim2003]

Please cover the CIA's 'Secret War' during the Vietnam War in Laos where they recruited and trained the Hmong fight the NVA/Ho Chi Minh trail.

[@thorshammer8033]

The Hmong Airforce where the pilots had pillows in the cockpit so they could see out the canopy and blocks of wood on the pedals. Brave beyond measure.

[@The_king567]

Nah thats irrelevant

[@snelhestarna]

What's up with the alternate history map at 4:14? Prussia, Confederation of the Rhine, Two Sicilies?

[@JLo83]

Hi, editor here. I used the wrong map on accident. Please disregard that one. It was very late. Lol

[@MonkeyJedi99]

The Republic of China falls to the People's Republic of China. "Chiang-Kai shucks!"

[@Machina_EX_Machina]

Lets gooo!!

[@steel8231]

Fun Fact: The main reason NATO survived where the Warsaw Pact crumbled is mostly due to NATO not pressuring countries into joining and then milking their natural resources dry for US benefit. Which is both something the WP can't say and also why it's non-Russia members are violently opposed to returning to a similar arrangement, Belarus failed to get out while they could and propaganda'ed itself into thinking everything is fine.

[@christophergraham30]

Ah!! I just found this out recently: one of WWE wrestler Shinsuke Nakamura"s moves is called Kinshasa. He named it for the "Rumble in the Jungle" that happened there.

[@jameskirkland6916]

Eisenhower was too real for his outlook

[@matthewfurlani8647]

but don't worry, they certainly aren't messing with our own elections and government. that's not happening because they told us they weren't 😂😂😂.

[@prestonjones1653]

Nobody believes our elections are honest, why do you think our turnout rates rarely exceed 50%?

[@naheleshiriki5496]

Even if they were the state of the country would not change much as all of our politicians are incompetent corrupt idiots. Red or blue, them fighting each other is the real problem. We need compromise.

[@MatthewSherwood]

Yup! For sure! They would have told us if they were.

[@The_Evil_Eye]

Of course a video on the CIA's interventions in the Congo only matter because of what it has to say about American elections.

[@redbeard5939]

Got anything better than vauge allegations?

[@Philip271828]

If it's available where you are, All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace by Adam Curtis (Part 3. 'The Monkey in the Machine and the Machine in the Monkey') uses The Congo as an example, including the PS2 late deliveries.

[@fl00fydragon]

I am Greek We have the CIA to "thank" for the massive economic and political issues that plague us as many trace the Papadopoulos junta as their source.

[@foxen1914]

Hi just a small heads up the map from around 4.40 is very wrong. if that's a joke it's fine. See finland :))

[@JLo83]

Hi, editor here. It was an accident. I just used the wrong map. My bad! 😂

[@foxen1914]

@@JLo83 no worries happends to the best of us.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@JLo83 It's okay Finland isn't real anyway. (JOKING!)

[@smileytuna]

Your relationship dynamics are so cute

[@jonevansauthor]

Not interested in the topic, but just wanted to say top work on the Coups Control pun. I doff my hat to thee, sir.

[@justinhess2747]

Video idea: Norway energy

[@jamesTBurke]

HEY YOU FINALLY DISCOVERED A USE FOR JUNK MAIL

[@MastemaJack]

If you have an idea for a video I can almost 100% say for certain we would want to hear it

[@KytexEdits]

Any chance we can get a mix of footage of you two talking like many of these podcasts have had combined with some of these photos relevant to the topic? Or if you keep doing the photo-only thing please zoom a little bit less dramatically. It's just nice to see you two talk and also my eyes are sensitive, of course this is just a suggestion I don't mean to sound demanding. Great job as always on bringing to light different topics I don't usually see.

[@JLo83]

Hi, editor here. Thanks for the feedback. To be fair, I went a little zoom crazy after finding a plug-in that helps to automate pan and scan. I'll ease up on it going forward but I was really learning how to use it during this vid so it's how come there's so much of that. My bad. 👍

[@naheleshiriki5496]

Rare to see an editor so interactive with their audience. I commend you. Have a lovely day.

[@iandaniel1748]

I have questions how to get the declassified CIA document for foreigners ❓

[@bunnylovingbastard]

I actually went to school with a girl who was born in Zimbabwe shortly before many if not all of the white people were forced out. She still remembers being very young and people in guns coming to the hotel her mom used to work at and forcing everyone out. Just commenting this to acknowledge that it does happen and as a white South African, born free in '94, Julius Malema is trying the same and even had a song he sang a few years ago literally called "Shoot the Boer".

[@lanaus12]

Everyone should read “Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives” - by Siddharth Kara

[@christiedt9818]

Just a quick glance seems most expensive was cyclone, which was funding and arming afgan rebels during the Russian invasion at $2 billion

[@nate8932]

if my wife got mad at me because of what belgium did to congo, and because im white, id be pretty pissed

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

How did Lumumba show up unannounced? Everybody knows the Mailman rings twice....

[@darkrai1986]

Ironic that when Lumumba came to the USA for help there was none, but after his death it's all in with military support.

[@blankface5052]

Lol, he started this at colonialism, but the Congo had a long and interesting history as a slave empire long before the Belgians got there. They were the biggest exporter of slaves for centuries before that.

[@mkvenner2]

That was Kongo and it was mostly in what is today northern Angola.

[@TheRealZeke2003]

The Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are actually two different countries. Easy mistake

[@jack-vw8nb]

Bro, you should just run for president. You clearly know enough history to not doom us to repeating it in a newer, more technologically advanced, and potentially more screwed up way.

[@floxyz8941]

Lol, you're coming to central Europe?! I am from Germany, close to Stuttgart in the south actually

[@lukesuds5002]

A guy from Congo plays for Real Madrid and France now ⚽️

[@JumpingTuna]

Why didn't Eisenhower just resign if he didn't want to be president anymore?

[@johnmanole4779]

14:35 and we can't do anything for them?

[@messengerslave5874]

They'd never be giggling about the details surrounding the holocaust

[@bayonetta9595]

Kin - like family kin, sha- shhhh ah ( like open wide ah) sha. but A for effort

[@x-rayactual4770]

As an Austrian I take low key offense with calling us german xD

[@SocialLust]

Israel’s funding is pretty expensive too

[@Psnrspxb]

Idk why but I keep thinking congo is an island off the coast of Africa even though ik its not but my brain keeps thinking it is.

[@thomasbriscojr.3765]

I know this is a weird request. But would you consider doing an analysis on the chosen? I really like the show. But every time I see the Roman soldiers I think of you. How culturally accurate are the Roman soldiers' uniforms and the Pharisees and Sadducees uniforms. P.S. I am not asking you to indorse any religion. I just want your take.🙂 Thank you for your time.

[@Queen731.]

The free labour was common practice was all over the European colonies.

[@alexsch2514]

Can you do one about the Chile coup with Allende and Pinochet? I admit I might be biased because I adore Allendes futurist vision for socialism but especially for someone like me a more objective look may be beneficial.

[@aelminiatures]

i wonder if you can trace every conflict since ww2 back to something fucked up the CIA did. like the Kevin bacon game but more depressing

[@j.pershing2197]

6:30 MT1372 Publicly announced the NWO

[@aelminiatures]

Plumbers helps you takes shit away and Mailmen gives shit to you

[@derdoc2055]

Salzburg & Vienna are not German?!?

[@user-ds6vs8ge4t]

What was the Congo like before Leopold? What was the punishment for *missing quotas* back before the European?

[@mkvenner2]

There was no quota before the Europeans also there was no Congo before Leopold

[@kennandunn7533]

The land that would become the Congo was a collection of hundreds of tribes comprised of dozens of languages and ethnicities, all interacting with each other, sometimes peacefully and sometimes at war. The rubber quotas didn't exist as there was no need for them to produce rubber at an industrial scale before the Europeans came in.

[@user-ds6vs8ge4t]

Talk about missing the point... There was slavery before the colonial Europeans. There was a kingdom before them too. How did the native rulers manage their subjects and slaves and what punishments would they give for faulure to achieve goals, comply or outright refusal?

[@TheRealZeke2003]

​@@user-ds6vs8ge4tDid these Kingdoms manage to kill half of their population?

[@user-xs3ro3zf3k]

how is asking the USSR for help worse than asking the US ? The US literally was part of a the operation that got Lulumba out of power

[@JLo83]

He was saying it was worse in the eyes of the US at that time.

[@user-xs3ro3zf3k]

@@JLo83 the US only had one way of looking at other nations. You bend the knee or suffer by sactions, war or covert operations to destabilise

[@KamiRecca]

​@@user-xs3ro3zf3k "Had"?

[@riverlady982]

15:00 One of the many reasons I've been saying that renewable energies are not renewable but are toxic more so than oil has ever been.

[@TeethToothman]

🧲🦷🧲

[@adammyers3453]

If interested in some good scifi reading material, please consider my current obsession, “The Nature of Predators”.

[@giantmastersword]

There's the full audiobook for free here on youtube

[@adammyers3453]

@@giantmastersword Yeah, Adastra and ASN are good at narrating it.

[@andrews6013]

2nd

[@thelast4646]

First

[@andrews6013]

Dang it!

[@bleekskaduwee6762]

Damn it you destroyed my dream of being the first to comment on this video

[@berndarndt9924]

2:15 well, they likely still suck. It's kind of impossible to prove otherwise. 11:00 unless you were somebody with power and in the loop, people in belgium were just as innocent as most other people. And since belgium had local support in kongo. you might as well blame them as well. 17:52 forced labor/slavery is still legal in most countries, inclunding the west. Afterall most militaries have forced conscription in wartimes.

[@BioHunter1990]

Gabby pointing out cobalt. Congratulations, now you know the cost of your “green” feel-good policies.

[@murderouskitten2577]

German Xmas market , 2/3rds of the cities are in Austria :D