Difference between revisions of "Constantin Menges"
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|description=Deeply involved in White House support for the Nicaraguan [[contras]]. Attended [[Le Cercle]] in 1985 | |description=Deeply involved in White House support for the Nicaraguan [[contras]]. Attended [[Le Cercle]] in 1985 | ||
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| − | '''Constantine C. Menges''' was an American scholar, author, professor, and Latin American specialist for the [[White House]]'s [[US National Security Council]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].<ref>http://michellemalkin.com/2004/07/12/constantine-menges-rip/</ref><ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/jul/15/20040715-082645-4699r/</ref> Constantin Menges attended [[Le Cercle]] in 1985, and possibly on other occasions. | + | '''Constantine C. Menges''' was an American scholar, author, professor, and Latin American specialist for the [[White House]]'s [[US National Security Council]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].<ref>http://michellemalkin.com/2004/07/12/constantine-menges-rip/</ref><ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/jul/15/20040715-082645-4699r/</ref> The invasion of grendaa in 1983, and very active in the covert support for the [[Nicaraguan contras]] and the [[counterinsurgencies]] in the region, Constantin Menges attended [[Le Cercle]] in 1985, and possibly on other occasions. |
| + | |||
| + | At Rand, he wrote the papers that gave an intellectual basis to what would become known as the Reagan Doctrine. These included "Democratic Revolutionary Insurgency as an Alternative Strategy," which argued that "communist regimes are very vulnerable to a democratic national revolution that is conducted with skill and the determination to succeed." <ref name=fumento>https://web.archive.org/web/20111208033126/http://www.fumento.com/people/menges.html</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | "He believed that the United States should compete with the Soviets in sponsorship of 'national liberation movements' in Third World nations,"<ref name=WP/> | ||
==Family Background== | ==Family Background== | ||
Menges was born in [[Turkey]] on September 1, [[1939]], the son of Karl Heinrich and Valeska Menges, political refugees from Nazi Germany. Karl Heinrich was a linguist known for his expertise on [[Altaic languages]]. He was quoted variously as saying he spoke between 24 and "over 50" languages, and said that when he came to the United States he was the only person in the country who could speak [[Uzbek]]. | Menges was born in [[Turkey]] on September 1, [[1939]], the son of Karl Heinrich and Valeska Menges, political refugees from Nazi Germany. Karl Heinrich was a linguist known for his expertise on [[Altaic languages]]. He was quoted variously as saying he spoke between 24 and "over 50" languages, and said that when he came to the United States he was the only person in the country who could speak [[Uzbek]]. | ||
| − | After Menges was arrested because of his contacts in the [[Soviet | + | After Menges was arrested because of his contacts in the [[Soviet Union]], released again, but probably continued to be spied on and repeatedly interrogated and had to testify in a trial against a group of Berlin communists, he left Germany in December [[1936]], fleeing first to [[Czechoslovakia]], then [[Turkey]]. Menges taught at [[Columbia University]] in New York for 36 years, from 1940 to 1976. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Career== | ||
| + | Menges received a bachelor's degree in physics from [[Columbia College]] and a doctorate in political science from [[Columbia University]]. He taught political science at the [[University of Wisconsin]] before joining the deep state military think tank [[Rand Corp]].<ref name=WP/> | ||
| − | + | Menges attended college in [[Prague]], where helped individuals escape communist [[East Berlin]] in [[1961]], and in [[1963]], he worked in [[Mississippi]] as a volunteer for equal voting rights.<ref name=WP>https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/07/14/constantine-menges/37699ec6-9559-47ac-963c-77facb52ac21/</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20111208033126/http://www.fumento.com/people/menges.html </ref> | |
| − | |||
| − | + | During the Nixon and Ford administrations, he was deputy assistant for civil rights in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20111208033126/http://www.fumento.com/people/menges.html</ref> | |
| − | He helped | + | |
| + | From 1981 until 1983, he worked for the director of the CIA as the national intelligence officer for Latin America. From 1983 until 1986, he served as special assistant to President [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref>http://www.ashbrook.org/events/lecture/1989/menges.html </ref> He helped plan [[Invasion of Grenada|Operation Urgent Fury]] in Grenada and supported the [[Nicaraguan Contras]] and the [[counterinsurgency]] against the [[Salvadoran rebels]].<ref>https://www.hudson.org/research/3634-an-appreciation-of-constantine-menges</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Friends and foes gave him the nickname "Constant Menace and "Menges Khan".<ref>"The Week...". National Review (August 9, 2004): 15. 2004.</ref> | ||
| − | + | An obituary by [[Michael Fumento]] mentioned that "Menges’ other accomplishments are far too numerous to list here, and many no doubt continue to bear a 'top secret' stamp. We can only judge by the tip of the iceberg what lies beneath"<ref name=fumento/>, but takes as one example that "Menges and others" did "desperate behind-the-scenes work" to subvert the 2003 El Salvador elections<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Salvadoran_legislative_election</ref>, where the country "might have elected a communist government. Instead, it remains a pro-American democracy."<ref name=fumento/> | |
| − | From | + | From 1990 to 2000, Menges was a professor at [[George Washington University]], where he founded and directed the Program on Transitions to Democracy. His work on democratic transitions included the post-communist states, Iraq, Iran and the Americas. He also began a project on U.S. relations with Russia and China and the new Russia-China alignment. |
In September 2002, Constantine Menges sent a letter to [[Olavo de Carvalho]] in which he agreed with the Brazilian philosopher’s analysis of the current political situation in [[Brazil]].{{Citation needed|reason=Reference with broken link|date=March 2018}}<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150414212633/http://www.olavodecarvalho.org/english/texts/menges_letter_en.htm </ref> | In September 2002, Constantine Menges sent a letter to [[Olavo de Carvalho]] in which he agreed with the Brazilian philosopher’s analysis of the current political situation in [[Brazil]].{{Citation needed|reason=Reference with broken link|date=March 2018}}<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150414212633/http://www.olavodecarvalho.org/english/texts/menges_letter_en.htm </ref> | ||
Revision as of 02:11, 29 September 2022
 Constantin Menges    (Spook, Academic) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | September 1, 1939 Ankara, Turkey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | July 11, 2004 (Age 64) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | US | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Columbia University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents | Karl Heinrich Menges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of | Le Cercle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Constantine C. Menges was an American scholar, author, professor, and Latin American specialist for the White House's US National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency.[1][2] The invasion of grendaa in 1983, and very active in the covert support for the Nicaraguan contras and the counterinsurgencies in the region, Constantin Menges attended Le Cercle in 1985, and possibly on other occasions.
At Rand, he wrote the papers that gave an intellectual basis to what would become known as the Reagan Doctrine. These included "Democratic Revolutionary Insurgency as an Alternative Strategy," which argued that "communist regimes are very vulnerable to a democratic national revolution that is conducted with skill and the determination to succeed." [3]
"He believed that the United States should compete with the Soviets in sponsorship of 'national liberation movements' in Third World nations,"[4]
Family Background
Menges was born in Turkey on September 1, 1939, the son of Karl Heinrich and Valeska Menges, political refugees from Nazi Germany. Karl Heinrich was a linguist known for his expertise on Altaic languages. He was quoted variously as saying he spoke between 24 and "over 50" languages, and said that when he came to the United States he was the only person in the country who could speak Uzbek.
After Menges was arrested because of his contacts in the Soviet Union, released again, but probably continued to be spied on and repeatedly interrogated and had to testify in a trial against a group of Berlin communists, he left Germany in December 1936, fleeing first to Czechoslovakia, then Turkey. Menges taught at Columbia University in New York for 36 years, from 1940 to 1976.
Career
Menges received a bachelor's degree in physics from Columbia College and a doctorate in political science from Columbia University. He taught political science at the University of Wisconsin before joining the deep state military think tank Rand Corp.[4]
Menges attended college in Prague, where helped individuals escape communist East Berlin in 1961, and in 1963, he worked in Mississippi as a volunteer for equal voting rights.[4][5]
During the Nixon and Ford administrations, he was deputy assistant for civil rights in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.[6]
From 1981 until 1983, he worked for the director of the CIA as the national intelligence officer for Latin America. From 1983 until 1986, he served as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan.[7] He helped plan Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada and supported the Nicaraguan Contras and the counterinsurgency against the Salvadoran rebels.[8]
Friends and foes gave him the nickname "Constant Menace and "Menges Khan".[9]
An obituary by Michael Fumento mentioned that "Menges’ other accomplishments are far too numerous to list here, and many no doubt continue to bear a 'top secret' stamp. We can only judge by the tip of the iceberg what lies beneath"[3], but takes as one example that "Menges and others" did "desperate behind-the-scenes work" to subvert the 2003 El Salvador elections[10], where the country "might have elected a communist government. Instead, it remains a pro-American democracy."[3]
From 1990 to 2000, Menges was a professor at George Washington University, where he founded and directed the Program on Transitions to Democracy. His work on democratic transitions included the post-communist states, Iraq, Iran and the Americas. He also began a project on U.S. relations with Russia and China and the new Russia-China alignment.
In September 2002, Constantine Menges sent a letter to Olavo de Carvalho in which he agreed with the Brazilian philosopher’s analysis of the current political situation in Brazil.[citation needed][11]
He died of cancer on July 11, 2004, in Washington, D.C., where he had been a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.[12]
Event Participated in
| Event | Start | End | Location(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Cercle/1985 (Washington) | 7 January 1985 | 10 January 1985 | US Washington DC | 4 day meeting of Le Cercle in Washington exposed after Joel Van der Reijden discovered the attendee list for this conference and published it online in 2011 |
References
- ↑ http://michellemalkin.com/2004/07/12/constantine-menges-rip/
- ↑ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/jul/15/20040715-082645-4699r/
- ↑ a b c https://web.archive.org/web/20111208033126/http://www.fumento.com/people/menges.html
- ↑ a b c https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/07/14/constantine-menges/37699ec6-9559-47ac-963c-77facb52ac21/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20111208033126/http://www.fumento.com/people/menges.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20111208033126/http://www.fumento.com/people/menges.html
- ↑ http://www.ashbrook.org/events/lecture/1989/menges.html
- ↑ https://www.hudson.org/research/3634-an-appreciation-of-constantine-menges
- ↑ "The Week...". National Review (August 9, 2004): 15. 2004.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Salvadoran_legislative_election
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150414212633/http://www.olavodecarvalho.org/english/texts/menges_letter_en.htm
- ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/2004/jul/20/local/me-passings20.2
