JAMES CRITCHFIELD (1917-2003)
Chief CIA Operative in Iraq

The key operative of the CIA in a number of the major operations for the United States was from North Dakota. In his 26 years with the CIA, James H. Critchfield recruited former Nazi intelligence and military officials to help gather and interpret information about the former Soviet Union; worked with the Dalai Lama of Tibet in a guerrilla war against Communist China; and supported the Baath Party in Iraq in the 1963 and 1968 coups against the Iraqi government that helped bring Saddam Hussein to power. His work may appear to be highly controversial, but he always strove to do what appeared to be in the best interest of this country at the time.  He was also remarkably effective.