The Bourne Identity

Following the end of World War II, the United States and its allies became embroiled in a period of political turmoil and tension that would become known as the Cold War. The massive casualties of World War II, coupled with the use of the atom bomb, instilled fear in world leaders that another war could put an end to humanity. The United States became locked in a standoff with the Soviet Union, with each side threatening to use advanced technology, nuclear weapons, and violence if provoked by the other. As a result of mutual distrust between the word’s two competing imperial superpowers, each side resorted to covert operations and espionage to gain informational advantages without inciting open conflict. A key component of this tactic was political assassinations, with both sides carrying out covert murders that they hoped would turn the tide of geopolitics. At the same time, the competition for global influence between the US and the Soviet Union sparked or exacerbated wars and conflicts throughout the developing world, including in Vietnam and Korea. It is estimated that “more than 20 million people died in multiple conflicts in what was for most of the period known as the ‘third world.