The Korean War began in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. The Soviet Union and China supported North Korea, while the United States and its allies supported South Korea. The war ended with an armistice in 1953.

Before the war, Korea was ruled by Japan for 35 years until Japan surrendered in 1945. After that, the United States and the Soviet Union divided Korea into two parts, with each country controlling one part. This division led to the creation of two separate governments in 1948: North Korea led by Kim Il Sung, and South Korea, led by Syngman Rhee. Both sides claimed to be the rightful government of all of Korea and disagreed on the border.

Attempts to negotiate reunification failed, and on June 25th, 1950, North Korean forces crossed the border into South Korea. The United Nations Security Council called it an invasion and authorized the formation of a U.N. force to defend South Korea. The majority of the U.N. forces were led by the United States.

The United States’ merciless bombing campaign against North Korea, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, was a pivotal moment in the conflict that ultimately made it near impossible to achieve a peaceful resolution with the North Korean people. This devastating military operation has been described by some historians as even more destructive than the damage inflicted upon Germany and Japan during World War II.

The U.S. dropped around 635,000 tons of bombs on North Korea, including roughly 32,000 tons of napalm - a highly flammable incendiary weapon used to burn down structures and cause severe injuries.

The intense bombing led to significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure like homes, schools, hospitals, factories, and roads. It’s estimated that up to one-third of the population in urban areas were killed or injured as a result.

In response to increasing Chinese intervention in support of North Korean forces in late 1950s and early ‘51s’, General Douglas MacArthur called for an intensified air campaign which included carpet bombing - dropping large numbers of bombs over a wide area without specific target selection - aiming at wholesale destruction of North Korean towns and cities. This generated considerable controversy due to the massive devastation it caused.

The coup d’état on August 19, 1953, in Iran marked a significant turning point in the country’s political history. This event, often referred to as Operation Ajax in the United States and Operation Boot in the United Kingdom, resulted in the ousting of Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh.

In the early 1950s, Prime Minister Mosaddegh had become a symbol of Iranian nationalism and self-determination, primarily due to his campaign for the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, which had been controlled by foreign companies, mainly the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), now known as BP.

Mosaddegh’s move towards nationalization was seen as a direct threat to Western interests, particularly those of the United Kingdom. The British government vehemently opposed this action and sought assistance from the United States, arguing that Iran was falling under communist influence and was at risk of aligning with the Soviet Union.

Despite initial hesitation, the newly elected President Eisenhower and his administration were persuaded by Cold War fears, thus agreeing to support a secret plan coordinated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) to overthrow Mosaddegh.

The operation involved a complex mix of political subversion, propaganda, and orchestration of street protests. On August 19, 1953, military officers loyal to the Shah arrested Mosaddegh. With the Prime Minister out of the way, the Shah, who had fled the country briefly during the coup, returned to power.

Although the coup was initially successful in achieving its immediate objective - reinstating the Shah’s power and control - it had far-reaching consequences. The Shah’s increasingly authoritarian rule led to widespread discontent and ultimately laid the groundwork for the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which overthrew the monarchy and established an hardline Islamic Republic in Iran.

The U.S. and U.K.’s involvement in the coup was officially acknowledged decades later. This intervention has since been widely criticized and is seen as a significant factor contributing to anti-Western sentiment in Iran and broader Middle East.

The 1954 coup in Guatemala, known as Golpe de Estado en Guatemala de 1954, was orchestrated by the CIA under the covert operation PBSuccess. It overthrew the democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz and marked the end of the Guatemalan Revolution of 1944-1954. The coup installed Carlos Castillo Armas as the leader of a military dictatorship, initiating a series of U.S.-backed authoritarian rulers in Guatemala.

The Guatemalan Revolution began in 1944 after a popular uprising removed the military dictatorship of Jorge Ubico. Juan José Arévalo was elected as the first president in Guatemala's democratic election. Arévalo implemented reforms such as a minimum wage and expanded suffrage, transforming Guatemala into a democracy. Árbenz succeeded Arévalo in 1951 and implemented land reforms that redistributed property to landless peasants.

The United Fruit Company (an American multinational corporation), whose profits were affected by the end of exploitative labor practices in Guatemala, conducted a persuasive lobbying campaign to convince the U.S. to overthrow the Guatemalan government. President Harry Truman authorized Operation PBFortune in 1952 to remove Árbenz, which served as a precursor to PBSuccess.

The next U.S. president  Dwight D. Eisenhower pledged a stronger stance against communism. Eisenhower's advisers, John Foster Dulles and Allen Dulles, had connections to the UFC, further motivating them to take action against the Guatemalan government. The U.S. government also exaggerated the extent of communist influence within Árbenz's administration. In August 1953, Eisenhower authorized the CIA to execute Operation PBSuccess. The CIA provided arms, funding, and training to a force of 480 men led by Carlos Castillo Armas.

The coup was preceded by U.S. efforts to isolate and criticize Guatemala on the international stage. Castillo Armas' forces invaded Guatemala on June 18th, 1954, while engaging in intense psychological warfare. They utilized a radio station to broadcast anti-government propaganda, manipulated military events to favor the rebellion, conducted air bombings of Guatemala City, and established a naval blockade. Although the invasion force faced military setbacks, the psychological warfare and the fear of a U.S. invasion intimidated the Guatemalan army, leading them to refuse to fight. Árbenz attempted to arm civilians to resist the invasion but eventually resigned on June 27th. Ten days later, Castillo Armas assumed the presidency following negotiations in San Salvador.

The coup was widely condemned internationally. It was seen as a major blow to democracy in Guatemala and further fueled anti-U.S. sentiment in Latin America. In an attempt to justify the coup, the CIA launched Operation PBHistory to find evidence of Soviet influence in Guatemala during Árbenz's tenure, but the operation proved unsuccessful. Castillo Armas quickly consolidated dictatorial powers, banned opposition parties, imprisoned and tortured political opponents, and reversed the social reforms of the revolution. Guatemala subsequently experienced nearly four decades of civil war as leftist guerrillas fought against a series of U.S.-backed authoritarian regimes marked by severe human rights abuses, including the genocide of the Maya people.

In 1958, President Eisenhower's order to the CIA to overthrow the Sukarno government marked a covert operation aimed at removing Sukarno from power. However, the plans were quickly exposed by Soviet intelligence, leading to widespread knowledge of the "American Plot to Overthrow Sukarno."

The CIA's involvement in the coup became apparent when an American pilot was shot down, which communist activists used as evidence of Western intervention in Indonesian affairs. This revelation intensified opposition to the coup and provided a rallying point for communist supporters. The failed coup served to strengthen Sukarno's position and emboldened his pro-communist leanings.

The CIA's strategy involved establishing operational bases in the Philippines and employing Filipino CIA paramilitary officers to make contact with Indonesian military forces. They also provided weapons and financial support to rebel military forces and used radio stations to broadcast anti-Sukarno messages as part of psychological warfare. However, the CIA underestimated the strength of the Indonesian Army and failed to recognize that many top commanders were staunchly anti-communist, resulting in clashes between American-aligned forces.

The Indonesian government, led by Sukarno, fiercely opposed the rebels, and loyal military forces were mobilized to suppress the rebellion. They launched attacks on rebel strongholds, including airstrikes and a naval blockade. Eventually, the rebel forces were defeated, and the coup came to a transparent and complete failure. This failure marked a significant setback for the CIA, highlighting their inability to compete with Soviet covert intelligence and the repercussions of underestimating the local dynamics and anti-communist sentiment within the Indonesian Army.

The aftermath of the failed coup further solidified Sukarno's position, and the United Nations supported the formation of Malaysia in Indonesia's northernmost territory. Sukarno's alignment with communist interests became more pronounced, setting the stage for further political developments and tensions in the years to come.

When Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959 after the left-wing revolution, the new regime distanced itself from the United States and aligned closely with the Soviet Union. This raised concerns in the U.S. due to Cuba's proximity and its significance in the Cold War. In response, President Eisenhower ordered the CIA to develop a plan to overthrow Castro's government. The CIA trained and funded a group of exiled Cuban counter-revolutionaries, known as Brigade 2506, as part of this operation.

When President John F. Kennedy took office, he approved the CIA's plan, and the invasion of Cuba was set in motion. However, the attack, known as the Bay of Pigs invasion, quickly encountered setbacks. The Cuban armed forces, under Castro's command, swiftly defeated the invading forces within two days. The failed invasion bolstered Castro's administration, which openly embraced socialism and strengthened its ties with the Soviet Union. The Kennedy administration conducted an assessment of the Bay of Pigs defeat and subsequently initiated a new covert program, Operation Mongoose, in an attempt to remove the Castro regime from power.

Operation Mongoose, overseen by the CIA and Department of Defense, involved a wide range of plans, including political, psychological, military, sabotage, and intelligence operations. It even considered assassination attempts on political leaders, including Castro. However, despite some actions being deployed, Operation Mongoose failed to achieve its primary objectives. Meanwhile, the U.S. became increasingly concerned about Soviet arms shipments to Cuba, with the possibility of nuclear warheads being introduced. This led to the suspension of Operation Mongoose in October 1962 as the Cuban Missile Crisis unfolded, marking one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was a conflict fought between the communist government of North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union, China and other communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, which was backed by the United States and other anti-communist allies. The war is considered a Cold War-era proxy conflict. It began as an insurgency by communist forces in Vietnam against French colonial rule in the mid-20th century and escalated into a full-fledged war after the French withdrawal from Indochina in 1954.

The Gulf of Tonkin incident played a crucial role in escalating American involvement in the Vietnam War. In August 1964, two alleged attacks on US Navy destroyers by North Vietnamese naval vessels occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin. These incidents were said to have happened on August 2 and August 4. However, evidence later emerged suggesting that the second attack might not have taken place at all.

The reported attacks were used by President Lyndon B. Johnson as justification for seeking congressional approval to escalate American military involvement in Vietnam. On August 7, just days after the alleged incidents, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave Johnson broad powers to use military force in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war.

As American casualties mounted and news about atrocities committed during the conflict spread to Western media outlets, public support for U.S involvement waned significantly.

The war officially ended on April 30th, 1975, when North Vietnamese troops captured Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), the capital of South Vietnam. The fall of Saigon marked a significant defeat for the United States in one of the longest conflicts in its history. The American army had to face a similar shameful withdrawal in Afghanistan years later.

The period from 1960 to 1965 saw political turmoil and conflict in the Congo, following its independence from Belgium. The crisis was a proxy conflict during the Cold War, with the Soviet Union and the United States supporting opposing factions in a series of civil wars. The crisis is estimated to have claimed around 100,000 lives.

When Congo gained independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960, Patrice Lumumba became its first Prime Minister. His charisma instilled hope for the future among his people. His anti-colonial stance and goal of a united Congo made Belgian authorities and Western powers, like the US, uneasy.

Even after Congo's independence, Belgium maintained significant economic interests in the country. In an effort to maintain control over their investments and weaken Lumumba's government, Belgian officials backed separatist movements in regions like Katanga, known for their abundant mineral deposits.

The Cold War context led to US concerns that Lumumba's anti-Western rhetoric might cause him to align with Soviet interests. Consequently, President Eisenhower gave the CIA the go-ahead to conduct covert operations against Lumumba's government.

The involvement of the Soviet Union resulted in a split in the Congolese government and a stalemate between Lumumba and President Joseph Kasa-Vubu. Mobutu Sese Seko, who commanded the army, staged a coup, expelled the Soviet advisors, and established a new government under his control. Lumumba was taken into custody and then executed in 1961. The involvement of Belgian officers in connection to all these has been well documented, while the CIA’s role remains a subject of speculation due to insufficient evidence to conclusively prove their direct participation in the murder.

Belgium and the US played crucial roles in destabilizing Congo's independent government, led by Patrice Lumumba, ultimately culminating in his assassination.

In March 1964, a coup took place in Brazil that resulted in the overthrow of President João Goulart by the Brazilian Armed Forces. The coup occurred from March 31st to April 1st and was supported by the speaker of the Brazilian Congress, who declared the presidency vacant. Goulart, a member of the Brazilian Labour Party, had been democratically elected as vice president. The presidency was originally won by Jânio Quadros, a conservative backed by the National Democratic Union, but he resigned in 1961. According to the Brazilian Constitution, Goulart should have automatically assumed the presidency, but right-wing militants accused him of being a communist and tried to prevent him from taking office. Eventually, a compromise was reached, and the parliamentary system replaced the presidential system, with Goulart continuing as head of state and Tancredo Neves becoming the prime minister.

However, in 1963, a referendum reinstated the presidential system, and Goulart assumed full powers. His presidency faced numerous challenges, including political problems and Cold War disputes, which contributed to its destabilization. Goulart's proposed Basic Reforms Plan aimed to redistribute the profits of large companies, but it was viewed as a "socialist threat" by right-wing factions and the military. Large-scale demonstrations against the government, known as the Marches of the Family with God for Freedom, were organized in opposition to Goulart's policies.

The coup in Brazil brought about a military regime aligned with the interests of the United States government. This military dictatorship lasted for 21 years until 1985, when Tancredo Neves, who had played a role in the negotiations during the coup, was indirectly elected as the first civilian president since the 1960 elections.

The Dominican Civil War, also known as the April Revolution, occurred from April 24th to September 3rd, 1965, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It began when supporters of ousted President Juan Bosch, both civilian and military, removed President Donald Reid Cabral, who had come to power through a military installation. This second coup prompted General Elías Wessin y Wessin to mobilize loyalist military forces in support of President Reid, leading to an armed conflict against the rebels known as the "constitutionalists." The rebels distributed weapons to civilian sympathizers.

Allegations of communist support for the rebels, including foreign involvement, led to the intervention of the United States in the conflict under the codename Operation Power Pack. Eventually, the conflict resulted in an occupation of the Dominican Republic by the Inter-American Peace Force, representing the Organization of American States. Elections were held in 1966, and Joaquín Balaguer was elected as the new president. Later that year, foreign troops withdrew from the country.

As a result of Operation Power Pack, communism did not take hold in the Dominican Republic. However, critics argue that it set a precedent for further U.S. interventions in Latin America.

The 1976 Argentine coup d'état, which ousted President Isabel Perón on March 24th, 1976, had elements of right-wing influence but did not strictly adhere to a specific ideology. While it emphasized the restoration of order and security, it was not a traditional right-wing coup. Following the coup, a military junta was established, led by Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla, Admiral Emilio Eduardo Massera, and Brigadier-General Orlando Ramón Agosti. The junta's political process was officially named the "National Reorganization Process," and although its original members changed, it remained in power until the restoration of democratic governance on December 10th, 1983.

The coup had been planned since October 1975, and the Peron government became aware of the preparations two months before its execution. Henry Kissinger, a U.S. official, held multiple meetings with Argentine Armed Forces leaders after the coup, urging them to swiftly eliminate their opponents before concerns about human rights abuses grew in the United States.

Due to the systematic persecution of a social minority during this period, the events have been classified as a genocidal process. This classification has been established through the trials of those responsible for crimes against humanity.

The United States played a significant role in the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), though it was not officially involved as a combatant. The United States supported Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s regime, believing that it would serve as a buffer against Iran’s expanding influence and revolutionary ideology. The US provided logistics support, military intelligence, financial assistance, and weapons and assistance in the development of chemical weapons (weapons of mass destruction/WMDs) to Iraq.

In 1983, the US launched Operation Staunch to restrict Iran’s ability to obtain advanced weaponry from abroad. This operation consisted of diplomatic efforts aimed at convincing other countries not to sell arms or provide military aid to Iran.

In August 2013, Foreign Policy Magazine published an article based on CIA documents and interviews with former intelligence officials. The article suggested that the U.S. was aware of Iraq’s use of chemical weapons against Iranian forces and civilians but continued to provide assistance due to strategic interests in the region.

These revelations have sparked debates about the extent of U.S. involvement and responsibility for Iraq’s actions at that time, as well as a broader discussion about international relations and foreign policy decision-making.

The Nicaraguan Revolution, also known as the Sandinista Revolution, occurred from the 1960s to the 1990s and encompassed various phases. It began with the opposition to the Somoza dictatorship in the 1960s and 1970s. The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) led a campaign to oust the dictatorship, which succeeded in 1978-79. Subsequently, the FSLN governed Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990 while facing the Contra War against the United States-backed Contras from 1981 to 1990. The revolution turned Nicaragua into a prominent battleground of the Cold War, drawing significant international attention.

The initial overthrow of the Somoza regime was a tumultuous affair, and the Contra War in the 1980s resulted in the loss of many Nicaraguan lives and sparked intense international debate. The FSLN and Contras, representing left-wing and right-wing factions, respectively, received substantial aid from the Soviet Union and the United States due to the country's political instability, struggling economy, and diminishing government influence during the 1980s.

In December 1989, the United States carried out an invasion of Panama called Operation Just Cause with the aim of removing General Manuel Noriega, who had effectively ruled Panama and was wanted by U.S. authorities for drug trafficking and racketeering. The invasion lasted for several weeks and led to Noriega's surrender. As a result, the Panamanian Defense Forces were disbanded, and Guillermo Endara, the opposition candidate, assumed the presidency. Noriega, who was previously an ally of the United States, fell out of favor due to his involvement in criminal activities. Despite failed negotiations for his resignation and his annulment of the Panamanian election results, tensions escalated after the killing of a U.S. Marine, prompting President George H. W. Bush to authorize the invasion. The Panamanian forces were swiftly overwhelmed, leading Noriega to seek refuge in a diplomatic mission before ultimately surrendering. He was later extradited to the U.S., where he was convicted and sentenced to prison. The invasion resulted in casualties on both sides and drew criticism from international bodies for violating international law.

Madeleine Albright served as the U.S. Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001, during President Bill Clinton’s administration. She was a key figure in the NATO intervention in Serbia in 1999. As Secretary of State, she argued that NATO had a moral obligation to intervene to stop the Serbian government's campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kosovar Albanians. The bombing campaign lasted for 78 days and ultimately led to the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo.

Critics of the NATO intervention, which did not have U.N. Security Council approval, have made allegations of war crimes, mainly:

* Civilian casualties: NATO bombings resulted in civilian casualties. The exact number is disputed and varies from around 500 to over 2,000 depending on the source.

* Use of depleted uranium: NATO’s use of depleted uranium in its ammunition has been associated with health risks, including cancer and birth defects.

* Bombing of non-military targets: Several buildings not involved in military activities were hit, including the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, in which three Chinese journalists were killed.

Background

Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor under President Carter from 1977 to 1981, played a central role in American foreign policy towards Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. CIA covertly supported Islamic fighters, or Mujahideen, who were opposing the Soviet invasion. Here is a brief overview of the key events:

* 1979: Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan - The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to prop up a pro-Soviet government facing a rebellion. This sparked a nine-year conflict.

* Operation Cyclone - This was the code name for the CIA program to arm and finance the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. The operation lasted from 1979 to 1989.

* Zbigniew Brzezinski’s Role - As National Security Advisor, Brzezinski was a leading architect of the strategy to support the Mujahideen. He saw the conflict as an opportunity to sap the resources of the Soviet Union and possibly induce a Soviet version of Vietnam, thus weakening the USSR significantly.

* Impact and Unintended Consequences - The plan was successful in the sense that the Soviet Union was bogged down in Afghanistan for a decade and suffered a major blow to its global prestige. However, the unintended consequence was that the Mujahideen, with their new-found power, would later morph into various factions, including Taliban and al-Qaeda.

Osama bin laden as a CIA asset >

Unintended consequence

Following the September 11th attacks (Read: Letter to the American People by Osama bin Laden), the U.S. demanded the extradition of then al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden from the the Taliban government in Afghanistan, but the Taliban refused to comply without America accepting their offer.

The U.S. launched Operation Enduring Freedom, leading to the expulsion of the Taliban from major cities with the assistance of the Northern Alliance. However, the Taliban regrouped and initiated an insurgency against the Afghan government and coalition forces.

The conflict involved guerrilla warfare, suicide attacks, and reprisals. Efforts to eliminate the Taliban militarily proved challenging, and the coalition turned to diplomacy. The U.S.-Taliban deal in 2020 outlined the withdrawal of U.S. troops, which coincided with the Taliban's broad offensive in 2021.

The Taliban successfully regained control, culminating in the fall of Kabul and the departure of the last American troops in shameful manner similar to Vietnam withdrawal. The war resulted in a significant loss of life and displacement of Afghan civilians. There were 2,402 United States military deaths and 20,713 American servicemembers were wounded in action during the war. This war became the longest in U.S. military history, surpassing the duration of the Vietnam War.

The 2003 invasion of Iraq, known as Operation Iraqi Freedom, was a military campaign led by the United States and its allies with the goal of removing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, disarming Iraq of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), ending support for terrorism, and to create a nation in Arab world that's friendly to Israel. It began on March 19th, 2003, and lasted over a month.

The invasion involved a coalition force of about 160,000 troops, mainly American soldiers. They swiftly overpowered Iraqi forces, capturing Baghdad on April 9th, 2003, after the Battle of Baghdad. President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations on May 1st, 2003.

The invasion was based on concerns about Iraq's alleged possession of WMDs and its potential threat to global peace, although no evidence of WMDs was found. The war had support from some countries but faced opposition from others, including long-standing U.S. allies like France, Germany, and New Zealand. Massive protests against the war occurred worldwide, involving millions of people.

During the invasion, coalition forces faced limited resistance and successfully occupied Iraq, leading to the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime. The subsequent period involved military occupation and the establishment of transitional governments. The U.S. military presence in Iraq continued until its withdrawal in 2011.

Aftermath

The removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003 created a power vacuum in Iraq, which has been exploited smartly by Iran, America's greatest enemy in the Arab world. Here’s how it happened:

Political Vacuum: Saddam Hussein’s regime was Sunni, although Iraq has a majority Shia population. His removal left a gap in the political structure, which was filled by the Shia majority. Iran, being a predominantly Shia country, found common ground with the new Iraqi leadership.

Influence through Militias: Iran extended its influence in Iraq through various Shia militias. Many of these militias were trained and funded by Iran, enabling Iran to exert considerable influence over Iraq’s security situation.

Economic Ties: Post-Saddam Iraq saw an increase in trade with Iran, further tying the two countries together. Iran became one of Iraq’s largest trading partners, enhancing its influence over the Iraqi economy.

Cultural and Religious Ties: Iran has capitalized on the shared Shia faith to extend its influence in Iraq. The two countries share several religious sites and festivals, and Iran has used these to strengthen its cultural ties with Iraq.

Political Influence: Iran has been able to exert direct and indirect influence over Iraq’s political affairs. It has supported various Shia political parties and politicians, further consolidating its influence in Iraq.

The net result of these factors is that Iran has been able to extend its sphere of influence into Iraq in the post-Saddam era.

The US involvement in Libya, primarily during the 2011 civil war, was significant and played a role in the country’s current anarchical state. Here’s a general timeline of the events:

* 1969-2011: Prior to the civil war, Libya had one of the highest GDPs per capita in Africa, largely due to its large oil reserves. After overthrowing King Idris in 1969, Gaddafi implemented policies aimed at eliminating poverty in Libya. The oil revenue was used to fund large-scale infrastructure projects, leading to a significant increase in the standard of living. Gaddafi introduced free healthcare and education, and subsidized housing was made available to all citizens.

He had proposed a plan to create a single African currency made from gold, known as the Gold Dinar. The idea was that this currency would be used to buy and sell oil and other resources instead of the U.S. or other foreign currencies.

* February 2011: Protests against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime began, inspired by the Arab Spring movements in neighboring countries. The protests quickly escalated into a full-blown civil war funded by entities aiming to exploit Libya’s oil resources.

* March 2011: The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1973, authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya. The US, along with NATO allies and some Arab nations, began a military intervention under this authorization.

* April 2011: The US transitioned primary command and control to NATO. However, the US continued to play a significant role in the NATO mission, providing a large portion of the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as a significant portion of the in-air refueling capabilities.

* October 2011: Gaddafi was captured and killed by rebel forces. The National Transitional Council, composed of anti-Gaddafi forces, declared Libya liberated.

* 2012 and onwards: The following years saw Libya plagued by instability and violence. The country has been split among various armed groups, many of whom have turned against each other. The central government has struggled to exert control, and in some parts of the country, local militias have more power.

Aftermath

After the collapse of Muammar Gadhafi’s regime in 2011, Libya descended into chaos, with various factions vying for control. This created a power vacuum and lawlessness that allowed human trafficking and smuggling networks to thrive. Gaddafi had kept slavery illegal in Libya. Many migrants from other parts of Africa use Libya as a transit point to reach Europe. However, the tightening of border controls by European countries has left many migrants stranded in Libya. These migrants, desperate and without legal protections, are vulnerable to being exploited and sold into slavery. The ongoing economic crisis and instability in Libya have made human trafficking a profitable business. Many Libyans are struggling to make ends meet, and the exploitation of vulnerable migrants has become one way for people to earn money.

This is how Barack Obama brought back slave trade to Africa.

The Syrian civil war is an ongoing conflict in Syria that started in 2011 during the Arab Spring protests. It began as peaceful demonstrations against the Syrian government but escalated into an armed conflict after a violent crackdown. The war involves various factions, including the Syrian Arab Republic led by President Bashar al-Assad, opposition groups like the Syrian Interim Government and the Syrian Salvation Government, the autonomous region of Rojava represented by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and extremist groups such as Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) which are al-Qaeda cut outs.

Control over Syrian oil fields has been a factor in the conflict. Various factions, including ISIS at its peak, have sought to control oil fields as a way of generating revenue. Moreover, Israel has an interest in dismantling Syria in order to maintain its grip on oil-rich Golan Heights; Syrian territory occupied by Israel since the 1967.

Several foreign countries, including Iran, Israel, Russia, Turkey, and the United States, have become involved in the conflict by supporting different factions. Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah provide military support to the democratically elected Syrian government, while the U.S - led coalition covertly support rebel groups and conducts airstrikes against government and pro-government forces. Turkey has fought against the SDF, ISIS, and the Syrian government, and also supports the opposition rebel groups.

Here are some major ways the US has supported rebel groups in Syria:

Financial Support: The US has provided financial assistance to certain rebel groups. This funding has been used to purchase weapons, equipment, and other supplies necessary for their resistance against the Syrian regime.

Military Aid: The US has provided military aid to certain rebel groups, which includes weapons, training, and tactical advice. The CIA ran a program called ‘Timber Sycamore’ from 2013 to 2017 that trained and armed rebel groups.

Political Support: The US has also offered political support to the Syrian opposition. This includes advocating for their interests in international forums, such as the United Nations, and applying diplomatic pressure on the Syrian government and its allies.

Sanctions: The US has imposed sanctions on the Syrian regime and its supporters, aiming to weaken them and indirectly support the opposition.

The war has caused a significant number of casualties, with estimates ranging from 470,000 to 610,000 deaths. It has also resulted in a major refugee crisis, with millions of people fleeing to neighboring countries and beyond. Various peace initiatives have been attempted, but fighting has persisted. As of 2023, active combat between the Syrian government and rebel groups has mostly diminished, although sporadic clashes continue in Northwestern Syria. ISIS has been largely defeated, with only isolated pockets of resistance remaining in remote areas.

Ukraine is a resource-rich country in Eastern Europe that neighbors Russia. It is an important place in Russian history and Orthodox Christianity. However, it also has a history of supporting extremist ideologie like Nazism and Zionism to undermine historical Russian influence over the country. The western Polish and Ukrainian populations are aligned with the American-led western block, while Eastern Ukrainians are overwhelmingly pro-Russian and consider themselves ethnic Russian. Certain Western Polish and Ukrainian families, such as the Nulands, Brzezinskis, and Blinkens, have migrated to the US, continuing their ancestral pursuit of dismantling the former Soviet Union and modern-day Russia. Former colonial powers in the world like Britain and France, which had historical rivalries with Russia, as well as global oligarchs and companies like BlackRock, which wield vast lobbying power in American and Western politics have an interest in dismantling the Russian sphere of influence in resource-rich Eurasian territories.

The Revolution of Dignity, also known as the Maidan Revolution or the Ukrainian Revolution, took place in Ukraine in February 2014. It resulted in the ousting of the democratically-elected President, Viktor Yanukovych, who maintained a balanced approach with the EU and Russia. The protesters also demanded a return to the 2004 Constitution that could pave the way for Ukraine to apply for EU and NATO membership. The revolution also led Russia to annex Crimea in 2014 and sparked the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022.

Victoria Nuland, a senior U.S. State Department official, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have been implicated by some critics in what they see as an orchestration of the Maidan Revolution in Ukraine.

* Victoria Nuland’s role:

Nuland was Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs during the events of the Maidan Revolution. She made several trips to Ukraine during the crisis, met with opposition leaders, and expressed strong support for their cause.

Nuland’s infamous leaked phone call with Geoffrey Pyatt, the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, in which they discussed their preferred choices for the Ukrainian government after the revolution, has been pointed to as evidence of U.S. interference.

Nuland’s public distribution of food to protesters on Maidan Square was seen by some as a symbolic gesture of support for the opposition.

* The CIA’s alleged involvement:

Critics allege that the CIA had an active role in organizing and supporting the protests. Some argue that the CIA was involved in training and supporting protest groups, providing tactical advice, and possibly supplying non-lethal equipment. The agency is known for its history of involvement in political upheavals worldwide, which adds to these suspicions.

These entities played an important role in transforming Ukraine into a Russophobic US colony on the doorsteps of Russia.

Venezuela has the most proven oil reserves in the entire world. Saudi Arabia's 298 billion barrels of proven reserves barely beat Venezuela's 304 billion barrels. Both are significantly more than the 69 billion barrels of U.S. proven reserves.

United States government supported efforts to overthrow the government of Venezuela, particularly during the presidencies of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro.

Hugo Chávez was the President of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013. He was succeeded by his Vice President, Nicolás Maduro. Both leaders have been associated with socialist policies and anti-U.S. rhetoric. Over the years, there have been repeated allegations that the U.S. government has sought to undermine or overthrow the Venezuelan government. These allegations have included claims of the U.S. providing support to opposition groups, economic sanctions, and diplomatic pressure.

The most notable incident occurred in April 2002, when a coup briefly removed Chávez from power. He was restored to power within 48 hours. The U.S. government recognized the interim government that took power during the coup, leading to allegations of U.S. involvement or support.

In January 2019, opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim President of Venezuela, disputing the legitimacy of Nicolás Maduro’s presidency. The U.S. and several other nations recognized Guaidó as the legitimate leader. This move was seen by some as another attempt at a U.S.-backed coup.

Bolivia is rich in lithium reserves and is part of the lithium triangle. Lithium is a finite resource crucial for the production of electric batteries.

Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, was in power from 2006 to 2019. His presidency was marked by significant economic growth and reductions in poverty. He’s another Latin American president that’s connected with anti-American sentiments and socialist policies. He even offered asylum to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

In October 2019, Morales ran for a fourth term in office. The election results were contested, with the Organization of American States (OAS) declaring that there were irregularities in the vote count. Morales initially agreed to hold new elections, but protests continued to escalate.

On November 10, 2019, the Bolivian military publicly called for Morales to step down. He resigned the same day, denouncing the events as a coup. Morales went into exile, first in Mexico and later in Argentina.

The U.S.’s role in these events is a subject of debate. The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, was quick to recognize the interim government headed by Jeanine Áñez that took power after Morales’s departure. This led some to argue that the U.S. had supported the coup. Additionally, critics point out that the OAS, which played a key part in questioning the election results, receives a significant portion of its funding from the U.S.

In 2020, a year after Morales was forced out, his political party MAS (Movement Toward Socialism) returned to power in Bolivia with the election of Luis Arce. Morales returned to Bolivia shortly after.

In July 2020, Elon Musk tweeted “We will coup whoever we want! Deal with it” in response to a comment accusing him of engaging in a coup over lithium. Although Musk later clarified that his company gets most of its lithium from Australia, the tweet stirred controversy and speculation about Tesla’s potential benefit from a more business-friendly government in Bolivia.

Pakistan, a country with a long history as a US ally, has seen its Prime Minister Imran Khan ousted through a no-confidence vote in parliament. Khan claims that this is a US-backed regime change. He accused Donald Lu, a senior U.S. State Department official, of being involved in this purported plot.

Interestingly, video footage showed Lu admitting to contacting Pakistani officials after Pakistan abstained from a vote on Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Pakistan Cypher Exposes U.S. Pressure to Remove Imran Khan.

Motivations for the US to oust Khan include: his opposition to the war on terror, support for the Palestinians, efforts to improve relations with Russia and China, and criticism of US foreign policy.

New evidence has come to light showing that the recent 'Gen Z' color revolution, also known as the Student Protests, which happened in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, has received funding and training from the notorious National Endowment for Democracy (NED) organization.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down on late 2024 following violent protests against the government job quota system. Under Hasina's leadership of the secular Awami League (AL), Bangladesh continued to collaborate with Russia, similar to other Global South countries, despite Western sanctions.

Bangladesh is said to be under pressure to allow the United States to set up a military base on Saint Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal. This proposal has generated significant geopolitical debate, as it could shift the regional power dynamics and potentially escalate the military rivalry between India and China, affecting their overall relations. Saint Martin Island is located near India and is regarded as a crucial asset for the United States in countering China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Its proximity to India could enhance India-U.S. defense ties by providing a strategic position that supports mutual interests.

The protests began in June and July at various universities, including Brac University (BRACU), which is a key participant in projects by the Open Society University Network (OSUN), established by George Soros. BRACU's parent organization, Brac, is one of the largest non-profits globally and has received funding from Soros' Open Society Foundations for a long time.

In August 2022, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas called for elections in Bangladesh to be "free, fair, and transparent."

In December 2022, Haas visited the home of Sajedul Islam Sumon, a leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), following a party rally in Dhaka. Moscow cautioned the US against interfering in Bangladesh's internal matters.

In December 2023, anti-government protests led to traffic disruptions and clashes with the police, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accusing US diplomats of inciting the unrest.

After the AL's victory in the January 2024 election, the US criticized the election process as not being free or fair, while India, China, and Russia extended their congratulations to Hasina and the AL.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), funded by the US State Department's National Endowment for Democracy (NED), observed the elections. The NED, referred to as the "second CIA," is active in Bangladesh and allegedly funds the anti-government outlet Netra News, which labeled Hasina as an "authoritarian" leader and called for her resignation.

In late 2024, protests turned violent, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to resign and flee the country.

Muhammad Yunus, currently leading the interim government, has had a history of support from the United States. He was a Fulbright scholar sponsored by the U.S. State Department and has received various honors from the U.S. government, in addition to being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Wikileaks, he reportedly sought U.S. intervention in Bangladeshi politics on his behalf.

Warren Delano was the grandfather of Franklin Roosevelt. Delano was employed by Russell & Co., which was the largest Chinese trading company during his time. In 1824, John P. Cushing sold Perkins & Co. to Russell & Co. Delano took advantage of the UK's subsequent opium ban by charging tolls and assisting with the transportation of opium, which led to significant profits and elevated him to the second-highest position at Russell & Co. He was dubbed as the 'American Opium king of China'. In 1839, he facilitated the first military trade between the US and China by successfully selling a 900-ton British warship to Lin Zexu during the Opium War. So the family made profits by exploiting both the British and the Chinese.

William Jardine and James Matheson are the founders of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, also known as Jardines. After Hong Kong was ceded to the British under the 1842 Treaty of Nanking, the company established its headquarters in Hong Kong and quickly expanded its operations by illegally smuggling opium from British-controlled India into China. The company has earned a reputation as the "most successful opium smuggling company in the world." To date, this British multinational conglomerate is based in Hong Kong, and the majority of its business interests are in Asia.

Dent & Co. (also known as Dent's) was among the most affluent British merchant firms that operated in China. They were a fierce competitor of Jardine, Matheson & Co., and Russell & Co.

George Baring founded the company in 1809. Thomas Dent joined it in 1820 and also brought in Robert Hugh Inglis, who had connections with the East India Company. The company changed its name to "Dent & Co." in 1824, and a relation of Thomas, Lancelot Dent, joined the firm in 1827. One of the first triggers of the First Opium War began with Lin Zexu's order for the arrest of Lancelot Dent in 1839, as Dent refused to surrender his opium store.

The Sassoon family was a prominent Jewish family of Iraqi origin who established businesses in India, China, and England during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The family's fortune was built on the opium trade, and they became one of the wealthiest families in the world. In fact, they were called the "Rothschilds of the East."

The family's fortune originated when they moved to India. David Sassoon founded the David S. Sassoon company in Bombay and filled it with people from Baghdad to staff various branches of the business across India, Burma, Malaya, and East Asia. He then established the family's dominant position in the Sino-Indian opium trade and expanded businesses in China and Hong Kong. His success extended to England, and he is known for building Sassoon House in Shanghai, which is now a landmark.

John Murray Forbes was another notable person associated with Russell & Co. Despite his involvement in the opium trade, Forbes was a known philanthropist and was instrumental in the establishment of the Massachusetts General Hospital and Manhattan's Hospital for Special Surgery, as well as the Perkins Institution for the Blind. Moreover, in the 1850s, he held the presidency of both the Michigan Central Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad.

T. H. Perkins, or Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins, hailed from a wealthy Boston family and was known as an American merchant, slave trader, smuggler, and philanthropist. Using bequests from his grandfather and father-in-law, he accumulated a significant fortune. In his youth, Perkins traded slaves in Saint-Domingue and worked as a maritime fur trader, dealing in furs from the American Northwest that were traded in China. Later, he engaged in smuggling Turkish opium into China. His nephew, John Perkins Cushing, was also involved in Perkins' China business for three decades.

The Astor family, or the Astor dynasty, was a family that held a position of prominence in American society during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The family's initial wealth was established by John Jacob Astor through the fur trade. But it was his grandson, John Jacob Astor IV, who went on to invest in the opium trade by participating in the American China Development Company and amassed a fortune through smuggling opium into China. He was also a real estate tycoon, investing in real estate in and around New York City. He was the first noteworthy member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States.

The Cabot family was another prominent American family involved in the opium trade in China. The founder of the family, Samuel Cabot Jr., was a Boston merchant who made a fortune through opium smuggling. Samuel Cabot Jr. married Elizabeth Perkins, a daughter of the Perkins family, and were parents to seven sons. One of their sons, Samuel Cabot III, continued the family business and expanded it into the shipping industry, building a fleet of ships that transported opium to China.

Samuel Russell, an American entrepreneur and trader, established Russell & Company, which became the most significant and largest American trading house in China from 1842 until its dissolution in 1891. After arriving in Canton, China, in 1819, Russell conducted trade on behalf of the Providence-based firm, Edward Carrington & Company, dealing in various goods such as opium. The substantial profits he earned enabled him to establish Russell & Company in Canton in 1824, which mainly traded in silks, teas, and opium. The company flourished, and by 1842, it had risen to become the most significant American trading house in China.

William Shepard Wetmore was an American philanthropist and businessman involved in trade with China. He traveled to Canton in 1833 and took over a partnership with Dunn & Company. He later formed a new merchant house, Wetmore & Company, with a junior partner. Wetmore's records from 1834 to 1839 show that the main products traded by the company were tea, tea papers, silks, and spices, with smaller shipments of wine, port, opium, hemp, pearl buttons, copper, and coffee.

Baring Brothers was a leading British banking and merchant firm during the 18th and 19th centuries. The firm was established in 1762 by Francis Baring and quickly became one of the most influential banking houses in London. The firm played a significant role in financing the opium trade between India and China.

Hugh Hamilton Lindsay was the son of Hon. Hugh Lindsay, a director of the East India Company which produced revenues from monopoly opium sales for British India. Lindsay had a keen interest in China and was one of the first Britons to visit Shanghai. In 1820, he began his career in China as a supercargo for the East India Company and later became the company's Secretary in Canton.

In 1832, Lindsay led a covert exploration of Chinese ports along with Lutheran missionary Karl Gützlaff, visiting Amoy, Fuzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Shandong. He was a supporter of the war against Qing China to promote business interests. Lindsay was the founder of Lindsay and Company of Hong Kong, a banking and shipping company.

The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian artefact with inscriptions in various languages and scripts. The upper and middle texts are in Ancient Egyptian, written in hieroglyphic and Demotic scripts, respectively, while the lower text is in Ancient Greek. Discovered near the town of Rosetta (Rashid), about 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Alexandria, the stone is irregularly shaped and made of black granite, measuring 3 feet 9 inches (114 cm) in length and 2 feet 4.5 inches (72 cm) in width.

In August 1799, a Frenchman named Bouchard discovered it. Following the French surrender of Egypt in 1801, the Rosetta Stone came into the possession of the British and is now housed in the British Museum in London.

The Kohinoor diamond, weighing 105.6 carats, is one of the largest cut diamonds worldwide. Its first verifiable historical record appears in Muhammad Kazim Marvi's history of the 1740s invasion of Northern India by Nader Shah. Marvi writes that Nader Shah looted the Kohinoor, among many other precious stones, from the Mughal Peacock Throne in Delhi. The diamond then exchanged hands between different empires in South and West Asia until it was given to Queen Victoria after the annexation of Punjab by the British East India Company in 1849.

Upon its arrival in the UK, the Kohinoor diamond has exclusively been worn by female members of the British royal family. Queen Victoria adorned the stone in both a brooch and a circlet. Following her death in 1901, it was set in the Crown of Queen Alexandra. The diamond was then transferred to the Crown of Queen Mary in 1911 and later to the Crown of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, in 1937 for her coronation. Presently, the Kohinoor diamond is on public exhibit in the Jewel House at the Tower of London.

The Maqdala treasures are valuable artefacts, including a gold crown from the 18th century that was seized by the British Army in 1868. The British Museum holds roughly 80 items from Maqdala, formerly called Amba Mariam. The collections include ceremonial crosses, chalices, processional umbrella tops, weapons, textiles, jewellery, archaeological material and tabots - sacred objects within the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition. Objects from Maqdala are featured in both permanent and temporary displays at the Museum's galleries.

The Bronze Head of Queen Idia is believed to be a commemorative bronze sculpture from medieval Benin that likely portrays Idia, the mother of Oba Esigie. The sculpture depicts a young woman from the Benin court wearing a high-pointed ukpe-okhue crown made of lattice-shaped red coral beads. It was created at the Benin court in the early 16th century using the lost wax casting technique. After the Benin Expedition of 1897-1900, many works of art from Benin were sold in the European art market. There are four known cast bronze heads of Queen Idia, all of which are now housed in the British Museum in London.

The Akan Drum, originating from West Africa, was uncovered in the Colony of Virginia in North America and is now considered the British Museum's oldest surviving African-American artefact, as well as potentially the oldest surviving drum of its kind. The drum serves as a reminder of the transatlantic slave trade that involved all three continents and transported approximately twelve million individuals across the Atlantic Ocean. Exhibited in Room 26, the North American gallery of the British Museum, the drum is crafted from two types of sub-Saharan African wood: Baphia and Cordia africana.

The Amaravati Marbles are a collection of 120 sculptures and inscriptions housed in the British Museum, originating from the Amaravati Stupa located in Amaravathi, Guntur in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. These sculptures are primarily in relief, with many of them depicting scenes from the Jataka tales, a body of literature that narrates the past lives of Buddha. The collection is sometimes referred to as the Elliot Marbles due to their association with Sir Walter Elliot, who had them transported from the site to Madras in the 1840s. The British Museum acquired the Amaravati Marbles in the 1880s.

The collection of sculptures and plaques known as the 'Benin Bronzes' is a magnificent array of brass and bronze artworks. These include intricately designed cast plaques, commemorative heads, animal and human figures, royal regalia, and personal ornaments, all of which originated from the West African Kingdom of Benin, now a part of Nigeria. A significant number of the sculptures in the collection can be traced back to the 13th century, while a substantial portion of the collection is from the 15th and 16th centuries. However, from 1897 to 1960, Benin City was under British colonial rule. During this time, over 200 of these sculptures were looted by the British expedition and have since been held in British museums.

The Great Star of Africa, also known as the Cullinan Diamond, is a historic diamond that was discovered in 1905 in South Africa. It is the largest diamond ever found, weighing 3,106.75 carats. The diamond was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, who owned the Premier mine where it was found. The Great Star of Africa was eventually cut into several smaller stones, the largest of which is the Cullinan I, a pear-shaped diamond weighing 530.2 carats. It is part of the British Crown Jewels and is set in the Sovereign's Sceptre with a Cross. The other stones cut from the original Cullinan Diamond are also highly prized and have been used in various royal and ceremonial jewellery.

The Bronze Head of Ife, a free-standing bronze sculpture created between 1200 and 1400 CE using the lost wax technique, was discovered in 1938 at Wunmonije Compound in Ife, Nigeria. It was found along with sixteen other brass and copper heads and the upper half of a brass figure. The elaborate beaded headdress of the sculpture suggests that it may have belonged to an Ooni, the ruler of Ife. The Bronze Head of Ife is now housed at the British Museum.

The Kongo Kingdom in west-central Africa produced some of the most exquisite sculptural works known as Kongo ivories. These ivory sculptures were commissioned by the kingdom's chiefs and kings, who strictly controlled the valuable commodity. They were crafted for personal and courtly use and became highly sought-after as the transatlantic trade expanded, with ivory becoming one of the most valuable African natural resources. Eventually, Kongo ivory carvers began producing works not only for indigenous leaders and elites, but also for Europeans and other foreigners.

The Luzira Head, or Mpanga Head, is a unique terracotta bust of a female figure found in Luzira, Uganda. Its nose is small, while the eyes and mouth are narrow and protruding. The forehead is marked with three cicatrices, and the hair is matted and drapes over both sides of the head. The original excavation revealed the tripod-shaped lower part of the figure, which is also hollow and made of baked clay, mirroring the head's construction. Estimated to be approximately 1000 years old, the sculpture is one of the earliest Sub-Saharan artworks discovered in Africa. The British Museum's ethnographic collection has housed the Luzira Head since 1931.

The Benin ivory mask is a miniature ivory sculpture in the form of a traditional African mask, depicting Idia, the first Iyoba (Queen Mother) of the Benin Empire during the 16th century. The British looted the masks from the palace of the Oba of Benin during the Benin Expedition of 1897. The British Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City both possess nearly identical masks, both portraying the Queen Mother in a serene expression, wearing a beaded headdress, a beaded choker around her neck, with scarification on the forehead highlighted by iron inlay, and all framed by the flange of an openwork tiara and collar of symbolic beings, as well as double loops on each side for attachment of the pendant.

The Ndop sculptures were figurative representations of the various kings of the Kuba kingdom. The sculptures typically depict the ruler holding a weapon, specifically an ikul or peace knife, made in the style reserved for the Bushoong, the dominant sub-group of the Kuba, in their left hand. Scholars believe that the tradition of creating "portrait statues" of kings began in the late eighteenth century. The sculptures were first collected by a colonial minister in 1909 in what was then the Belgian Congo, a European colony.

The statue of Sekhemka is an ancient Egyptian artefact that was donated to the Northampton Museum in the 1870s by the Marquess of Northampton. The statue, which dates back to the 5th dynasty and is slightly older than Stonehenge, depicts Sekhemka, the scribe, and his wife, Sitmerit. In 2014, the statue was sold at auction for £15.76 million, breaking the world record for the sale of Ancient Egyptian art. The sale was contentious and raised questions about the museum's ownership and the ethics of selling cultural artefacts.

Tipu Sultan's ring is a historic artefact that belonged to Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in India in the late 18th century. The ring is made of gold, and the raised Devanagari script on it bears the name of the Hindu God Ram. It is believed to have been worn by Tipu Sultan himself, who was known for his military prowess and resistance against British colonialism. The ring was acquired by the British East India Company after Tipu Sultan's defeat in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799.

The ring gained widespread attention in May 2014 when it was auctioned off by the renowned UK auction house Christie's for an unexpected amount of 145,000 pounds, ten times more than the estimated price.

The British Museum houses the Elgin Marbles, which is a collection of Ancient Greek sculptures taken from the Parthenon and other structures from the Acropolis of Athens by agents of Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, during Ottoman Greece and transported to Britain. Most of the sculptures were crafted in the 5th century BCE under the supervision of sculptor and architect Phidias. Between 1801 and 1812, Elgin's representatives removed approximately half of the surviving Parthenon sculptures, as well as sculptures from the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Propylaia, and brought them to Britain to create a personal museum.

The British Museum's possession of the marbles has been a source of ongoing international controversy. In 1816, a parliamentary inquiry in the UK concluded that Elgin had obtained the marbles through legal means. He subsequently sold them to the British government that same year, and they have since been under the trusteeship of the British Museum.