political action, propaganda, air and marine operations, and arms interdiction, as well as support to a spectacular hostage rescue mission." During the heights of the Cold War in 1960s, Congo was perceived as geopolitically strategic. This was due to its size, which is quarter of the size of United States, and natural resource endowments. In short, Congo was "the Cold War prize of the first order". The Chief of CIA Africa Division in June 1960 said that "If Congo deteriorates and Western influence fades rapidly, the bloc will have a feast and will not need to work very hard for it". Patrice Lumumba was seen by the United States as a potential Communist. He turned to the United States for assistance shortly after the Congo declared independence from Belgium. For fear that Lumumba would follow a similar path to that of Fidel Castro, he was denied American aid. Lumumba knew a Belgian attack was coming to reclaim his country. With no American aid on the way, he instead turned to the Soviets who fulfilled his request. Newly appointed Congo Station Chief Larry Devlin, who was sent to assess Lumumba, took note of the Soviet support and interpreted it as Lumumba playing into the Soviet's plan. Devlin ultimately identified him as a target for covert action. United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower was very concerned at activities occurring in postcolonial Africa. During a meeting with senior advisors in August 1960 he stated that he felt Communists succeeded in convincing people worldwide that they were concerned for the common man while portraying the United States as dedicated to supporting outmoded regimes. Lumumba was a proud nationalist and claimed to be neutral in terms of the Cold War. The UN instead intervened in the Congo, however was unfit and truly not designed for forceful military or clandestine intelligence support. A CIA report from September 1960 described Lumumba as a "demagogic speaker" who was emotionally convinced it was his duty to unify Congo through a strong central government. This report illustrated the CIA's belief that the Soviet Union was attempting to undercut the United Nations by providing Lumumba aid outside UN channels in exchange for Lumumba being the Soviet's tool. Lumumba continued to maintain that his interests were those of the Congolese majority, and described himself as a nationalist. He wanted full independence and full control over natural resources in order to use them