Back in WW2, U.S. intelligence agencies did not hesitate using Sicilian mob bosses in furthering Allied causes vs Nazis and Italian Fascists. The most publicized cooperative effort was between U.S. Naval Intelligence and alleged mob boss Charles “Lucky” Luciano, who was serving a 30-50-year term in New York state prison for his part in a prostitution ring. Wikipedia has a fairly accurate account of the Naval Intelligence-Mob operation.
“During World War II, the US government struck a
secret deal with the imprisoned Luciano. In 1942, the Office of Naval
Intelligence was concerned about German and Italian agents
entering the US through the New York waterfront. They also worried about sabotage in
these facilities. Knowing that the Mafia controlled the waterfront, the US Navy contacted
Lansky about a deal with Luciano. To facilitate negotiations, Luciano was
transferred to Great Meadow
Correctional Facility in Comstock, New
York, which was much closer to New York City.[63]
“The Navy, the State of New York and Luciano reached a
deal: in exchange for a commutation of
his sentence, Luciano promised the complete assistance of his organization in
providing intelligence to
the Navy. Anastasia, a Luciano ally who controlled the docks, allegedly
promised no dockworker strikes during war. In preparation for the 1943 allied
invasion of Sicily, Luciano allegedly provided the US
military with Sicilian Mafia contacts. This collaboration
between the Navy and the Mafia became known as Operation
Underworld.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Luciano#World_War_II,_freedom,_and_deportation
The U.S. Army’s history of the Sicilian campaign also
mentions meetings between military intelligence offices and Sicilian criminal
groups before and after the invasion, which began on July 9, 1943.
Since the demise of the Soviet Union, the “Russian Mob”
has held the interest of movie and television script writers. For several
years, Russian Mob stories became a staple for NBC’s Law and Order, so much so that one might believe the Russians a
threat to U.S. national security.
Yet in the real war between Ukraine and Russia, no mention
has been made of where the Mob stands on good guys and bad guys.
Is someone hiding something?
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