Stuff You Should Know

Short Stuff: Did a vampire legend help win the Cold War?

January 14, 2026

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  • During the Cold War, CIA operative Ed Lansdale utilized psychological operations (PsyOps) in the Philippines by weaponizing the local folklore creature, the Aswang, to undermine communist sympathizers. 
  • The Aswang is a terrifying Filipino legend, often compared to a vampire, but it is described as feeding on organs, phlegm, and unborn children, sometimes using a long tongue through ceiling 'lick holes'. 
  • The CIA's operation involved not only spreading rumors about the Aswang but also having agents kidnap and disembowel Hook rebels in the style of the creature to terrify villagers into withholding support from the communist insurgents. 

Segments

Introduction and Aswang Lore
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(00:01:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The Aswang is a multifaceted Filipino mythological creature that consumes blood, organs, and phlegm, often appearing as a giant pig or vulture.
  • Summary: The episode of Stuff You Should Know, titled Short Stuff: Did a vampire legend help win the Cold War?, begins by introducing the Aswang, a creature from Philippine folklore. Unlike Western vampires, the Aswang is known to feed on phlegm and the insides of pregnant women and children. It can shapeshift into animals like a giant pig or vulture, and misfortune is often blamed on its presence.
CIA PsyOps Background
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(00:03:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Ed Lansdale, a former advertising executive, pioneered deep cultural PsyOps for the OSS/CIA by exploiting local superstitions during the Cold War.
  • Summary: Ed Lansdale, a CIA operative who previously worked in advertising, specialized in PsyOps by researching local culture to turn beliefs against enemies. This approach was more sophisticated than conventional leaflet drops or demoralization tactics. Lansdale’s work focused on deeply embedding psychological warfare into the local context.
Philippine Conflict Context
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(00:07:55)
  • Key Takeaway: Lansdale was assigned to the Philippines in 1950 to advise President Ramon Magsaysay against communist Huk rebels, whose uprising was partly fueled by opposition to the U.S.-backed Philippine Trade Act of 1946.
  • Summary: Lansdale arrived in 1950 as an Air Force advisor to President Ramon Magsaysay to combat the Huk rebels, who were fighting the U.S.-backed regime. The Huks, revered for fighting the Japanese, opposed the Philippine Trade Act of 1946, which granted Americans equal rights to natural resources. The U.S.-supported election that brought Magsaysay to power was reportedly rigged by the CIA.
Aswang Psychological Warfare
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(00:11:37)
  • Key Takeaway: CIA-trained operatives staged gruesome murders, disemboweling Hook fighters and leaving bloodless corpses, to convince villagers the Aswang was active near the rebel camp.
  • Summary: The most extreme tactic involved Filipino commandos, overseen by the CIA, kidnapping Hook fighters, disemboweling them, and draining their blood to mimic the Aswang. This was done to intimidate villagers into ceasing support for the rebels encamped nearby. Researchers noted the CIA incorrectly focused on blood-sucking (Dracula-like) rather than the Aswang’s true local characteristics, such as feeding on fetuses.
Outcome and Conclusion
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(00:14:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The Aswang operation was reportedly used only once, successfully dislodging the insurgents temporarily, but the overall war was won through sustained military grinding until the Huk leader surrendered in 1954.
  • Summary: The specific Aswang operation was only used one time and succeeded in dislodging the targeted Hook insurgents. However, the broader conflict was resolved through years of fighting, culminating in Huk leader Luis Taruk securing a pardon and surrendering in 1954. The hosts conclude by noting the effectiveness of this single, horrific psychological tactic.