covert action, n.All

Covert action (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a sign of a government afraid of its own population: it goes underground because it cannot do the thing in the open.