The Phoenix Program (Vietnamese: Chiến ịch Phượng Hoàng, a word related to fenghuang, the Chinese phoenix) was a military, intelligence, and internal security program designed by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and coordinated with the Republic of Vietnam's (South Vietnam) security apparatus during the Vietnam War. It was in operation between 1967 and 1972, but similar efforts existed both before and after this. The program was designed to identify and "neutralize" (via infiltration, capture, or assassination) the civilian infrastructure supporting the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF or derogatively, Viet Cong) insurgency.