“Peter Kornbluh of the invaluable National Security Archive has called Posada [Luis Posada Carriles] a CIA-created Frankenstein, and the historical record indicates that Kornbluh may be low-balling it. This is a guy who disguised himself as a priest to break jail in Venezuela, where he was being held in connection with the Cubana [Cubana de Aviación Flight 455] bombing, and the first thing he did was go to El Salvador and help Ollie North run the re-supply program that eventually would become the Iran-Contra scandal.”

Thus Passed a True American-Made Terrorist — Esquire (May 23 2018)

“There is no essential difference between the work of a spy and a journalist; both collect information in the same way — just the end consumers are different. Journalists make the best spies; they have more freedom of access than diplomats. The Americans’ moral stand on not using journalists is artificial, and not a little duplicitous.”

Maj. Gen. Yury Kobaldze of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service

September 29 2019 — Jonna Mendez, former CIA Chief of Disguise, takes a look at spy scenes from a variety of television shows and movies and breaks down how accurate they really are. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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UPDATE (September 29 2020) — This post generated quite a bit of feedback.

Obviously, many readers of Intel Today have doubts about the CIA no longer using journalism as cover for their agents, or even using journalists as source of intelligence.

Flashback — In 1976, The Church Committee revealed that the CIA was relying on journalists for its own work.

As a result, the Agency was forced to adapt new regulations that make such practice illegal.

However, few noticed the loophole. A clause still allowed the agency to use journalists under “extraordinary” circumstances with the “specific approval” of the CIA director.

The 1997 Intelligence Authorization Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton, allowing the ban on the use of journalists to be waived with notification to Congress and presidential approval. [The News Media & The Law — Winter 2003]

END of UPDATE

Jonna Mendez argues that there are three covers that are basically off limits at the CIA: religious figures, media figures and peace corps.

No everyone is convinced…

Last night, Caitlin Johnstone tweeted the following message:

“Take off the revolutionary’s mask, and it’s the CIA.

Take off the terrorist’s mask, and it’s the CIA.

Take off the news man’s mask, and it’s the CIA.

Take off the filmmaker’s mask, and it’s the CIA.

Take off the whistleblower’s mask, and it’s the motherfucking CIA.”

Former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou wrote a quick comment.

“Wow. 100 percent right. I couldn’t possibly add anything to this. And they want us to just take their word for everything.”

Former CIA Chief of Disguise Breaks Down 30 Spy Scenes From Film & TV | WIRED

REFERENCES

Jonna Mendez — The Master of Disguise

Declassified letters show CIA’s indignation over ex-employee Peace Corps ban — MUCKROCK

Thus Passed a True American-Made Terrorist — Esquire (May 23 2018)

The Lawsuit Against the Vatican and the CIA by Jonathan Levy (17 January 2001)

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Former CIA Chief of Disguise : “No Priest, No Peace Corps & No Journalist”

One Year Ago — Former CIA Chief of Disguise : “No Priest, No Peace Corps & No Journalist”