Classic Case of Deception

摘要

When briefing the CIAs Directorate of Operations (DO) or other components of the Intelligence Community (IC) about the Office of Technical Services (OTS) exfiltration capability, I always made a point to remind them that readiness is the key. This is one of the full-time concerns of my former OTS office, the Graphics and Authentication Division (GAD). In arranging for the escape of refugees and other people of potential intelligence value who are subject to political persecution and hostile pursuit, prior planning is not always possible because they show up at odd hours in out-of-the-way places. Current surveys and collection of up-to-date intelligence regarding travel controls and procedures are vital. OTS engages in this activity worldwide. The readiness to move clandestine agents out of harms way using quasilegal methods is equally important. CIAs policy and practice are to bring its valuable human assets in from the cold when they can no longer remain in place. Sometimes this includes their families. Public Law 110 gives the IC the authority to resettle these people in the United States as US persons when the time comes and the quota allows. OTS/GAD and its successor components have serviced these kinds of operations since OSS days. The authentication of operations officers and their agents by providing them with personal documentation and disguise, cover legends and supporting data, 'pocket litter,' and so forth is fundamental deception tradecraft in clandestine operations. Personal documentation and disguise specialists, graphic artists, and other graphics specialists spend hundreds of hours preparing the materials, tailoring the cover legends, and coordinating the plan.