What is a 'mole' in the CIA, and how was one discovered in their ranks?

A mole in the CIA is one of its own officers who becomes a spy for a foreign adversary, representing one of the worst penetrations an intelligence service can face. The CIA learned about the mole when a foreign ally provided intelligence suggesting a turncoat was sharing information on operations and assets to an enemy country, codenamed Falcon.

How did Andrew and Jihi Bustamante meet and is dating allowed within the CIA?

Andrew and Jihi met on Andrew's first day at the CIA, during their training. Dating within the CIA is not only allowed but encouraged, as it helps officers maintain secrecy and understanding within relationships, given the difficulties of keeping their daily lives and missions confidential from outsiders.

What were Andrew and Jihi's specific roles within the CIA, as a case officer and a targeter?

Jihi was a targeter, responsible for going through data to identify individuals of interest for capture or kill, piecing together puzzles of who was important and how to reach them. Andrew was an operations/case officer, tasked with learning how to meet, befriend, win the trust of, and collect secrets from these identified targets in the field, often working undercover.

How did the CIA plan to use Andrew and Jihi's new operations to expose the mole?

The CIA sent Andrew and Jihi to a friendly country (Wolf) to build new intelligence operations in an adversarial country (Falcon), purposefully keeping these new operations compartmentalized from headquarters. They hoped the mole, who would not have access to this new intelligence, would try to 'stretch' to obtain information, making mistakes that the CIA could track to build a legal case for arrest.

What is 'dry cleaning' in espionage tradecraft, as described by Andrew Bustamante?

'Dry cleaning' describes a method for cleansing a spy's travel route to prevent direct tracking back to a friendly country. It involves traveling from a friendly country to a neutral country, changing identities (passport swap), and then proceeding to the hostile target country, creating a pattern of life that traces back only to the neutral country.

How would the CIA acquire or facilitate 'specialized gifts' for targets, including controversial items?

The CIA would facilitate the transfer of specialized gifts, appealing to targets, which could range from gold and high-end liquors to child pornography or foreign currency. These items might be acquired through friendly countries in raids or exchanges and used as a form of currency, reflecting a 'morally ambivalent' approach to achieving security goals.

How did Andrew Bustamante detect he was under surveillance in the hostile country?

Andrew used a surveillance detection route (SDR), which involves a predetermined, pre-planned route through a city designed to expose followers. He identified multiple sightings of the same people or vehicles over time and locations. By taking a specific, circuitous path and observing how people behaved, he confirmed he was being followed.

What is the 'black budget' of intelligence organizations and how is it funded?

The 'black budget' refers to discretionary funds for military and intelligence operations not tied to taxpayer money. It's funded partly by seized assets (like cryptocurrency, drugs, child pornography) and profits from legitimate businesses covertly owned and operated by intelligence organizations that generate revenue.

What is a FISA request and how does it relate to privacy of American citizens?

A FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) request is a judicial warrant that allows intelligence agencies to collect data from American citizens if a link to illicit activities has been proven in court. This can grant access to phones, computers, private Google, and Apple accounts, challenging the notion of complete privacy, especially in national security cases.

How did Andrew and Jihi Bustamante manage to leave the CIA despite being successful officers?

After Andrew was compromised, and Jihi became pregnant, they sought light duty to focus on family. The CIA, valuing their success, pushed them for more sensitive missions, stating, 'your family's not our problem.' Realizing the agency would never prioritize their family over the mission, they decided to leave to raise their children.

What was the ultimate impact of the Shadow Cell operations on the mole hunt and CIA restructuring?

The Shadow Cell operations were successful in gathering new intelligence and were believed to have laid the foundation for tracking the mole. This intelligence eventually led to an FBI sting operation that arrested the mole. Moreover, their cell model influenced a massive CIA reorganization in 2014 under Director John Brennan, highlighting the effectiveness of their 'sticks and bricks' approach.

What is their perspective on the current state and future of the United States?

Jihi, drawing parallels to Venezuela's decline, believes America is transitioning into a 'new America' and people must choose to be part of its creation or consider leaving. Andrew suggests there's a 60% chance the transition leads to an undesirable outcome requiring 15-25 years of repairs across economy and foreign relations, driven by fear and internal gridlock rather than national pride.

What practical lessons from the CIA can be applied to everyday life and business?

Andrew emphasizes returning to 'foundational tools' or 'sticks and bricks' as taught by successful terrorist groups. This means focusing on the basics in any endeavor, from business practices like marketing and hiring to personal life, reminding people not to let go of fundamental principles, as technology and advanced tools can sometimes obscure core effectiveness.

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Former CIA Spies (NEW): Leave the USA Before 2030! The CIA Tried To Ban This Story!

The Diary Of A CEO

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TL;DR

Ex-CIA couple Andrew and Jihi Bustamante reveal their top-secret mission to find a mole within the CIA and share life-changing spy hacks.

Key Insights

The CIA is not depicted accurately in movies; espionage is a team effort involving moral ambiguity to protect Americans.

A foreign ally tipped off the CIA about a mole inside, prompting a covert operation to bait the traitor into making a mistake.

Andrew and Jihi, as a tandem couple, developed a "Shadow Cell" model based on terrorist tactics to collect new intelligence and expose the mole without being compromised.

Privacy as a concept is largely illusory in the modern technological age, with intelligence agencies and criminals having significant access to personal data.

The US is undergoing a significant transition, with increasing executive power and policy gridlock, leading to potential economic and social instability.

Living an intentional life focused on present joy and activity is crucial, as complacency can lead to missed opportunities and regrets.

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE CIA MOLE OPERATION

Former CIA officers Andrew and Jihi Bustamante disclose a highly classified operation from their tenure, which the CIA initially tried to suppress. This mission involved identifying and apprehending a mole within the agency who was leaking sensitive information to a foreign adversary. The couple was deployed to a friendly country, operating with new identities to infiltrate the network of the adversarial nation, codenamed 'Falcon'. Their primary objective was to establish new intelligence sources, while a secondary, covert aim was to create new operations that the mole, lacking access, would be compelled to probe, thereby exposing themselves.

THE CIA'S REALITY VS. POPULAR PERCEPTION

Andrew and Jihi emphasize that Hollywood portrayals of the CIA, featuring superhuman spies like James Bond, are far from the truth. Espionage is a complex team sport, with its share of victories and defeats. Their book, "Shadow Cell," aims to demystify the CIA, revealing the moral ambiguities and extreme measures the agency takes to protect American citizens. It highlights that the CIA is not always 'good' or 'bad' but 'morally ambivalent,' driven solely by the goal of national security, which can involve unsavory tactics like facilitating child pornography as currency with adversaries.

THE DANGERS OF BEING A CIA OFFICER

Being a CIA officer entails significant risks, including the constant threat of capture, interrogation, or even death by foreign adversaries, often with the US government maintaining 'plausible deniability.' Jihi, with her experience working with torture survivors, vividly understands the consequences of being disappeared or imprisoned for decades. The decision to participate in operations, though technically voluntary, carries immense career pressure, with refusal often leading to professional stagnation or termination. This high-stakes environment underscores the psychological toll on agents, who must constantly manage fear and 'head trash' while executing their missions.

THE SHADOW CELL AND TERRORIST TACTICS

The core of their operation involved establishing a 'Shadow Cell' in a friendly country, mirroring the decentralized, resilient cell structures used by terrorist organizations. This model was adopted because traditional US intelligence methods had proven ineffective against such adaptive adversaries. The cell, composed of American CIA officers, aimed to build new intelligence sources in 'Falcon' by having Andrew collect raw data (e.g., thumb drives from dead drops) which Jihi would then analyze to identify targets. Other case officers would then make direct contact with these targets, operating under various covers, employing advanced tradecraft to avoid detection by 'Falcon' or the mole. The isolation of these new operations was critical, ensuring the mole, who only had access to legacy intelligence, would be forced to 'stretch' and make mistakes trying to uncover them.

SURVEILLANCE, COMPROMISE, AND ESCAPE

Andrew recounts the terrifying moment he realized his cover as 'Alex Hernandez' had been compromised in 'Falcon', likely due to the mole. He detected continuous surveillance through a 'surveillance detection route,' a pre-planned sequence designed to expose tails. The discovery led to a tense encounter in an arcade, where he inadvertently made eye contact with a surveillant, signaling mutual recognition. Immediately, Andrew enacted a self-rescue plan, coded in a phone call to Jihi as "coming home early." His escape involved navigating the airport and enduring a pseudo-interrogation by local agents, using CIA training in mirroring and counter-elicitation to maintain his cover while planning his departure without revealing his knowledge of the surveillance.

THE ILLUSION OF PRIVACY IN A DIGITAL AGE

Andrew and Jihi debunk the common belief in digital privacy, asserting that it's largely an illusion. They explain how intelligence agencies, and increasingly criminal syndicates, can access personal data from phones, computers, and cloud accounts, often without passwords. Methods range from scraping hard drives at border crossings to exploiting vulnerabilities in even the most 'secure' devices. They advocate for 'air-gapping' critical information (disconnecting it from the internet) and, paradoxically, using devices that are 'easy to crack' to avoid drawing attention. This perspective highlights the inherent vulnerability of digital life, where anything created to be 'safe' becomes a prime target for those seeking to compromise it.

THE AFTERMATH AND THE MOLE'S CAPTURE

Upon Andrew's return, the Shadow Cell assessed that 'Alex Hernandez' was irrevocably 'burned,' meaning the alias could no longer be used. However, the cell's other members and operations remained secure. The couple later learned that their mission had indeed contributed to the eventual arrest of the mole by the FBI in 2019. The mole, motivated by hundreds of thousands of dollars and promised protection, was enticed back onto US soil through a sting operation, where they were apprehended. This success reinforced the effectiveness of the cell model, which later influenced a significant restructuring of the CIA in 2014 under Director John Brennan.

LEAVING THE CIA: FAMILY VS. MISSION

Despite their success, Andrew and Jihi faced a difficult choice between their demanding CIA careers and starting a family. When Jihi became pregnant, they sought 'light duty' to prioritize parenthood, but the agency, valuing their demonstrated competence, rejected their request. This stark refusal led them to realize that the CIA's singular focus on the mission would always supersede their family aspirations. Opting to prioritize their children, they decided to leave the agency, a decision that underscored the unhealthy, validation-driven relationship many officers have with the CIA, where personal lives often take a backseat to organizational demands and the relentless pursuit of intelligence.

THE AMERICAN TRANSITION AND THE FUTURE

Drawing parallels from Jihi's family experience in Venezuela's economic collapse, the couple expresses concern about the United States' current trajectory. Jihi describes a "new America" characterized by an increasingly powerful executive branch, congressional gridlock, and a shift from 'soft power' (aid) to 'hard power' (military). Both believe that the American people have become too complacent, delegating complex issues to the government instead of active participation. They foresee a painful transition, with a 60% chance of an undesirable outcome requiring decades of recovery, driven by internal divisions and nationalism rooted in fear rather than pride, ultimately leading to economic collapse and increased criminal activity if left unchecked.

LESSONS FROM ESPIONAGE FOR DAILY LIFE

Andrew and Jihi share life lessons derived from their spy careers. Andrew advocates embracing 'sticks and bricks' – foundational principles in business and life, rather than relying solely on advanced technology, a lesson learned from terrorists' unexpected success against the US military. Jihi emphasizes living for the present moment, finding joy in daily interactions with loved ones, and avoiding complacency. Both underscore that their CIA experience fundamentally altered their view of human nature, revealing the potential for both immense good and profound evil, leading to a deep, often solitary, sense of trust in only a select few. Elicitation techniques, such as strategic silence and clarifying questions, are also highlighted as valuable tools for effective communication and negotiation in everyday interactions.

Mentioned in This Episode

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●Books

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●People Referenced

Common Questions

The book 'Shadow Cell' details Andrew and Jihi Bustamante's operational background in the CIA, including their involvement in identifying a mole within the agency. The CIA initially blocked its publication due to geopolitical sensitivities and the disclosure of new tradecraft and an unacknowledged mole, which they feared would transform public opinion about the agency's operations.

Topics

CIA Operations Intelligence Gathering Moles Covert Operations Surveillance Detection Counterintelligence Digital Privacy Economic Outlook

Mentioned in this video

personAldrich Ames

A former CIA officer who was convicted of espionage for the Soviet Union and Russia.

organizationDallas Cowboys

An American football team whose rise under Jerry Jones is featured in a Netflix series discussed by the host.

companyIn-Q-Tel

A non-profit venture capital firm that invests in new technology for the CIA and the wider U.S. intelligence community.

bookThe Left Hand of Darkness

A science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, cited for its perspective on nationalism stemming from fear rather than pride.

bookShadow Cell

A book written by Andrew and Jihi Bustamante, detailing their experiences as CIA officers and the mole hunt, which the CIA initially tried to ban.

personJerry Chun Shing Lee

A former CIA officer who spied for China and was arrested at the airport in 2018, whose case aligns with the mole's description in the book.

productGlacier phone

A type of secure phone designed to shut down if penetrated by an adversary, making it difficult to extract information.

personAlex Hernandez

Andrew Bustamante's alias used during the Falcon operation, which was ultimately compromised.

organizationMI6

The Secret Intelligence Service, the foreign intelligence agency of the United Kingdom.

conceptFISA request

A judicial warrant to collect information on an American citizen, used when a link to illicit activities has been proven.

companyAcme Commercial

A fake business used as cover by Andrew in the Falcon operation, designed to source and distribute disposable goods from foreign countries.

personUrsula K. Le Guin

A science fiction legend and author of 'The Left Hand of Darkness'.

personJerry Jones

Oil businessman who bought the Dallas Cowboys and transformed them into a valuable sports franchise.

bookAmerica's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys

A Netflix series about the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones.

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