CIA Agent Got So Deep Undercover, He Became A Star As The Lead Singer Of A Band
They call him the Spy Whisperer for his ability to recruit potential secret agents. Darrell Blocker knows what it takes to be a spy because he’s been there himself. He didn’t spend his operational days sneaking around enemy encampments though, or sitting at an exclusive casino table. His undercover work led to him stepping boldly out onto a stage in front of 1,000 fans.
Spy story
So what exactly is a spy? Well, if you want to know, the best place to look probably isn’t at the movies. James Bond might be the most famous name in espionage, but he seems to have missed the “secret” part of secret agent. He visits all the most glamorous people and locations, and high drama follows him wherever he goes.
Real life
It’s funny because Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, had been a spy. He’d started out as a journalist, which allowed him to visit Russia to report for U.K. newspaper The Times while also passing information about the country’s military strength to the British government. During WWII he joined Naval Intelligence and helped gather intel, disperse misinformation, and even advise the Americans on their own espionage efforts.
Goals of espionage
In today’s world, espionage tends to take one of two forms, but the overall goal is the same. You can use technology or the more traditional human resources, but the intent is to find information that wouldn’t otherwise be available to the public. Hack a computer or convince an official to turn traitor, and you could gain access to all kinds of state secrets.
Deep cover
Sometimes intelligence officers will be semi-official, such as when they’re attached to a diplomatic delegation. They may pretend to be journalists or businessmen. Others will be under deep cover, with whole new identities. There’s also a distinction between an agent, or person with access to information, and officer. Officers work for organizations such as the CIA to recruit agents who can help achieve their goals.
