CIA running out of international informants and spies – WaPo
The CIA is facing challenges in recruiting foreign assets and agents, The Washington Post has reported Read Full Article at RT.com
admin
The agency is reportedly struggling to recruit assets and agents, intelligence sources have told the newspaper
The CIA is grappling with difficulties in recruiting foreign informants and “needs more spies,” The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing current and former intelligence officials.
Chief among the problems the sources listed is the global proliferation of public surveillance systems and advances in facial recognition, which make it harder for operatives to avoid detection.
CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis acknowledged the issue in a recent public interview, saying that although “some of the tools and techniques from the 1960s or ‘70s might still work today, a lot of them need to be updated and refreshed.”
Other officials pointed to past setbacks, according to the WaPo, including the agency’s aggressive recruitment of Chinese officials in the early 2000s. Beijing’s security forces later dismantled that network, reportedly imprisoning and executing up to two dozen CIA assets.
The COVID-19 pandemic also hindered operations, the report said, by disrupting face-to-face meetings with informants due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. US President Donald Trump’s current plan to close 10 embassies and 17 consulates as part of budget cuts threatens to further reduce the CIA’s footprint globally.
READ MORE: Woman shot and detained outside CIA headquarters – media
In an effort to attract defectors, the CIA has produced what the reports described as “Hollywood-quality” videos targeting Russian and Chinese audiences, which have been distributed via social media. While officials told the Post that some Russians have responded, they declined to provide specifics.
The ads sparked incredulity in both countries and parodies that reversed the agency’s message by highlighting American problems.
Chinese netizens are having fun with the CIA's recruitment ad for Chinese spies!
They've turned it around and made it even more convincing than the original!
