In my last post I introduced a discussion of CIA document and security practices, particularly those relating to the development and use of sources, covers, and assets. We delved into the structured path towards moving someone into being an asset, and then the steps to green light and assign them provisional operational status as well as designating them as operational for specific missions.

The response to that discussion was good, so this past week I continued the discussion of practices within the CIA’s Operational group – addressing the development (and cultivation) of corporate and business covers as well as differentiating them from CIA ‘proprietaries’. We also discussed the history of the military with the CIA, in particular the use of detailees and the CIA’s connections to US Air Force support – until the Agency decided to take a disastrous tack and set up its own air operations group.

We wrapped it up by talking about a virtually unique effort to develop total deniability in a covert military project – AMWORLD – and how dangerous and ineffective that proved be during 1963/64.

You can listen to the full discussion at this link: