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

Andrew and Jihei Bamante, former CIA officers, detail their experiences in "Shadow Cell," revealing the complexities of espionage and the personal toll it took. They recount their involvement in a critical operation to unmask a mole within the CIA, which required them to adopt new identities and operate undercover in a foreign adversary's country. The narrative highlights the CIA's reliance on teamwork and unconventional tactics, including insights gained from counter-terrorism strategies. The conversation also touches upon the challenges of maintaining privacy in the digital age, the psychological pressures of intelligence work, and the broader implications of government transparency and societal trust.

• Andrew and Jihei Bamante, CIA officers, were involved in an operation to bait and expose a mole within the CIA.
• They were deployed to an adversarial country under new identities to collect intelligence while the CIA worked to find the mole.
• The mission involved adopting advanced tradecraft, including "dry cleaning" and passport swaps, to maintain operational security.
• Andrew was identified by local government surveillance, forcing an escape from the country, which was believed to be facilitated by the mole's leak.
• The couple discusses the psychological toll of their work, the importance of family, and their views on current geopolitical shifts and societal trust.

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CIA Mole Operation [0:00]

• Andrew and Jihei Bamante were tasked with an operation to expose a mole within the CIA.
• They were deployed to an adversarial country, adopting new identities and aliases to collect intelligence.
• The CIA believed a mole was leaking secrets about operations, officers, and assets to an enemy country.
• The operation aimed to bait the mole into making a mistake to identify them.

CIA Approval Process & Book Release [0:00]

• Former CIA officers must undergo a rigorous approval process for any public disclosures, including operational details.
• Andrew's book, "Shadow Cell," faced initial CIA approval, then reclassification due to geopolitical shifts, before a legal threat led to collaboration.
• The CIA's reluctance stemmed from a desire to protect identities and avoid revealing the depth of their intelligence-gathering methods and internal vulnerabilities.
• The book aims to demystify espionage, showing it as a team sport and highlighting the CIA's commitment to protecting Americans, even through morally ambiguous means.

Andrew and Jihei's Backgrounds [0:00]

• Andrew, from rural Pennsylvania, attended the Air Force Academy and served as a nuclear missile officer before joining the CIA.
• Jihei transitioned from social work with refugees to the CIA, initially finding the recruitment process unusual.
• Their CIA careers began on the same day, and they later became a "tandem couple" (a married CIA-trained couple) for operations.
• Jihei's role as a "targeter" involved identifying individuals for military capture or kill operations, akin to targeting the mafia.
• Andrew's role as an operations officer involved making first contact with targets, building trust, and extracting intelligence.

The Mole within the CIA [0:00]

• A foreign ally alerted the CIA to a mole within its organization, highlighting the severity of such a penetration.
• The mole was identified by the ally, but the CIA needed to build its own legal case to act against the individual.
• The "need to know" principle at the CIA meant that information about the mole was compartmentalized, with only a small group having full details.
• The operation placed Andrew and Jihei in danger, as the mole could potentially expose their identities to the adversarial country.

Undercover Operations and Tradecraft [0:00]

• The Bamantes operated in a friendly country ("Wolf") adjacent to the adversarial country ("Falcon").
• They used "dry cleaning" and "cleansing routes" involving neutral countries to obscure their origins and travel.
• They created new identities and aliases, using commercial cover, such as Acme Commercial, to facilitate their operations.
• The tradecraft involved meticulous planning, including "passport swaps" and using "dead drops" for information exchange.
• Specialized gifts, like gold bullion or high-end liquors, were used as payment or incentives for targets, sometimes involving morally ambiguous sourcing.

Surveillance and Escape [0:00]

• Andrew became aware he was under surveillance in Falcon after identifying multiple vehicles and individuals following him.
• He executed a "surveillance detection route" (SDR) to confirm and gather information on the surveillance team.
• During an SDR, Andrew made direct eye contact with a surveillant ("Bomber Jacket") in an arcade, a critical operational mistake.
• He communicated his compromised status to Jihei via a coded message ("I'm coming home early") on a burner phone.
• Andrew planned his own escape, relying on self-rescue rather than immediate external extraction.
• He faced scrutiny at airport secondary screening but was ultimately released, with his alias "Alex Hernandez" considered "burned."

The Shadow Cell Model and its Impact [0:00]

• The Bamantes created a "shadow cell" in Wolf, modeling their operations on terrorist cell structures to gain an advantage against adversaries.
• This team of CIA officers used foundational espionage techniques ("sticks and bricks") which proved more effective than advanced technology against certain adversaries.
• The shadow cell's success in building new intelligence sources and maintaining the US's intelligence advantage was significant, especially while other operations were compromised by the mole.
• Their cell model later influenced a major reorganization of the CIA in 2014 under Director John Brennan.

The Mole's Capture and Motivations [0:00]

• Intelligence gathered by the Bamantes' operations contributed to a sting operation by the FBI that led to the mole's arrest in 2019.
• The mole, a CIA officer, was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to leak information and knew they were working with a foreign intelligence agency.
• The ally who initially flagged the mole also provided incriminating data used by the Department of Justice.
• Spies are often motivated by psychological needs for validation and belonging, not just money, making them susceptible to foreign intelligence services that offer recognition and reward.
• The mole's identity is not publicly confirmed by the CIA, and cases are often prosecuted under lesser offenses to protect the agency's reputation.

Personal Reflections and Life Lessons [0:00]

• The CIA's training involves managing "head trash" (negative self-talk) and using techniques like box breathing to maintain cognitive function under stress.
• The agency fosters loyalty but also discourages officers from realizing their full capabilities to retain them.
• Jihei's personal journey from a bad relationship led her to the CIA, meeting Andrew and starting their family, highlighting how mistakes can redirect life's trajectory.
• Andrew emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and prioritizing family and personal joy, as time is fleeting and unpredictable.
• They advocate for proactive living, avoiding complacency, and appreciating present joys, given the potential for unforeseen disruptions.

Societal and Political Commentary [0:00]

• The Bamantes express concern about the current political climate, suggesting America is transitioning into a new, potentially less stable era.
• They believe nationalism often stems from fear rather than pride, leading to infighting that benefits adversaries.
• They warn that political gridlock can lead to economic collapse, increased crime, and societal breakdown, making the nation vulnerable.
• The erosion of trust in government and the concentration of power in the executive branch are seen as significant concerns.
• Their perspective suggests a need for active participation in shaping the future or considering relocation, as the America they knew may not return.