Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Profile: Valerie Plame/Wilson
Here is a follow-up to my link to Amb Joe Wilson's profile -- a profile of his wife and uber spy, Valerie Plame. Despite having read my quota of spy thrillers growing up, it still is interesting to read about the real thing. A mum of twins, a volunteer with post-partum depression groups doubling up as a NOC, the highest calibre of CIA undercover operative.
Her activities during her years overseas remain classified, but she became the creme de la creme of spies: a "noc," an officer with "nonofficial cover." Nocs have cover jobs that have nothing to do with the U.S. government. They work in business, in social clubs, as scientists or secretaries (they are prohibited from posing as journalists), and if detected or arrested by a foreign government, they do not have diplomatic protection and rights. They are on their own. Even their fellow operatives don't know who they are, and only the strongest and smartest are picked for these assignments.
The more I read these stories though, the more I feel sorry for anyone in foreign countries who came into contact (innocently or otherwise) with Mrs Wilson or Brewster, Jennings (the CIA front company). They are probably completely screwed and either in hiding or entertaining phone calls from their counter-intelligence agencies.
Her activities during her years overseas remain classified, but she became the creme de la creme of spies: a "noc," an officer with "nonofficial cover." Nocs have cover jobs that have nothing to do with the U.S. government. They work in business, in social clubs, as scientists or secretaries (they are prohibited from posing as journalists), and if detected or arrested by a foreign government, they do not have diplomatic protection and rights. They are on their own. Even their fellow operatives don't know who they are, and only the strongest and smartest are picked for these assignments.
The more I read these stories though, the more I feel sorry for anyone in foreign countries who came into contact (innocently or otherwise) with Mrs Wilson or Brewster, Jennings (the CIA front company). They are probably completely screwed and either in hiding or entertaining phone calls from their counter-intelligence agencies.
