The Burn Bag Podcast

"Damascus Station": Former CIA Analyst David McCloskey on his Spy Novel set in Syria's Civil War

Jan 24, 2022
David McCloskey, a former CIA analyst with a focus on the Middle East, discusses his spy thriller 'Damascus Station,' set during Syria's Civil War. He shares insights into his journey from analytical writing to fiction, crafting a narrative that intertwines romance and espionage. The podcast delves into character complexities amid war, the historical context of the Syrian conflict, and the internal dynamics of the Assad regime. McCloskey also talks about the challenges of navigating the CIA's pre-publication review process and teases his next project on CIA strategies against Putin.
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ANECDOTE

Author's Journey Writing Damascus Station

  • David McCloskey wrote Damascus Station to process his emotions about the Syrian Civil War and to tell a story rooted in his CIA experience.
  • He spent years crafting a CIA procedural thriller that authentically captures the bureaucracy and tradecraft at the agency.
INSIGHT

Syria Before the Civil War

  • Bashar al-Assad consolidated power after 2000, replacing older regime figures and focusing internally.
  • Syria was a repressive, hollow state with security services dominating population interaction before Arab Spring unrest.
INSIGHT

Sectarianism's Role in Conflict

  • Sectarian and ethnic identities intensified and polarized Syria during the war, with majority Sunni opposition and Alawite regime support.
  • These dynamics fueled the conflict’s brutality and hardened political divides.
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