The Interview
Jonna Mendez: Does the world still need spies?
Nov 24, 2023
Former US spy Jonna Mendez, CIA's chief of disguise during the Cold War, discusses the qualities of a spy and the moral complexities of their work. They share the thrilling story of Argo and other intriguing CIA operations. The balance between technology-focused intelligence gathering and human intelligence is explored, highlighting the importance of both. The personal challenges and sacrifices of being a spy are also discussed.
23:28
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Quick takeaways
- Confidence is essential to an effective disguise in espionage, going beyond simple wigs and mustaches.
- Human intelligence gathering is still crucial in espionage, as machines cannot replace the insights and context provided by human agents.
Deep dives
Johnna Mendez's CIA career and expertise in disguise
Johnna Mendez, a former CIA insider, spent 27 years at the agency, rising to the position of the chief of disguise. Alongside her husband, Tony Mendez, they specialized in the techniques of deception, allowing agents and sources to hide in plain sight. Their work involved extensive training in disguise, which went far beyond simple wigs or mustaches. Disguise was seen as a vital tool, and Johnna emphasized that confidence is essential to an effective disguise. She also highlighted the importance of human intelligence gathering over technology, citing the example of Hamas breaching high-tech surveillance by avoiding human detection.
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