The Pocket with Chris Griffin #109: Inside the Mind of a Dictator’s Right-Hand Man (Cillian Dunne)
Nov 7, 2025
Cillian Dunne, an author and long-form journalist who lived with Manuel Noriega’s right-hand man, shares gripping insights from his time in Panama. He discusses the moral complexities of living alongside a trained assassin and how trust was earned through shared secrets. Cillian dives into the U.S.'s role in supporting and later dismantling its own dictator, revealing dark partnerships and hidden motives of power. His personal journey of overcoming poverty to pursue storytelling adds a powerful layer to the conversation about conviction and courage in the face of global corruption.
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Living Inside A House Of Secrets
- Cillian lived with Carlos, Noriega’s right-hand man, across multiple stays and collected extensive recorded conversations.
- He describes a tense environment where Carlos guarded secrets and tested his trust constantly.
A Panic Photo That Changed Everything
- On day three Cillian panicked, photographed himself as a record-if-things-go-wrong snapshot and felt genuinely terrified.
- That low point became the turning point where Carlos started sharing deeper secrets.
Evil Lives On A Moral Spectrum
- Cillian argues evil is complex: actions can be evil while a person may still show normal humanity.
- He highlights how conviction and competing realities let operatives justify murder for a cause.
