Going Dark: How the CIA Uses Burn Notices to Keep Their Agents Safe

 

A "Burn Notice" is issued when a CIA operative's identity is blown, and he/she gets a new one

The world of espionage is a dangerous and complex one, where agents risk their lives every day to protect their countries and gather information. One of the most critical aspects of this work is the need to keep the identities of these agents secret, as their exposure can lead to dire consequences.

     In the world of espionage, a "burn notice" is a term used when a CIA operative's identity is compromised, and they are forced to abandon their previous life to take on a new identity for protection. The CIA issues a burn notice to protect them and their families.

     One such operative is Corey Pearson, the protagonist in the spy thriller novel "THE SHADOW WAR." Pearson is a highly skilled CIA operative who is burned by the agency because foreign intelligence assassins are out to kill him. To protect him from harm, the CIA provides him with a new identity, including new bank accounts, passports, and other forms of identification to help him remain hidden and safe.

     The practice of issuing a burn notice is not a new one, and the CIA has used this method numerous times in the past to protect their operatives. One of the most famous examples of this occurred in 2003 when CIA operative Valerie Plame was burned after her identity was revealed to the public.

     Plame was a specialist in the Counterproliferation Division, which focused on preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Her identity as a CIA operative was revealed by conservative columnist Robert Novak, leading to a political scandal and a criminal investigation. The CIA responded by recalling her from her overseas position and taking steps to protect their other operatives and intelligence-gathering operations (See the article Karl Rove and Dick Cheney Made All Americans ‘Fair Game’).

     While it is not clear what impact the leak had on the specific foreign intelligence assets that Plame had recruited, there is a high likelihood that they were put at risk. The exposure of her identity as a CIA operative would have made her contacts and sources vulnerable to detection by hostile intelligence agencies, which could use the information to identify individuals who were cooperating with the CIA. This would have put their safety and security at risk, as well as jeopardizing their willingness to work with the agency in the future.

     For sure, the CIA would have taken immediate action to protect any assets that she may have recruited overseas, including removing them from their current location (called “exfiltration” in CIA language), relocating them to a safer location, or cutting off contact with them entirely to prevent any chance of foreign intelligence discovering them. However, even with these measures in place, the damage caused by the Valerie Plame leak has been  significant and long-lasting.

     In summary, the use of a burn notice is an essential tool in the arsenal of the CIA to protect their operatives from harm. In the case of Corey Pearson, the CIA spymaster in "THE SHADOW WAR," his life was in danger, and the CIA provided him with a new identity for protection.

    The need for secrecy in the world of espionage is critical, and the exposure of an agent's identity can have severe consequences, including the potential risk to their foreign intelligence assets (the spies they recruit).

     So, if you're an aspiring spy or CIA operative, I hope you'll never have to experience the dreaded burn notice. But if you do, take solace in knowing that you're in good company with the likes of Corey Pearson and Valerie Plame. And if you're ever in doubt about the safety of your cover identity, remember this age-old adage: "Trust no one, keep your head down, and always carry a spare passport." Good luck out there, and happy spying! 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.