The movie “Argo” was awarded the 85th Academy Awards “Oscar” for Best Picture of 2012. This fast-paced, action-drama was drawn from a real-life CIA “rescue mission” of six Americans who had fled the U.S. Embassy in Tehran during its takeover by Iranian revolutionaries and subsequently hid in the home of the Canadian ambassador. The Hollywood representation of this CIA covert operation was masterfully done in recreating the suspense in a daring and dangerous mission. However, the time and budgeting constraints faced by all movies could not allow for the proper representation of the years of intelligence training that the main character, Antonio Mendez, mastered during his service with the CIA. These same constraints prohibited the re-construction of the strategic intelligence network that the CIA had built for decades around Europe and the Middle East; without this network the mission would not have succeeded to bring the six trapped Americans home to freedom.

Antonio Mendez, the real-life person who inspired the main character in “Argo,” had been a CIA intelligence officer for fifteen years when he was given the rescue mission in Tehran. His entry into the CIA, however, was not based on his prior intelligence training (of which he had none) but on his artistic talents. He began work in the Technical Services Division, where he was trained in the craft of creating a variety of counterfeit documents, such as birth certificates and passports. It was during this early role that he described himself as “being very interested in the operational purpose and goals of [the projects he worked on].” His curiosity and aspirations motivated him to undergo intelligence training in area-studies classes, strategic seminars, and operational training at “The Farm” (a site for training field agents), which expanded his knowledge and skills as a clandestine operative.

Another element that allowed for the success of the mission was the CIA’s development of its strategic intelligence capabilities; this effort began after World War II with the creation of the CIA in 1947 and expanded as the Cold War became the predominant geo-political struggle. Agents were cultivated in countries around the world as the U.S. sought to collect information about the capabilities and intentions of the Soviet Union. CIA officers, under both official and non-official cover (known as NOC) would live and work in various regions for months or years, developing contacts and collecting intelligence. CIA directed this in-place network to collect information on the situation inside Iran as the “Ayatollah revolution” occurred and evolved. A report from a CIA agent located in Tehran about the state of the security at the city’s main airport impacted how the rescue would take place; a CIA contract officer, with decades of experience as a NOC, provided strategic intelligence on the security situation and confusion in Tehran; a critical point was the potential to use forged identification documents successfully. The result was a meticulous and daring CIA plan to rescue six Americans in danger.

The movie actors provided brilliant performances in Argo with the success documented by the Best Picture Award. The intelligence operatives executed a brilliant operation in the “real Argo” with the success documented by the escape and freedom for six Americans trapped in Iran. The reality of course is dramatically different in how each success was achieved. While filming the movie, the actors could reshoot a scene using several “takes” as necessary to get it right. The intelligence operatives who penetrated the Iranian security apparatus had only one chance to get it right. The “real Argo” succeeded because of effective intelligence training, good strategic intelligence and the courage of the US intelligence operatives.

Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, strategic intelligence, intelligence training, call 888-852-8746 or visit http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, strategic intelligence, intelligence training, call 888-852-8746 or visit http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Author Bio: Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, strategic intelligence, intelligence training, call 888-852-8746 or visit http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Category: Education
Keywords: strategic intelligence,intelligence training