The agency set up a programme in the cold war to resettle foreign spies in America. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it may get busy again | 1843 magazine
“In the defector operations center, we had the crown jewels of CIA spies,” Mr. Augustyn told The Washington Times. “And we’re responsible for them for life.”
Unlike the witness protection program run by the U.S. Marshals Service, the CIA does not kick out those who fail to follow the rules.
The CIA can bring in up to 100 defectors and their families a year under a 1949 law, although it is unlikely that the agency ever reached its limit. The program is populated with Russians, Chinese, North Koreans, Iraqis and others. Most are men, but some female spies have been rescued and resettled.
Quality ASIO recruits hard to find
An Australian terrorism expert says a lack of quality graduates will stymie the Federal Government s attempts to double staff numbers at the nation s top spy agency.
Prime Minister John Howard says the Government will seek to double the number of staff at the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) between now and 2010.
The upgrade is part of efforts to prevent a terrorist attack in Australia.
Michael McKinley from the Australian National University s political science and international relations department agrees ASIO needs more people.
However, he says they will be tough to find. Perhaps not impossible but very rare in the current university system, which is actually producing graduates of lesser analytical capability in the area of political science and international relations, Dr McKinley said.