my childhood overseas instilled in me a deep love for foreign languages and cultures, but also a deep understanding of the vital role of american leadership in combatting aggression abroad. i joined cia in 1985 as a case officer in the clandestine service. from my first days in training i had a knack for the nuts and bolts of my profession. i excelled in finding and acquiring secret information that i obtained in brush passes, dead drops or in meetings in dusty alleys of third world capitals. i recall my first meeting with a foreign agent, it was on a dark, moonle moonless night with an agent i d never met before. when i picked him up, he passed me intelligence and i passed him
languages and cultures, but also a deep understanding of the vital role of american leadership in combating aggression abroad. i joined c.i.a. in 1985 as a case officer in the clandestine service. from my first days in training, i had a knack for the nuts and bolts of my profession. i excelled in finding and acquiring secret information that i obtained in brush passes, dead drops, or in meetings in dusty alleys of third world capitals. i recall very well my first meeting with a foreign agent. it was on a dark moonless night with an agent i had never met before. when i picked him up, he passed me the intelligence and i passed him an extra $500 for the men he led. it was the beginning of an adventure i had only dreamed of. the men who ran c.i.a. in those