By Smartencylopedia
In intelligence, a “cover” refers to the fictitious identity, role, or position that a covert operative assumes while conducting espionage or intelligence operations. Covers are crucial for the protection and effectiveness of agents working in foreign, military, or police human intelligence (HUMINT) and counterintelligence, allowing operatives to infiltrate organizations while concealing their true affiliation.
Types of Covers
Official Cover
An official cover is a type of cover where an operative holds a position within an organization that has formal diplomatic ties to their home government, such as an embassy or consulate. This grants them diplomatic immunity, offering a layer of protection if their espionage activities are discovered. If exposed, an agent with official cover is often declared persona non grata by the host nation and expelled without facing severe punishment. Official cover operatives, because of their diplomatic status, can appeal for governmental protection, making their missions relatively safer compared to those without official affiliations.
Non-Official Cover (NOC)
A non-official cover operative, or NOC, operates without formal ties to their government. These operatives take on roles in non-governmental organizations, private businesses, or even as private citizens. Unlike those with official cover, NOCs lack diplomatic immunity and are at risk of severe penalties, including execution, if captured. They are trained to maintain plausible deniability, and their governments may deny any knowledge of their activities or existence, leaving them without hope for diplomatic support in the event of capture. To support their clandestine activities, NOCs sometimes use front companies or strawman entities to legitimize their cover roles.
History and Methods
Historically, espionage agencies have used various methods to maintain covers. During World War II, Virginia Hall, a famed American spy, used a forged French identity to infiltrate Nazi-occupied France. Similarly, operatives like Ishmael Jones of the CIA spent decades working undercover, as detailed in his memoir. Many NOC agents are commemorated without names or dates on the CIA Memorial Wall, indicating the dangers associated with non-official cover roles.
In the intelligence community, captured NOC agents are sometimes exchanged in diplomatic prisoner swaps, maintaining a “gentlemen’s agreement” to avoid escalation between intelligence agencies. Some countries impose restrictions on their intelligence agencies regarding non-official cover operations. For instance, the CIA has periodically faced prohibitions on using agents disguised as humanitarian workers or clergy to avoid potential diplomatic fallout.
The sophistication of cover stories varies widely. In some cases, agents are assigned legitimate roles within established companies, while in others, entire front companies are created for the sole purpose of maintaining a cover identity. Examples include Air America, a CIA-operated airline during the Vietnam War, and Brewster Jennings & Associates, a front company involved in WMD investigations that gained public attention during the Plame Affair.
Notable Examples
- Nicholas Anderson, a former MI6 officer, recounted his experiences as a NOC in a trilogy of memoirs.
- Michael Ross, a Mossad NOC, documented his covert missions in The Volunteer: The Incredible True Story of an Israeli Spy.
Fictional portrayals of NOCs have appeared in literature, film, and television. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind by Chuck Barris satirically depicts his claims as an NOC, while Mission: Impossible, The Bourne Identity and TV series such as The Americans and Burn Notice showcase the challenges faced by agents under non-official cover.
References
- Shannon, Elaine. “Spies for the New Disorder,” Time, February 20, 1995.
- Weisman, John. “Tripping Over CIA’s Bureaucratic Hurdles,” Washington Times, September 7, 2010.
- “Our Kind of Traitor: an interview with former MI6 intelligence officer Nicholas Anderson,” History Extra, May 11, 2016.
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