Episode 64: John Sipher

"After 9/11, there was no right answer. As we captured terrorists, when we captured them overseas, the place where we captured them said 'We don't want them, you have to get them out of here.' CIA was stuck."

John Sipher is here. He spent more than 28 years in clandestine service in the CIA and joins Daniel for a discussion about the role of the CIA overseas. What is an asset? What is trust? What cultural education does one gain intersecting as a clandestine officer abroad? What practices has the CIA engaged in that we as Americans can be proud--or ashamed of? With the election right around the corner, John Sipher paints a fascinating picture. And an urgent one.

John Sipher retired in 2014 after a 28-year career in the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, which included serving in Moscow and running the CIA’s Russia operations. Sipher served multiple overseas tours, as Chief of Station and Deputy Chief of Station, in Europe, the Balkans, Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. He also ran Russian operations at headquarters. He retired as a member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service, and received the CIA’s Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. He is the co-founder of Spycraft Entertainment.

Created & Hosted by: Daniel Lelchuk

Edited, Mixed & Mastered by: Doug Christian

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