CIA identifies second officer involved in ‘Argo’ mission – BBC

Getty ImagesFor the first time, the CIA has revealed the identity of a second officer who played a key role in a 1980 rescue mission in Iran that later inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo. Also known as the “Canadian caper”, the risky and complex operation saw the CIA smuggle six US diplomats out of Iran disguised as a film crew. With Canada’s help, two CIA officers and the six diplomats boarded a flight to Zurich, slipping past the watchful eyes of Iran’s revolutionary-era security services. To do so, the group posed as filmmakers on a trip to scout for locations in which to film a science fiction film, Argo. Until this week, only one of the officers – disguise and forgery specialist Tony Mendez – had been publicly identified. Now, the CIA has named the second officer as Ed Johnson, an expert in covert extractions. Among those who knew him at the CIA was Bob Mendez’s wife Jonna, herself a 27-year veteran who rose to become the spy agency’s “Chief of Disguise”. Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Mendez described Mr Johnson as a “remarkably skilled linguist” who was also an expert in creating false documents. “He seemed to be perfectly suited to the work he was doing,” she said.Getty ImagesOn a 14 September episode of its official “Langley Files” podcast, the agency revealed previously unheard excerpts of a once-classified oral history Mr Johnson had provided to CIA historians. In the oral history, Mr Johnson said that the “biggest thing” in the operation was convincing the diplomats that they could successfully convince the Iranians they were members of a film crew. Doing so required changes in appearance, complete with TV props such as camera viewfinders, and intricate backstories and false personas. They were given only one day to get ready. “They [the diplomats] were people who were not trained to lie to authorities,” he said. “They weren’t trained to be clandestine, elusive.”While Mr Johnson had ample experience in the Middle East and was fluent in Arabic, he did not speak Farsi, Iran’s primary tongue. He did, however, speak German – a language that came in handy when him and Mr Johnson unwittingly found themselves at the Swedish embassy, just across the street from the then-occupied US embassy where 52 US citizens had been taken hostage in 1979. There, a German-speaking Iranian guard helped the two officers by flagging down a taxi and sending them off to the Canadian embassy, where the six diplomats had taken refuge. “I have to thank the Iranians for being the beacon who got us to the right place,” Mr Johnson said in the CIA interview. In the 2012 film, the team’s eventual departure from Iran is depicted as a nerve-wracking close call that ended with Iranian troops attempting to chase down the plane. The reality, Mr Johnson recalled, was far less eventful, with the diplomats relaxed and “confident” as they went through the final stages of the mission. “They were happy-go-lucky,” he said. “Even at the airport, it continued.”International Spy MuseumIn the years and decades that followed the operation, Mr Mendez wrote several books, served on the board of the Washington DC-based International Spy Museum and was played by Ben Affleck in the 2012 film. He died in January 2019. Mr Johnson, however, preferred to live quietly in the shadows and until recently preferred his identity and role in the operation remain secret. Because of health issues, he was not able to give the CIA’s podcast another interview. Dr Andrew Hammond, the historian and curator of the International Spy Museum, told the BBC that publicising his name 42 years after the operations sheds a rare public spotlight on a successful CIA mission. The “caper”, he added, came at a turbulent time for the CIA, just years after hundreds of intelligence officers and officials were fired as part of an unpopular downsizing from then CIA boss Stansfield Turner.The US government had also been struggling to find ways to secure the release of dozens of of Americans taken hostage when the US embassy was seized in September 1979. The hostages would ultimately spend 444 days in captivity before being released in January 1981. “It’s an incredible story, and you couldn’t make this stuff up, Mr Hammond said. “Any intelligence agency would be proud of what they’ve done,” he added. “It was bold, ambitious and had a lot of moving parts, and they managed to pull it off.” Mick Mulroy, a former CIA paramilitary officer and former deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East, told the BBC that by being publicly revealed, Mr Johnson could serve as a lesson for current CIA personnel, as well as future US spies. “Many, if not most, of the CIA’s successful operations go publicly unrecognised. That is understood and accepted by those in its service,” he said. “But it is really good to see the heroes who carried out those operations get the recognition they deserve.”

For the first time, the CIA has revealed the identity of a second officer who played a key role in a 1980 rescue mission in Iran that later inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo.

Also known as the “Canadian caper”, the risky and complex operation saw the CIA smuggle six US diplomats out of Iran disguised as a film crew.

With Canada’s help, two CIA officers and the six diplomats boarded a flight to Zurich, slipping past the watchful eyes of Iran’s revolutionary-era security services.

To do so, the group posed as filmmakers on a trip to scout for locations in which to film a science fiction film, Argo.

Until this week, only one of the officers – disguise and forgery specialist Tony Mendez – had been publicly identified.

Now, the CIA has named the second officer as Ed Johnson, an expert in covert extractions.

Among those who knew him at the CIA was Bob Mendez’s wife Jonna, herself a 27-year veteran who rose to become the spy agency’s “Chief of Disguise”.

Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Mendez described Mr Johnson as a “remarkably skilled linguist” who was also an expert in creating false documents.

“He seemed to be perfectly suited to the work he was doing,” she said.

On a 14 September episode of its official “Langley Files” podcast, the agency revealed previously unheard excerpts of a once-classified oral history Mr Johnson had provided to CIA historians.

In the oral history, Mr Johnson said that the “biggest thing” in the operation was convincing the diplomats that they could successfully convince the Iranians they were members of a film crew.

Doing so required changes in appearance, complete with TV props such as camera viewfinders, and intricate backstories and false personas. They were given only one day to get ready.

“They [the diplomats] were people who were not trained to lie to authorities,” he said. “They weren’t trained to be clandestine, elusive.”

While Mr Johnson had ample experience in the Middle East and was fluent in Arabic, he did not speak Farsi, Iran’s primary tongue.

He did, however, speak German – a language that came in handy when him and Mr Johnson unwittingly found themselves at the Swedish embassy, just across the street from the then-occupied US embassy where 52 US citizens had been taken hostage in 1979.

There, a German-speaking Iranian guard helped the two officers by flagging down a taxi and sending them off to the Canadian embassy, where the six diplomats had taken refuge.

“I have to thank the Iranians for being the beacon who got us to the right place,” Mr Johnson said in the CIA interview.

In the 2012 film, the team’s eventual departure from Iran is depicted as a nerve-wracking close call that ended with Iranian troops attempting to chase down the plane.

The reality, Mr Johnson recalled, was far less eventful, with the diplomats relaxed and “confident” as they went through the final stages of the mission.

“They were happy-go-lucky,” he said. “Even at the airport, it continued.”

Canadian caper exhibit at the International Spy Museum

In the years and decades that followed the operation, Mr Mendez wrote several books, served on the board of the Washington DC-based International Spy Museum and was played by Ben Affleck in the 2012 film. He died in January 2019.

Mr Johnson, however, preferred to live quietly in the shadows and until recently preferred his identity and role in the operation remain secret. Because of health issues, he was not able to give the CIA’s podcast another interview.

Dr Andrew Hammond, the historian and curator of the International Spy Museum, told the BBC that publicising his name 42 years after the operations sheds a rare public spotlight on a successful CIA mission.

The “caper”, he added, came at a turbulent time for the CIA, just years after hundreds of intelligence officers and officials were fired as part of an unpopular downsizing from then CIA boss Stansfield Turner.

The US government had also been struggling to find ways to secure the release of dozens of of Americans taken hostage when the US embassy was seized in September 1979. The hostages would ultimately spend 444 days in captivity before being released in January 1981.

“It’s an incredible story, and you couldn’t make this stuff up, Mr Hammond said.

“Any intelligence agency would be proud of what they’ve done,” he added. “It was bold, ambitious and had a lot of moving parts, and they managed to pull it off.”

Mick Mulroy, a former CIA paramilitary officer and former deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East, told the BBC that by being publicly revealed, Mr Johnson could serve as a lesson for current CIA personnel, as well as future US spies.

“Many, if not most, of the CIA’s successful operations go publicly unrecognised. That is understood and accepted by those in its service,” he said.

“But it is really good to see the heroes who carried out those operations get the recognition they deserve.”

Southern Africa

Bezuidenhout ruled out of South Africa tour – NZC

WHITE FERNS wicket-keeper batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout has been ruled out of the tour of South Africa after being diagnosed with post-viral Pericarditis.
Bezuidenhout was assessed by the team doctor in Johannesburg and underwent specialist scans that revealed the condition.
The doctor has recommended that Bezuidenhout limit physical activity for 4-6 weeks until she is fully recovered.
Bezuidenhout has been cleared to fly and will return to New Zealand next week following a short stay with family in South Africa.
WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said the team was disappointed for Bezuidenhout.
“We’re really feeling for Bernie,” he said.
“She’s a really important part of our team so we’re all disappointed she won’t be able to take part in this tour.
“She’s a strong personality and we know she will be fully committed to her recovery and we’ll be supporting her however we can.
“We’re very grateful for the doctors here in South Africa who have taken great care of Bernie and supported her through what has been a challenging few days.”
Auckland HEARTS wicket-keeper batter Izzy Gaze who was named in the ODI squad will now remain on tour for the T20Is.

WHITE FERNS wicket-keeper batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout has been ruled out of the tour of South Africa after being diagnosed with post-viral Pericarditis.

Bezuidenhout was assessed by the team doctor in Johannesburg and underwent specialist scans that revealed the condition.

The doctor has recommended that Bezuidenhout limit physical activity for 4-6 weeks until she is fully recovered.

Bezuidenhout has been cleared to fly and will return to New Zealand next week following a short stay with family in South Africa.

WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said the team was disappointed for Bezuidenhout.

“We’re really feeling for Bernie,” he said.

“She’s a really important part of our team so we’re all disappointed she won’t be able to take part in this tour.

“She’s a strong personality and we know she will be fully committed to her recovery and we’ll be supporting her however we can.

“We’re very grateful for the doctors here in South Africa who have taken great care of Bernie and supported her through what has been a challenging few days.”

Auckland HEARTS wicket-keeper batter Izzy Gaze who was named in the ODI squad will now remain on tour for the T20Is.

West Africa

AFiGF 2023: Nigeria, Ghana, other African countries to collaborate … – Daily Post Nigeria

Nigeria, Ghana and about ten other African countries have vowed to raise the bar in the area of digital inclusion, enhanced security of cyberspace and innovation.
Representatives of these countries spoke to journalists at the end of the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) organised by the Nigerian government and the United Nations and hosted by NCC in Abuja with the theme: “Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security and Innovation.”
The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta said the Commission would ensure that the bar is raised in the area of digital inclusion, cybersecurity and innovation.
Danbatta said in today’s Nigeria the financial inclusion strategy of the Federal Government was telco-driven.
According to him, the idea behind leveraging the telecommunications infrastructure strategy is because of the pervasive nature of telecommunications infrastructure.
“Before the mobile money penetration was 1 per cent but not anymore because after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), gave licences to four of our network operators.
“As we speak today, the Payment Service Bank (PSB), the digital financial inclusion index, has risen to about 70 per cent.
He reiterated that the Unsupplementary Structured Service Data (USSD) code which drives transactions in the banking sector was made available by NCC.
“Nowadays Nigerians do transfers without having to go to the banking halls to fill tellers.which used to be the way we are doing it before.
“This important intervention is provided in all the six geopolitical zones of the country. It is a continuous exercise and intervention.
He stated that as a Commission, NCC has a number of initiatives driving the national system of innovation.
He said that NCC empowers the younger ones, the middle aged and mature Nigerians outside these brackets, to innovate by providing Interventions of computer systems and mifi.
About the enhanced security of cyberspace, he said the NCC has the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT).
The EVC said this provides advice on how telecommunication companies can take measures to protect themselves from malicious attacks within cyberspace.
“We even grade the nature of attack to be malicious, light, heavy etc,” Danbatta said.
The Secretary General (AFIGF), Samuel George, member of the Ghanaian Parliament, said it was important to have a unified African cybersecurity approach to an African problem.
George said the African Union (AU) data and policy framework had the synchronised ability to share information with the Nigerians and other African countries.
“Our military and security intelligence that just deals with security, intelligence gathering and all of that should be able to share critical information with the Nigerian military sector.
“If there is a risk that covers both Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and they do not have similar protocols, then it affects this conversation.
“And that’s why as an African continent we need to ratify this convention because the things that were topical eight years ago in 2015 are mundane now, technology has moved on.
“So we will need to catch up with it,” George said.
On her path, the Chairperson, (AFIGF), Lillian Nalwoga said at the regional level, there have been the Africa cyber security conventions, adding that more countries were needed to be able to ascend.
Nalwoga said without determination, it would be a little bit difficult to be able to address cyber crimes at a regional level.
She also said that African countries need to have some sort of harmonisation of cybersecurity laws in their various countries to aid the fight against cyber crimes.
“We need countries that have not been able to ratify this convention to be able to resolve this and also for countries that are still lagging behind in terms of coming up with the right cybersecurity laws.
“It is not just about cybersecurity. We also need to have countries adopt data protection and privacy laws because it allows the government to do some level of surveillance.
“We need to have cybersecurity laws come up in the same framework as data protection for the rights of the citizens.
“Cybersecurity is important because it protects the citizen from non-state actors themselves, exposes citizens to risk and then from the state itself from surveillance,” she said.

Nigeria, Ghana and about ten other African countries have vowed to raise the bar in the area of digital inclusion, enhanced security of cyberspace and innovation.

Representatives of these countries spoke to journalists at the end of the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) organised by the Nigerian government and the United Nations and hosted by NCC in Abuja with the theme: “Transforming Africa’s Digital Landscape: Empowering Inclusion, Security and Innovation.”

The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta said the Commission would ensure that the bar is raised in the area of digital inclusion, cybersecurity and innovation.

Danbatta said in today’s Nigeria the financial inclusion strategy of the Federal Government was telco-driven.

According to him, the idea behind leveraging the telecommunications infrastructure strategy is because of the pervasive nature of telecommunications infrastructure.

“Before the mobile money penetration was 1 per cent but not anymore because after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), gave licences to four of our network operators.

“As we speak today, the Payment Service Bank (PSB), the digital financial inclusion index, has risen to about 70 per cent.

He reiterated that the Unsupplementary Structured Service Data (USSD) code which drives transactions in the banking sector was made available by NCC.

“Nowadays Nigerians do transfers without having to go to the banking halls to fill tellers.which used to be the way we are doing it before.

“This important intervention is provided in all the six geopolitical zones of the country. It is a continuous exercise and intervention.

He stated that as a Commission, NCC has a number of initiatives driving the national system of innovation.

He said that NCC empowers the younger ones, the middle aged and mature Nigerians outside these brackets, to innovate by providing Interventions of computer systems and mifi.

About the enhanced security of cyberspace, he said the NCC has the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT).

The EVC said this provides advice on how telecommunication companies can take measures to protect themselves from malicious attacks within cyberspace.

“We even grade the nature of attack to be malicious, light, heavy etc,” Danbatta said.

The Secretary General (AFIGF), Samuel George, member of the Ghanaian Parliament, said it was important to have a unified African cybersecurity approach to an African problem.

George said the African Union (AU) data and policy framework had the synchronised ability to share information with the Nigerians and other African countries.

“Our military and security intelligence that just deals with security, intelligence gathering and all of that should be able to share critical information with the Nigerian military sector.

“If there is a risk that covers both Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria and they do not have similar protocols, then it affects this conversation.

“And that’s why as an African continent we need to ratify this convention because the things that were topical eight years ago in 2015 are mundane now, technology has moved on.

“So we will need to catch up with it,” George said.

On her path, the Chairperson, (AFIGF), Lillian Nalwoga said at the regional level, there have been the Africa cyber security conventions, adding that more countries were needed to be able to ascend.

Nalwoga said without determination, it would be a little bit difficult to be able to address cyber crimes at a regional level.

She also said that African countries need to have some sort of harmonisation of cybersecurity laws in their various countries to aid the fight against cyber crimes.

“We need countries that have not been able to ratify this convention to be able to resolve this and also for countries that are still lagging behind in terms of coming up with the right cybersecurity laws.

“It is not just about cybersecurity. We also need to have countries adopt data protection and privacy laws because it allows the government to do some level of surveillance.

“We need to have cybersecurity laws come up in the same framework as data protection for the rights of the citizens.

“Cybersecurity is important because it protects the citizen from non-state actors themselves, exposes citizens to risk and then from the state itself from surveillance,” she said.

West Africa

Australia edge past PNG to win PM’s XIII clash – NRL.COM

Australia continued their dominance over Papua New Guinea in the annual Prime Minister’s XIII clash on Saturday afternoon, but were made to work for the full 80 minutes in an eventual 30-18 win.
Leading by just six as the closing minutes approached, it was only a Tyrell Sloan try just before full-time that secured victory for the visitors, who made 17 errors across the match and struggled to shake off PNG as a result.

Despite fielding only a handful of players with NRL experience – in comparison to Australia who had eight World Cup winners and 12 players who appeared at Origin level this year in their squad – PNG were right in the contest for the first hour and had Australia sweating before their late flurry of points.
In the end tries to Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Sharks workaholic Cameron McInnes and Sloan got Mal Meninga’s side home, with hooker Ben Hunt among their most impressive players as he pushed his claims for the Kangaroos’ No.9 jersey in next month’s Pacific Championships.
In what was one of their best showings in the end-of-year clash, the hosts got off to a dream start when Kyle Laybutt’s cross-field kick was fumbled by the Australians and Nene Macdonald touched down, sending the packed crowd in Port Moresby into a frenzy of celebration.

Australia continued their dominance over Papua New Guinea in the annual Prime Minister’s XIII clash on Saturday afternoon, but were made to work for the full 80 minutes in an eventual 30-18 win.

Leading by just six as the closing minutes approached, it was only a Tyrell Sloan try just before full-time that secured victory for the visitors, who made 17 errors across the match and struggled to shake off PNG as a result.

In the end tries to Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Sharks workaholic Cameron McInnes and Sloan got Mal Meninga’s side home, with hooker Ben Hunt among their most impressive players as he pushed his claims for the Kangaroos’ No.9 jersey in next month’s Pacific Championships.

In what was one of their best showings in the end-of-year clash, the hosts got off to a dream start when Kyle Laybutt’s cross-field kick was fumbled by the Australians and Nene Macdonald touched down, sending the packed crowd in Port Moresby into a frenzy of celebration.

<!– –>

599″, “>809”, “>959″]” data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen” ref=”root”>

Up Next

<!– –>

Nene Macdonald Try

While the 6-0 lead would last only 10 minutes before Murray Taulagi hit back, it was clear from the arm wrestle that was taking place that PNG were well and truly up for it.

On the back of Laybutt’s long kicking game – aided by a strong wind at the back of the hosts in the first half – the PNG side were able to keep forcing Australia to bring the ball back off their own line, but ended up going to the sheds down 12-6 after Hudson Young scored just before the break.

<!– –>

599″, “>809”, “>959″]” data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen” ref=”root”>

Up Next

<!– –>

Hudson Young Try

When Cruise Ten battled his way over to tie scores six minutes into the second period, coach Justin Holbrook looked on track to make a historic start to his coaching tenure in PNG, but eventually the class of Australia shone through.

Khan-Pereira continued his remarkable rookie season with a try, to go with the 20 he scored for the Gold Coast this year, before McInnes got over on 62 minutes to create some breathing room.

<!– –>

599″, “>809”, “>959″]” data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen” ref=”root”>

Up Next

<!– –>

Alofiana Khan-Pereira Try

After Epel Kapinias had hit back to make it a one-score game with 10 to play, Australia survived some nervous moments to hold on, with Sloan’s try just before the final siren and Zac Lomax’s fifth conversion of the day sealed the win.

Match Snapshot

Coached by Kangaroos mentor Mal Meninga, the Australian team featured several players with Test and Origin experience.
Last year’s corresponding game was won 64-14 by the Australia PM’s XIII.
No Australian forward ran for over 100 metres in the face of a spirited PNG defence.

<!– –>

599″, “>809”, “>959″]” data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen” ref=”root”>

Up Next

<!– –>

PNG attack through defence

Australia made five line breaks to PNG’s one.
Captain Cameron Murray led the way with 44 tackles, while Judah Rimbu had a team-high 30 for PNG.
Cruise Ten registered nine tackle breaks in the loss and ran for 98 metres.

Play of the Game

A try that summed up the effort and passion shown by the PNG PM’s XIII. Cruise Ten had no right to score at first as he took the ball into multiple green and gold jerseys, but kept fighting to emerge over the line and bring almost everyone at Santos National Football Stadium to their feet once again.

<!– –>

599″, “>809”, “>959″]” data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen” ref=”root”>

Up Next

<!– –>

Cruise Ten Try

Stand Out From The Crowd - A Marketing Tip By ZimMarket

Stand Out From The Crowd

If you happen to be in business and you are not well conversant with the 4 P’s of Marketing, then you are likely to dismally fail, sooner rather than later. In modern day business, the 4 P’s are the traditional and universal cornerstones of Marketing, which are inextricably interrelated. In Marketing, for anything you are selling to be highly competitive, in any given market, it must be, the right Product or service, being offered at the right Place, selling at the right Price, using the right Promotional Marketing Mix. In this marketing tip, I am briefly going to solely dwell on the Promotion aspect, which is an equally significant component of the 4 P’s of the Marketing Mix When you offer products on the market, you must ensure that you adequately educate your potential, as well as your target market, so that your products will become very intimately known and easily identifiable by your customers, from a myriad of other competing products and services on sale. It goes without saying, that this is why your product must “Stand Out From The Crowd”, for your business to remain relevant, lest it will be driven into oblivion. In today's cut-throat marketing competition, you may only achieve to “Stand Out From The Crowd” through an objective, deliberate, persistent, and aggressive marketing strategy, which not only includes mainstream media marketing but also incorporates Online Advertising. This is where, 1Zimbabwe Classifieds | ZimMarket enters into your Marketing Mix, by providing you, the Online advertising medium, in the form of FREE advertising space, on our ZimMarket Classifieds: www.1zimbabweclassifieds.co.zw The old adage says, “Gone are the days when one would say “A Good Wine Needs No Bush”. That’s Why, Coca-Cola, of all Companies in the world, is still advertising to this day

We are there for you, it is our business tradition, to link buyers to sellers.

www.1zimbabweclassifieds.co.zw

www.1africaclassifieds.com

www.1southafricaclassifieds.com

www.1usaclassifieds.com

General inquiries : Info@1zimbabweclassifieds.co.zw

Technical Support: admin@1zimbabweclassifieds.co.zw

One Zimbabwe Market Classifieds | ZimMarket

Linking Buyers To Sellers Is Our Business Tradition

Published By The Founder & Managing Director Of: ZimMarket Digital Technologies Inc. :

Joel Masuka