Wednesday, October 6, 2010

COOPTEE

An individual, often an embassy employee, who willingly agrees to collaborate with his country’s intelligence agency and undertake minor assignments, usually of limited operational importance, is known universally as a  cooptee. Their usefulness may be disproportionate, perhaps confusing hostile surveillance in assessing the strength of the organization, acting as a decoy to draw away the unwelcome attention of the local security  apparatus, or just surveying sites suitable for dead drops.