Former CIA Operative Explains How Spies Use Disguises | WIRED

Former Chief of Disguise for the CIA, Jonna Mendez, explains how disguises are used in the CIA, and what aspects to the deception make for an effective disguise.



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[renleo]

If she is publicly explaining CIA uses these tricks, these are no longer current CIA tricks.

[Gnarly]

"these are photos of me and george w.bush and revealing to him that i was briefing while wearing a mask"
Absolute power move

[fugopower]

The scary part about this is that this whole time that she had been being interviewed is that she could be in a disguise and be whole different person then we know.

[sugaplum]

I need a full length documentary with her. She’s absolutely fascinating.

[KM-mwjp]

Imagine being her kid and trying to get away with something...
“I was the shop attendant all along, I know you bought that alcohol”

[robertbugeja]

3:38 "You want to be the person that gets on the elevator, and then gets off, and no one really remembers you were there." I don't even need a disguise to do that

[Robert]

Her CIA husband was Tony Mendez, the man the movie ARGO was made after. I heard him speak at a luncheon years ago, describing how he exfiltrated the American diplomats out of Iran. Wonderful family they are. RIP, Tony!

[dianebannister]

This presentation is absolutely fascinating! 👌 I had the opportunity to see Jonna and her husband, who was also a CIA operative, in person several years ago. Their stories were captivating! It was a series that a local newspaper sponsored to the public of various prominent guest speakers usually twice a year. Of course, we had to pay for tickets. It was worthwhile.

[georgia]

They missed the perfect opportunity to reveal at the end that she isn't actually an old lady, and she's actually a 35 year old dude...

[symmetramainbtwlol]

Imagine how many disguised people you have seen and didnt notice

[kristenfromOZ]

This woman needs her own series she's incredible

[anactualalpaca]

If she's telling us this, that means there's stuff she isn't telling us, and there's probably far more advanced tactics in place now.

[brocol]

this video makes me wonder how many disguised people ive walked past on the street.

[hendrianjayyy]

Plot twist: they're using disguise in this interview, so basically we never see a real face of a CIA former

[henriettaatkin]

Jonna Mendez is the wife of Tony Mendez, the operative who helped rescue the six American hostages in 1979. See the movie "Argo." In the book, her husband talks about the different hostile operatives you have to confuse. A trained Moscow operative is more difficult to fool than a revolutionary guard zealot who may not be as trained in spy craft.

[Sara]

This is so cool, as an American I feel like she is my step-Grandma teaching me how to act, especially in Europe.

[rainman]

Beginning of the Video:
Me- "Look at her face, such experience"

After Video ended:
Me-"Was that her real face?"

[asimasim]

She said a lot without revealing anything

[glamgyrl]

This is an awesome video! So intriguing and influential. Obviously these "tricks" are decades old so imagine the tricks they have now...

[tone]

I wasn't done listening to her when this suddenly ended after only a couple of minutes. Fantastic woman and presentation, and intriguing topic