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(THREAD) Insomnia has pointed me in some strange directions, one of which is my nonstop obsession with the podcast Wind of Change.
During episode 3, the podcaster, Patrick Radden Keefe, reads a letter he received from an alleged former CIA agent about Keefe’s inquiries into the agency’s alleged practice of using music from the USA as a sort of psy-ops propaganda.
It’s such an astounding letter that I decided last night while trying to sleep that I would transcribe it so I could share it with you. I endorse none of the sociopolitical ideas implied (or flat-out stated) within or without this letter...
...I merely stand in awe of its style, syntactical economy, and subdued joie de vivre. (If any of this piques your interest, then I urge you to listen to the whole thing.)
And now for the letter...
And now for the letter...
Dear Mr. Keefe:
You are a young man, of talent, with what sounds like a good project ahead of you. My participation might make it a better product, but it is not in my interest to take part.
You are a young man, of talent, with what sounds like a good project ahead of you. My participation might make it a better product, but it is not in my interest to take part.
I am an old man on a glide path to what comes next after this life, and public exposure is not a thing I seek.
My contributions during the Cold War — first at Voice of America’s Russian Service, and, later, as a CIA officer — are something I am very proud of.
My contributions during the Cold War — first at Voice of America’s Russian Service, and, later, as a CIA officer — are something I am very proud of.
At Voice of America, I introduced our Soviet audience to American country music via my weekly radio show. In my CIA years, I recruited and handled agents in five languages, producing often great intelligence and getting no one killed.
When I interpreted for my ambassador, in her meeting with Gorby in the mid-90s, he thought I was from the local Russian embassy, giving me the best compliment I ever had on my command of the language.
I have traveled to 74 countries and lived for years in several of them with my family. I have seen the elephant. I am done.
I have a quiet, retired life with my dear wife of 48 years, who has an incurable cancer. Each day is precious.
All the years in that strange and stressful life undercover, all those memories both good and bad, are like layers of sediment at the bottom of a lake. Some of them are toxic. Stirring them up does me no good at all. Let’s let them continue to lie there quietly.
All that said and off my chest, I do want to answer your specific question about my affiliation in 1977, when the State Department borrowed me from Voice of America to serve as escort officer for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
I belonged to Voice of America then, and I would not have risked my Voice of America employment by having any contact with the CIA. But later, in 1981, I joined CIA, wanting to continue my personal fight against communism, but on the front lines.
I retired from the CIA in 1999, when it had become a lethargic, paper-pushing shell of its former self. As for 1977, I really enjoyed touring with the band and liked them very much.
They were great fellows, and good musicians, but they are not competent to make identifications of intelligence officers. Trust me on this.
It’s a warm and sunny day here. My wife and I have a late afternoon swim in the pool followed by a fresh cocktail enhanced by fruit from our own trees. I will raise a toast to you, and to the band, with hopes for your success.
Sincerely,
Brant Bassett
Sincerely,
Brant Bassett
