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Infantry1stLt t1_itr97c8 wrote

Reply to comment by madmolf in Norway police arrest suspected Russian spy by reklameboks

That’s all nice and cool. But in today’s Europe you’ll inevitably bump into some people who’ve travelled a bit more and speak many more languages than the common (Cold War) American.

“Hei! I heard you’re from Brazil, so meet our Portuguese colleague.” So the agent’s accent must be spot on.

Or someone will throw that random, obscure curse word he learned during his semester abroad, and the agent will have to react to it immediately and appropriately.

I’m not saying it’s impossible, but to keep such a cover story they probably need a full immersion in a certain culture (maybe a previous mission in that very country).

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bro_please t1_its1x6s wrote

Yes they are inserted by the dozens in each important country decades in advance. They are "apolitical" because they outlast most politicians. They are likely to turn double agent. They are limited and usually clumsy. That "Portuguese" spy in Naples was one example. She must have cost tens of millions throughout her life, but is unlikely to have produced much. These schemes are too clever. Just bribe people or send immigrants.

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