Glossary of Terms - Index B

Backstopped - This refers to the extent and degree of protection a particular cover or alias is given by the CIA. A fully backstopped cover or alias identification used by a CIA officer will include several alias documents such as passport, credit cards and drivers’ license and may also have a cover company, sometimes a devised facility cover, created and staffed by the CIA to provide some degree of employment status to the officer using the alias. A partially backstopped alias identification or cover will have a lesser degree of protection. Those with little or no backstopping are called throwaway covers or throwaway aliases, meaning you use them once or twice for a specific purpose then discontinue use. Backstopped covers and aliases should be able to withstand a high degree of scrutiny by anyone checking on the status of the CIA officer using the cover or alias.

Bang and Burn – These are sabotage and demolition operations conducted by Special Operations elements of the CIA.

Base – A small unit or office under a Station. Some Stations may have one or more bases usually located within the US consulate offices in major cities within a country. One, two and sometimes more CIA Case Officers may work within a base.

Black – Being undetected during an operation. To “go in black” means to enter a target facility or area secretly and undetected, relying on stealth rather than cover.

Black Bag Operations – These operations provide surreptitious entry into a target facility to plant a technical device such as a listening device to collect information.

Black Operations – Black Ops – These are clandestine operations that are not attributable to the agency or government conducting them. They are a type of Covert Operation.

Blind Date – This refers to a meeting between a Case Officer and a target, asset or agent that was unexpectedly called for by the later. The concern here is that the target, asset or agent may be setting the Case Officer up for capture by a hostile security service.
Blown – The exposure of a clandestine operation, agent, intelligence facility or personnel to a foreign security service.

Bona fides – The true affiliation of an agent or Case Officer. When, for example, an agent and Case Officer meet in a clandestine meeting for the first time, they must establish their bona fides. They sometimes do this by saying a prearranged phrase or showing a prearranged object to each other as evidence of each other’s affiliation with the CIA.

Box, The - Common name used for the polygraph. Used as both a noun and verb. Ex. Has the asset been boxed (polygraphed)?

Brothers – This is the name used by CIA insiders to refer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. See Cousins.

Brush Pass (BP) – This is a brief public contact to quickly and securely pass an item of espionage such as written reports, documents or film from one person to another. This requires precise timing by two persons to arrive at a prearranged spot within seconds of each other and heightened personal security to avoid being observed passing the object. Slight of hand is often required.

Burn or Burned – This is used to indicate that an agent or asset or even facilities such as a dead drop or safehouse have been potentially exposed to a hostile security service or some unauthorized person or organization. Once burned you must take measures to protect other assets associated with the burned facility or person. Sometimes a facility or asset may be deliberately burned to protect a more important facility or person.

Bug – A concealed listening device used in an audio operation against a target facility or person.