US Central Intelligence Agency opens its official Instagram account with hopes of recruiting young people into the agency as well as give the public a peek into the Agency life. “We are the Nation’s first line of defense. We accomplish what others cannot accomplish and go where others cannot go” CIA’s Instagram bio reads.
The first post was put up 2 days ago with the caption ‘I spy with my little eye…’. The picture accompanying the caption shows a work desk but customised in a very Instagram-ish way. But wait! If you don’t look closely there are chances you might miss out a lot. At first sight, there is a lot that can escape your notice.
The desk shown in the picture is crammed with things ranging from a top-secret pulp bag to a few foreign currencies. On the chair beside the desk lies a jacket, an ID tag, and an eye-catching-grey wig. These objects are curated and attempt to signify certain things important to CIA and US. A clock is seen on the desk, showing 8.46, the time at which the first tower was hit on 9/11. To CIA and US Homeland Security, the 9/11 attacks was a crucial turning point.
The picture also pays tribute to Tony Mendez, a CIA operative whose unflinching life experience of rescuing six American hostages in Iran became an inspiration to the Hollywood movie Argo. There is also a star placed on the desk honouring the fallen operatives.
Maps of Russia, Iran, and China are seen on the desk and its vicinity. Very subtle, isn’t it?
A bamboo plant stands at one corner of the desk. According to Feng Shui, the lucky bamboo plant brings good health, peace, happiness, prosperity, longevity, and good luck. After all, the life of a CIA operative depends a lot on luck.
Stacked very meticulously on the table are six books: The Secret of CIA Humour, Sisterhood of Spies, Spies, Black Ties, and Mango Pies, Of Spies and Stratagems, The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis, and The Official Manual of Trickery and Deception Many of these books talk about the experiences of spies who had served the CIA.
To dial down things a little bit and make itself feel at home on Instagram is probably why there is an ‘I want to travel the world’ photo right in the middle, on the desk. It might serve the purpose of attracting those young Americans with a love for #wanderlust to join the CIA and ‘travel’ the world. Who knows!
