A very interesting documentary is now available on the video distribution service Netflix.
The first season of the documentary, whose English name is ``Spy Ops,'' is titled ``Spy Ops Behind the Scenes'' in Japanese, was released on September 8, 2023. It consists of eight episodes, and as the name suggests, it focuses on historical espionage operations from the past. What's more, he conducts valuable interviews with people who were actually involved in the operation, collects testimonies, and approaches the truth behind the spy operation.
As someone who has covered topics such as terrorism, cybersecurity, and espionage, I can say that this documentary has great value as a historical record. Not only those in charge of operations at the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), but also members of the U.S. military's special forces, etc., are giving us first-hand accounts of what actually happened on the ground. This is a must-see for those who are interested in spy stories, but also for those who are not.
``Spy Operation - Behind the Scenes'' begins with a story about an operation called ``Operation Jawbreaker.'' The operation was launched by CIA operatives to take revenge against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. The film depicts how CIA operatives entered Afghanistan with $3 million in cash stuffed into suitcases just 15 days after the September 11 attacks.
In addition to Afghanistan, this documentary covers the operation to capture General Noriega in Panama, the attempted assassination of the Pope, the operations of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, which carried out covert assassinations of Palestinian extremists, and the war that sank during the Cold War. Topics include efforts to extract Soviet submarines.
Speaking of Netflix, they've always made great documentaries about real-life spy operations. For example, there is a documentary series (8 episodes) about espionage called ``The Secret of Espionage'' (2021). In fact, I was present in the United States at the filming of interviews with former CIA executives and others used in ``The Secrets of Spy Technique.'' I remember very well that there was a very in-depth interview there. For that reason, this series had a very high level of completion.
This time's ``Spy Operation - Behind the Scenes of Intelligence Operations'' has more depth than that. Unlike fiction movies and dramas that create an image of spies through depictions that are difficult to tell from the conviction of a criminal, the testimonies of those involved in spying operations are first-class materials. It's a highly recommended documentary.
CIA headquarters in Virginia, USA ( Photo: Reuters/Afro )
This documentary was produced by American production company Big Media. I had the opportunity to speak with John Law, co-founder of the company and executive producer of ``Operation Espionage.'' Mr. Low has been involved in business with law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies not only in the United States but also around the world.
"With this documentary, we wanted to provide viewers with the truth about important historical events 'first-hand' by featuring people who were directly involved in each event. "These events can't be properly conveyed to people who weren't involved or don't understand the world of espionage, much less summarized in a 30-second Tiktok video."
He goes on to say this: "In this series, we're not only about the missions themselves, but also about the voices of those who participated in them. They served their countries, took great risks, and sacrificed time with their families to make their countries safer. The world is a very dangerous place, and it would be an even more dangerous place without the great work of these men and women."
Law, along with other producers, reached out to the spies for the documentary and were able to film it. When asked, "What was the most difficult part of making this documentary?" he answered:
"This series has been our most challenging project to date. Working with the CIA and other agencies is difficult because you're trying to juggle two things. "It's about telling the story as accurately as possible and not giving away important confidential information."
However, he added, ``We just tried to tell the story of the spies involved. There is no need for dramatization, and their story is better than fiction.''
Finally, we asked Mr. Low, who is well-versed in the world's intelligence agencies, about Japan, which does not have a foreign intelligence agency like the CIA or MI6 (Secret Intelligence Service).
“The purpose of the CIA, MI6, and other intelligence agencies is to provide information to elected leaders so that they can make important decisions based on facts, not theory. Without access, we often don't have enough information to make important decisions, which often leads to poor decisions."
He continues: "These intelligence agencies have no independent agenda. They exist to ensure that their leaders and their people are not surprised by world events. In my opinion, every country has its own intelligence. I think we should have an agency. Otherwise, the country will have to rely on intelligence agencies of other countries, and even if they are allies, the interests of the country may be different from Japan's. If that happens, it will be accurate information will no longer be available.”
“After all, governments are elected to serve their people, which is why many countries have built their own institutions and even relied on private companies to supplement their efforts. Another reason it is unwise to rely solely on allies to share information is that allies may not only omit necessary information, but may also be wrong.
This can be said to be an extremely valuable opinion. It may be time for Japan, as an independent country, to once again think about the nature of spies and intelligence.