According to Barsky, his dual existence actually became burdensome, especially after his cover was blown and he refused to return to the Soviet Union. This wasn't necessarily the expectation in spy agencies. Jack Barsky, for example, was a KGB agent turned insurance professional who had two families - one in Pennsylvania and one in Russia. This was true at the height of the Cold War, with Russian spies in the US feeding information to the KGB. Undercover work and embedded missions may result in a practical amount of lying, perhaps resulting in a secret life. There's a reason he's out more nights than not.'" And it comes as a relief to them because it’s like, 'Oh, dad is not having an affair. She found that "most of the children sort of already know. While former CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson didn't have to explain anything to her own children, she saw her colleagues struggle with what to do. Spies with families often struggle with what to tell their children about nights out or extended absences. When sent on missions, CIA agents provide general information about where they're going, even bringing back mementos for loved ones. Many CIA agents don't hide where they work from the people who are close to them, although they do keep the details of their activities secret. The Reality: Keeping a lot of aspects of being a spy secret is necessary, but spies can tell people quite a bit about their jobs. This includes even the closest family members and results in a perpetual dual existence. As a result, no one - literally NO ONE - can know where they work or what they do. The Movie Version: Secrecy is everything when you're a spy. Notable Offenders: The James Bond franchise (notably License to Kill), True Lies, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Sir Richard Billing Dearlove, one-time head of MI6, indicated that, during his nearly 40 years with the agency, he'd never seen said authorization used. The British Foreign Secretary has the ability to grant "Class Seven authorization," which allows for "lethal force" when necessary. In the UK, the Intelligence Services Act of 1994 gives some leeway to British intelligence officers as long as they act with proper authorization - a potential loophole to the preferred aversion to taking lives. There are some instances when death among spies occurs. One-time CIA agent Emily Brandwin called killing "a big no-no at the Agency." Spies are not typically violent and, in some instances, they're acutely aware that taking a life would only escalate tensions between potentially hostile countries. In the United States, the same holds true. The job of the service is to obtain intelligence to inform British government policy and help prevent, for example, terrorist attacks and in doing that we work under UK law. The work of the service is overseen both politically and legally so there's absolutely no room in that for killing people. According to a former member of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), a "license to kill" is a "complete myth." He continued: Typically, spies don't take out anyone, much less with reckless abandon. The Reality: The myth of a "license to kill" is largely placed in the hands of author Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. They can dispatch anyone and everyone who gets in their way. The Movie Version: Spies are sent into dangerous situations without limitations on what they can do to accomplish a mission. Proceed with caution - busting one of these myths might just upend everything you thought you knew about spies. Real spies have weighed in on some of the realities of their work, taking on ridiculous beliefs perpetuated by Hollywood. Danger around every corner, complete secrecy, and the ability to kill at will - they're all associated with the quintessential spy life. Whether comedic, action-packed, or tales of thrilling intrigue, movies about spies are full of tropes that show up over and over again. In fact, many traditional spy tropes have been so ingrained into popular culture that they may never disappear from Hollywood storytelling. A contemporary spy movie, on the other hand, might play on an outdated yet popular idea about spying simply to appeal to an audience. Movies about spies during the Cold War, for example, may contain traditional spy tropes for good reason. Spycraft is constantly changing thanks to new technologies, shifting political alliances, and perceived threats.
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