What a SUCCESSFUL intelligence operation looks like. (With RPG-specific commentary)

This story about Crypto AG was amazing.

The company, Crypto AG, got its first break with a contract to build code-making machines for U.S. troops during World War II. Flush with cash, it became a dominant maker of encryption devices for decades, navigating waves of technology from mechanical gears to electronic circuits and, finally, silicon chips and software.

The Swiss firm made millions of dollars selling equipment to more than 120 countries well into the 21st century. Its clients included Iran, military juntas in Latin America, nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, and even the Vatican.

But what none of its customers ever knew was that Crypto AG was secretly owned by the CIA in a highly classified partnership with West German intelligence. These spy agencies rigged the company’s devices so they could easily break the codes that countries used to send encrypted messages.

Via Facebook.

And worth looking at, from the context of roleplaying game campaigns. The CIA managed to get everything right, here: recruit the right guy, set up the environment so that everybody bought the project, kept the operation tightly compartmentalized — with a foreign partner, no less! — dominate the market, use the information judiciously, and make a profit on the deal (well, besides all of that lovely, lovely intelligence gathered). They got away with it clean, too*.

I mention all of this because — OK, I’m engaging in a sleazy rationalization for putting this up. But it’s still useful to remember that ‘incompetent spy agency’ is a cliche. It’s often accurate, because cliches usually have at least some truth to them, but if your players are asking how on Earth could their opponents be that good you can show them this article. If it can happen in real life, it can happen in your campaign.

Moe Lane

*I’m not even sure that the CIA didn’t leak the documents itself, because: why not? They’re out of that particular game, the tech has changed anyway, and while it’s great to have a reputation as bumblers sometimes you want people to be a little worried about what you’re capable of.