In the arrogance of youth, I would have ignored this old lady. But after listening to her recounting this very fascinating tale , she now strikes me as a very formidable and deadly mind wrapped in grandmotherly wholesomeness as her daily disguise. Enjoyed this thoroughly

@blueeyes6852

3 жыл бұрын

So cool! I've had similar experiences, when I judged a book by its cover... boy was I wrong. Funny now, but not so much then! Lol!

@baileyhowe2739

3 жыл бұрын

moko baby- interesting & im sure a nice person but everything she says can be gleaned from news paper clippings, you as well as others are hearing these clippings as the spoken word. theres really nothing new here

@matthewgrissop9408

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah me too but I have heard her on what she did for the Cia and it's very very interesting. This chic here used disguises to illude kgb agents

@MR-cp4sj

2 жыл бұрын

She’s the Queen.

@jorymil

2 жыл бұрын

Every old woman was young once.

I absolutely adore this woman. She is an excellent storyteller. I can't get enough of her content.

@CatherineLambert-fz7pd

Жыл бұрын

No wonder she did the work she did

I love her delivery, her cadence and her storytelling ability.

I am Czech and I thank you for your work. Communism was a terrible era that threw us all back to the stone age. We pay for that idiotic regime every day till today.

@blbkyne

3 жыл бұрын

@Evan Hodge Oh, such a horrible thing :( It´s like glorifying nazis,... the SAME thing.

@miles-thesleeper-monroe8466

3 жыл бұрын

@@blbkyne you've just exposed yourself with that Nazi sympathiser comment. Heydrich was your unelected boss. Sicko

@blbkyne

3 жыл бұрын

@@miles-thesleeper-monroe8466 I don´t sympathise with nazis, I hate them, I really don´t understand where did you get this bullshit, anyways, have a great day. Sicko.

@petekdemircioglu

2 жыл бұрын

@@blbkyne US left would be considered very right in Europe - in places which were never communist. But European left is considered communist in America because they fought communism like in your country. They equate that with today’s European left.

@abiodunodeleye7984

2 жыл бұрын

@ Evan hodge BLM and glorifying communism? Do you even understand what communism is, or you’re just parroting other uninformed people?

Jonna Mendez is an excellent speaker and is filled with interesting stories, which, oh yes, just happen to be true. Thank you, Mrs. Mendez.

Yes. He was her boss for many years before they hooked up. Tony died of complications of Parkinson's disease. She has stated that his personality portrayed in the movie was not who he was before the onset of Parkinson's. Before that, Jonna said he was a very outgoing man. RIP Tony.

I first saw Mrs. Mendez in a Wired KZread video, where she mentioned the rarely-used “L pills.” She briefly stated that she only knew of one operative who actually used it. Thank you for posting this, so that I/we could hear the whole story!

@krissy7342

4 жыл бұрын

So tragic...

@sabre22b

3 жыл бұрын

Ww2 resistance fighters trained in Britain were rumoured to have been given them regularly.

@Davey-Boyd

2 жыл бұрын

She once said that she knew two were issued. The second guy was arrested in his car but the pen with the pill inside was in his office at the time. He was interrogated then executed.

@stephaniek1076

Жыл бұрын

@@Davey-Boyd Exactly right.

@welshpete12

Жыл бұрын

@@sabre22b NO , they were not , nor did any ask for them , they were very brave !

Amazing true stories. Thank you for your brave service by you and your genius husband Tony. 🇺🇲 🇺🇦

Of all the spy stuff on U-Tube from the CIA this has been most enjoyable to listen too. This Jonna lady has a wealth of information.

Jonna Mendez is a fascinating woman and excellent speaker. I am sure there will be a movie about her life!

Love listening to you, Jonna. Here i am, doing my make-up, preparing to go to office and listening to your spy stories 😊

@Prince-pb1vf

4 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@DanNguyen-xd6wg

4 жыл бұрын

You should’ve used your makeup as a disguise to confuse the heck out of your boss and co-workers. LOL

@dr.barrycohn5461

3 жыл бұрын

Whatever you do, don't let Jonna do your make up or others may not recognize you!

@margo3367

Жыл бұрын

I know. We lead such mundane lives by comparison. That’s quite a last name, Marilyn. Would be as hard to guess as Rumplestiltskin.

This is THE most underrated channel I have ever found.

I wish I was in this room. Jonna Mendez is just wonderful!

@1979hellcat

4 жыл бұрын

Nicole Hood we have family up that way, time to plan a visit into DC’s Spy Museum 😜

@Prince-pb1vf

4 жыл бұрын

She is so interesting.

@1979hellcat

4 жыл бұрын

Prince ikr!!

The theme song is top notch. I catch references not just to (obviously) John Barry, but to Lalo Schiffrin's Mission Impossible theme and even the Get Smart theme. Very smartly and humorously done. Cheers!

I had the pleasure of meeting them both a few years before Tony died. My father died of Parkinson’s and I could tell Tony had from watching him speak for five minutes. He and Jonna needed a fast ride to the airport (90 miles away) so I offered to drive them in my company car, equipped with lights and siren). They were absolutely delightful and charming.

@jaykay1053

Жыл бұрын

Neat!

This kgb guy is the classic stereotype.. Love jonna's stories. 🙏

Chief of disguise keeps sounding to me like Chief of the Skies, which almost creates an impression of Jonna Mendez which approaches being as awesome and cool as she actually is in reality!

This video is 8 years old. In regards to if Karl Koecher and Hana are still alive, aged 89, Karl and his wife 79 live in the Czech Republic.

The scary thing is that a man from an enemy state was given such a high level clearance knowing that no real background check could be done on him. CIA was suspicious of Karl by 1976 and let him go in 1977--hence losing his access to intel, but he was still passing intel to SOVIETS within the US in 1982, as was his wife, who had become quite dumpy and not attractive by 1984 at the time of her arrest. Presumably, their intel was from pillow talk.

Jonna Mendez is my hero!

When I saw the title I thought that “swingers “ was a term of art among spies, like “moles” or “sparrows” or “Moscow rules”

@Ophiuchus1

3 жыл бұрын

No. Spies are notorious for sexuality deviance. In fact, it's the only way you can be trusted. They have to have blackmail on you. This blackmail usually comes in the form of super duper crepy pornos.

@tinasam9996

Жыл бұрын

YeH, I was trying to rationalize it too

@sperrinwell-beingandyoga9224

2 ай бұрын

Same here! I thought it was a synonym for double agent.

what a great speaker Jonna is,more please when you can.Thanks Bill in Ireland

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thankyou

Excellent presentation.

the patience to devote years to infiltrating their objective is unbelievable.

I’m rewatching all the episodes

Really enjoyed this presentation 👍👍

A great insight. Thanks.

I am surprised the CIA security would let employees be in swinger clubs. What could possibly go wrong? With so many government employees Washington DC is a weird place.

@roberrplatt4214

4 жыл бұрын

Back then there was no way to track people. Even these days, government workers in some areas have to waive a lot of freedom from surveillance, because the government is not good at finding stuff out unless it's delivered to them in a nice box.

@japspeedgirl6216

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t think they asked for permission, you know.

@JohnDoe-sk6wy

3 жыл бұрын

If a swinger club ever becomes a viable source of critical information, you can bet that CIA operatives will be all up in there fishing for information. Just because it’s taboo, it doesn’t mean CIA is above taking advantage of it. In Karl’s case, he went there to blackmail people and get information for the enemy.

@Nigelsmith79

3 жыл бұрын

I am not surprised they were in that group .have you met many they swing in different circles than just vanilla

@petekdemircioglu

2 жыл бұрын

Ahahah

My mom kind of complained that Jonna almost always talked about Trigon. I too think she could use some variety in her stories, but at the same time, I don't think she has a lot of choices.

Awesome topic very educational and it reminds me of my basic and advance tradecraft courses

Thank you!

Must be a great to listen to a real heroes who have served and given a lot for his or her country. If your in those circles and have a meal Mrs Mendez would definitely be a great after dinner speaker

At 1:21 there is a discussion of Dubcek, and the gentleman implies Dubcek did not survive the Prague Spring. Dubcek did not die until 1992.

Why did the USA allow them Kochers back in our country? Allowing him to become a professor and easily reactivated? Makes no sense...

watching this in 2021. Finding out at 38:56 that Rudi Guiliani was prosecutor in the case is interesting. Would like to know Ms Mendez thoughts on former prosecutor Giuliani in the light of current events in 2021. 🌲🌝☘️

@elmersbalm5219

3 жыл бұрын

You’re seeing the public efflorescence of a strategic argument between two factions of the establishment.

Start at 6:25

@Mrclean431

3 жыл бұрын

Under rated comment

This just breaks your heart about the spy at the end But I guess he was facing prison or death penalty idk. So glad older lady got released. ❤. Thanks so much. Some people are reposting good videos like these but with a new cover photo and opening. Easily done like Dr. RAMANI.

Poor Ogorodnik, thank you for telling about him.

Thank God America had INCREDIBLE , BRILLIANT, COURAGEOUS , CREATIVE strong woman as Jonna Mendez on our side against evils of communism!🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤😎🍸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

@gratefuldead3750

9 ай бұрын

Go on and cripple yourself in the darwinian distopy of neoliberal capitalism. The masses become even more stupid by such an anti- intellectual society.

this is fire!!!

I love her whole outfit, very well accessorized

Is Jonna Mendez, Tony's wife from the Argo operation?!

@Samo762

7 жыл бұрын

yes

@1979hellcat

4 жыл бұрын

Nairuulagch yes but I don’t think she was his actual wife during the ‘Argo’ operation. Later on she became his wife.

@krissy7342

4 жыл бұрын

Saw Argo last night. It became so *Real* to me just how insane and brave the idea Tony had was. Seeing it as “live” was very very mind opening. Tony (and Jonna) are 🇺🇸 USA heroes.

@ecampbell5837

4 жыл бұрын

The Ambassador took care of them for a month or two. Talk about putting your life on the line. So a lot went on before the escape. The cia and Americans were mad Canadians got credit. So they told the ny times many years later, about the American involvement, against normal practice. Great to discuss your involvement, quite another to seek to collect all the praise by making a Hollywood movie. Typical Americans. Joined wwii for the last 15 minutes and ONLY when they became directly affected. Then make war movies with them as the heroes of it all.

@PronatorTendon

3 жыл бұрын

@@ecampbell5837 The US entered the war to clean up and seize an empire, not to win a war. The way you've phrased your complaint smacks of prodigious levels of naivete.

Jonna always seems bored by batteries. John Methlie, who she mentions at the end of the Q&A, received the CIA Trailblazer Award and his citation for that refers to him as working on "Power Source Technologies", which sounds slightly sexier. Not much, but slightly. He also worked with NASA on batteries for satellites and advised on the life extension programme for the Hubble telescope.

Great telling of what seems like an exciting story! I am Czech and never heard of Köcher (or Koecher) until today. (So I was sceptical when Jonna said they received a hero's welcome - after all she also later admited that their story was not well known in Cechoslovakia) Anyway... the story led me to a Czech documentary about the story called "RINO - a story of a spy" - have no idea if it's any good or if you can find it with english subs, just want to point it out. Also I don't understand when Jonna said that KGB didn't use women and din't expect the CIA to use women then... what about Hana Köcher? What did Jonna mean they didn't use women?

@jenniferhill9924

2 жыл бұрын

Máte pravdu.

@naomisherred166

2 жыл бұрын

Re-read what you said - she said the KGB didn't use women so expected the CIA to not use women when in fact they did 1😊

@TamadorStoneskin

Жыл бұрын

The KGB had a policy that discouraged the use of female officers. Though they did rarely use female agents. Because the KGB had deemed women unfit for officer roles they assumed that the CIA had come to similar conclusions. There’s an interesting section on this in Gordevskey’s book “KGB”

Amazing to listen to these stories. Minor observation re: the video.... does anyone else think the English translations for Kryuchkov sounds like the actor Robert Vaughn (Man from Uncle, Hustle)?

@sgtfifilarue8957

Жыл бұрын

After watching MFU so many times I thought the same! 😊

1:22:30 "If Dubcek had lived..." But he did! He was ousted from power, but still got a job for the Soviet installed government (Ambassador?) and he was alive quite a few years after 1968. He was not, like the Chilean leader president Allende, killed by the new regime.

Listening to the questions? I am sure some were operatives trying to get hindsight of how the agency disseminates information. Clandestine operations are ongoing and information is gold.

@27:28 You were wrong. SCI stands for Sensitive Compartmented Information. I was a little surprised when I heard you say that.

WTF!No checks on them to have them hired!!!This country is a joke.

@jennyghosh5615

3 жыл бұрын

That’s true, your country is a complete joke.

It's quite a pity the dedicated doesn't mean what it used to mean. Thank you!

Commenting on the discussion: 1:15:19 lady with a Russian accent mentioned Koechers arrival to the US vs. Dubcek's government. Dubcek took over in January 1968, got overthrown in August. By then the Koechers were already for a while in the US. 1:17:49 to pretend to be anti-Jewish was not too wise. Anti-Communist maybe, but anti-Jewish when the Jews had in the Communist world troubles? 1:18:56 the description of Ms.Mendez is hilarious. They had to register with the US Embassy in Vienna, ask to emigrate to the US. An OK had to received from the States. No one just boards a plane, lands, and says I want to live in the US. 1:20:40 Karel (not Karl which is the German transcription of the name) is a member of the Prague Jewish Community (his mother was Jewish which makes him Jewish according to the Jewish law, the halakha) and can be seen once in a while eating in their restaurant. With a ghost writer he wrote a book on his US spy experiences "Český krtek v CIA" (The Czech mole in the CIA). - see www.martinus.sk/?uItem=214877

@elmersbalm5219

3 жыл бұрын

It’s a good ruse to attract irrational, hateful bigots. There’s plenty of them. Their hate can be manipulated.

"I Recognize most of you immediately.... " " YOU GUYS ARE AWFUL SPIES ALL OF YOU!!!!!"

very great dear mam 🌍🌎🌎🌏🌎

I wonder what she would have to say about the activities of the CIA and the FBI in recent years. They have gone rogue in my opinion.

@synewparadigm

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, completely corrupt with no shame or sense of working for the people.

@mroberts2738

2 жыл бұрын

So true. Scary.

@willatwood

Жыл бұрын

What do you mean they "have" gone rogue? They didn't just go rogue in recent years. They've always been involved in illegal activities from their inception! Do you believe the CIA were one, if not, the biggest supplier of cocaine into the USA at one time in the 80s? Do you really think that's fake? Or how about the agreements between some members of Mexican cartels and the FBI that allow these cartel members to transport, distribute and sell drugs in return for information on their rival cartel members. Think this is fake, too? Just look it up and this has come out in court when they tried prosecuting certain members when they were extradited to the US for trial and even though they were high ranking members that should've easily been sentenced to life, they receive 5 or less years. Documents are public.

@aluminium5738

Жыл бұрын

I'd argue that they are slightly more controlled today, I say that because they were definitely more rogue in the 60s - COINTELRO, Operation CHAOS. MKUltra, Cuba, Lumumba, and maybe even MLK if you want to go there.

at 1:19:43 he is talking about Operation Able Archer.

how did they fire him without alerting him? They must of had some reason....

Estimados miembros de la junta directiva del Museo Internacional del Espionaje: Me encantan los libros de Christine Fehan sobre series de sombras, fantasmas y vampiros, así como los libros de juegos, principalmente por el valor educativo que he obtenido de ellos. Ella es una autora maravillosa que ha encontrado una manera clandestina de educar a las personas interesadas en sus investigaciones sobre diversos temas. Realmente quiero leer polvo de espías y otros libros, sin embargo, sería maravilloso si pudieran alentar a los escritores que actualmente pueden hablar sobre sus experiencias a encontrar una manera de ser más clandestinos en los títulos para poder sentarme en una tienda en público y no que todos sepan que estoy interesado en libros sobre este tema. incluso si digo que tengo que leerlo para una clase de historia o algo así, si tengo demasiados que dicen el nombre espía... pensaría que las transacciones con tarjeta de crédito y simplemente que la gente vea mi interés no es la imagen que quiero tener. Por muy sexy que sea ser un espía, si no lo soy, no quiero ser el objetivo de todos los demás espías a nivel internacional.... de todos modos, gracias por todo tu arduo trabajo en la vida y por nuestro país.

Most of the sleepers are now embedded in Academia .that's why your young have lost the plot

@canadiangemstones7636

3 жыл бұрын

Also: Trump.

@synewparadigm

3 жыл бұрын

@@canadiangemstones7636 Trump is a sleeper?

Yes

Curious to know how you were recruited

There is an alternative narrative that it was Kalugin who was the real betrayer of Triton, and also of Koecher

Shows a ridiculous picture of FBI and CIA - how on earth is something like that possible? And I suppose it still does happen... Jonna Mendez is quite some woman.

@tinasam9996

Жыл бұрын

They were participants? They've been corrupt for years.

Her talk begins at 6:30

Cool

This lady is fab xxx

The biggest pleasure is to know that people like Koecher etc. have witnessed that the project that they have been working for collapsed and doesn’t exist any more. Thank God! I understood that there is a goring cow, milking cow and mos cow….

Mrs was probably a freak to, just to clever and clean

How can anyone believe a word from someone who lies for a living?

I like Jonna but there are discrepancies. If you listen to Martha talk about what happened, she wasn't in jail for 3 days, she was released after hours not days. Also she says people aren't sure if Trigon died straight away or later on. She also says the Moscow Rules (written by Jonna) has lots of mistakes in it.

Hope all is well .05/18/2021

the last time that Koecher was in public was on a Czech late night show (Uvolnete se prosim) in 2007

@kokondel

7 жыл бұрын

ale príliš veľa tam toho nepovedal..

@romanjancura9651

4 жыл бұрын

Later, he was in DVTV with Drtinová.

I need advice

Aunt Jonna, no! At least in Russia proper the Komsomol was mandatory. Party membership was not! Should have been a huge red flag.

Starts at 6:25. 😏 Your Welcome 🙏🏼

@slappy8941

4 жыл бұрын

My welcome what?

@ilirbajrami1072

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@James_Bowie

4 жыл бұрын

Yep, Earnest always talks too much. His replacement is a breath of fresh air.

@mroberts2738

2 жыл бұрын

That guy is so self important. His addition at the end was ridiculous too. No one cares who you knew. Clueless.

Such an interesting story. They were quite the hot couple.

183 comments from the employees at the CIA . Glowing comments.

Squad!!!

We expect everybody else to speak English? GOD DAMN RIGHT !

What role did The Billion Dollar Spy play among all these players?

Who'll lay money on Teddy K being the Senator?

So Khanyisa causes a tiny issue because of her excitement to see you Adine! But really wonderful how this HERD who are mostly unrelated but have bonded so well to come to the “rescue “ of our lil pink one who they think she is in danger! 🥰❤️👌

Who was the US Senator? That is the million dollar question.

Right Peter. Simon?

High level intelligence and political figures involved with debauchery, drugs and illicit sex? It's never stopped...

Thank you Jonah and Tony both. I believe now Tony is expired I'm sorry J

He was a dissident in CSSR to expose idiocies of the government, but then he decided USA was even more idiotic.

Foulest,meanest,most murderous..... ISN’T THAT THE JOB DESCRIPTION?

🙏👌

In Israel new immigrants are not allowed in Intelligence services, exceptions however occur.

So apparently the CIA is all too happy to go after a sitting US President, but they couldn't find the rats in their midst. What do we pay these people for?

@allangibson2408

3 жыл бұрын

The FBI is supposed to do domestic counter intelligence investigations - it’s not the CIA’s job and they have no authority to file charges. The CIA’s job is to investigate foreign intelligence interventions - like the Trump campaign coordinating advertising with the FSB Facebook black propaganda.

So she was basically a sparrow and he- a raven?

Ms. Mendez is a RIVETING speaker. 🏆

1:15:04 Alarm bells ringing, anyone?

@jennyghosh5615

3 жыл бұрын

Hello! Fellow Torontonian!

I thought she said Ames was the 1 who out the Russian General

Perhaps the same batteries are used in the Chinese teapots gifted to diplomats?

The real Joanna Mendez is in the crowd! 13:43

@Prince-pb1vf

4 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Does it never occur to the CIA that polygraphs just don't work? Scientists consider them to be pure pseudoscience. Do polygraph operators have a strong union, or are they themselves in the pay of foreign governments?

They caught the Skripals..in Moscow. The Skripals were allowed to leave. The West then thought to recycle the Skripals.

There's a lot of contradictions in this narrations. Why would the British employ discarded Soviet spies? Why wouldn't the CIA tip MI6 off? I recall the heightened tensions in the early 80's, with Perle all over the UK GE then, smearing the opposition. There were marches against the strategic weaponry deployed out of Greenham Common US air base. The narrator deliberately misnamed START(Strategic Arms Reductions Talks) as SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks), only she knows why. Perhaps this talk is constructed for an American audience.