Annie Jacobsen

He operated, I think, in 62 countries every single time for the CIA. And it would go like this, Billy, go to there and get to there, right? And that's what he would do. When he arrived, whatever he needed, he would just get. Mm-hmm. you know, it's not a fashion trip, right? So he had no idea how to pack for an overseas trip.

He operated, I think, in 62 countries every single time for the CIA. And it would go like this, Billy, go to there and get to there, right? And that's what he would do. When he arrived, whatever he needed, he would just get. Mm-hmm. you know, it's not a fashion trip, right? So he had no idea how to pack for an overseas trip.

This was like, oh my God, how can you not have the hugest smile on your face going into this? I'm with a guy who's 89 years old. He's got eight bullet, you know, he's got, he's had eight Purple Hearts from Vietnam, right? I mean, he operated against Osama bin Laden 10 years before 9-11. He went after bin Laden in Afghanistan when he was 72. And he went after Gaddafi

This was like, oh my God, how can you not have the hugest smile on your face going into this? I'm with a guy who's 89 years old. He's got eight bullet, you know, he's got, he's had eight Purple Hearts from Vietnam, right? I mean, he operated against Osama bin Laden 10 years before 9-11. He went after bin Laden in Afghanistan when he was 72. And he went after Gaddafi

This was like, oh my God, how can you not have the hugest smile on your face going into this? I'm with a guy who's 89 years old. He's got eight bullet, you know, he's got, he's had eight Purple Hearts from Vietnam, right? I mean, he operated against Osama bin Laden 10 years before 9-11. He went after bin Laden in Afghanistan when he was 72. And he went after Gaddafi

during the Arab Spring when he was 82. And now here he is with me going to Hanoi. The details, those human details. But my husband repacked his bag and got him a proper suitcase that was carryable and small and didn't have the hangers. He wasn't trailing the hangers. But it was the trip home in the taxi that I got at this really big reveal.

during the Arab Spring when he was 82. And now here he is with me going to Hanoi. The details, those human details. But my husband repacked his bag and got him a proper suitcase that was carryable and small and didn't have the hangers. He wasn't trailing the hangers. But it was the trip home in the taxi that I got at this really big reveal.

during the Arab Spring when he was 82. And now here he is with me going to Hanoi. The details, those human details. But my husband repacked his bag and got him a proper suitcase that was carryable and small and didn't have the hangers. He wasn't trailing the hangers. But it was the trip home in the taxi that I got at this really big reveal.

Billy reached into that small suitcase my husband had given him and pulled out a rolled up American flag. And he had taken this flag because I had tried to help him pack and he wouldn't let me. And I just thought it was like an old guy being stubborn. But he didn't want me to see that he was bringing an American flag to Vietnam, which is not legal.

Billy reached into that small suitcase my husband had given him and pulled out a rolled up American flag. And he had taken this flag because I had tried to help him pack and he wouldn't let me. And I just thought it was like an old guy being stubborn. But he didn't want me to see that he was bringing an American flag to Vietnam, which is not legal.

Billy reached into that small suitcase my husband had given him and pulled out a rolled up American flag. And he had taken this flag because I had tried to help him pack and he wouldn't let me. And I just thought it was like an old guy being stubborn. But he didn't want me to see that he was bringing an American flag to Vietnam, which is not legal.

And he wanted to bring that flag and take it around everywhere with him, as he explained to me later, to honor all of his friends who died there 50 years ago. And then when the trip was finished, he gave me that flag, and it's in my office. And that's the kind of

And he wanted to bring that flag and take it around everywhere with him, as he explained to me later, to honor all of his friends who died there 50 years ago. And then when the trip was finished, he gave me that flag, and it's in my office. And that's the kind of

And he wanted to bring that flag and take it around everywhere with him, as he explained to me later, to honor all of his friends who died there 50 years ago. And then when the trip was finished, he gave me that flag, and it's in my office. And that's the kind of

relationship that you can develop with people as a reporter if you're willing to go the extra mile with them, to trust them, that they'll tell you things of value. And to me, something like that is as of value as any secret mission I'm able to get declassified, because we are a nation of people.

relationship that you can develop with people as a reporter if you're willing to go the extra mile with them, to trust them, that they'll tell you things of value. And to me, something like that is as of value as any secret mission I'm able to get declassified, because we are a nation of people.

relationship that you can develop with people as a reporter if you're willing to go the extra mile with them, to trust them, that they'll tell you things of value. And to me, something like that is as of value as any secret mission I'm able to get declassified, because we are a nation of people.

I think everybody wants to know about Area 51 because it kind of, it's like this American enigma, you know? It's like to some people, it's the Shangri-La of, you know, testbed aerospace programs, right? And to others, it's the place of captured aliens, right? And everything in between.

I think everybody wants to know about Area 51 because it kind of, it's like this American enigma, you know? It's like to some people, it's the Shangri-La of, you know, testbed aerospace programs, right? And to others, it's the place of captured aliens, right? And everything in between.

I think everybody wants to know about Area 51 because it kind of, it's like this American enigma, you know? It's like to some people, it's the Shangri-La of, you know, testbed aerospace programs, right? And to others, it's the place of captured aliens, right? And everything in between.