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July 21st, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda 
ASIS director-general Nick Warner. Picture: Gary Ramage
Source: The Daily Telegraph
Women might have 45 per cent of jobs at the nation’s overseas spy agency but they account for less than 10 per cent of frontline spooks.
And former agents say the image of using female agents as Mata Hari-like honey pots to lure male spies to their doom needs to be dispelled once and for all.
Despite films such as Duplicity starring Julia Roberts as a former CIA agent and the hit TV show Alias with Jennifer Garner as the master spy, the dangerous sex siren is the dominant stereotype.
Ex-spooks have praised the first speech by a director-general of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) – delivered on Thursday by Nick Warner – but they are critical of the espionage service’s failure to employ more female spies and its apparent push towards a paramilitary role.
Mr Warner said 45 per cent of positions at ASIS were held by women, but he did not break it down.
“Those who join ASIS are amongst the best young men and women Australia produces (women make up 45 per cent of ASIS staff),” he said.
“ASIS offers unique challenges and a rewarding career for those who have a vital interest in Australia’s future. Its staff are first class.
“While in films and books foreign intelligence work carries a reputation for mystique (and perhaps even glamour), the reality is those who work for ASIS choose to do a complex and difficult job in secrecy, often facing tough environments, and without public recognition.”
Former ASIS spy Warren Reed said women were employed in back office and support functions and were under represented in the ranks of ASIS operatives.
Mr Reed, who described the Warner speech as a polished and comprehensive overview of his former employer, said it was time to dispel the Hollywood myth that women were only useful as Mata Haris who used their sexuality to entrap male agents.
He said women spies had been used in that role, and probably still were, but females were more intuitive than men and were brilliant at developing trusting relationships with agents in the field.
Of course it takes a special type of woman to put herself into harm’s way as a frontline spy, when capture can have an uncomfortable, painful or even fatal outcome.
“Women often understand people better than men and their role has to become detached from the sexuality thing,” Mr Reed said.
Another former spy, who asked not to be named, said he was surprised Mr Warner had disclosed so much information about ASIS’s close links to Australian special forces. He also warned against ASIS becoming too paramilitary.
“ASIS reporting has been instrumental in saving the lives of Australian soldiers and civilians (including kidnap victims), and in enabling operations conducted by Australian special forces,” Mr Warner said.
“The ASIS personnel deployed with the ADF (Australian Defence Force) have developed strong bonds and it’s difficult to see a situation in the future where the ADF would deploy without ASIS alongside.”
Links between spooks and the SAS have been strong for decades, but have grown dramatically since September 11, 2001.
“We cannot afford for ASIS to go too far down the paramilitary road like the CIA – that is far too risky,” the ex-spy said.
By law ASIS operatives can only use their weapons in self-defence but in the field rules, like plans and the truth, are often the first casualties.
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