When I was a kid during the war we'd go to a hotel swimming pool, and there was a nice guy there with perfect American English who gave us swimming lessons. My grandmother later saw him on TV, all suited up and standing in the background of some diplomats doing whatever they were doing.

I can't say "he was CIA" lol but my grandmother sure thought so. That hotel ended up getting bombed, by the way.

Either way, there's no question they've always had an interest and presence in ES. It's just a little creepy.