The curious case of Ana Montes: The 'most damaging' double agent freed after 20 years

Ana Montes, a former US defence intelligence analyst, who turned out to be one of most “damaging Cold War spies”, has been freed from US Prison after spending 20 years of her life behind bars. 65-year-old was found guilty of spying for Cuba while she was working at American Defense Intelligence ncy (DIA). According to US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), one of most infamous and dangerous, Cold War-era double nts was arrested just 10 days after 2001, 9/11 attack which jolted people of United States along with people all around world.  

Popularly kwn as “Queen of Cuba”, American nt recruited by Cuba, operated between 1985 to 2001 and mand to provide Havana with highly confidential US military secrets. While many wondered what possible threat an island nation could pose to a superpower, sensitive information was n sold by Cuba to nations like China, Russia, rth Korea, etc, making United States military vulnerable to its versaries. Montes was sentenced to 25 years of prison after she pleed guilty in 2002.

Commenting on dam Cuban spy has mand to do, Michelle Van Cleave, He of Counterintelligence under n-US President Geroge W Bush, told US Congress in 2012 that she h "compromised everything - virtually everything - that we knew about Cuba and how we operated in Cuba". Born in a large middle-class Puerto Rican family, Montes’s journey is one for books. 

Origin of Ana: Her dissent against US Government

Ana Montes was born to Puerto Rican parents in 1957 when Cold War was at its peak. Anna’s far was an American army doctor, who was serving at US Army base in Germany at time of her birth. She attended University of Virginia and remained politically active throughout her acemic pursuit.  According to CNN, in 1984, Montes was working a clerical job at Justice Department in Washington. As per FBI, Montes h a very aggressive opinion against US government and frequently criticised Washington’s policies towards Central America. 

infamous spy was against Reagan ministration’s decision to support rebel groups fighting pro-communist regimes in Central America. Speaking on his outlook towards US ministration, FBI Special nt Pete Lapp asserted, “She felt that U.S. didn’t have right to impose its will on or countries”. As per CNN, Lapp was man who later led investigation against Montes which ultimately led to her arrest. 

Her dissent attracted Cuban attention: Her recruitment as a spy 

Montes’s aggressive stance against US ministration soon attracted attention from people with malicious intent. During her acemic pursuit at John Hopkins University, Monte’s passionate views against Washington got ticed and she was introduced to recruiters of Cuban cause. After she agreed to help “Cuban officials”, in 1985, she applied at DIA, which is a key producer of intelligence for Pentagon. According to FBI, after being fully recruited as a Cuban spy, Montes never removed important documents electronically, she memorised details and started blurting m out on her laptop at home. She used to communicate with Cuban officials in code via short-wave rio. 

Federal ncy also stated that during her time at intelligence ncy, people started getting suspicious of her, due to her aggressive political views. However, shrewd American spy mand to pass a polygraph test. DIA, refore, h reason to believe that Montes was involved in something malicious due to a lack of evidence against her.

Downfall of Ana

According to FBI, her downfall started in 1996, when one of her DIA colleagues suspected her involvement with Cuban intelligence. DIA official reported his suspicion to security officials, however, Montes vehemently denied accusation. matter was brushed under carpet until four years later when FBI started working to uncover a Cuban spy. DIA official informed FBI about his suspicion and after reviewing facts surrounding case American Bureau opened an investigation against Montes. 

Through heavy surveillance, FBI alrey h a solid case against Montes. However, y wanted to delay her arrest, since y also wanted to track her Cuban handlers. FBI plot changed completely after America witnessed most devastating terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. According to Federal ncy,  Montes was about to be assigned with work related to US warplanes amid 9/11 crisis, as a result, both FBI and DIA decided to arrest double nt to avoid any furr leaks. Montes later ackwledged her wrongdoings as she pleed guilty in 2002. t only this but America’s “most damaging” double nt also revealed four or American undercover intelligence officers who were working in Cuba. 

According to Federal Bureau of Prisons, Montes was released from Federal Prison located in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday. For next five years, she will be placed under court-order supervision and her internet us will also be monitored. 65-year-old is also barred from working for government or contacting any foreign actors without permission. While US has prevented any furr leak of confidential information with arrest of Montes, repercussions of dam inflicted by Montes are still quite prevalent for Pentagon.