The Art of Surrounding the Target: Control Through Handlers and Assets in Clandestine Services

The Art of Surrounding the Target: Control Through Handlers and Assets in Clandestine Services

In the shadowy world of espionage and clandestine operations, the ability to influence, manipulate, and control key targets is paramount. One of the most effective methods employed by intelligence agencies is the strategic placement of handlers and assets around a target to subtly steer their actions and decisions. This approach, known as the "surround strategy," involves surrounding an important target with a carefully cultivated network of operatives, each playing a specific role in the target's life. This article explores the methods and tactics used in this strategy, including the use of hand-over, turn-over techniques, and the deployment of large numbers of assets to maintain influence over the target.

Understanding the Roles: Handlers, Assets, and Targets

In clandestine operations, the target is the individual or entity that an intelligence service aims to influence or control. The target could be a high-ranking official, a corporate executive, a scientist, or any other individual whose actions are of strategic importance. To achieve control over the target, intelligence agencies deploy a combination of handlers and assets.

• Handlers: Handlers are experienced intelligence operatives responsible for managing assets and coordinating the overall strategy to influence the target. They operate behind the scenes, providing direction and support to assets while remaining largely invisible to the target. Handlers are skilled in psychological manipulation, covert communication, and maintaining the loyalty and effectiveness of their assets.
• Assets: Assets are individuals who have been recruited, coerced, or otherwise convinced to assist the intelligence agency in influencing the target. These individuals may be positioned in the target's personal or professional life and can range from close friends and colleagues to seemingly casual acquaintances. Assets are often unaware of the full scope of the operation, focusing only on the tasks assigned to them by their handler.
• Targets: The target is the focal point of the operation. The goal of the clandestine service is to subtly influence the target's decisions and actions without raising suspicion. By surrounding the target with a network of assets, the intelligence agency can create an environment where the target's behavior is predictably influenced by the interactions and information provided by the assets.

The Surround Strategy: Controlling the Target Through Networks

The surround strategy is predicated on the idea that the most effective way to control a target is to immerse them in an environment where every significant interaction is with an asset or is influenced by a handler's direction. This strategy ensures that the target is consistently guided towards desired decisions and actions, often without their awareness.

Hand-Over, Turn-Over Strategy

One of the key techniques in the surround strategy is the "hand-over, turn-over" method. This involves the systematic introduction and rotation of assets around the target to maintain the illusion of natural relationships and prevent the target from becoming suspicious.

• Hand-Over: In this phase, a new asset is introduced to the target, often through a seemingly natural interaction or mutual acquaintance. The asset builds rapport with the target, gradually becoming a trusted figure in the target's life. The introduction is carefully orchestrated to appear coincidental, ensuring that the target does not question the authenticity of the relationship.
• Turn-Over: Once an asset has fulfilled their role or their influence has begun to wane, they are gradually phased out of the target's life. This is done in a way that seems natural—such as a change in job, relocation, or a shift in personal circumstances—allowing a new asset to be introduced. The turn-over process ensures that the target remains surrounded by operatives without ever realizing that their social circle is being carefully managed and controlled.

This rotating strategy of introducing and phasing out assets maintains a constant influence over the target while minimizing the risk of detection. The continuity of influence is maintained, but the faces around the target may change, giving the appearance of a normal, dynamic social environment.

The Scale of Operations: 100 to 150 Cultivated Assets

For high-value targets, the scale of the surround strategy can be vast. Intelligence agencies may deploy as many as 100 to 150 cultivated assets, each playing a specific role in the target's life. These assets are carefully selected and positioned to cover every aspect of the target's environment—professional, personal, and even recreational.

• Professional Assets: These individuals are embedded in the target's workplace or professional network. They may be colleagues, subordinates, or industry contacts who can influence the target's professional decisions and actions. Professional assets provide insights into the target's work-related activities and can subtly steer the target towards or away from certain decisions.
• Personal Assets: Personal assets are those who enter the target's private life—friends, romantic partners, or even family members. These assets build deep emotional connections with the target, gaining their trust and influencing their personal decisions. Personal assets are particularly effective in shaping the target's beliefs, values, and priorities.
• Recreational Assets: These assets are involved in the target's hobbies, interests, or social activities. They may join the target in leisure pursuits, providing opportunities to influence the target in less formal, more relaxed settings. Recreational assets are often used to gather information about the target's private thoughts and inclinations.

The sheer number of assets involved in such operations ensures that the target is surrounded at all times. Even if the target interacts with many different people, the intelligence agency's influence remains pervasive and continuous. Each asset's role is carefully managed to ensure that their influence is subtle, yet effective.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While the surround strategy is highly effective, it is not without its challenges and ethical implications. Managing a large network of assets requires significant resources and coordination. Handlers must be vigilant to avoid conflicts between assets and ensure that the overall strategy remains cohesive.

Ethically, the use of such extensive manipulation raises questions about the autonomy and privacy of the target. Intelligence agencies must balance the strategic importance of their operations with the moral implications of controlling and influencing an individual's life without their knowledge.

Conclusion

The surround strategy, with its emphasis on controlling a target through a network of handlers and assets, is a sophisticated and effective method employed in clandestine services. By utilizing the hand-over, turn-over technique and deploying a large number of assets, intelligence agencies can maintain continuous influence over important targets, subtly guiding their decisions and actions. While the effectiveness of this strategy is undeniable, it also presents significant challenges and ethical considerations that must be carefully managed.

References

• Hitz, F. P. (2008). The Great Game: The Myths and Reality of Espionage. Knopf.
• Hulnick, A. S. (1999). Fixing the Spy Machine: Preparing American Intelligence for the Twenty-First Century. Praeger.
• Lowenthal, M. M. (2017). Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy (7th ed.). CQ Press.
• Treverton, G. F., & Couvillon, C. (2007). National Intelligence Systems: Current Research and Future Prospects. Cambridge University Press.
• Warner, M. (2014). The Rise and Fall of Intelligence: An International Security History. Georgetown University Press.

This article provides an in-depth examination of how clandestine services employ the surround strategy to control important targets through the strategic placement of handlers and assets, discussing both the methodology and the ethical implications of such operations.