Andrew Bustamante: Self-Proclaimed "CIA" Agent

[Arnox]

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eG8uoQ6cQ)

This is the second video I've seen with this guy, and if someone can tell me if I'm off-base here at all, please tell me, but in all my looking at his material, he presents ZERO proof that he actually worked for the CIA, or was even in the damn Air Force. In that interview above, he also has this wonderful art of phrasing something in a seemingly brand new way that is, in reality, a completely obvious statement. Yes, other countries want the top spot. Yes, the CIA employs psychoanalysis. Yes, people are driven by goals.

Here's his website: https://everydayspy.com/about-andrew/

Dude can apparently convert anyone into an asset but he can't design a website that doesn't piss me off. And why is he trying to sell me (supposed) spy shit? What the fuck is this? I'm not gonna become Jason Bourne, man.

Here's the AMA he did: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/a8c03j/i_am_andrew_bustamante_a_former_covert_cia/

No proof of experience given. Again. And apparently the IAmA subreddit is cool with this too. Maybe all I need to say is I'm from the CIA and Reddit will get off my ass. So, all in all, I'd highly recommend ignoring this guy and looking at Snowden's work instead.

EDIT: Looked at the video's comment section and there's a depressing of lack of real questions being asked. Either they're bots, fake commenters, or we're in a sad state of affairs where any fucker can just come off the street and say they're from the CIA and nobody will question it.

THIS IS WHY WE NEED SANCTUARY.

 

[Battousai]

That man is a phony, I however have 20 years of experience in the CIA helping root out terrorists in Arlen, Texas and kicking their asses while maintaining a front selling propane and propane accessories. Boy I'll tell you hwhat, here's a picture of me on an average work day.

 

[johndoritoman95]

Bitching about this here because there is literally no where else on the internet to do so. This guy has controlled his internet presence so carefully that it is insane.

First off, I am pretty sure that this guy is not CIA, never was/has been. Maybe air force put somewhere near cool people, but there is no way that he actually was ever in. At best he is some reject from FANX who decided to talk a bit big. There are a few really easy ways to tell that he is no where near legit:

• He says on his linkedin that he has secret clearance.
• Talking about what clearances you have/had publicly is a very big no no, and if he was legit OPM would be out bonking him in the head with a bat.
• Saying you have secret clearance is like saying you have a highschool diploma. It is the most basic level of clearance that is given to pretty much everyone. I know 18 year old kids that were given secret for esentially no reason. It is the bottom of the barrel for clearance levels.
• If he was ops side like he claims, he would never be allowed to ever publicly state that he worked for the CIA. Analyst people can, and every once in a while some admin people can, but ops side never can. Sometimes they might say they are "state department" or whatever, but they can't really ever talk about anything they do.
• Almost everything Bustamante has ever talked about can pretty much be gleaned from a spy movie. Want to hear about way cooler things than this stuff? Watch a defcon talk called "advanced physical security," its a bit dated but its actually vaguely accurate.
• Lets assume that he is real, was ops side, AND was able to say it (huge stretch already). He would never be able to talk about the actual techniques and theory being used behind the scenes. There exist entire departments at the CIA, NSA, DIA, ect just to control what goes out into the public through FIOA's. If he was legit then he would be a total and complete nightmare, to the point that CID might even get involved.

This guy is pretty much a serial fraudster, of which this is his newest grift. Most of his books are trashy overpriced self help books in which he caters to people who do not feel like they have control in their life. Like god, read some of these listings:

"'Everyday Espionage: Winning the Workplace' teaches you how to use spycraft to win what you want in the workplace"
https://new.everydayspy.com/wtw1 -- https://archive.is/IUJ9Y

"SEX & SPIES gives you the POWER to unleash your sex, pleasure, and libido on YOUR own terms using elite spy skills."
nigga WHAT
https://new.everydayspy.com/sex1 -- https://archive.is/lUEYw

One of the funniest elements of this guy is his "OPTHINK" course, of which he charges a whopping $997.00. This gives you access to his learning materials and his "secret chat" that is part of his "OPTHINK platform." Of course this is actually just a shitty discord chat room that you pay a lot of money for, and unfortunately it is configured incorrectly. Any user can see the room and all of its messages, they just can't post. After reading through them, a good idea of the material being taught can be gathered. Apparently this genius has been telling people to use FUCKING MYER BRIGGS TESTS ON PEOPLE FOR "BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS." I have absolutely NO idea where this fucking retarded gem came from but I ended up laughing so hard that I almost swallowed my cig.

The best part of all of this is that for a "spy," Bustamante has really piss poor opsec. I am not going to post it here because it clearly includes his genuine honest to god home address, but I am pretty sure that he is in the process of creating one of those "crypto arbitrage trading bot" ponzi schemes.

Tl;dr, this guy is a legitimate disgrace to the actual IC, to the point of being stolen valor. If you want some actual idea of what analysis is like go rip "cases in intelligence analysis" off libgen or something. Anyways, im out.

like the old style forum btw

 

[Arnox]

Bitching about this here because there is literally no where else on the internet to do so.

I know your pain. It sucks... But I'm very glad that we have Sanctuary at least.

Tl;dr, this guy is a legitimate disgrace to the actual IC, to the point of being stolen valor.

Top fucking kek. Yeah, some of those self-help books are fucking absurd. I didn't even get far enough into that blasted website to see them. Maybe I should get a copy one of these days and see if I can find some cringy shit. I imagine I won't have to look very far.

Like the old style forum btw

Thank you. <3 I hope you'll stay with us.

 

[johndoritoman95]

I know your pain. It sucks... But I'm very glad that we have Sanctuary at least.

Top fucking kek. Yeah, some of those self-help books are fucking absurd. I didn't even get far enough into that blasted website to see them. Maybe I should get a copy one of these days and see if I can find some cringy shit. I imagine I won't have to look very far.

Thank you. <3 I hope you'll stay with us.

I am generally a Tor only poster (severe autism). There a good way to sign up without using an email or anything? I can go get one, but it tends to be annoying over this network.

also a few other things that poke more holes into his story:

• He keeps on claiming he has secret on EVERYTHING. However the last time it shows him as having a job that required it was over 5 years ago. Secret can still follow you after you leave a job, but it will be in sort of disabled state, and after 5 years it fully expires. Thus there is no way that he actually even still has secret.
• There is no way he could have even gotten into the doors at langley with only secret. You would need TS + polygraphs before even starting.

anyways im gunna go huff paint or something, cya later

 

[Arnox]

I am generally a Tor only poster (severe autism). There a good way to sign up without using an email or anything? I can go get one, but it tends to be annoying over this network.

also a few other things that poke more holes into his story:

• He keeps on claiming he has secret on EVERYTHING. However the last time it shows him as having a job that required it was over 5 years ago. Secret can still follow you after you leave a job, but it will be in sort of disabled state, and after 5 years it fully expires. Thus there is no way that he actually even still has secret.
• There is no way he could have even gotten into the doors at langley with only secret. You would need TS + polygraphs before even starting.

anyways im gunna go huff paint or something, cya later

I could temporarily turn off email registration... I'm assuming you can't use temporary/burner email services?

 

[johndoritoman95]

I could temporarily turn off email registration... I'm assuming you can't use temporary/burner email services?

Yea most are blocked and cockmail won't let me sign up for new addresses anymore :_(

 

[Arnox]

Yea most are blocked

I mean... We have no email blacklist at this time, but alright. Email requirement has been temporarily suspended.

 

[JamesTaiclet]

I mean... We have no email blacklist at this time, but alright. Email requirement has been temporarily suspended.

Much appreciated. James Taiclet here, CEO of Lockheed Martin and world renowned homosexual enthusiast. Glad to be a forum member. I will be making a proper introduction post tomorrow (need sleep).

 

[Arnox]

Much appreciated. James Taiclet here, CEO of Lockheed Martin and world renowned homosexual enthusiast. Glad to be a forum member. I will be making a proper introduction post tomorrow (need sleep).

Roger that. Sleep tight and dream of Hellfire missiles.

 

[FuckThisGuy]

Was watching a Lex Fridman podcast and he has several reputable ppl on there. I tend to work on stuff while listening to my Chrome cast automatically play. I've heard this Andrew dudes episode more times than I'd like to admit, even just passively. He's always sounded like bullshit. Glad people took the time and did the likely minimal research to confirm. Dude just comes across as a sociopath.

 

[Arnox]

Was watching a Lex Fridman podcast and he has several reputable ppl on there. I tend to work on stuff while listening to my Chrome cast automatically play. I've heard this Andrew dudes episode more times than I'd like to admit, even just passively. He's always sounded like bullshit. Glad people took the time and did the likely minimal research to confirm. Dude just comes across as a sociopath.

In fairness, you might have to be at least a bit of a sociopath to work in the spy business. But yeah, total BS.

 

[Zerodays01010]

Bitching about this here because there is literally no where else on the internet to do so. This guy has controlled his internet presence so carefully that it is insane.

First off, I am pretty sure that this guy is not CIA, never was/has been. Maybe air force put somewhere near cool people, but there is no way that he actually was ever in. At best he is some reject from FANX who decided to talk a bit big. There are a few really easy ways to tell that he is no where near legit:

• He says on his linkedin that he has secret clearance.
• Talking about what clearances you have/had publicly is a very big no no, and if he was legit OPM would be out bonking him in the head with a bat.
• Saying you have secret clearance is like saying you have a highschool diploma. It is the most basic level of clearance that is given to pretty much everyone. I know 18 year old kids that were given secret for esentially no reason. It is the bottom of the barrel for clearance levels.
• If he was ops side like he claims, he would never be allowed to ever publicly state that he worked for the CIA. Analyst people can, and every once in a while some admin people can, but ops side never can. Sometimes they might say they are "state department" or whatever, but they can't really ever talk about anything they do.
• Almost everything Bustamante has ever talked about can pretty much be gleaned from a spy movie. Want to hear about way cooler things than this stuff? Watch a defcon talk called "advanced physical security," its a bit dated but its actually vaguely accurate.
• Lets assume that he is real, was ops side, AND was able to say it (huge stretch already). He would never be able to talk about the actual techniques and theory being used behind the scenes. There exist entire departments at the CIA, NSA, DIA, ect just to control what goes out into the public through FIOA's. If he was legit then he would be a total and complete nightmare, to the point that CID might even get involved.

This guy is pretty much a serial fraudster, of which this is his newest grift. Most of his books are trashy overpriced self help books in which he caters to people who do not feel like they have control in their life. Like god, read some of these listings:

"'Everyday Espionage: Winning the Workplace' teaches you how to use spycraft to win what you want in the workplace"
https://new.everydayspy.com/wtw1 -- https://archive.is/IUJ9Y

"SEX & SPIES gives you the POWER to unleash your sex, pleasure, and libido on YOUR own terms using elite spy skills."
nigga WHAT
https://new.everydayspy.com/sex1 -- https://archive.is/lUEYw

One of the funniest elements of this guy is his "OPTHINK" course, of which he charges a whopping $997.00. This gives you access to his learning materials and his "secret chat" that is part of his "OPTHINK platform." Of course this is actually just a shitty discord chat room that you pay a lot of money for, and unfortunately it is configured incorrectly. Any user can see the room and all of its messages, they just can't post. After reading through them, a good idea of the material being taught can be gathered. Apparently this genius has been telling people to use FUCKING MYER BRIGGS TESTS ON PEOPLE FOR "BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS." I have absolutely NO idea where this fucking retarded gem came from but I ended up laughing so hard that I almost swallowed my cig.

The best part of all of this is that for a "spy," Bustamante has really piss poor opsec. I am not going to post it here because it clearly includes his genuine honest to god home address, but I am pretty sure that he is in the process of creating one of those "crypto arbitrage trading bot" ponzi schemes.

Tl;dr, this guy is a legitimate disgrace to the actual IC, to the point of being stolen valor. If you want some actual idea of what analysis is like go rip "cases in intelligence analysis" off libgen or something. Anyways, im out.

like the old style forum btw

He was in the CIA - that is a fact.

• The assumption that talking about security clearances publicly is always a no-no. While it is true that the Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 702.1 prohibits former and current employees from disclosing classified information, including their security clearance levels, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, former employees may be allowed to disclose their security clearance levels if they are doing so in the course of providing testimony to Congress or in a legal proceeding.
• The assumption that secret clearance is the most basic level of clearance. While secret clearance is the most common level of clearance, it is not the lowest. There are also top secret and sensitive compartmented information (SCI) clearances.
• The assumption that ops side personnel are not allowed to publicly state that they worked for the CIA. This is not necessarily true. There are some ops side personnel who are allowed to disclose their affiliation with the CIA, such as those who are retired or who have written books about their experiences.
• The assumption that the things that Bustamante has talked about are not particularly secret. This is a matter of opinion. Some people may believe that the things that Bustamante has talked about are not particularly secret, while others may believe that they are.
• The assumption that even if Bustamante was real and was able to talk about his work, he would not be able to discuss the actual techniques and theory being used behind the scenes. This is also a matter of opinion. Some people may believe that Bustamante would not be able to discuss the actual techniques and theory being used behind the scenes, while others may believe that he would be able to do so, albeit in a limited way.

 

[Arnox]

He was in the CIA - that is a fact.

I need a source for that.

 

[Battousai]

I need a source for that.

Here you go

 

[RewmServive2101]

I can't imagine a world where people see so much as a tiktok of this guy and believe a word he says. I've barely scrolled past him on various platforms and every single time I take him for a complete tool. Anyone who gives him a microphone loses massive respect from me. Lex Friedman also annoys the shit out of me.

By the way happy to be here, this OP convinced me to register with the site.

 

[Arnox]

By the way happy to be here, this OP convinced me to register with the site.

Thank you! Welcome to your Sanctuary. Hopefully we'll see more of you around in the future. <3

 

[LucyBrooke19]

This is hilarious! I just came across this site while researching “why did Bustamante leave the CIA”. My husband is watching Skinwalker Ranch

 

[Arnox]

This is hilarious! I just came across this site while researching “why did Bustamante leave the CIA”. My husband is watching Skinwalker Ranch

Apparently we're the third result down. Man, Google really likes us. lol Very surprising.

But yes, hopefully we'll see you around!

 

[Old Fart Abs]

This guy may have worked at the CIA, although I'd like to see proof, but he does not sound nor act like someone with real field experience. The first time I came across this guy was on Shawn Ryan's show. Granted I'm no expert on CIA operatives, but compared to other guys with actual, verifiable experience like Tony Cowden, Bustamente comes across like someone who read something in a book and is pretending it was their experience. Watch the Shawn Ryan interview from about 8 months ago. In one part he's asked to describe his everyday carry, but then goes on a rant about what a spy carries with some out there stories. For example he gives an example of how you can get anywhere you need to go in the world with only $100 US, stating how strong the dollar is compared to local currencies. In one story, he talks about waving down a poor fisherman and asking for a ride across the river in southeast Asia like Thailand with a $5 bill. He stumbles and says that Thai currency (didn't seem to know their currency is called the Thai Bat - THB) and misquoted to the conversion to the US dollar. Questionable story. What would a poor fisherman do with $5 US? An uneducated fisherman wouldn't know the value of the dollar nor how to convert back into a Thai Bat. But more important, watch how he handles the Sig handgun that Shawn hands him. He looks very uncomfortable from the get go, not knowing to properly hold a handgun. The first thing he picks up when he opens the case are the extra mags? And then when he holds the gun, he does so awkwardly and doesn't look at ease with a gun like a real operator. Until he proves he actually worked in the field for the CIA, I'm calling BS on this guy. I'm guessing this guy worked at the CIA, but in a back office, supportive type role and knows he's touting himself with overblown credentials knowing that nobody can verify his supposed field work.

 

[Arnox]

This guy may have worked at the CIA, although I'd like to see proof, but he does not sound nor act like someone with real field experience. The first time I came across this guy was on Shawn Ryan's show. Granted I'm no expert on CIA operatives, but compared to other guys with actual, verifiable experience like Tony Cowden, Bustamente comes across like someone who read something in a book and is pretending it was their experience. Watch the Shawn Ryan interview from about 8 months ago. In one part he's asked to describe his everyday carry, but then goes on a rant about what a spy carries with some out there stories. For example he gives an example of how you can get anywhere you need to go in the world with only $100 US, stating how strong the dollar is compared to local currencies. In one story, he talks about waving down a poor fisherman and asking for a ride across the river in southeast Asia like Thailand with a $5 bill. He stumbles and says that Thai currency (didn't seem to know their currency is called the Thai Bat - THB) and misquoted to the conversion to the US dollar. Questionable story. What would a poor fisherman do with $5 US? An uneducated fisherman wouldn't know the value of the dollar nor how to convert back into a Thai Bat. But more important, watch how he handles the Sig handgun that Shawn hands him. He looks very uncomfortable from the get go, not knowing to properly hold a handgun. The first thing he picks up when he opens the case are the extra mags? And then when he holds the gun, he does so awkwardly and doesn't look at ease with a gun like a real operator. Until he proves he actually worked in the field for the CIA, I'm calling BS on this guy. I'm guessing this guy worked at the CIA, but in a back office, supportive type role and knows he's touting himself with overblown credentials knowing that nobody can verify his supposed field work.

I'm just wondering if Shawn suspected who he is, or should I say, who he isn't, but also didn't want to call him out and make a big deal about it.

 

[Elne Fasto]

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eG8uoQ6cQ)

This is the second video I've seen with this guy, and if someone can tell me if I'm off-base here at all, please tell me, but in all my looking at his material, he presents ZERO proof that he actually worked for the CIA, or was even in the damn Air Force. In that interview above, he also has this wonderful art of phrasing something in a seemingly brand new way that is, in reality, a completely obvious statement. Yes, other countries want the top spot. Yes, the CIA employs psychoanalysis. Yes, people are driven by goals.

[ATTACH type="full" alt="youdontsaynicholascageobviousstatementstupid.png"]165[/ATTACH]

Here's his website: https://everydayspy.com/about-andrew/

Dude can apparently convert anyone into an asset but he can't design a website that doesn't piss me off. And why is he trying to sell me (supposed) spy shit? What the fuck is this? I'm not gonna become Jason Bourne, man.

Here's the AMA he did: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/a8c03j/i_am_andrew_bustamante_a_former_covert_cia/

No proof of experience given. Again. And apparently the IAmA subreddit is cool with this too. Maybe all I need to say is I'm from the CIA and Reddit will get off my ass. So, all in all, I'd highly recommend ignoring this guy and looking at Snowden's work instead.

EDIT: Looked at the video's comment section and there's a depressing of lack of real questions being asked. Either they're bots, fake commenters, or we're in a sad state of affairs where any fucker can just come off the street and say they're from the CIA and nobody will question it.

THIS IS WHY WE NEED SANCTUARY.

The story of how he got recruited is taken almost to a t from Dan Carlin's recount of how he was invited to present for the state department as a part of one of their outreach program.

Bustamante said he was posted in China and saw ppl eating dogs on a regular basis, which is a lie.

 

[Saeroth]

Sorry if I necro this, but I just had to find somewhere to get this off my chest.
In the Lex podcast while talking about human sources he mixes up 25x1 with 25x2. The reason this is such a red flag is that 25x1/50x1 are 25/50 year exemptions from automatic declassification for information that would reveal a confidential human source (hence the usage of 25x1-HUM/50x1-HUM).
However, 25x2/50x2 are 25/50 year exemptions from automatic declassification for information that would assist in development of a WMD (hence the usage of 25x2-WMD/50x2-WMD).
This is a problem because information isn't born classified and is therefore subject to automatic declassification *except* Restricted Data/Formerly Restricted Data (RD/FRD) which is protected under the auspices of AEA - in particular, information pertaining to the design and usage of nuclear weapons. Someone who was a nuclear weapons officer AND a CIA operative should know the difference between x1, x2 and RD/FRD like the back of their hand.
All 25x# exemptions: https://www.justice.gov/archives/open/declassification/declassification-faq
Difference between 25x1-HUM and 50x1-HUM: https://www.archives.gov/files/isoo/notices/notice-2012-02.pdf
An example of 50x2-WMD exemption: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP10-00105R000302130001-7.pdf

 

[Arnox]

Sorry if I necro this, but I just had to find somewhere to get this off my chest.
In the Lex podcast while talking about human sources he mixes up 25x1 with 25x2. The reason this is such a red flag is that 25x1/50x1 are 25/50 year exemptions from automatic declassification for information that would reveal a confidential human source (hence the usage of 25x1-HUM/50x1-HUM).
However, 25x2/50x2 are 25/50 year exemptions from automatic declassification for information that would assist in development of a WMD (hence the usage of 25x2-WMD/50x2-WMD).
This is a problem because information isn't born classified and is therefore subject to automatic declassification *except* Restricted Data/Formerly Restricted Data (RD/FRD) which is protected under the auspices of AEA - in particular, information pertaining to the design and usage of nuclear weapons. Someone who was a nuclear weapons officer AND a CIA operative should know the difference between x1, x2 and RD/FRD like the back of their hand.
All 25x# exemptions: https://www.justice.gov/archives/open/declassification/declassification-faq
Difference between 25x1-HUM and 50x1-HUM: https://www.archives.gov/files/isoo/notices/notice-2012-02.pdf
An example of 50x2-WMD exemption: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP10-00105R000302130001-7.pdf

Thank you for the contributions! <3

Some alphabet agency (or three) is watching this website, aren't they.

 

[Concerned Guest]

So, I came across a video where this guy said everyone needs to leave the US by 2030, and the claims were just outlandish. Looking further, I see he claims he was a CIA agent and an air force officer in charge of nuclear weapons. My bs meter pops more red flags than a May Day parade in Red Square. I start looking into some of his claims (USAFA graduate, etc).

Initially, I could not find any record of him at the academy. I looked thru yearbooks and alumni sites, scoured the congressional record for a notice of his nomination to the academy, etc. I was diverted in other directions, and noticed that his wife had the same last name on her degrees. Then it hit me to search on his first name and middle initial. He took his wife's name when they married (no shame in that I guess, but why?). And I found him in the yearbooks. Fun fact, his final year, there is an entry, but no picture of him. Anyway...

I've been reading up on things like how long it takes to move from one rank to another, training times for various specialties, etc. Did you know to get promoted to 1st Lieutenant from 2nd Lt, you need to have 24 months of "time in grade" to be eligible for promotion to 1st Lieutenant? That's just to be eligible for promotion. Then another 24 months as a 1st Lieutenant until you are eligible for promotion to Captain (O-3).

His first assignment (not counting the Officer in Residence thing), was "Junior Officer; Air Force Pilot Training", at Moody AFB. This could be plausible, there was an Undergraduate Pilot Training presence there between 2000 and 2007 (Andrew was there from Nov 2004-August 2005). But what could he have learned there? I doubt it was pilot training, unless he washed out, because the timeline is just too short.

Next assignment, Nuclear Missile Operations; Officer in Charge! This one seems the most sus. To be a missileer, you need to go thru intensive schooling, and that entry does not appear on his linkedin. Why would you not want to include that!?!?! The other part that makes me question if he was actually involved in Nuclear Missile Operations, is that the requirements for officers are to have some sort of STEM degree. Andrew's is "Foreign Area Studies" with a focus on Asia (nothing wrong with that). So to even start the training for this station, he is missing a big requirement.

The CIA stuff is rather hard to verify. But still, a field operator being so open about all of this stuff? So public? I can't make that make sense. It reminds me of "Archangel", the guy who used to post to usenet newsgroups, claiming to be a retired CIA hacker. At best, I've seen some people claim he used to be a contractor for BAH or one of the other companies that does stuff for the intel community.

There are so many questions.