What are your thoughts on John Kiriakou? The Greek-American CIA whistleblower.
Posted by Savings_Dragonfly806@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 144 comments
anemonaeae@reddit
I think he’s a huge liar but his stories are entertaining
The5Theives@reddit
Honestly I believe him, he was sent to jail for like a decade and a half and he only does these podcasts because he can’t really get a job due to him blowing the whistle.
Antoniman@reddit
He was in jail for 23 months lol. He mentions it many times in the podcasts
The5Theives@reddit
Dang I heard 15 years from someone
ZedGenius@reddit
I think that's what he was facing originally as the worst case scenario. He talked about how his lawyer told him to cut a deal to avoid it and he refused and went to trial
ashandbubba@reddit
He did not go to trial. He pled to a lesser charge
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
It's as if his entire career was being a liar lmao.
Still fascinating seeing a Greek work for the CIA. How the turn tables
IslandVisible5023@reddit
He is not greek , he is an American of greek descent, which is vastly different
Niocs@reddit
no, he's a Greek. Maybe American born and socialized, but a Greek. "American" is not an ethnicity anyways.
UUDDLRLRBadAlchemy@reddit
I mean, if we're moving goalposts, Greek refers to a bunch of ancient city-states that we retconned into a national identity a couple centuries ago.
So America is both older and actually uh, united
rouvas@reddit
The fact that Greece was occupied doesn't reset its "existing time".
Just because these city-states you mentioned were self-governing and would occasionally go on (civil?) wars with each other, doesn't mean they weren't Greek.
Saying America is older than one of the top 10 oldest civilizations on Earth, dating back to almost 3000BC is pretty moronic.
UUDDLRLRBadAlchemy@reddit
The thing you are cosplaying as ended with rome
vanspairofshoes69@reddit
You are aware that the Roman east spoke Greek as a lingua franca right? Rome didn't get rid of Greek culture, it kept Greek culutral hegemony from the Hellenistic period in the Middle East, South Eastern Europe, and North Africa period still going. It's always someone who doesn't understand history claiming that they are the only one who understands the truth.
UUDDLRLRBadAlchemy@reddit
Yeah, you did show up didn't ya
Go on, connect that to Modern Greece.
rouvas@reddit
Ended? Are you sure it "ended" then? The Roman empire spanned across the whole continent and beyond. Did they "end" all the civilizations they came across?
Perhaps reading some history would save you from embarrassing yourself like this in the future.
UUDDLRLRBadAlchemy@reddit
Lol be careful not to step on your toga
qualitycancer@reddit
Lol gotem
Niocs@reddit
why moving goalposts? It's about a consistent defintion, not about a vague feeling
thatMrGecko@reddit
you wanna tell the irish that bostonians are one of them?
Soft_Hospital_62@reddit
you wanna tell the irish they aren't actually gaelic celtic picts?
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
Mhmm...and let me guess you're one of those mainlanders who views Thrakians, Ponti, and other diaspora as "not really Greeks" or "lesser Greeks", right? Let me take a wild guess, you're Athenian
IslandVisible5023@reddit
I hope this is a joke lol , no I am one of those mainlanders who view Americans who are loyal to the USA as American , he spied for the us government and I am pretty confident that had he been tasked with undermining an unfavorable government of Greece, he would do it in a heartbeat , no one thinks islanders as lesser greeks , what a retarded take that is
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
Greece has a long history of traitors. This guy is no different. Unfortunately he's still a Greek even if his loyalty is twisted and he likely supported the Junta.
We can admit we have scabs and pigs on our side. That allows for better reflection, I think, of where things went wrong and how we can better interfere with exterior forces trying to impact Greece.
ZedGenius@reddit
He was 3 years old in 1967 🥀
ByzantineCat0@reddit
And? Have you seen boss baby??
IslandVisible5023@reddit
traitors we have plenty , but he is not one of them , he was born and raised in america , he is an american citizen
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
Who is also Greek just like the Greek Janissaries were also Greeks brainwashed and raised away from home.
We are not strangers to Greeks forgetting themselves when elsewhere due to brainwashing
hedonsimbot@reddit
This is the one of the dumbest analogies of all time. You make me ashamed to be Greek. Janissaries were born in their native homelands and then abducted.
Are you suggesting that the US government abducted him as a baby, from Greece, and brainwashed him into serving the government of the United States?
By your logic, there is no such thing as Americans. They're all just people loyal to their native homelands. Italian Americans only care about Italy, German Americans only Germany, and so on. Unless of course, we consider that all Americans are abducted as children from foreign lands, brought to the US, and brainwashed to be red-blooded American citizens.
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
Well, if that's all it took for you to be ashamed to be Greek, your pride sure is a bit weak.
Americans did not abduct Greek babies (well with the exception of the corrupt adoption system that exploits impoverished war-torn countries like Greece during the 50's-70's that ripped apart countless families, and then raise them with WASP ideals).
There is such thing as Americans, but the US is still rife with propaganda. They do the Pledge of Allegiance every morning and constantly tout about how great the country is while ignoring its history. And anyone and everyone succumbs to it in various ways.
hedonsimbot@reddit
CormundCrowlover@reddit
He is Greek, he is given citizenship.
Taliskerhu@reddit
Why does it surprise you?
The Greek American contingent within the CIA was very very significant going back to the early days of the CIA.
Thomas Karamesines, a Greek American from New York, was up until Watergate the Deputy Director for Operations, which is in the top 3-4 people in the Agency.
He was incidentally Athens Station Chief in the beginning and pretty much responsible for setting up the KYP, the Greek secret service.
Tom Pappas, of Esso Pappas Oil, was no doubt an agency asset and handled payments between the Greek junta and Nixon.
Another Greek, Joannides was recently in the papers after Rep. Luna's obtaining of declassified material for the JFK assassination.
Joannides was deputy station chief of the JIM/WAVE Miami station, which was the single most important CIA station in the US and tasked with most of the Cuba/Castro business.
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
Chill bro I'm saying it's funny because the CIA fucked up Greece royally, but everyone knows that if anyone's gonna wanna dab into that olive oil spill, it's traitorous Greeks
Taliskerhu@reddit
Not sure exactly what that means, but I thought the surprise was perhaps coming from the stereotypical image of Greeks (which we ourselves have too) as emotional, borderline sloppy and inept at planning things.
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
Broski look at my flags, I am Greek. 🤣
SICKxOFxITxALL@reddit
Same with the civil war, that one was even worse.
Taliskerhu@reddit
They did, because anti-communism, you either got with the program or you were going to be couped.
Affectionate-Ad6801@reddit
You do know that the CIA was full of greeks? Also some of them were in very high positions or they had important roles in cia operations
Coinsworthy@reddit
He delivers the gyros to the stake-outs.
adibose2022@reddit
Genuinely curious, what makes you say he's a liar? And who exactly is truthful in his backstory?
graoutso@reddit
Generally speaking I don’t trust any ex- secret services operative.
Typical_Habit_9603@reddit
If the real hohn is here how to fake my own death so the people wil beleve it(sorry dor bead inglish i’m fron urope)
Master_Limit_541@reddit
Still CIA, but there's no evidence as far as i know. Funny and interesting guy either way.
Beautiful_Baseball76@reddit
I've listened him hours on end. He has some truly fascinating stories and he went to jail for the whileblowing on the torture program so its very believable he is genuine. But something about him always bugs me with his stories. They are so freaking consistent that almost feels he is reading from a script.
But then again he is professional spy. His job was to be absolutely keen on the details, besides that I don't see how his stories would benefit CIA running a psy-op through him.
So I think he is legit but can't shake the feeling something is not entirely right with him.
Available_Valuable72@reddit
I trust your “credentials” (ie, long hours of listening) and thus your summary perspective.
I’ve noticed people of veracity being elevated by YouTube and the podcast-sphere morphing away from their direct experience and into more of persona than their original “truth telling” self. In other words, individuals come to be whatever level of “corrupted” by exposure to what amounts to television and fame.
Before podcasting, the media hierarchy was quite rigid: only so many people could appear on TV, while there were very people deciding who would be interviewed. Now, with YouTube, anyone with a desire for fame (and money) can independently find a way to the same - thus the INCENTIVE to create the persona - and then there’s getting psychologically “lost” in the YouTube image you’ve created.
Perhaps this is what you sense? I’m asking, I’m personally curious, while I am psychologist.
PeaBeginning6609@reddit
I think he has been given a last job to get his pardon which is: Go on a lot of pod casts tell captivating stories, but make sure to include conspiracies like 9/11, Charlie K, JFK and divert the public away from believing that the large amount of circumstantial evidence pointing to Is r complicit in undercover ops.
ARM_Alaska@reddit
People who actually experienced things are the most consistent when retelling stories over and over.. And these are stories that he's told hundreds of times, because that's why people want to listen to him. IF he was lying about these things, it's more likely that he'd mess up every now and then. The fact that they're consistent gives credence to them being accurate.
RedditSloth_101@reddit
after listening to quite a few of the podcasts he's done, while I find them really entertaining, he does give off quite arrogant/narcissistic vibes. After hearing him quite often tell the same stories on multiple different podcasts, some are almost down to the word identical with the exact same little quips, expressions and jokes weaved in. The feeling that they have been rehearsed and perfected I think is what gives off that inauthentic slimy feeling.
He also works for Russian state sponsored media, so make of that what you will.
karlebyisten@reddit
You don’t have any good stories you tell people? I have a couple which I pretty much tell the same way everytime when the topic is brought up. And I’m no former CIA spy. You notice that people laugh or react with shock when you tell the story in a certain way, and stick with it.
RedditSloth_101@reddit
Yeah of course, I might tailor the story a bit to whoever my audience is and maybe I miss certain details each time because I dont have the best memory. And I know he must've recounted and told these stories more than most people would but its just crazy how finely tuned his story telling is. If you side by side some of the stories even little things like adjusting his glasses and hand expression line up.
FlameOfNorta@reddit
im just surprised more people aren't questioning it? people love to eat up stories like that and its a great cover to let people see just a snippet of what actually happens. I'm not big on conspiracy theories but the CIA is known for being elusive and lying I think it just suspicious that he's allowed to come out and say all this and it's still publicly available. Also to people that say he went to prison is it beyond plausibility that it's staged?
Original-Aardvark602@reddit
I came here to see everyone’s thoughts on if this guys is a liar or legit, instead half the people are fighting about if he’s Greek or not and the other half is talking about gyros .. fuck the internet I swear and fuck the morons in this thread
PeaBeginning6609@reddit
Captivating storyteller. BUT when he is talking about events the the public is noticing more and more are probably undercover operations by secret service benefitting “us’ greatest ally” he suspiciously shoots the theories down with a false argument.
EJ_Ghosmez@reddit
He’s the GOAT but also he lies about certain things but probably because those at the CIA may try to screw him if he says certain truths.
Good-Environment1856@reddit
He’s the only guy to ever do time over the torture program. Because he blew the whistle on it. He is solid.
ARM_Alaska@reddit
He didn't serve time for whistleblowing. They were EXTRA harsh on him due to the whistleblowing but he only served time for violating the intelligence identities protection act. He accidentally revealed the name of an undercover officer to a journalist. If he hadn't blown the whistle, they never would've charged him like they did. But he was never convicted FOR whistleblowing.
Good-Environment1856@reddit
Correct.
Aras1238@reddit
His stories do have some truth into them. He was a whistleblower for the torture the cia does and he did went to prison for it. He was working for the cia and his work there did end up putting him in danger while hunting Al Qaida after 9/11 . Now all the other stories he says in his interviews and podcasts etc etc - those can be pretty much straight up lies, but fun lies nonetheless. I enjoy listening to his stories, but take them with a huge grain of salt.
ARM_Alaska@reddit
That's not what he went to prison for. He violated the intelligence identities protection act, and was sentenced for accidentally confirming the name of an undercover officer to a journalist. All his other stories can absolutely be true as well.. He worked counter terror in Greece, he worked high-level positions for other directorates in Europe and the middle east. He wasn't only involved in the middle east.
georulez@reddit
He was spying against Greece not much of a Greek other than his name
ARM_Alaska@reddit
He absolutely was not. He was working with Greek intelligence and law enforcement in counter terrorism efforts against Revolutionary Group 17 November. At no point was he ever spying on Greece. They had an office in the same building as Greek intelligence, and the US would've had no cause for committing espionage against Greece. It was literally a joint counter-terrorism operation.
Cefalopodul@reddit
There is no such thing as a CIA whisleblower. Everybody who claims to be ex-CIA and goes on podcasts, etc, does so to push a pre-approved narrative. If they reveal anything it's to build credibility to sell something bigger.
You never retire from the CIA.
PNWcog@reddit
So going to prison was part of the ruse?
Logical-Comedian-361@reddit
Yes. You don’t serve 13 months for espionage against the CIA. 13 years would be lucky.
Ippomasters@reddit
23 months.
Logical-Comedian-361@reddit
Typo sorry, but yes 23
ARM_Alaska@reddit
He didn't go to prison for espionage. He went because he accidentally confirmed the name of an undercover officer to a journalist. He was convicted of violating the intelligent identities protection act.
ImamTrump@reddit
Prison justice means another operation
nobody1568@reddit
It was vacation with the boys.
Boring_Albatross3513@reddit
Bingo.
GlitteringLocality@reddit
That’s true! I am a dual citizen in the states and you can never fully leave the CIA. Kinda like being in a motorcycle gang, you never fully leave.
DevilBySmile@reddit
https://i.redd.it/pxd31k584vmg1.gif
How does you being a dual citizen in the states translates into having insider knowledge on how being in the CIA works?
GlitteringLocality@reddit
Research?
qualitycancer@reddit
Why is it relevant though
hesawavemasterrr@reddit
Honestly this kind of thinking probably comes from your own perception of the CIA, which is a shitty organization but if word got out that the only way out really is prison for life or dying, that seriously shits on their chances for recruitment doesn’t it? Like “hi we’re the CIA. Join us. No retirement. Death and prison is your end game.”
CormundCrowlover@reddit
He must be the most patriotic of all then, going to prison for near 2 years.
Jediuzzaman@reddit
A CIA whistleblower roaming freely? That's just an illusion babe.
IAmTheHappiest@reddit
They did throw him in prison...
RedditSloth_101@reddit
low security prison for 1 year....
ARM_Alaska@reddit
People who aren't a high-level threat don't go to high security prisons. And he didn't go to prison for being a whistle blower necessarily. He was convicted for accidentally disclosing the identity of an undercover officer to a journalist. All other charges were dropped. He was not a threat of any kind.
Ippomasters@reddit
23 months.
Jediuzzaman@reddit
They usuallay throw poison at people in such instances you know...
Adjective-Noun1780@reddit
I had family who lived through prewar, WWII, and Cold War espionage incidents/lifestyle and honestly listening to his stories reminds me of what I heard at home. 🤷🏻
He-n-ry@reddit
he's so full of shit and a massive douche
HLDPAINT@reddit
Funny how this guy suddenly showed up on every mainstream and niche podcast at once, like a coordinated media PR tactic. And we're expected to believe he's an impartial voice? He's obviously a government plant to suger coat the US’s evil unethical modern political history, and trying so hard to remove the CIA from their evil agenda that has been exposed already.
Honestly, his prison time almost works in his favor. It makes him look like someone who's 'not part of the system' anymore, which gives him an aura of credibility. "Oh yeah he's so unbiased since he's an ex CIA and was jailed for some reason not mentioned hence why we'll believe him" give me a break!
Difficult-Shock7210@reddit
Most interesting guy i have seen in a while! altrough i dont know if his stories are mostly true...
tkchrist@reddit
The best! Byt what's happening with his voice?
StevenAdamsInDallas@reddit
Least gossipy Greek.
EverydayNormalGrEEk@reddit
As a Greek I approve this message.
NoAntelope4800@reddit
I respect his transparency about the torture program, but him selling himself out to RT and Russian talking points hurt his legitimacy on contemporary issues just a little bit
Fluffy-Resort-13@reddit
Bruuh🤣🤣🤣 fax
Blood_Prince95@reddit
This is the truest thing ever.
gothfangsx@reddit
If he was an actual whistleblower we wouldn't even know he existed, even with that jail time he would get buried somewhere never to be found if he actually revealed some classified intel but he's hilarious with those stories even if they are mostly not true
Valianve@reddit
if he said truths that cia didn’t want us to learn, they would already disappear that guy’s molecules from earth lol
TheLuckyHacker@reddit
In interviews sometimes he gets asked questions he can't answer. So he definitely holds back.
ZedGenius@reddit
CIA declassifies old info after a few years. He's not sharing new information, he's saying stuff that are technically available to the public already, but haven't had anyone piece them together in 1 place
Tykki_Mikk@reddit
I don’t know who that is.
SICKxOFxITxALL@reddit
I hate him and everything he represents, especially as a Greek with what the CIA has done to us in the past.
But I still listen because the stories are awesome, regardless of whether they are real or not.
cocoadusted@reddit
We need that guy in Athens that tried to rob his TV to verify. He is glazing Trump to get a pardon so anything he says is compromised. He’s mad Obama put him in jail. That’s all I know definitely bs master vibes.
TheFilipLav@reddit
Not glazing him in the past few podcasts
cocoadusted@reddit
Interesting. I’m going to have to check them out that’s been my personal criticism of him but besides the pardon he seems like a great guy and a great storyteller.
ilovemangos3@reddit
Everything I have seen of him that mentions trump has been against him. Which podcast does he glaze trump? Unless i misunderstood your comment
SICKxOFxITxALL@reddit
He has changed over time, listen to him on Joe Rogan and earlier stuff if you want to see some Trump glazing. Recently he has been very critical.
danieljamesgillen@reddit
I thought from his whole story with the 'tv robbery' it sounds like he was sold out from the start. Obviously someone wasn't trying to rob his TV, they were trying to get him. All his strange stories from Greece make sense if he was 'sold out' to the terrorists by someone from the moment he landed. Why though I have no idea.
Aras1238@reddit
He's been trying to get a pardon since he signed his plea agreement. Trump doesn't really have anything to do with it ; it doesn't matter who the US president would be, this guy would try to lobby for a pardon.
cocoadusted@reddit
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that I would also personally try to get a pardon too. Just grain of salt when it comes to discussing current politics. He was spot on about Epstein being an Israeli intelligence agent so I do appreciate his frankness on some matters for sure.
pk851667@reddit
As an American born Greek he fits are profile I'm intimately familiar with. 1st and 2nd gens that do everything they can to assimilate into American society, be taken seriously by the establishment. For all intents and purposes, they are complicit in the West's tight control on Greece.
I find him personally interesting though, and prob have alot in common. But his Damascene conversion only happened after the govt ruined his life. I was far more jaded about it early on and saw through the prop.
And to put matters to rest, he got his Greek citizenship after he came out of jail. He wasn't a dual national while in the CIA, but he is now. At the same time, for someone who was stationed in Greece and was supposedly instrumental in taking down 17N, his Greek is laughably bad from the interviews with Greek press. His reference points to Greek culture are laughably outdated. And his general knowledge of Greece is just not in line for someone who would be a pointman within Greece. He is in every sense the quintessential Greek American. Do I believe he cares about Greece and thought he was supporting it while stationed there? Undoubtedly yes. But his allegiance was and still is to the USA. Always.
clappyclapo@reddit
He has interesting things to say. Always consider you never stop being an agent and anything he says is probably intended to advance the agency agenda
Fluffy-Resort-13@reddit
I think he drank the west's cool aid but getting sent to prison fixed that a bit. He has got a pretty matter of factly view on things, his intel is wild but i get the feeling he is giving us info purposely...like u cia once u cia always.
Sweet_Bridge_3001@reddit
I love him, he has that balkan humor.
Completly straight faced. "We threw 47 cruise missles into that Iraqi intellegence service building but it was middle of the night, so we killed the janitor."
Creative_Jicama_6875@reddit
Idk how many of his stories are true, they're all very wild, but we live in a wild world. If everything he says is true, they're terrible things, and people should get punished for them. It's also surprising that the CIA hasn't done anything to silence him. If what he says isn't true, then he's a good story teller
Financial_East_3083@reddit
If he has ANY links to the Company, he cannot be trusted. If he doesn’t have ANY links to the Company, he cannot be trusted.
Financial_East_3083@reddit
If he has ANY links to the Company, he cannot be trusted. If he doesn’t have ANY links to the Company, he cannot be trusted.
Denguish-Khan@reddit
He's run a radio for for Russia Today (RT) for years. Follow the money.
Makerel9@reddit
In the Philippines, someone like him is what we call a "Marites"
fireswalkwithme@reddit
Still works for CIA
amana1212121212@reddit
Probably a propaganda machine from the CIA
LookAtMyEyess@reddit
He shits Israel, which is good but he is CIA. Never to be trusted.
Business-Map9514@reddit
Almost believable. Until he said a story about Romania which was a complete lie. Entertaining though.
Reminds me of X file. Loved the show until they had a bs story based on Romania .)
Apprehensive_Sky_373@reddit
Legend
-ToniCipriani-@reddit
He is a Sputnik employee and a spam on TikTok. After being imprisoned for treason you can guess nobody would employ him.
Everything he says is basically Kremlin propaganda.
LeapingLangosta619@reddit
Appropriate-Ad5877@reddit
Once a spook, always a spook.
RuleMany2900@reddit
He sure knows how to tell a story... Don't know if all are legit but he sure knows how to make it look like they are.
bassta@reddit
I’ve seen some interviews with him and Nate ( Canadian Prepper ). The guy is totally out of the loop, talks with confidence complete bullshit and is totally pro-russia and pro-Iran fearmongor. His claims can be EASILY debunked. So just another phony that sells fear and try to make a buck by being invited for interviews. Total phony
ImamTrump@reddit
No such thing as ex cia. It’s a comms and influence line.
Suitable-Decision-26@reddit
Kind of fishy currently. His past exploits are admirable.
ToxicPoS1337@reddit
Theres no such thing as whistleblowing, not anymore at least. Its just controlled release of information but a chosen presenter and a psy-op. He is good at telling his stories though.
Immediate-Rabbit810@reddit
he's damn hot
StudentMuch1491@reddit
Like Gust Avrakotos better
AppropriateShoulder@reddit
A real whistleblower would probably be sitting in Russia like Snowden. This is some kind of PR.
whodisweirdguy@reddit
At one podcast he said he was nearly carjacked in Greece and rammed a vehicle to get away at another podcast he said he drew his gun to scare the carjackers. I'm not sure if he is telling the truth. Also, he said he doesn't like Turkey kinda heartbreaking since I like listening to his podcasts
moise_porn@reddit
He is a fantastic storyteller! I could listen to his voice for hours. His stories are interesting and his way to narrate them make them even better.
nasosroukounas@reddit
two CIA directors were of greek origin, George Tenet and John Negroponte,also during the Cold War there were a lot of Greek Americans in key positions, the most famous being Gust Avrakotos
OnlyZac@reddit
And Spiro Agnew, Greek American and vice president to Nixon
kadaka80@reddit
If the stories he is telling were true enough he would long be dead.. I'm sure there's just enough truth to them to make them entertaining though
Final-Nebula-7049@reddit
jailed and probably broke, so he will do anything to get paid.
MargotCat@reddit
Just another influencer. Fake.
spallettioutista@reddit
Traitor of Europe, simply
caesarj12@reddit
I like his stories but i take everything with a grain of salt. He is pushing a certain narrative and I don't believe even for a second that he is not working right now with an intelligence agency, altho idk if it is the cia or some other agency.
whiteoba@reddit
I generally like his takes and am always interested to see his perspective. Anybody who talks shit about Israel is probably at least a half decent person, especially an American from the security apparatus. I highly respect him leaking information about torture. Even still since he was CIA I don’t fully trust him.
J0hnnyBlazer@reddit
he has been hosting a russian state sponsored radio show on sputnik radio the last 8years so take what he says with a grain of salt. He dont always say things he actually means. Some of his cia stories are sus aswell
Existing-Network-267@reddit
I never fully trust the CIA but he has a unique and interesting perspective on things.
He is a great story teller the way he says them is so good it feels unbelievable and he surely he is making them up but after researching you realize he is not lying.
Legitimate_Kick_5628@reddit
Based