Talk:Double agent

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How about a list of fictional double agents? Cynicalkane 02:20, 9 September 2005 (UTC)

There seems to be one now, but is it serious to put Severus Snape on the list? Eje211 21:29, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

The list of fictional double agents seems to list ones from comics, films and video games but ignores the one from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which is probably a good thing. 137.222.202.86 11:19, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

After watching CNN's 'In the footsteps of Bin Laden' why is Ali Muhammad, who was an Al Qaeda double agent in the U.S military not listed? Nor is there any information about Ali Muhammad who is quite possibly one of the most intriguing double agents in recent memory.

The explanation of "triple agent" in terms of the 2006 definition is very confusing. Could someone please explain it a little better than that?FreeStone 16:57, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

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[edit] triple agent definition

I agree about the confused definition of triple agent. Some espionage books describe it as an agent working for three agencies at the same time. An agent who only pretends to be working for the enemy but in fact is always loyal to his original company is often called a "doubled" or "re-doubled" agent.

[edit] definition quibble

"A double agent is someone who pretends to spy on a target organization on behalf of a controlling organization, but in fact is loyal to the target organization"

Must a double agent be loyal to either side? Could he not be purely mercenary? Njál 17:52, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Proposal

I'd like to leave the lists here, but move the definitions to Clandestine HUMINT, with certain details in Clandestine HUMINT operational techniques. The lists should be gone through and sourced; they certainly should not contain links to people that may or may not have been double agents, and one must follow a link (or sometimes be stuck with a red link) to get any detail. If this is done, the article here should be renamed. Howard C. Berkowitz (talk) 16:10, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Gollum?

How is Gollum a double-agent? Maybe he was originally working for Sauron, but during the time when he was working for Frodo, he was in actuality working for nobody but himself. It's not like he would have willingly given the Ring to Sauron if given the chance, he wanted to keep it for himself. That doesn't fit the given definition of double agent. Lurlock (talk) 23:42, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

I would have to second Lurlock. I could not see how we could categorize Gollum as a double agent. He is not working for anybody in the book and he earns nothing from anyone. --Pboy2k5 (talk) 13:57, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Cardinal error

Listing doubles, how do you leave off Tom Clancy's Cardinal (Cardinal of the Kremlin)? (And who was the guy who {supposedly} blew the Son Tay rescue?) Trekphiler (talk) 03:19, 21 May 2008 (UTC)