Home News 'I spy with my little eye': CIA joins Instagram by posting a teasing picture of 'clues' left by operatives… but can you figure out the hidden messages

'I spy with my little eye': CIA joins Instagram by posting a teasing picture of 'clues' left by operatives… but can you figure out the hidden messages

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The Central Intelligence Agency has opened its own Instagram account with a picture containing hidden clues... so can you spot them?
The tantalizing objects, posted online from the agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, all relate to the organisation's past and spy-work being carried out today. 
An account was opened as part of efforts to recruit a younger generation of officers, agents and analysts.
This image is the first photo the CIA posted on their Instagram account yesterday. It shows a wig, Arabic notebook, maps of China and the Gulf, foreign banknotes and other items
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This image is the first photo the CIA posted on their Instagram account yesterday. It shows a wig, Arabic notebook, maps of China and the Gulf, foreign banknotes and other items
The agency has opened the account to help it recruit a younger generation of agents, analysts and officers
The agency has opened the account to help it recruit a younger generation of agents, analysts and officers
The photo, which could be a mock-up of CIA Director Gina Haspel's desk, was posted online on Thursday.
So... How many items could you spot?

Viewers of the tantalizing image were trying to work out what they could see... 

A name-card with the face of the CIA's director Gina Haspel (1). The number on the card, 091947, may be a clue as, coincidentally, they started operating on September 18, 1947. Haspel was named director was put in the position in 2018 by President Trump. In 2002, it is also claimed that she oversaw the torture of a terrorism suspect and later destroyed video evidence of the brutal treatment at a secret prison in Thailand
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A name-card with the face of the CIA's director Gina Haspel (1). The number on the card, 091947, may be a clue as, coincidentally, they started operating on September 18, 1947. Haspel was named director was put in the position in 2018 by President Trump. In 2002, it is also claimed that she oversaw the torture of a terrorism suspect and later destroyed video evidence of the brutal treatment at a secret prison in Thailand
2. An image of Tony Mendez, a CIA officer who posed as a film producer to rescue six US hostages from Iran during the 1979 - 81 hostage crisis, is shown on the desk. His actions inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo. The esteemed officer died in January this year at the age of 78
Tony Mendez, pictured in later life, died in January this year. During his 25 year career, which began after he answered a blind advert for a graphics artist, he also worked with Hollywood make-up artists to create and perfect disguises
An image of Tony Mendez (2) on the desk (left), a CIA officer who posed as a film producer to rescue six US hostages from Iran during the 1979 - 81 hostage crisis, and him later in life (right). His actions inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo. The esteemed officer died in January this year at the age of 78. He first joined the CIA after answering a blind advert for a graphic artist. Over 25 years he worked with Hollywood make-up artists and magicians to perfect disguises and fake identities 
5. The clock has been stopped at the time American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. It was the first plane to hit one of the towers
A second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, then hit the South Tower 15 minutes after the first plane
The clock (left, 5) has been stopped at 8:46am, the time when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the World Trade Center's North Tower on September 11, 2001. A second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, then hit the South Tower 15 minutes after the first plane (right). The first plane was carrying 92 people, and the second 65 people. Afterwards a third plane hit The Pentagon
3. A pair of cuff-links were famously used by CIA officers, who had never met, to identify each other. They were also pictured on the mock-up desk
4. A golden owl represents the goddess Athena, who is famed for her wisdom
A pair of cuff-links (3) are shown which were famously used by CIA agents to help identify each other. A golden owl (4) is also shown which represents wisdom
6. It's a plant - Get it?
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7. A pulp bag could also be used by agents to allow them to destroy evidence
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A plant representing an 'intelligence plant' (6) and a secret pulp bag (7) that gives agents the ability to destroy evidence
8. The book 'Of Spies and Stratagems', written by a World War Two spy is pictured
9. A map of China, one of the US's main rivals in Asia, is also pictured
The book 'Of Spies and Stratagems' (8)  written by a World War Two spy is also pictured alongside a map of China (9), one of the US's main rivals in Asia
10. A globe that could represent world travel
11. An evil eye that may represent dangers CIA officers face
A globe (10) possibly represents the world travel that comes with the job while an evil eye (11) may represent the dangers that CIA officers face
12. The infamous 'classified' stamp was also included in the picture
13. A burn bag was shown underneath the desk for the disposal of classified documents
An infamous 'Classified' stamp (12) is seen on the desk for marking off top secret information and a burn bag (13) is placed underneath it for the disposal of classified documents
14. A wig was also photographed with glasses, which could be linked to the occasional need for disguises in the CIA's line of work
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A wig (14) was also photographed with glasses, which could be linked to the occasional need for disguises in the CIA's line of work.
Recruiting from universities and industry, Instagram gives the agency a way to reach a large, younger demographic as most of the social media site's regular users are under 30.
'We're looking to spark the curiosity of Instagram's users about the many ways CIA's global mission has us going where others cannot go and doing what others cannot do,' the agency said in a statement.
'Through the account, we'll give a peek into agency life, but we can't promise any selfies from secret locations.'
Instagram users reacted with fascination to the snap with one commenting: 'This has the potential to be the greatest account on all of Instagram! Keep posting interesting content!'
A second user said: 'Recruit me! I can work.'
Put up from the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, it has attracted many comments online
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Put up from the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, it has attracted many comments online
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