CIA’s Secret "Black Ops" Army: Ex-Officer Exposes the Unit No One Talks About (Ground Branch SAD) episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 13, 2025 · 25 MIN

CIA’s Secret "Black Ops" Army: Ex-Officer Exposes the Unit No One Talks About (Ground Branch SAD)

from Thrilling Threads - Conspiracy Theories, Strange Phenomena, Unsolved Mysteries, etc! · host Byte & Pieces

James Bond has nothing on these guys. In fact, these guys make Bond look like a paperwork clerk. 🕵️‍♂️💀We’ve all heard of the CIA, but have you heard of the "secret army" hidden inside the agency? In this episode, we are reacting to a bombshell interview with former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou. He pulls back the curtain on the Special Activities Division (SAD)—the unit responsible for the missions that officially "never happened."We explore the dark reality of the Ground Branch and the Global Response Staff (GRS). These aren't your typical spies gathering intel at cocktail parties. As Kiriakou explains, these units are often staffed by former Navy SEALs and Delta Force operators, hired to turn the CIA into a paramilitary machine post-9/11.In this uncensored breakdown, we cover:The Kill Squads: The terrifying mandate of the Special Activities Division to "kill, kidnap, and render" targets.The Recruitment: Why the CIA recruits top-tier military operators for Ground Branch black ops.The Shift: How 9/11 transformed the agency from an intelligence service into a lethal counterterrorism force.The Ethics: The legal gray zones of torture, rendition, and operating without the rules of war.The Whistleblower: John Kiriakou’s take on the heavy price of telling the truth.Are they heroes protecting the homeland, or a rogue force operating above the law? We break down the thrilling, terrifying, and morally complex world of America’s shadow war.If you want to know what really happens in the dark, hit PLAY now! 🎧 SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into the intelligence underworld, and SHARE this with a friend who loves a good conspiracy theory.GlossaryKey Units Discussed in this Episode:SAD (Special Activities Division): The CIA's covert action arm, responsible for paramilitary operations.Ground Branch: The terrestrial unit of SAD, often employing former special forces for tactical missions.GRS (Global Response Staff): A security force component that protects CIA officers in dangerous war zones.Rendition: The practice of kidnapping and transferring suspects to third-party countries for interrogation.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thrilling-threads-conspiracy-theories-strange-phenomena-true-crime-unsolved-mysteries-etc--5995429/support.ThrillingThreadsPod.com - Unravel the Unknown.Dive deep into the world's greatest conspiracy theories, strange phenomena, true crimes, and unsolved mysteries. Follow the threads.You May also Like these:SkyNearMe.com – Your all-in-one "Sky Super-App." Track real-time weather,  sunset and air quality, stargazing conditions, 5G signal mapping, drone flight zones, solar potential, track satellites, rocket launches, UFO sightings in your local airspace and even get your Sky Horoscope and more!🤖Nudgrr.com (🗣'nudger") - Your AI Sidekick for Getting Sh*t DoneNudgrr breaks down your biggest goals into tiny, doable steps — then nudges you to actually do them. 

James Bond has nothing on these guys. In fact, these guys make Bond look like a paperwork clerk. 🕵️‍♂️💀We’ve all heard of the CIA, but have you heard of the "secret army" hidden inside the agency? In this episode, we are reacting to a bombshell interview with former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou. He pulls back the curtain on the Special Activities Division (SAD)—the unit responsible for the missions that officially "never happened."We explore the dark reality of the Ground Branch and the Global Response Staff (GRS). These aren't your typical spies gathering intel at cocktail parties. As Kiriakou explains, these units are often staffed by former Navy SEALs and Delta Force operators, hired to turn the CIA into a paramilitary machine post-9/11.In this uncensored breakdown, we cover:The Kill Squads: The terrifying mandate of the Special Activities Division to "kill, kidnap, and render" targets.The Recruitment: Why the CIA recruits top-tier military operators for Ground Branch black ops.The Shift: How 9/11 transformed the agency from an intelligence service into a lethal counterterrorism force.The Ethics: The legal gray zones of torture, rendition, and operating without the rules of war.The Whistleblower: John Kiriakou’s take on the heavy price of telling the truth.Are they heroes protecting the homeland, or a rogue force operating above the law? We break down the thrilling, terrifying, and morally complex world of America’s shadow war.If you want to know what really happens in the dark, hit PLAY now! 🎧 SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into the intelligence underworld, and SHARE this with a friend who loves a good conspiracy theory.GlossaryKey Units Discussed in this Episode:SAD (Special Activities Division): The CIA's covert action arm, responsible for paramilitary operations.Ground Branch: The terrestrial unit of SAD, often employing former special forces for tactical missions.GRS (Global Response Staff): A security force component that protects CIA officers in dangerous war zones.Rendition: The practice of kidnapping and transferring suspects to third-party countries for interrogation.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thrilling-threads-conspiracy-theories-strange-phenomena-true-crime-unsolved-mysteries-etc--5995429/support.ThrillingThreadsPod.com - Unravel the Unknown.Dive deep into the world's greatest conspiracy theories, strange phenomena, true crimes, and unsolved mysteries. Follow the threads.You May also Like these:SkyNearMe.com – Your all-in-one "Sky Super-App." Track real-time weather,  sunset and air quality, stargazing conditions, 5G signal mapping, drone flight zones, solar potential, track satellites, rocket launches, UFO sightings in your local airspace and even get your Sky Horoscope and more!🤖Nudgrr.com (🗣'nudger") - Your AI Sidekick for Getting Sh*t DoneNudgrr breaks down your biggest goals into tiny, doable steps — then nudges you to actually do them.

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CIA’s Secret "Black Ops" Army: Ex-Officer Exposes the Unit No One Talks About (Ground Branch SAD)

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This episode was published on December 13, 2025.

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James Bond has nothing on these guys. In fact, these guys make Bond look like a paperwork clerk. 🕵️‍♂️💀We’ve all heard of the CIA, but have you heard of the "secret army" hidden inside the agency? In this episode, we are reacting to a bombshell...

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