Operation Treadstone
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Operation Treadstone (or usually just Treadstone) is a top-secret program of the Central Intelligence Agency in the fictional Jason Bourne book and movie series.
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[edit] Overview
Treadstone is so top-secret that several Deputy Directors of the CIA have no idea that it even exists. In the book series, Treadstone headquarters is located in New York City. It looks simply like a dilapidated house, but in reality it is a fortress, having bullet resistant glass and multiple security systems. It is, in this context, a top secret operation to trap the international assassin, Carlos, by creating a mythical assassin called Cain.
In the Jason Bourne movies, Treadstone is headquartered in an office at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. In the films it consists of several agents around the world that are, at the basic level, assassins. As sleeper agents they lead normal lives (piano teachers, businessmen, etc) until "activated". At this point they can be quickly deployed on assassination missions after which they presumably go back to their daily lives until called upon again. In the movies, access to Treadstone archives and files require a Level 5 Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) Clearance or higher.
[edit] Treadstone Staff
- Alexander Conklin - head of Treadstone command in Langley, VA and NYC; played by Chris Cooper in the movies
- Ward Abbot (The Monk) - Conklin's boss, never wanted to talk about what Treadstone did; played by Brian Cox in the movies
- Nicolette "Nicky" Parsons - field director for Treadstone in Europe, dealt almost exclusively with Jason Bourne; played by Julia Stiles in the movies
- Danny Zourne - assistant to Conklin and then to Abbot; played by Gabriel Mann in the movies
[edit] Treadstone Operatives
- Jason Bourne - In the movies Bourne is played by Matt Damon and is Treadstone's top operative, based out of Paris, France; in the books Bourne is Treadstone's only operative, posing as Cain.
[edit] Areas of Operation
In the movies, it is shown that there are agents operating in Barcelona, Spain, Hamburg, Germany, and Rome, Italy. However, since those agents were going to Zurich, Switzerland, it can be assumed that only those agents around Zurich were activated. It cannot however be assumed that Treadstone has operatives activated around the world as only European agents are referred to in the books and the films.
[edit] Treadstone Operatives
Treadstone operatives are very capable assassins. They leave no trace of their existence. Conklin states that while anyone can carry out an assassination, Treadstone agents are meant to be "invisible". Nicolette Parsons says:
"They don't make mistakes. They don't do random. There's always an objective, always a target."
Treadstone operatives are trained in numerous killing techniques. They are very proficient at using firearms, sharpshooting, using explosives, operating vehicles, and hand-to-hand combat. Treadstone agents are also observed to have excellent observational skills, physical stamina, escape and evasion abilities, and the ability to think quickly and calmly in stressful situations.
[edit] Physical / Psychological Effects
Treadstone operatives typically suffer from chronic headaches, which seem to never go away. They are consistently tired, due to the stresses of their job and have sensitivity to bright lights.
The most dramatic effect is amnesia. This was only experienced once, by Jason Bourne. Amnesia was extremely rare and considering their regular circumstances should not have happened. He lost his entire memory, including his name, origin and profession. He retained basic functions, such as addition, subtraction, making coffee, knot tying, and shuffling cards. He also retains an almost instinctive ability to perform well in combat situations. As of The Bourne Supremacy, he has regained parts of his memory, mostly those related to the most emotionally charged of his past actions (i.e. his assassination missions).
[edit] Status
Treadstone is currently, as of The Bourne Supremacy, inactive. It was shut down two years before Supremacy, at the end of The Bourne Identity.
