The Rest Is Classified: "Ex-CIA Officer On How The Cubans Failed Maduro in Venezuela"
Podcast Hosts: David McCloskey & Gordon Corera
Guest: Dave Fitzgerald (Ex-CIA Officer)
Release Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the covert world shaping recent dramatic events in Venezuela, focusing on the fall of Nicolas Maduro and the surprising failure of Cuban intelligence to protect him. Hosts David McCloskey and Gordon Corera welcome seasoned ex-CIA officer Dave Fitzgerald—whose expertise centers on Latin America and high-level intelligence work—to break down how and why Cuba, long the puppetmaster behind Venezuelan regime security, came up short.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cuban Role in Maduro’s Security and Failures

• Cuban Involvement:
  • Cubans have provided more than just bodyguards—they supplied extensive counterintelligence, tactical, and strategic support.
  • Direct reference to the “Vulcan mind meld” between Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez (and later Maduro), underscoring their strategic alliance.
• Inner Circle:
  • Within Maduro’s immediate security perimeter, “there were probably zero Venezuelan security officers. And on the outer perimeter, maybe a mix of both.” ([02:30])
  • When the raid occurred, 32 Cuban security officials reportedly killed—reflecting Cuba's hands-on approach.
• Financial Dimension:
  • Cuba’s services were not altruistic; Venezuela paid large sums for Cuban “expertise.”
  • “Cubans don’t do anything for free. That’s number one. Just like the Russians. Russians don’t either.” (Dave Fitzgerald [02:30-03:50])
• Deep Embedding:
  • Cuban officers infiltrated all levels of Venezuelan government, military, and intelligence—down to the “brigade level.”
  • Their role, likened to “old Soviet political commissars,” was to ensure absolute loyalty and prevent coups.
• Why They Failed:
  • Despite their reputation, the Cubans' apparatus missed or couldn’t prevent the US-led raid—“This was just a complete failure by the Cubans. People view them as 10ft tall…” (Fitzgerald [03:50])

2. Unique Characteristics of Cuban Intelligence

• A Singular Obsession:
  • Fitzgerald notes, “You can become a very good intelligence agency when you basically only have one target to work on, and that’s the United States.”
• Limitations Revealed:
  • Cuban intelligence excelled as long as the only focus was the US. Diversification (managing complex environments like Venezuela) exposed their weaknesses.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Cuba-Venezuela Alliance

  “You had this instant, you know, Vulcan mind meld between, for our older listeners, a Vulcan mind meld between Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, as far as, you know, their aspirations and their goals and you know, where they wanted to take the ‘revolution.’”
  (Dave Fitzgerald, 02:30)

• On Cuban Security Detail

  “Within the immediate perimeter of Maduro, there were probably zero Venezuelan security officers. And on the outer perimeter, maybe a mix of both.”
  (David Fitzgerald, 02:45)

• On Cuban Motivation

  “Cubans don’t do anything for free. That’s number one. Just like the Russians. Russians don’t either. So no doubt Venezuela was paying a lot of money to have that Cuban, quote, expertise to surround Maduro.”
  (Dave Fitzgerald, 03:00)

• On Perceived Strength vs. Actual Performance

  “People view them as 10ft tall. You can become a very good intelligence agency when you basically only have one target to work on, and that’s the United States.”
  (Dave Fitzgerald, 03:50)

• On the Soviet Comparison

  “Their job was kind of like the old Soviet political commissar—to keep tabs on the units and the agencies and the ministries to make sure that there was no dissent and that there was no attempt to create any type of coup within those units.”
  (Dave Fitzgerald, 03:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:12] - Introduction to guest Dave Fitzgerald and his career background.
• [02:30] - Cuban bodyguards and intelligence support for Maduro.
• [02:45] - Inner and outer security perimeters around Maduro.
• [02:55] - Cuba’s strategy to entrench their own in all branches of the Venezuelan state.
• [03:00–03:30] - Cuban financial interests and expert embedding, comparison with Russian intelligence approaches.
• [03:50] - Cuban failure explained; limitations of expertise.

Tone & Style

The conversation balances insider gravitas with vivid metaphors (such as the “Vulcan mind meld”) and frank, sometimes sardonic assessments. Fitzgerald’s insights are delivered with the authority of firsthand experience, and the hosts keep the discussion focused and accessible for both true crime fans and intelligence aficionados alike.

For anyone interested in modern intelligence intrigue, geopolitical maneuverings, or simply what happens when renowned secret services fail at their core mission, this episode delivers detailed, candid analysis directly from those who’ve lived it.