Spoiler alert, a discussion of the movie "Breach"
I hope this is a reasonable place to post this but apologize if not.
If you haven't seen Breach and have any interest in seeing it, please understand that certain major aspects of the plot are discussed herein.
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While I was mostly familiar with the issues involved in the Hanssen case, I didn't know that Eric O'Neill had left the FBI. It is on this that I wanted a few opinions from anyone familiar with the movie and/or Hanssen case.
It's mentioned in the movie when Hanssen is caught and arrested, that things will go better for him if he cooperates such as to explain why he became a traitor. He was given a substantial amount of money but it's rather clear, at least to me, that although the money served as a validation of his success and evidence of the worth of his treasonous talents, that money wasn't the reason. IMHO, he became a traitor because he could, because he was good enough to fool those around him. The fact that his treason began just after his move to counterintelligence might be related. There are references in the movie to Hanssen's superiority and his associate's incompetence. In a word, hubris.
My puzzle then is to determine the reason behind Eric O'Neill leaving the FBI. IMHO, O'Neill left because he recognized a few things. First, he felt that Hanssen did what he did for the reason I explained, simply because he was talented enough to do it and wanted validation. Second, Hanssen was good enough to pull it off. I'd say being put in charge of finding the traitor when the that traitor is yourself, is validation that you are good enough. Third, O'Neill recognized, that in bringing down Hanssen, he was better than Hanssen. Knowing that is a scary kind of realization. Lastly, if ability is what led Hanssen to his treason, would it lead O'Neill to the same place, to being a paranoid and obsessed spy thinking of becoming traitor. Wouldn't it be better to quit?
Thoughts and opinions, please.
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