Sandy Bachman

Sandy Bachman
Status:	Deceased
Nationality:	American
Affiliation:	CIA
Profession:	CIA Station Chief in Pakistan
Played by:	Corey Stoll
Season(s):	4
Appears in:	"The Drone Queen"

They scream bloody murder, but it's theater, it's face-saving. They want these assholes dead as much as we do. They're a little less enthusiastic when we kill civilians. Haqqani was a legitimate target. Everybody in that farmhouse had to know who he was- a marked man. He put their lives at risk, not us. - Sandy Bachman

Sandy Bachman was the CIA's station chief in Islamabad.

Biography

In Kabul, Afghanistan, when Carrie is informed that an important terrorist has been found and may be killed. Carrie wants to speak to the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan first before deciding on the attack. CIA chief Sandy Bachman confirms to her that her source has confirmed Haqqani's presence. Carrie's desire for confirmation with a second source, or at least this source's name, is met with a lack of time and trust in the source, as it had already made four other attacks possible. They will not return to the opportunity to meet Haqqani so quickly.

Sandy is back at headquarters and has to hear on the news not only that Haqqani was killed, but that it happened at a private wedding, killing 40 civilians. There are demonstrations in front of the American Embassy in Islamabad. Inside, Ambassador Martha Boyd speaks to Peter Quinn, who complains about the development of recent years. When Sandy arrives, she wants to know from him what's wrong with the news because she has to justify herself to the Secretary of State. Sandy explains that it's all just theater to set the mood. And even if there was something to the wedding story, then the guests deliberately put themselves in danger because they celebrated with a wanted terrorist. Haqqani was to blame for the civilian casualties because he took the risk.

Sandy made Peter Quinn explain what the situation is like. He thinks it would only make sense to sit together when Carrie is there. He receives a text from an unknown contact and arranges a meeting with him while telling Quinn that he is getting out in the fresh air for a bit. Also, it deletes the messages immediately.

Sandy takes a back exit and blends in with the crowd. Meanwhile, Carrie has landed in Islamabad and is picked up by Quinn. He gives her the first information and discusses why Sandy's source has been so good so far and now has done something like this. But you also don't agree on what the font is.

When they want to leave, they see on the news that Sandy's picture is there, so he was blown up.

Sandy walks the streets and feels watched. He enters the entrance of a house and tries to open a door, but the lock has been changed. He tries to contact you but doesn't respond to your messages. Quinn calls and explains that he was blown up and they need to get him to the embassy right away. Sandy explains where he is now, and Peter says he'll be there in five minutes. Sandy wants to take to the streets, but a crowd has already gathered there. When they see him, he has to find another way out. But even on the street, he's quickly recognized and it doesn't take long before he's surrounded. When he pulls out his gun, Carrie and Quinn appear with the car behind them, he quickly gets in and they drive away, but the path is blocked and the pack crashes into the car and prevents them from leaving. They break the window and try to catch Sandy. Quinn tries to fight back with her gun, but they can't stop Sandy from being dragged out into the street. There are a lot of people. Carrie still wants to help Sandy, but Peter makes it clear that they can't help him anymore and have to save themselves. As the gang stays on, Sandy, they can disappear with the car and finally reach the embassy.

Bachman was married, with three kids. Videos of Bachman being stomped to death in 2014 by the angry mob were posted on YouTube, much to the devastation of his family.

Quinn later finds evidence that Sandy's murder was coordinated by the ISI.

He was responsible for sharing valuable intelligence that allows the CIA station in Kabul (led by Carrie) to target key sites belonging to Taliban leader Haissam Haqqani. Sandy, who is covertly trading state secrets for his information, leaves the station unprotected to meet with his classified source (later revealed to be Dennis Boyd)

Trivia

• A station chief – also called chief of station (COS) – is responsible for managing the CIA's station in a country, from coordinating work between operations officers and others to understanding the overarching mission of the particular station. Many station chiefs previously serve as operations officers at several stations before rising through the CIA ranks to become a COS. Their first post is typically at a small station where they can learn the job tasks as a whole and those that are individual to that country. Still, even small stations are important posts for a COS because coups, bombings, and other life- and mission-threatening emergencies can occur anywhere. Station chiefs work undercover as operations officers do, and the CIA does not publicize their names. However, when Gina Haspel was nominated for CIA director in 2018, her CIA bio was released by the agency. While showing necessary gaps, it revealed that she had served as an operations officer for many years and as station chief first in Africa, although the bio declines to identify where, and also in London, a prestigious post at the station of a major U.S. ally that comes only after years of experience.

Note

How much time has passed since Sandy's death till episode 10?

We can figure this out:

• 4.02: day 1 = Carrie and Quinn arrive in DC the day after Sandy’s death; day 2 = Quinn arrested; day 3 = spent with Franny; day 4 = Sandy’s funeral, she leaves that same night (4 days)
• 4.03: day 1 = Carrie arrives in IBD, sees Fara/Max; day 2 = running/ponytail/Saul arrives; day 3 = lockdown lifted, makes approach to Aayan (3 days)
• 4.04: day 1 = Aayan comes to second station, asks for money; day 2 = Aayan gets money, Carrie seduces (2 days)
• 4.05: day 1 = Carrie and Aayan in safe house all day; day 2 = Aayan tells Carrie Haqqani is still alive (2 days)
• 4.06: day 1 = Carrie gives Aayan passport/visa and he heads to Haqqani; day 2 = Haqqani kills Aayan (2 days)
• 4.07: day 1 = Lockhart arrives (has to be next day because Carrie is wearing same clothes) and Carrie takes the hallucinogen (1 day)
• 4.08: day 1 = Carrie wakes up in Khan’s home, realizes pills have been swapped, Saul escapes; day 2 = Carrie is at the meet with Pakistani delegation, realizes they know where Saul is (2 days)

It’s unclear how much time has passed between the end of 4.08 (Carrie learns Duck is working against them) and the start of 4.09 (John brings Duck in, prisoners are prepped, etc.). My guess is 1 day.

• 4.09: day 1 = prisoners are taken to embassy, Carrie leaves duck in interrogation room overnight; day 2 = actual prisoner exchange (2 days)

So the total is 19 days.

By far the most condensed timeline in 4 seasons.

Quotes

• I need to talk to Islamabad.
• He's on the secure uplink.

• Talk to me, Sandy.
• What's the issue?
• No issue. Only that I'm just hearing about this for the first time.
• He's number four on the hit list. What more do you need to know?
• The source of your intel.
• Same as the last four high-value kills.
• Does he have a name yet, this source?
• The deal was anonymity in exchange for information.
• So far, it's been a very fruitful relationship.
• Well, so far, we've always had time to get a second opinion, double-check the intelligence.
• Well, consider the target.
• What do you mean?

• There 's a reason you don 't get many shots at a guy like Haissam Haqqani.
• He's famously careful.
• Well, we trained him, didn't we?
• “Trained him”? Hell, he learned how to jump out of airplanes with the 82nd Airborne.
• Did CENTCOM get back?
• Authorization to engage.
• On your command.
• Where's the live feed from?
• We got lucky, jacked into a NATO satellite.
• And that's the location right there?
• The building in the middle. It's a farmhouse of some kind, I'm told.
• How confident are we Haqqani's in the farmhouse?
• One of those vehicles out front-the red Hilux- we've seen it at his compound in Miramshah.
• What about CDE concerns?
• No other habitations within 75 meters of the target.
• Well, obviously anybody inside the farmhouse will be collateral damage.
• Yeah.
• I'd feel a lot better if we weren't so blind on such a short clock.
• Sandy's source has always been rock solid.
• Yes, he has.
• And Haqqani's made a bad habit of killing American soldiers.
• Where are the F-15s?
• Uh, they're buzzing the border. They can be on the target in 60 seconds.
• Any friendlies in the area?
• None. Ordnance restrictions?
• Send them in.

• Well, at least we got confirmation of Haqqani's death.
• Yeah, but if this weddings for real, nobody's gonna give a shit.
• I saw the kill list
• after 9/11.
• Do you know how many names
• were on it?
• Seven.
• Including bin Laden and al-Zawahiri.
• You know how many names are on it today?
• Over 2,000.
• It's Alice in fucking Wonderland.
• You don't even have to be a terrorist anymore apparently.
• You just have to look like one.
• Where's Sandy anyway?
• He said he's coming.
• Where is it written that an ambassador must spend 90% of her time... cleaning up after her chief of station?
• Nowhere, but it is the case almost everywhere. Well, we get along.
• Why can't you be my station chief?
• Sorry I'm late. Peter has just been filling me in... on the well-wishers gathering outside our front gate.
• I saw that.
• Hey, Peter.
• I've also got the foreign minister on my call sheet.
• What can I tell him?
• That Haissam Haqqani's dead.
• I know that already.
• What else?
• It's pure PR bullshit, the wedding claim.
• Technically, it wasn't even a drone strike.
• “Technically”?
• It was a bombing run. Two F-15Es.
• You're right. I don't think I'll share that with the foreign minister.
• But just so I'm clear, somebody high up in the Pakistani government signed off on this, right?
• Oh, come on, Martha.
• What? It's their airspace, their sovereignty.
• They scream bloody murder, but it's theater, it's face-saving.
• They want these assholes dead as much as we do.
• They're a little less enthusiastic when we kill civilians.
• Haqqani was a legitimate target.
• Everybody in that farmhouse had to know who he was- a marked man.
• He put their lives at risk, not us.

Season 4
The Drone Queen	"Trylon and Perisphere"	"Shalwar Kameez"	"Iron in the Fire"	"About a Boy"
"From A. to B. and Back Again"	"Redux"	"Halfway to a Donut"	"There's Something Else Going On"	"13 Hours in Islamabad"
"Krieg Nicht Lieb"	"Long Time Coming"