On The Splitting Of Hairs

Collaborate: 2 : to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force

Agent: 4 : one who is authorized to act for or in the place of another: as a : a representative, emissary, or official of a government <crown agent> <federal agent> b : one engaged in undercover activities (as espionage) : SPY <secret agent>
(Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

You'll be happy to know that Carlos Alvarez is not a Cuban agent. Despite using a secret shortwave radio to communicate with Cuba, in a sophisticated code and using a secret code name, he is not an agent. By his own admission in court he is a collaborator. I, for one, am much relieved that is all cleared up.

MIAMI - A psychology professor accused of being a Cuban agent admitted Friday that he was a "collaborator" with Cuba's intelligence service, communicating with officials using a short-wave radio, sophisticated encryption techniques and a code name, "David."

Carlos Alvarez insisted, however, that he had distanced himself from the communist government by the time he confessed details of his work last year. He also denied being a Cuban agent and said he was never employed by that government.

"I was not an agent of the Cuban government. I was a collaborator, which is very different," the Florida International University professor testified.

"I was collaborating, basically, sharing insights and information with the Cuban government for some years," Alvarez said. "Information that I felt was pertinent."

Frankly, this is the kind of hairsplitting that many on the far left think constitutes a valid distinction. This is also one of the prime elements of propaganda. Making very, very fine distinctions which make no difference and insisting that they do.

Good luck with that, professor. There is another word (This word has not been used by me on this blog before today, incidentally).

Traitor: 1 : one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
2 : one who commits treason