Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Weekly Intelligence Notes

27 September - 03 October 2023
(Issue 38)

is sponsored by

Readers who encounter problems with the email version of this newsletter can
view the latest web edition here

CONTENTS


Section I - CURRENT INTELLIGENCE NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Section II - REGULARLY FEATURED PODCASTS, BROADCASTS, NEWSLETTERS

Section III - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Article: Civil liberties board backs U.S. snooping program, but demands big changes - Washington Times, 28 Sep 23
  • Article: China’s new anti-espionage law spooking foreign firms - Asia Times, 27 Sep 23
  • Article: GOP aims to shut down DHS intelligence board with embattled former Obama officials - Washington Times, 27 Sep 23
  • Article: Hiding in plain sight: Is China’s spaceplane a co-orbital ASAT in disguise? - The Space Review, 25 Sep 23
  • Article: Ukrainian resistance fighters say Russian officers who hadn't been paid by Moscow sold them key intel on the Black Sea Fleet. Missiles then tore through the headquarters. - Business Insider, 25 Sep 23
  • Article: Slovakia swamped by disinformation ahead of parliamentary elections - France24, 28 Sep 23
  • Article: Disinformation most active on X, formerly known as Twitter, EU says - BBC, 26 Sep 23
  • Article: Georgia’s reluctance to move against Russian agent tests its allegiance to west - Financial Times, 30 Sep 23
  • Article: PLA Social Media Warfare and the Cognitive Domain - Jamestown Foundation, 08 Sep 23
  • Article: Crisis in space: The 1973 Yom Kippur War and “crisis reconnaissance” - The Space Review, 02 Oct 23
  • Opinion: Why ‘problems without passports’ especially worry the CIA director - Washington Post, 27 Sep 23

Section IV - DEEPER DIVES, OPINION, ANALYSIS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Section V - Books, Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment, Obituaries

Books — Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked

Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

Employment

Obituaries

Section VI - Events

Upcoming AFIO Events

  • 13 Oct 2023 (Friday), 1030 - 1400 - In-Person Tysons VA - REGISTRATION OPENED for AFIO National Fall Luncheon
  • 16 October 2023 (Monday) 1730 (ET) - New York City - AFIO New York Chapter hosts Dr. Anthony R. Wells on “US-UK Intelligence in an Era of Global Challenges”
  • 26 October 2023, 7:30 pm - In-Person Pasadena, CA - AFIO Los Angeles hosts AFIO National Board Member Everette Jordan, former Deputy Assistant of the Treasury for IC Integration and National Intelligence Manager for Economic Security and Threat Finance for the DNI.
  • 27 October 2023 - Naples, FL - Meeting of the New Southwest Florida Chapter

Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

  • 05 Oct 23, 1800-2130 (ET) - Fireside conversation to discuss Dr. Mike Vickers's new memoir, By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Special Operations, Intelligence, and Strategy. - Washington, DC - PIPS Alumni Network and OSS Society
  • 11 Oct 2023 (Wednesday), 1700-1900 (ET) - The 2nd Annual Cocktails & Codebreakers event - co-hosted by the National Cryptologic Foundation (NCF) and the Intelligence and National Security Foundation (INSF)
  • 14 - 25 April 2024 - Gary Powers' Cold War Espionage Tour of Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary - Travel Dates: April 14 to 25,2024 - 12 days/10 nights

See the AFIO Calendar of Events for scheduling further in the future.



The OSS Society's annual William J. Donovan Award® Dinner, a black tie and dress mess affair, is a distinguished annual gathering of the US intelligence and special operations communities. This year the event will be held at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC, on 21 October 2023. Individual tickets (from $325 to $595 pp) and corporate sponsorships have been opened to AFIO members and their guests.

More information here

Register here



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


The WIN editors thank the following contributors of content for this issue:

GR, LR, KB, TG, CB

Readers are encouraged to suggest material for any section of the WIN to:

winseditor@afio.com

DISCLAIMER


Our editors include a wide range of articles and commentary in the Weekly Intelligence Notes to inform and educate our readers. The views expressed in the articles are purely those of the authors and do not reflect support or endorsement from AFIO. WIN notices about non-AFIO events do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by AFIO.
AFIO does not vet or endorse research inquiries, career announcements, or job offers. We publish reasonable-sounding inquiries and career offerings as a service to our members. We encourage readers to exercise caution and good judgment when responding and to independently verify the source before supplying resumes, career data, or personal information.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES


Readers who encounter problems with links or viewing this newsletter as an email can access
the latest web edition here.

Access CIA's Inhouse Gift Shop



One special benefit of AFIO membership is access to CIA's EAA Store.

After completing the required, quick pre-approval process for all AFIO members described here, you can purchase directly from the EAA online store their unusual logo'd gift items for self or colleagues. EAA on 1 September 2023 released the photo above, which features some of their newest CIA items and other gift suggestions.


FROM THE AFIO STORE

Roy Berkeley's "A Spy's London" - Original U.S. Edition - A Few Unsold Copies Available

In 'this remarkable book' (as intelligence historian and AFIO member Nigel West describes in his Foreword), the reader will be struck by the vibrancy of history made real. Author/AFIO member Roy Berkeley goes behind the facades of ordinary buildings, in the city that West calls 'the espionage capital of the World,' to remind us that the history of intelligence has often been made in such mundane places. With his evocative photographs and compelling observations, The 136 sites are organized into 21 manageable walks. But also a joy to armchair travelers. Among the sites: the modest hotel suite where an eager Red Army colonel poured out his secrets to a team of British and American intelligence officers; the royal residence where one of the most slippery Soviet moles was at home for years; the London home where an MP plotting to appease Hitler was arrested on his front steps in 1940.

A few copies are available at only $20 a copy (postage to a U.S.-based address included). Telephone the office at 703-790-0320 or email julie@afio.com to obtain one of these last copies.

Clearance Sale on Long-Sleeved Polo Shirts with AFIO Logo
Superior quality and shrink resistant; features a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. The shirt color is royal blue.
The sale price is $25 and includes shipping.
Available in men's sizes only:  small, medium, large, extra-large, XXL, and XXXL.
Due to limited quantities, please contact the AFIO National Office for availability of size and to provide payment information.
You may telephone the office at 703-790-0320 or email annettej@afio.com

      

LATEST FROM AFIO

Released exclusively to members 3 October 2023...

Part 2 — The Growing Capability of Foreign Countries to Conduct Large-Scale Espionage within the U.S.


Recorded 19 July 2023

James Bamford, journalist/author, discussing
his latest book, "Spyfail"

Interview Part 2 held Wednesday, 19 July 2023 of James Bamford, award-winning journalist/author, discussing his latest book, Spyfail: Foreign Spies, Moles, Saboteurs, and the Collapse of America's Counterintelligence.
Host: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former Senior CIA Operations Officer. Interviewer: John Quattrocki, AFIO Treasurer, a former Senior FBI Officer

TOPIC: Jim Bamford and John Quattrocki discuss SPYFAIL which, in this second part of the interview series, covers Chinese and some Russian HUMINT, SIGINT, espionage, arrests, convictions, and other covert operations against the U.S. and our allies. Includes review of the expansion of Chinese listening posts in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and now in Cuba.
The interview runs 78 minutes and includes many Q&As.

Spyfail is available here.

Access Part 2 of the James Bamford interview here or click above image.

This, and upcoming AFIO Now videos in 2023, are sponsored by Northwest Financial Advisors.


AFIO National 2024 Board Elections Have Opened

Members... cast your ballot here

[Requires log-in to ensure valid and current membership]

Elections close Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 11:45 p.m. ET


REGISTRATION Nearly Full. A few seats remain.

AFIO National's Fall Luncheon
features fireside chat with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence,
and Jennifer K. Ewbank, the Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation
Friday, 13 October 2023, 10:30am - 2pm - In-Person Tysons VA
Fireside chat with
Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, 
begins at 11:00 a.m.

Lunch served noon to 1 p.m.
Jennifer Ewbank,
Deputy Director of CIA
for Digital Innovation
speaks at 1:00 p.m.

Q&A follows each presentation. Event ends at 2:00 p.m.

Luncheon prices are $60 for Members; $75 for nonmember guests and all Subscribers. Payment by credit card required at time of registration. No mailed checks or at the door or at venue payments accepted or permitted.

Registration opened here and closes when all spaces taken (or NLT 10 October).

Check-in and badge pickup for Registered Attendees begins at 10:30 a.m.
NO registrations or walk-ins at hotel. No payment accepted for this event by mail or at the venue.
Register here. Registration closes 5 pm Monday 10 October.

Though we do not provide special overnight room rates, if you wish to make room reservations at the hotel, do so here.

Cancellation Schedule: AFIO must commit to the hotel facilities and regrets it must charge a cancellation fee. 100% refund until close of registration. No refunds or cancellations thereafter. You will receive a donation receipt for fees forfeited. A donor statement will be sent showing that you made a "gift to AFIO" in such instances. Gifts to AFIO are tax-deductible.

All attendees must be members of AFIO or accompanied by a current member. 

Learn more about becoming a member at www.afio.com.  Questions regarding membership? Contact office at 703-790-0320 or email afio@afio.com

Questions regarding this event to events@afio.com

The 2nd Annual Cocktails & Codebreakers Event
11 October 2023 (Wednesday), 5 - 7 pm ET
co-hosted by the National Cryptologic Foundation (NCF)
and the Intelligence and National Security Foundation (INSF)

Attend to celebrate Men & Women in Cryptology at this 2nd Annual event.
We have also extended the early bird ticket rate of $150 through Tuesday, September 12th.
This year, Cocktails and Codebreakers will celebrate "Men and Women in Cryptology." Following an opening networking reception, The Honorable Ronald S. Moultrie, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (USDI&S) and GEN Paul M. Nakasone, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Director, National Security Agency; Chief, Central Security Service, will participate in a joint Fireside Chat.

The Early Bird & NCF Member Rate of $150.00 is EXTENDED until 12 September 2023

Individual Tickets = Early Bird & Members Rate of $150 - until 12 September 2023
Full Price Tickets = $189 per person (after September 4th)

Event location: The Hotel at Arundel Preserve: 7795 Arundel Mills Blvd, Hanover, MD 21076

Register now, or for more information, do so here.

“From IWP with Love”: An Evening of Espionage - Institute of World Politics
 26 October 2023, 6 - 10 pm - Washington, DC

Join IWP supporters, alumni, and friends for a special Black Tie celebration of The Institute of World Politics! Includes tour of the International Spy Museum.
6:00 PM VIP Exhibit Tours; 6:45 PM General Reception and Dinner Buffet; 7:30 PM Remarks; 8:00 PM Dancing
Exhibits open until 10:00 PM
Options for Attendance:
• You may choose to become a member of the IWP Chancellor's Council (annual donation of $1000 or more) and receive complimentary tickets to all of the Chancellor's Council events, which will take place from October 25-26.
• You may choose to purchase tickets.
• You may choose to become a sponsor.
If you would like to become a sponsor, or if you have questions about becoming a Chancellor's Council member, please email Ariane Sweeney at asweeney@iwp.edu.
Dress: Black Tie or Military Dress Equivalent Optional
Event location: International Spy Museum, 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024
Accommodations: IWP has a room block at the St. Regis for October 24-27, 2023. Deluxe King rooms are $445 per night, and Premier Deluxe King rooms are $465 per night. Book a room online or call 1-888-627-8087. Because these rooms are limited, we encourage you to book early if you plan to attend.
To explore this upcoming event or to purchase a ticket and view sponsorship opportunities, please click here.


"AFIO Now" Video Interviews and Podcasts in 2023 are sponsored by
Northwest Financial Advisors

Click here to watch interviews in the AFIO Now series released in 2023.
View interviews from 2020 to 2022 here.
Watch public-release interviews on our YouTube channel or listen to them in podcast form at the links below.

Log into the member-only area for member-only features.


"AFIO Now" Podcasts

LATEST PODCAST: Interview of Friday, 9 June 2023 of Michael Vickers, former CIA Operations Officer and Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. Host and Interviewer: James Hughes, AFIO President, a former Senior CIA Operations Officer. Mike Vickers and Jim Hughes discuss Mike's remarkable covert operations, strategy, and policy roles up to his senior leadership in DOD as covered in his new memoir: By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy.
The interview runs 42 minutes and includes several Q&As.
Purchase a copy of By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy here

AFIO Podcast here.

Are you too busy to watch an entire AFIO Now episode on YouTube? Would you rather listen in your car or while accomplishing other tasks? You can download or stream episodes on any of the 8 podcasting platforms that host AFIO Now. Search for 'AFIO Podcast' for a selection of the interviews above (public released ones) on:

Podbean; iTunes; Google; Spotify; Amazon Music; Amazon TuneIn + Alexa; iHeartRadio; Pandora


Special Walking Tours Announcements
from SpyGuide Tours Inc.

September is SPY TOUR month!

New York City. Special guest joining "The Spies of Wall Street" starting 05 Sep 23.

Washington, DC. "Georgetown Spy Tour" available Friday evenings starting 08 Sep 23.

Experts guide visitors through the streets of both cities while
sharing contemporary espionage stories, case studies, and history.


***ALSO***

"The January 6th Experience." Saturday 30 September 10a-12:30p. Developed and delivered by an expert in misinformation and trained intelligence analyst, this is the definitive walking tour of the January 6th 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. See the sights of Pennsylvania Avenue and examine the scheme to overturn the 2020 election, the Stop the Steal movement, the fake electors plot and more. Get all of your questions answered. Learn more and book at https://spyher.co and use promo code J6E2023 for $20 off the ticket price, normally $50. - Read more about this tour in the Atlantic Monthly article "What I Learned Retracing the Footsteps of the Capitol Rioters" here.

Visit https://spyher.co to learn more and book all tours.

Ending Soon: Special Hotel Pricing for Valerie Plame's Conference
ONE LAST CHANCE: October 10 is the last day to take advantage of discounted room rates at La Fonda for the 2023 Spies, Lies & Nukes 3-Day Conference in Santa Fe, NM
This unique and intimate conference will be three days this year so that we can bring you more information and more time with our experts.


Spies, Lies & Nukes - Third Conference - Santa Fe, NM

Plan Your Fall Attendance NOW to capture the lower rates

Special Rate Available for AFIO Members Here
10-12 November 2023 - Sante Fe, NM - Spies, Lies & Nukes Conference


We will meet Nov 10-12 at the beautiful La Fonda Resort in Santa Fe, NM. We have added an additional day to this year's conference and EVERYONE is a VIP and invited to attend the VIP reception on Friday evening.

Hear about intriguing, provocative, and sometimes shocking conversations on cyberattacks, covert actions, nuclear scams, how real spies are recruited, and daring operations that changed history from legendary and highly decorated CIA officers who lived in the "wilderness of mirrors" for years.

Speakers for this conference include a former deep cover illegal KGB agent, a former CIA Deputy Director, former CIA Intelligence and Special Ops Officers, a former Assistant Secretary of Defense and others.

See bios of these amazing speakers, conference schedule & topics: www.SpiesLiesNukes.com Tickets include breakfasts and lunches, a VIP reception on Friday evening and all speaker presentations and panels.

La Fonda is holding specially priced rooms for our guests until OCTOBER 10 only. Please purchase your tickets and reserve your rooms while they are still available. This historic and elegant venue provides an intimate meeting space that allows for interactions and discussions, but space is limited.

This third, enhanced running of Spies, Lies & Nukes. Join Valerie Plame and some of her legendary, highly decorated, and experienced CIA colleagues as they pull back the curtain on the real life "wilderness of mirrors" that is international espionage.
Hear from and engage with the best of CIA's spies to better understand today's world: from emergent threats, to never-before-told spy operations, black market nuclear scams, how to recruit a spy, the growth of domestic terrorism, how social media is used in espionage, and keeping your employees and your company safe from foreign spies.

Topics: "Soul Catcher: The Metaphysics of Recruiting a Spy" with Jim Lawler, Former Senior CIA Ops Officer
"Delusion and Illusion in Moscow" with Jonna Mendez in conversation with Valerie Plame, Former Covert CIA Ops Officer
"CIA in the Movies" - Panel;
"China: An Emerging Threat" with Mary Beth Long, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
"Inside Putin's Head" with Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Former Senior CIA Intelligence Officer
"Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA" with Marc Polymeropoulos, Former Senior CIA Ops Officer
"Disinformation Distortions: AI, Deep Fakes, and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Social Media and Espionage" with Alma Katsu, Former Senior CIA and NSA Analyst
"Morality and Ethics in the CIA" with Doug London, Former Senior Officer in the CIA's Clandestine Service
Michael Morrell in conversation with Valerie Plame, Former Covert CIA Ops Officer
"Eliminating Players on the Intelligence Battlefield: Havana Syndrome" with Marc Polymeropoulos, Former Senior CIA Ops Officer
"The End of the Global Nuclear Order" with Valerie Plame, Former Covert CIA Ops Officer
Program also includes: Former Senior CIA Deputy Director; Michael J. Morell

FEE: Regular Sale purchase window: Jun 16 - Nov 2, $1300; Late Sale purchase window: Nov 3 - Nov 10, $1450. Special AFIO rate here.
Ticket price does not include accommodations. More about accommodations here

Tickets include breakfasts, lunches, VIP reception and all speaker presentations and activities.

Conference location: Conference Location: La Fonda On the Plaza, 100 E. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
More information or to register here

Section I - CURRENT INTELLIGENCE NEWS HIGHLIGHTS


Post-Quantum Cryptography Coalition is launched - Intelligence Community News, 27 Sep 23

The data we’re encrypting online today—from financial and personal identification information to military operations and intelligence data—could be quickly decrypted in the future by an adversary with access to a cryptographically relevant quantum computer. To drive progress toward broader understanding and public adoption of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and the National Institute of Science and Technology’s (NIST) PQC algorithms, a community of technologists, researchers, and expert practitioners launched the PQC Coalition. Founding coalition members include IBM Quantum, Microsoft, MITRE, PQShield, SandboxAQ, and University of Waterloo. “Quantum computers may not be here yet, but their impending arrival is already bringing both opportunities and threats to national and economic security,” said Charles Clancy, chief futurist and senior vice president, MITRE, and general manager, MITRE Labs. “Government and industry need to move together with urgency so that sensitive data and communications are not vulnerable to exposure in the future.” (Full article here.)

Menedez Indictment Looks Like Egypt Recruiting Intelligence Source, Say Former CIA Officials - Computer Weekly, 27 Sep 23

Media coverage of embattled New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez’s indictment has focused on things like gold bars and wads of cash found stuffed in his clothing — the cartoonish elements of the corruption allegations leveled by the Department of Justice. National security experts, however, say the indictment’s reference to Egyptian intelligence officials and Menendez’s disclosure of “highly sensitive” and “non-public” information to Egyptian officials suggest that, more than a garden-variety corruption scheme, there may be an intelligence element to the charges. Egypt’s elicitation of information resembles a textbook recruitment pass, an intelligence operation intended to recruit an asset, four former CIA officers told The Intercept. According to the indictment, Menendez, chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was sometimes asked to supply information to an Egyptian businessman who would then communicate it to Egyptian officials. The most sensitive information Menendez is accused of sharing appears to be about staffing at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. (Full article here.)

CIA planning its own ChatGPT-style tool, weeks after its tech chief urged users to treat AI like their 'crazy, drunk friend' - Business Insider, 27 Sep 23

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is launching an AI-powered tool similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The AI program is set to be used by analysts to give them better access to open-source intelligence and help their research, Bloomberg reported. The tool will used across the 18-agency US intelligence community, including those run by branches of the military, per the report. "We've gone from newspapers and radio, to newspapers and television, to newspapers and cable television, to basic internet, to big data, and it just keeps going," Randy Nixon, director of the CIA's Open-Source Enterprise division, told Bloomberg. "We have to find the needles in the needle field." (Full article here.)

Taliban weighs using US mass surveillance plan, met with China's Huawei - Reuters, 24 Sep 23

The Taliban are creating a large-scale camera surveillance network for Afghan cities that could involve repurposing a plan crafted by the Americans before their 2021 pullout, an interior ministry spokesman told Reuters, as authorities seek to supplement thousands of cameras already across the capital, Kabul. The Taliban administration — which has publicly said it is focused on restoring security and clamping down on Islamic State, which has claimed many major attacks in Afghan cities — has also consulted with Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei about potential cooperation, the spokesman said. Preventing attacks by international militant groups — including prominent organisations such as Islamic State — is at the heart of the interaction between the Taliban and many foreign nations, including the U.S. and China, according to readouts from those meetings. But some analysts question the cash-strapped regime's ability to fund the program, and rights groups have expressed concern that any resources will be used to crackdown on protesters. (Full article here.)

NSA chief announces new AI Security Center, ‘focal point’ for AI use by government, defense industry - Breaking Defense, 28 Sep 23

The National Security Agency is establishing what its director called an “AI Security Center” within the agency’s Cybersecurity Collaboration Center in order to consolidate all of its artificial intelligence security-related efforts, the agency’s head said today. “The AI Security Center will become NSA’s focal point for leveraging foreign intelligence insights, contributing to the development of best practices, guidelines, principles, evaluation methodology and risk frameworks for AI security, with an end goal of promoting the secure development, integration and adoption of AI capabilities within our national security systems and our defense industrial base,” Gen. Paul Nakasone said today at an event hosted by the National Press Club. The need for the new entity was born out of a study recently completed by the NSA, which found that the agency needed to focus on AI security as adversaries are moving quickly to exploit vulnerabilities in US and allied AI systems. Nakasone said today the AI Security Center will be fundamental to “understanding our threat.” (Full article here.)

Sikh leader's murder in Canada shines spotlight on shadowy Indian spy agency - France24, 26 Sep 23

A week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s bombshell allegations linking India to the June killing of a Canadian Sikh activist, the diplomatic crisis shows no signs of petering out. Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot and killed June 18 by two masked men outside a gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship, in British Columbia in what has been described as a coordinated attack. In his parliamentary address last week, Trudeau said that Canadian security services were investigating “credible allegations of a potential link” between Indian government agents and the death of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, prompting indignation in India. Hundreds of Sikh protesters rallied Monday outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada to denounce Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The FBI has warned prominent Sikhs in the United States that they, too, may be in danger. The Modi administration, which labeled Nijjar a “terrorist” in 2020, has rejected Canada’s allegations as “absurd”. (Full article here.)

DHS intelligence office to get outside help as Congress debates future authorities - Federal News Network, 25 Sep 23

A group of former intelligence officials, as well as privacy and civil liberties advocates, will advise the Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence office, as the future of the office’s authorities is debated in Congress. DHS announced the formation of the Homeland Intelligence Experts Group last week. The group will provide “their unique perspectives on the federal government’s intelligence enterprise” to DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) as well as the Office of the Counterterrorism Coordinator. The members of the group are wide ranging, including former CIA Director John Brennan and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, as well as Elisa Massimino, the executive director of Georgetown Law’s Human Rights Institute, and Gregory Nojeim, senior counsel and director of the Security and Surveillance Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology. (Full article here.)

Iran’s IRGC successfully puts third imaging satellite into orbit - Al Jazeera, 27 Sep 23

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has successfully put a third satellite into orbit, according to officials. Two officials confirmed on Wednesday that the aerospace division of the elite military force has put the third version of the imaging satellite Nour, which means “light” in Persian, into low orbit. The Noor-3 was reportedly placed in an orbit 450km (280 miles) from the surface of the Earth and, like its predecessors, was taken to space using a Qased – meaning “messenger” – carrier developed by the IRGC. Western officials did not immediately comment on the launch on Wednesday. The first version of the Nour was successfully launched in April 2020 into an orbit 425km (265 miles) above the Earth. It became the first military reconnaissance satellite launched by Iran after several failed attempts. The second version reached a low orbit of 500km (310 miles) in early 2022 using the mixed-fuel carrier. (Full article here.)

Russia Claims Western Intelligence Aided Ukraine in Striking Crimea Navy HQ - The Moscow Times, 27 Sep 23

Moscow on Wednesday accused Washington and London of helping Ukraine coordinate a missile strike on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in annexed Crimea last week. "There is not the slightest doubt that the attack was planned in advance using Western intelligence assets, NATO satellite equipment and reconnaissance aircraft," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. She further claimed that the missile strike was carried out "in close coordination with the American and British intelligence services." Ukraine took responsibility for the unprecedented missile attack that on Friday struck the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in the port city of Sevastopol, sparking a huge fire. Russia's Defense Ministry said that the attack left one Russian serviceman missing, while Kyiv claimed that the strike killed 34 officers, including the fleet commander Viktor Sokolov. (Full article here.)

Secretary Mayorkas Announces Establishment of Homeland Intelligence Experts Group - Department of Homeland Security, 19 Sep 23

Today, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) Ken Wainstein, and Counterterrorism Coordinator Nicholas Rasmussen announced the establishment of the Homeland Intelligence Experts Group (Experts Group). The group is comprised of private sector experts who will provide their unique perspectives on the federal government’s intelligence enterprise to DHS’s I&A and the Office of the Counterterrorism Coordinator. “The security of the American people depends on our capacity to collect, generate, and disseminate actionable intelligence to our federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, campus, and private sector partners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “I express my deep gratitude to these distinguished individuals for dedicating their exceptional expertise, experience, and vision to our critical mission.” “The Homeland Intelligence Experts Group is being formed at a time of unprecedented challenge, with the U.S. intelligence enterprise facing threats from a range of malign actors, to include foreign nation-state adversaries, domestic violent extremists, cyber criminals, drug-trafficking cartels and other transnational criminal organizations,” said Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Ken Wainstein. “The Experts Group will be an invaluable asset as we navigate through this evolving threat and operating environment and continue to strengthen our efforts to protect the Homeland.” (Full article here.)

Counterespionage Corner - Recent Arrests, Convictions, Expulsions, and more...

  • B.C. premier says Ottawa has promised changes are coming to Canada's espionage law - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 27 Sep 23
  • China jails Taiwanese citizen for 4 years on espionage charges - AA, 27 Sep 23
  • The hunt for Interpol's most wanted: Inside the murky world of the smooth-talking spy who 'masterminded UK espionage ring', brought down Wirecard tech firm, held chemical formula for Novichok and hosted parties for spies - Daily Mail, 28 Sep 23
  • Espionage trial of top RCMP agent to test Canada's competence in handling spy cases - National Post, 01 Oct 23
  • Israel says it foiled Iranian plot to target, spy on senior Israeli politicians - San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep 23

Cyberespionage Collection - Newly Identified Actors and Operations, Countermeasures, Policy, other...



Section II - REGULARLY FEATURED PODCASTS, BROADCASTS, NEWSLETTERS


The Latest from International Spy Museum Historian Andrew Hammond, PhD.

Spycast is the official podcast of the International Spy Museum and hosts interviews with intelligence experts on matters of HUMINT, SIGINT, IMINT, OSINT, and GEOINT. Spycast is hosted by historian Andrew Hammond, PhD.

26 Sep | “First of Many…America’s First Female Intelligence Agency Chief” – with former NGA Director Letitia “Tish” Long Letitia “Tish” Long joins Andrew to discuss her time as the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Tish was the first woman to be appointed director of an American intelligence agency.


Previous episode:

19 Sep | “Former Senior Indian Intelligence Officer” – R&AW Special Secretary Vappala Balachandran


The Latest Insights from Former CIA Acting Deputy Director for Operations Jack Devine.

In Other News The proprietary analytic newsletter crafted for The Arkin Group's private clients by former CIA Acting Deputy Director for Operations Jack Devine.

29 Sep | The West is more than a fair-weather friend to Ukraine, and the larger battle is about more than territorial gains. While Ukraine’s battlefield progress is understandably going to be limited by some of Russia’s tougher defensive lines, as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg remarked a few weeks ago, “The reality is that Ukrainians are actually exceeding expectation again and again.” Contrary to media takes that try to paint Ukraine’s counteroffensive as disappointing, Stoltenberg recognizes what Ukraine has been up against and puts its progress into perspective. He also highlights that Ukraine isn’t the only one who’s exceeded expectations in this fight- so have the EU and NATO. The United States also recognizes the grave geopolitical risk that a Putin victory would entail, and there’s enough bipartisan support for Ukraine within the US political establishment to keep this support going for a long time. (Full version available to AFIO members in the coming days here.)

Previous Issue:

22 Sep | This week’s United Nations General Assembly highlighted the challenges that international institutions are facing and portends further unraveling.



Daily Analysis of Security Issues and Geopolitical Trends

Intel Brief The Soufan Center's flagship, daily analytical product focused on complex security issues and geopolitical trends that may shape regional or international affairs. The Soufan Center was founded by former FBI Special Agent and Soufan Group CEO Ali Soufan.

03 Oct | Pakistan Focuses on Domestic Turmoil and Avoids Geopolitical Conflict

Pakistan is facing a difficult, although not necessarily unprecedented, period of domestic turmoil as popular, populist leaders struggle for power with established politicians backed by Pakistan’s military. The power struggle revolves around the fate of the populist former prime minister and head of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party (PTI), Imran Khan. Despite Khan’s popularity, particularly among the youth and other reform-minded segments of the population, the dynastic civilian political establishment, backed by the military, ousted Khan as prime minister in April 2022. Despite Khan’s ability to mobilize thousands of followers in street demonstrations, his opponents used a wide variety of court filings to sideline him from politics entirely. Earlier this year, at the behest of Khan’s opponents, authorities may have arrested more than thirteen thousand PTI activists and supporters, according to a former minister under Khan and a PTI official. A May report by Human Rights Watch suggests those numbers may be closer to four thousand. Authorities intimidated others into leaving the party entirely – often threatening to charge them with fomenting terrorism. A media blackout prevents Khan’s name from being mentioned on television. The 70-year-old Khan remains incarcerated for corruption and is disqualified from running in the national elections that have been postponed from October to January because of the turmoil caused by the national power struggle.

02 Oct | New Violence Jeopardizes Yemen Peace Deal

29 Sep | Rumors Swirl Amidst the Disappearance of Senior Chinese Officials

28 Sep | Assad Attempts to Cozy Up to China, Seeks Help Rebuilding Syria

27 Sep | Iran’s Strategic Partnership with Russia Continues to Expand

26 Sep | How Will Europe’s Cost-of-Living Crisis Impact Political Stability?



Analysis of Global Security Events with WTOP National Security Correspondent JJ Green

Inside the SCIF - 28 Sep - Russian Sabotage in the U.S., Estonian Intelligence Service Report, Moscow and Wagner in Africa, Disinformation Cyber, and more...




Target USA Podcast - 29 Sep - Slovakia's Election

The Hunt Broadcast - 27 Sep - DHS encourages people to take the pledge to report suspicious activity





The Latest Insights from Jeff Stein and Colleagues in SpyTalk

29 Sep | Let's Not Forget Dianne Feinstein's Moral Clarity on Torture - Jeff Stein
The debate over the use of torture in the post-9/11 era has been one of the most contentious and morally charged issues in American politics. At the center of this storm stood Senator Dianne Feinstein, a figure whose principled stand and unwavering commitment to transparency redefined the discourse surrounding CIA torture practices. It’s a shame that the frailty of Feinstein, who died Thursday night at age 90, “became a bleak sideshow,” as Mark Leibovich put it in The Atlantic, as she shuffled about the Senate in her final months, laid low by repeated illnesses and hospitalizations and myriad other woes, all of which sapped not just her physical strength but her mental acuity and led to cringe-worthy exchanges with reporters and committee witnesses. (Full article here.)

28 Sep | Anatomy of a Smear - Jonathan Broder
In the five months since Robert Malley, President Biden’s special envoy for Iran, was stripped of his top secret security clearance and placed on unpaid leave, the Biden administration has refused to answer any questions about his mysterious case. Both the White House and the State Department, Malley’s nominal employer, have declined comment on Malley’s alleged mishandling of classified material and “temporary” loss of his security clearance. Likewise, the FBI, which has reportedly opened an investigation, also won’t comment. Malley himself, now lecturing on foreign policy at Princeton and Yale, has declined to address his case since issuing an optimistic statement after he was benched in late June. (Full article here.)

26 Sep | CIA Silent on the Looming Shutdown - Jeff Stein
As befits a secret service, the CIA doesn’t want to talk how it’s going to handle the looming government shutdown. But it will quietly cope, CIA veterans say, as it has 14 times since Ronald Reagan became president in 1981 and Republicans turned federal agency shutdowns into a regular Washington clown show. The last one, in late 2018, over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to build a border wall, lasted 34 days and caused $3 billion in permanent losses, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The current budget demands by hard-right “Freedom Caucus” Republicans have everything to do social wedge issues and nothing to do with entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the major engines driving the soaring national debt. (Full article here.)


To support SpyTalk, subscribe here.



Section III - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS


Article: Civil liberties board backs U.S. snooping program, but demands big changes - Washington Times, 28 Sep 23

The civil liberties board urged Congress on Thursday to renew the government’s top snooping tool, which scoops up communications from thousands of targets, saying that even with all its flaws, the program has sniffed out serious terrorist threats to the U.S. All five members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board agreed on the value of what is known as the Section 702 program but said they have serious questions about its reach into Americans’ lives. Their most important recommendation was to require the FBI and other agencies to prove “probable cause” to a court before checking an American’s name against the database. (Read full report here.)

Article: China’s new anti-espionage law spooking foreign firms - Asia Times, 27 Sep 23

Earlier this year, China updated its anti-espionage law amid an intensifying rivalry with the US and growing distrust of the Western-led international order. The law broadens the scope beyond what it originally sought to prohibit – leaks of state secrets and intelligence – to include any “documents, data, materials, or items related to national security and interests.” The law also empowers authorities with new surveillance powers. These include the ability to access people’s emails or social media accounts on electronic devices. The Chinese government is clearly using the new catch-all provision to cast a wider net to identify “spies.” It is targeting not only Westerners working in China, but also Chinese nationals who work for foreign companies or organizations or interact with foreigners in any way. The law is more than just theoretical – it has teeth. Last month, a new national campaign was launched with rewards of up to 500,000 renminbi (US$68,400) for anyone reporting suspicious individuals or suspected espionage activities. (Read full report here.)

Article: GOP aims to shut down DHS intelligence board with embattled former Obama officials - Washington Times, 27 Sep 23

House Republicans said Wednesday they will try to shut down a new Homeland Security intelligence panel, whose members include several Obama administration figures who spread disinformation about Hunter Biden’s laptop. The chief targets are James Clapper, who was director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, who ran the Central Intelligence Agency. They took part in an effort during the 2020 campaign to castigate Hunter Biden’s laptop as a Russian disinformation plot, when in fact it was authentic. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas earlier this month named them to his new Homeland Intelligence Experts Group. Rep. August Pfluger, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee’s subcommittee on intelligence, said the panel is a waste of resources and its members are an embarrassment. “These men abused their positions of power perpetuating the Russia Hoax and serving as partisan operatives for the Democrat Party,” the Texas Republican said. (Read full report here.)

Article: Hiding in plain sight: Is China’s spaceplane a co-orbital ASAT in disguise? - The Space Review, 25 Sep 23

On August 4, 2022, a Chinese reusable autonomous spaceplane was launched into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on a Long March 2F (CZ-2F/T) rocket. Several weeks later, on August 26, a second spaceplane launched on a suborbital flight. Although the suborbital flight was relatively short, the orbital spaceplane flew a mission that lasted 276 days before returning to Earth on May 8, 2023. During its flight, the spaceplane, known as Shenlong, released an object that moved in coordination with its orbit. Given China’s motivation to compete with the US in space capability, it is likely that China’s recent launch of its spaceplanes was a direct response to the X-37B flights—a way to maintain competition with a space power like the US. Although the Chinese news service Xinhua released a statement after the landing, no details were given concerning the operations in orbit, the objects released, or the spaceplane’s mission. Given the secretive nature of China’s spaceplane program, Shenlong could be the quiet establishment of China’s first co-orbital antisatellite (ASAT) platform. When considering the possibility of whether the recent spaceplane was an ASAT in disguise, we need to answer two questions: Does China have the technological capability to establish a co-orbital ASAT platform? And is there evidence to suggest China has the intention to do so? (Read full report here.)

Article: Ukrainian resistance fighters say Russian officers who hadn't been paid by Moscow sold them key intel on the Black Sea Fleet. Missiles then tore through the headquarters. - Business Insider, 25 Sep 23

After missing their anticipated salary payments, Russian officers leaked sensitive information about Moscow's Black Sea Fleet to a Ukrainian partisan movement, Ukrainian media reported, revealing the intelligence later paved the way for a devastating missile strike on the fleet's headquarters in the occupied Crimean Peninsula. Ukrainian resistance fighters told the Kyiv Post in a recent interview that they managed to gather information about high-ranking Russian commanders from officers who were frustrated by Moscow's failure to pay their salaries on time. They said the officers were financially compensated in exchange for the information, which was then passed along to state agencies and reportedly used to plan last week's attack on the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters. (Read full report here.)

Article: Slovakia swamped by disinformation ahead of parliamentary elections - France24, 28 Sep 23

Slovakia has been coming under a barrage of online disinformation. Days before the parliamentary elections of September 30 that could lead to closer relations between this country of 5.4 million people and Moscow, voters have been flooded with disinformation from home and abroad, especially Russia. “The disinformation ecosystem in Slovakia ... is reaching its zenith today" ahead of the vote, said Peter Duboczi, editor-in-chief at Infosecurity.sk, in an interview with AFP. Reset, a London-based non-profit, said it had registered more than 365,000 election-related disinformation posts on Slovak social media in the first two weeks of September. The posts violating social media terms of service and containing disinformation had generated more than five times as much exposure as an average post, according to the non-profit. (Read full report here.)

Article: Disinformation most active on X, formerly known as Twitter, EU says - BBC, 26 Sep 23

X, formerly Twitter, has the biggest proportion of disinformation of six big social networks, a European Commission study has suggested. It examined over 6,000 unique social media posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube. The study analysed content in three countries deemed particularly at risk to disinformation - Spain, Poland and Slovakia. The BBC has approached X for comment. "My message for [X] is: you have to comply with the hard law. We'll be watching what you're doing," the EU's Values and Transparency Commissioner Vera Jourova warned The disinformation study which prompted Ms Jourova's comments covered Spain, Poland and Slovakia, countries at risk of being targeted by disinformation due to elections or proximity to the war in Ukraine. The platform with the largest "ratio of discoverability" of disinformation - meaning the proportion of sensitive content made up of disinformation - was Twitter. YouTube had the lowest, the study suggested. (Read full report here.)

Article: Georgia’s reluctance to move against Russian agent tests its allegiance to west - Financial Times, 30 Sep 23

The US State Department earlier this month added Otar Partskhaladze, who briefly served as Georgia’s chief prosecutor, to its sanctions list, citing help he had allegedly received from Russia’s FSB security service in becoming a Russian citizen and saying that, in return, he had agreed “to influence Georgian society and politics for the benefit of Russia”. After initially backing the asset freeze that the sanctions entail, Georgia’s central bank changed its compliance rules, effectively shielding Partskhaladze. Three senior bankers resigned in protest at the changes. A virulent domestic debate ensued on why the ruling Georgian Dream party was seemingly prepared to protect figures linked to its founding oligarch, Bidzina Ivanishvili, at the expense of alienating its international partners. “No one believes that the central bank is independent. It’s part of the government,” said Alexandre Rakviashvili, an economist and MP for the libertarian political party, Girchi. “Partskhaladze is a very important person in our country,” he added. “He was prosecutor-general and has close ties with Ivanishvili.” (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a one time free subscription or sit behind a paywall.)

Article: PLA Social Media Warfare and the Cognitive Domain - Jamestown Foundation, 08 Sep 23

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has come to recognize the important role of social media in modern conflict and peacetime operations. As such, PLA researchers have begun using the term “social media warfare” (社交媒体战) to describe the extension of non-kinetic military activities onto social media by two or more opposing sides. This term is part of an ongoing conceptual expansion of the scope of warfare in Chinese military thought in which social media is viewed as another space for conflict and not just another channel for distributing propaganda. While the term “social media warfare” does not represent PLA doctrine, its emergence does indicate that the Chinese military finds these activities important enough to raise awareness of them amongst its rank and file. Together with other evidence, this suggests the PLA is working to better incorporate social media into its operations. This article provides an overview of PLA thinking on social media warfare, including its emergence in PLA literature, its theoretical basis, and PLA lessons derived from observations of foreign examples of social media’s role in modern warfare. This article does not seek to provide a comprehensive review of PLA thinking about social media’s role in military operations, but outlines one part of this conceptual view. (Read full report here.)

Article: Crisis in space: The 1973 Yom Kippur War and “crisis reconnaissance” - The Space Review, 02 Oct 23

On October 6, 1973, tanks from Syria and Egypt rolled on Israeli-occupied territory as artillery bombarded Israeli military targets. At the same time, aircraft from these countries launched multiple strikes. The attack came during the Yom Kippur holiday, catching the Israelis—and America’s political leaders—by surprise. During three weeks of conflict, the Soviet Union operated six reconnaissance satellites to return photographs of the battle, whereas the United States had only one, which returned its imagery a day after the attack started. The Soviets’ surge reconnaissance capability, and the lack of US intelligence on the war, startled American political and military leadership. Perhaps some of them realized that if they had only made a different decision two and a half years earlier, the United States could have had extensive satellite reconnaissance of the war zone. (Read full report here.)

Article: How to Hamstring U.S. Intelligence on Section 702 A federal civil liberties board has forgotten the lessons of 9/11 - Wall Street Journal, 29 Sep 23

Congress is a mess these days, but can it at least act to protect U.S. security? That test will arrive soon as Congress considers whether to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The ideas in a report on the program released Thursday by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) would leave the U.S. vulnerable. The 702 program lets the government surveil foreigners outside the U.S. for the purposes of national security. When foreigners communicate with people inside the U.S., the information is incidentally collected and those U.S. connections may later be queried by law enforcement. Judicious applications of that power shouldn’t be a problem, but recent abuses by the Federal Bureau of Investigation have called the surveillance into question. (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a one time free subscription or sit behind a paywall.)

Opinion: Why ‘problems without passports’ especially worry the CIA director - Washington Post, 27 Sep 23

William J. Burns, 67, the first career diplomat to serve as CIA director, is calm in the eye of the unending storm of international crises, which involves what he called, at a July conference in England, “problems without passports,” including pandemics. Hostile potential uses of biotechnology, including engineered viruses, are, Burns thinks, “among the scariest things.” Putin’s invasion has been, Burns says, a strategic blunder with Russia’s “military weaknesses laid bare; its economy badly damaged for years to come; its future as a junior partner and economic colony of China being shaped by Putin’s mistakes; its revanchist ambitions blunted by a NATO which has only grown bigger and stronger.” (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a one time free subscription or sit behind a paywall.)



Section IV - DEEPER DIVES, OPINION, ANALYSIS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE


Shaping the Future: How to Drive Change in the Intelligence Community - Clearance Jobs, 27 Sep 2023

At the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) annual symposium, The New IC, retired CIA Senior Executive, Carmen Medina shared the secret sauce to bringing about change in the Intelligence Community (IC). She asked why it is so hard for the IC to make progress with diversity. She shared that the key to stop having the same discussion each year and evolve as a community is to make diversity (or any other necessary change) mission critical. Medina pointed out that the IC has often put itself at war with modernity and new technology – the very things that are becoming essential to human life. However, the key to bringing change is to make the change critical to the overall mission. Of course, there are hurdles to implementing change. (Full report here.)

The history of espionage shows how spying contributes to a free society - The Globe and Mail, 29 Sep 23

Citizens of liberal democracies sometimes complain that their governments engage in spying. Secrets can bother people, after all. How dare my government keep secrets from me? But keeping tabs on other countries’ potential threats – that is, spying on them – necessarily involves keeping secrets. Espionage can be an unsavoury business. Spies break laws that everyone else must follow. Of course, if James Bond dutifully obeyed the speed limit, then he wouldn’t be 007. But when spies illegally snoop on mail and destabilize legitimate governments, it fuels conspiracy theories and threatens civic order. Is there a defence for secret intel? By looking to the history of espionage, we get a good idea how the Great Game works, and what spycraft contributes to a free society. The archives of Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., hold the recently declassified papers of the Nazi-fighting British superspy Dr. Winthrop Pickard Bell of Halifax. An ambassador, journalist, agent handler and intelligence analyst are usually different people. Bell (no relation) was all of them at once. (Full report here.)

Unveiling the stealthy intrusion: Iran's espionage in US policy - Israel National News, 01 Oct 23

In the intricate world of global politics and security, the yearning for insights, foresight, and preparedness stands as an imperative pillar. The U.S. Intelligence Community, during the Biden Presidency in 2021, 2022, and 2023, undeniably predicted the looming influence and intelligence threat posed by Iran. The professionals meticulously and continually warned the White House and the esteemed intelligence committees of the House and Senate, reflecting a proactive approach toward national security. The reports from 2021 to 2023 present a chilling narrative of Iran's evolving capabilities, particularly in espionage. The growing expertise and readiness of Iran to engage in aggressive intelligence operations position it as a significant menace to the security of not just the U.S. but also its allied networks and data. Iran's opportunistic approach to infiltrations, showcased by recent incidents, highlights the nation's resolve to target countries with stronger capabilities, challenging the conventional notions of power dynamics. (Full report here.)

Global Engagement Center Special Report: How the People’s Republic of China Seeks to Reshape the Global Information Environment - U.S. Department of State, 28 Sep 23

Every country should have the ability to tell its story to the world. However, a nation’s narrative should be based on facts and rise and fall on its own merits. The PRC employs a variety of deceptive and coercive methods as it attempts to influence the international information environment. Beijing’s information manipulation spans the use of propaganda, disinformation, and censorship. Unchecked, the PRC’s efforts will reshape the global information landscape, creating biases and gaps that could even lead nations to make decisions that subordinate their economic and security interests to Beijing’s. (Full report here.)

The role of OSINT in understanding VEOs (45 mins) - Jane's Podcast, 18 Sep 23

Dr Joana Cook and Dr Shiraz Maher authors of 'The Rule is for None but Allah: Islamist Approaches to Governance' join Harry Kemsley and Sean Corbett to discuss the role that OSINT has to play in understanding violent extremist organisations and the challenges in doing so. (Listen here.)

A Conversation on Domestic Intelligence with Kenneth Wainstein (77 mins) - Lawfare Podcast, 27 Sep 23

On September 19, Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security, Kenneth Wainstein, gave a speech at the Brookings Institution on the current threat environment and the role of the Department of Homeland Security's Intelligence and Analysis Office (I&A) in confronting it. Following the speech, Lawfare Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Wittes and Wainstein sat down for a Q&A, both between them and with the live audience at Falk Auditorium at the Brookings Institution. It's a wide-ranging conversation about the lessons of 9/11, how we seem to have forgotten them in certain respects, current congressional efforts to rein in I&A’s intelligence-gathering activities domestically, and the post-Jan. 6 need for those authorities. (Listen here.)

India’s RAW deal - Wesley Wark's National Security and Intelligence Newsletter, 25 Sep 23

The Canadian Prime Minister revealed, on his recent trip to the UN, that we wanted two outcomes from the assassination of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an activist for the cause of an independent Sikh homeland, “Khalistan,” on June 18, 2023. Justin Trudeau told the New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof that we wanted to have a “number of people thrown in jail.” The other desired outcome is a “series of lessons learned and changes made to the way Indian intelligence services operate.” The first outcome will depend on an RCMP investigation and on the possibilities of catching and charging the perpetrators and successfully pursuing recourse through the Canadian judicial system. The second outcome depends on India getting the message, feeling real and sustained pressure from a determined coalition of allied states, and finding ways to act that do not threaten the current stature or future electoral prospects of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Above all, the Indian government will need to rethink its calculations about the conduct of covert operations abroad, especially covert operations that reach well beyond India’s so-called “near abroad.” In doing so it will have to weigh reputational damage and confront the reality that the doctrine of “plausible deniability” that attends covert operations can sometimes provide little real shelter. (Full report here.)

Wellbeing Matters: The Evolution of Mental Health in the Intelligence Community - Clearance Jobs, 27 Sep 23

For years, national security leaders have pushed efforts to remove the stigma that has surrounded mental health and the security clearance process. During the morning panel discussion at INSA’s The New IC, NCSC Assistant Director for Special Security Directorate Mark Frownfelter emphasized the value in seeking mental help. He said, “It’s a sign of strength.” For years, clearance holders and applicants were fearful of sharing any mental health struggles, often not pursuing help because they were afraid it would impact their security clearance status. Panel moderator and Iron Butterfly Media co-founder Megan Jaffer asked panelists to share stories and efforts that highlight the change in the IC’s approach to wellbeing – especially focusing on mental health. Leaders continue to encourage the cleared community to not feel like they can’t share mental health struggles. Leaders emphasize that reality is often the opposite of impulse: not seeking help could have a negative impact on security clearance results. CIA Director of the Center for Global Health Services Dr. Victoria Hoiles said, “The things that we ask people to do can have an impact. We are focused on their wellbeing and directed specific resources to provide support.” (Full report here.)

Which Companies Own the Most Satellites? - Visual Capitalist, 23 Sep 23

Nearly 7,000 satellites orbit the Earth, serving vital functions such as communication, navigation, and scientific research. In 2022 alone, more than 150 launches took place, sending new instruments into space, with many more expected over the next decade. But who owns these objects? In this graphic, we utilize data from the Union of Concerned Scientists to highlight the leaders in satellite technology. (Access visual tool and full report here.)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recent Content

True Intelligence Matters in Film - Documentary - Spy Ops: Operation Wrath of God Part II - Marek Bures (08 Sep 23)

Mossad continues its campaign of covert assassinations of Palestinian leaders, including car bombs and amphibious operations.

More information about this based-on-true-events production here.





Walking Tours - Washington, DC - Sundays (Dates/Times Vary)

Former intelligence officers guide visitors on two morning and afternoon espionage-themed walking tours: "Spies of Embassy Row" and "Spies of Georgetown." For more information and booking, click here or contact rosanna@spyher.co



Section V - Books, Research Requests, Employment, Obituaries


Books — Forthcoming, Newly Released, Overlooked


Queen of Cuba: An FBI Agent's Insider Account of the Spy Who Evaded Detection for 17 Years
by Peter Lapp and Kelly Kennedy
(Post Hill Press Press, 14 Nov 23)

U.S. government officials knew they had a spy. But it never occurred to them it was a woman—and certainly not a superstar Defense Intelligence Agency employee known as “the Queen of Cuba.” Ana Montes had spent seventeen years spying for the Cubans. She had been raised in a patriotic Puerto Rican household: Her father, a psychiatrist, was a former colonel in the U.S. Army. Her sister worked as a translator for the FBI and helped break up a ring of Cuban spies in Miami. Her brother was also a loyal FBI agent. Montes impressed her bosses, but in secret, spent her breaks memorizing top secret documents before sending them to the Cuban government. She received no payment, even as one of her missives could have brought her the death penalty. She also listened to anxiety-relief tapes, took medication, and saw a psychiatrist. She dreamed of a normal life where she could work a job she enjoyed. She dreamed of getting married, and even had a man in mind: a defense analyst on the Cuba account for Southern Command. He had no idea that, three times a week, Montes pulled a short-wave radio from her closet and received encrypted messages from Cuba. After the 9/11 attacks, Cuba wanted Montes to continue her work. They couldn’t know the FBI was already on to her. Retired FBI agent Peter J. Lapp explains the clues—including never-released information—that led their team to catch one of the United States’ most dangerous spies.

Order book here.


In the Labyrinth of the KGB: Ukraine's Intelligentsia in the 1960s–1970s
by Olga Bertelsen
(Lexington Books, 15 Feb 22)

This book focuses on the generation of the sixties and seventies in Kharkiv, Soviet Ukraine, a milieu of writers who lived through the Thaw and the processes of de-Stalinization and re-Stalinization. Special attention is paid to KGB operations against what came to be known as the dissident milieu, and the interaction of Ukrainians, Jews, and Russians in the movement, their persona friendships, formal and informal interactions, and the ways they dealt with repression and arrests. This study demonstrates that the KGB unintentionally facilitated the transnational and intercultural links among the Kharkiv multi-ethnic community of writers and their mutual enrichment. Post-Khrushchev Kharkiv is analyzed as a political space and a place of state violence aimed at combating Ukrainian nationalism and Zionism, two major targets in the 1960s–1970s. Despite their various cultural and social backgrounds, the Kharkiv literati might be identified as a distinct bohemian group possessing shared aesthetic and political values that emerged as the result of de-Stalinization under Khrushchev. Archival documents, diaries, and memoirs suggest that the 1960s–1970s was a period of intense KGB operations, “active measures” designed to disrupt a community of intellectuals and to fragment friendships, bonds, and support among Ukrainians, Russians, and Jews along ethnic lines domestically and abroad.

Order book here.


National Security Intelligence and Ethics (Studies in Intelligence)
by Seumas Miller (Editor), Mitt Regan (Editor), Patrick F. Walsh (Editor)
(Studies in Intelligence, 28 Nov 21)

This volume examines the ethical issues that arise as a result of national security intelligence collection and analysis. Powerful new technologies enable the collection, communication and analysis of national security data on an unprecedented scale. Data collection now plays a central role in intelligence practice, yet this development raises a host of ethical and national security problems, such as privacy; autonomy; threats to national security and democracy by foreign states; and accountability for liberal democracies. This volume provides a comprehensive set of in-depth ethical analyses of these problems by combining contributions from both ethics scholars and intelligence practitioners. It provides the reader with a practical understanding of relevant operations, the issues that they raise and analysis of how responses to these issues can be informed by a commitment to liberal democratic values. This combination of perspectives is crucial in providing an informed appreciation of ethical challenges that is also grounded in the realities of the practice of intelligence. This book will be of great interest to all students of intelligence studies, ethics, security studies, foreign policy and international relations.

Order book here.


Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

Call for Information: Author drafting a book on the Clinton administration seeks contact with the person who served as COS Manila in November 1996 for the purpose of background research. Members who can identify the COS and/or are in contact with him, please forward this request to the COS or contact the author. Responses may be sent to dpluchinsky@rocketmail.com.

Call for Information: Seeking information on, Sgt Major Charles “Chuck” Remagen, assigned to MACV/SOG in Vietnam 67-68. Seek details about his role as a Sgt Major with MACV “Studies and Observations Group in Vietnam 7/1/67 to 1/21/68. Responses may be sent to magen@hotmail.com.

Call for Information: Child of Roger O. Brady, a CIA psychologist 1951-1979, seeks information about his life. He served in Saipan and Lima, Peru. He was assigned to the Department of Psychology. Please contact Kate Brady Moore at mooreod@aol.com.

Call for Sources: Intelligence officers in Jordan between 1999-2022

Author Aaron Magid, who is writing on a book about King Abdullah, is looking to interview intelligence officers who were posted in Jordan in the 1999-2022 timeframe. He can be contacted at aaron.magid1@gmail.com.

Call for Sources: Cyprus 1974

A British history journalist, Andrew Southam, is writing a book about events in Cyprus 1974, which saw an attempted coup against president Archbishop Makarios, two interventions by Turkey, the fall of the Greek Junta, the cutting of aid to Turkey and the assassination of Ambassador Ron Davies; and contributed to the murder a year later of Athens CIA station chief Dick Welch besides other British, Greek and American officials over the subsequent 27 years. This work is an accurate narrative of events (initially called ‘Cyprus’74, no control, no conspiracy’), rebutting with evidence various conspiracy allegations of US and/or British collusion with either Greece or Turkey. He would warmly welcome speaking to any intelligence officers who played a role in these events. He can be contacted at andrew2southam@yahoo.co.uk.

Call for Information: Rueben Efron (1911-1993), former CIA translator, HTLINGUAL.

Please contact Mark S. Zaid, Esq. at mark@markzaid.com or (202) 330-5610.

Call for Information: Arnold M. Silvier

Relative of Silvier, aka "Richie Boy," seeks information on the person (or works of) Silver, who was in the US Army during WWII and, later, CIA (1949 - 1978), with postings in Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, Turkey and Washington DC. Please contact nboicecounseling@gmail.com

Survey for Members: Skill Sets Needed for Intelligence Analysis Degree Holders to See Success After Graduation

Northeastern University Security and Intelligence Studies professor researching the skill sets required for Intelligence Analysis degree holders to see success after graduation welcomes the participation of AFIO members in a 5-minute survey in support of the research. Access survey here.

Call for Information: 430th CIC in Salzburg in 1946

I am currently writing about 430th CIC in Salzburg in 1946. I have a (large) CIC file and am now trying to track down further details about two officers mentioned in this: (1) Bill Taylor. The sources do not make clear whether the officer was Major Bill G. Taylor, GSC, Head of the Counter-Intelligence Bureau of G-2 (Intelligence Section), US Forces Austria, or “Mil.Reg.” Captain Taylor of Salzburg. Any information on either/both of these officers would be most welcome. (2) Pace B Rose. Rose was a CIC Special Agent in Austria, later a CIA officer who continued to be attached to the Agency after retirement. He died on 3 January 2009. I would like to contact family and friends of Pace Rose. According to the internet, Rose had children, Donna R. Hilverts and Gary W. Rose, and five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Please contact S.Cody@westminster.ac.uk with any information.

Call for Sources: Intelligence Officers Who Lived in Spain in the 1970s

Spanish journalist Francisco Jiménez is preparing a documentary about the intelligence services in Spain in the 70s. He is looking for intelligence officers who worked in Spain in those years. If you are willing to assist Francisco, he can be reached at fjimenez@globomedia.es.

Call for Sources: Intelligence activities in Grenada and the southern Caribbean between 1979, Operation Urgent Fury, Leonard Barrett

The Washington Post is developing a multi-part audio documentary series (i.e. podcast) chronicling the Grenadian revolution and the US intervention in 1983. They've interviewed nearly 100 people so far, ranging from the heads of state, former Grenadian officials, current and former US officials, veterans, and intelligence officers. They're looking for people who served at the time and may be knowledgeable about intelligence activities in Grenada and the southern Caribbean between 1979 and Operation Urgent Fury. They would also be interested in speaking with anyone who knew Leonard Barrett during the same period. If anyone is interested in participating, please reach out to Washington Post reporter Ted Muldoon via email at ted.muldoon@washpost.com or on Signal at 651-497-5449.

Call for papers: Intelligence and Post-War Reconstruction - International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence

History shows that without planning for post-war reconstruction, apparent victory in war can lead to long-term defeat. On the other hand, wise post-war planning can lead to friendly, peaceful, and profitable relations between victor and vanquished. For political, socio-economic and security-related planning, intelligence plays a crucial role in estimating capabilities, securing infrastructure, locating persons of interest, and rebuilding. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan) after the Second World War, the editors are particularly interested in papers dealing with intelligence concerning post-war reconstruction initiatives and planning connected to historical and recent conflicts. Both case studies and theoretical and methodological approaches are welcome. The studies may include, but do not have to be focused on, the following questions and issues:

  • The role of diplomatic and military intelligence during the conflict as preparation for post-war reconstruction, from the conceptual to the practical.
  • What intelligence needs to be collected to secure and boost reconstruction?
  • What contacts, networks, and infrastructure are necessary for intelligence to be effective?
  • Who has been or should be approached and/or recruited for reconstruction efforts based on intelligence?
  • When has intelligent post-war planning (or its opposite) been historically evident?
  • How should intelligence interact with formerly warring parties and international organizations to empower practical reconstruction efforts?
  • What intelligence collection challenges have services encountered in working for post-war peace?
  • How did intelligence factor in the European Recovery Program?
  • What was George C. Marshall's position on the role of intelligence in general or concrete examples related to "his" plan?

01 Nov 23 deadline. More information and submission instructions here.

Call For Articles: AFIO Journal, The Intelligencer

For the past four years, AFIO has included in The Intelligencer a series of articles on "when intelligence made a difference." Written by scholars, intelligence practitioners, students, and others, they cover events from ancient times to the modern world and in many countries. AFIO is soliciting articles for future issues. Most articles run between 2,000 and 3,000 words, although some are longer or shorter. If you have an idea for an article that fits the theme, email senior editor Peter Oleson at peter.oleson@afio.com.

Jobs

Adjunct Faculty - Intelligence Studies - Fayetteville University - North Carolina

The mission of the Department of Intelligence Studies, Geospatial Sciences, Political Science and History is to provide high-quality educational programs and services in these degree-granting programs and in Philosophy and Sustainability. A major goal of the department’s multi-disciplinary faculty is to help students develop key skills and foundational knowledge in the foregoing areas. By offering courses in realms ranging from critical thinking, the humanities, and social science to ethics, civic engagement, environmental studies & sustainability, and global literacy, the departmental faculty strive to empower students with the skills and knowledge they will need to excel in their chosen professions and become effective twenty-first century global citizens. The department will endeavor through its internship programs and will work closely with institutional partners, to provide career pathways for all majors that will assure transitions into meaningful jobs in their chosen field. Through teaching, research, and service, the Intelligence Studies, Geospatial Sciences, Political Science, History, and Philosophy faculty aim to promote the cultural, social, and economic well-being of the residents of the region and the nation.

Additional information and application here.

Assistant Professor in Intelligence and Security - Leiden University - Netherlands

Leiden University’s Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) is inviting applications for a full-time Assistant Professor position in Intelligence and National Security. The successful candidate will have a demonstrable research record in themes related to the vacancy and a strong teaching background in intelligence and security, or a related field, as well as in topics related to the Institute’s Bachelor’s and Master’s programme offerings. The position is aimed at strengthening the Institute’s teaching, research and grant-acquisition capacities in a phase of growth and exciting interdisciplinary research opportunities.

Additional information and application here.

Assistant/Associate Professor of Intelligence Studies (Global Security and Intelligence Studies) - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott, Arizona

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott, Arizona campus is accepting applications for a tenure-track assistant or associate-level professor of intelligence studies to teach intelligence courses to students in the Global Security and Intelligence program. The successful candidate will teach students about the intelligence community, strategic intelligence, the intelligence cycle and intelligence analysis, writing, and briefing. Prior experience working in the intelligence community is strongly preferred. We are interested in candidates with teaching acumen in intelligence analysis and writing using structured analytical techniques.

Additional information and application here.


Obituaries

No obituaries were submitted this week and online searches did not surface any relevant death notices.

Section VI - AFIO Events

13 Oct 2023 (Friday), 10:30am - 2pm - In-Person Tysons VA - ONLY A FEW SEATS REMAIN for this special AFIO National Fall Luncheon

This luncheon features fireside chat with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, and Jennifer K. Ewbank, the Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation

Check-in and badge pickup for Registered Attendees begins at 10:30 a.m.
NO registrations or walk-ins at hotel. No payment accepted for this event by mail or at the venue.

Fireside Chat with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, begins at 11:00 a.m. Lunch served noon to 1:00 p.m.
Jennifer Ewbank, Deputy Director of CIA for Digital Innovation speaks at 1:00 p.m. Q&A follows each presentation.
Event ends at 2:00 p.m.
Luncheon prices are $60 for Members; $75 for nonmember guests and all Subscribers. Payment by credit card required at time of registration. No mailed checks or "at the door or at venue" payments accepted or permitted.

Register here
Registration closes when all spaces taken (or NLT 10 October).
Though we do not provide special overnight room rates, if you wish to make room reservations at the hotel, do so here. Cancellation Schedule:
AFIO must commit to the hotel facilities and regrets it must charge a cancellation fee. 100% refund until close of registration. No refunds or cancellations thereafter. You will receive a donation receipt for fees forfeited. A donor statement will be sent showing that you made a "gift to AFIO" in such instances. Gifts to AFIO are tax-deductible. All attendees must be members of AFIO or accompanied by a current member.  Learn more about becoming a member at www.afio.com.  Questions regarding membership? Contact office at 703-790-0320 or email afio@afio.com Questions regarding this event to events@afio.com

16 October 2023 (Monday) 1730 (ET) - New York City - AFIO New York Chapter hosts Dr. Anthony R. Wells on “US-UK Intelligence in an Era of Global Challenges”

Speaker Bio: Dr. Anthony R. Wells has worked for British Intelligence as a British citizen and US Intelligence as a US citizen, at sea and ashore for both the Royal Navy and the US Navy. A fifty year veteran of the Five Eyes Intelligence community, Dr. Wells received his Ph.D in War Studies from King’s College, University of London, and has Bachelor’s and Master’s from the University of Durham. Dr. Wells is the author of “Between Five Eyes: 50 Years of Intelligence Sharing," “Room39 and the Lisbon Connection”, “A Tale of Two Navies”, “Guarding Against Extremism in the 21St Century”, and “UK-US Intelligence in an Era of Global Challenges."

5:30 - 5:55 Registration, Open bar & Hors d’oeuvres (hot)
6:00 - 7:00 Lecture
7:00 - 7:30 Open bar, Hors d’oeuvres & Book Signing
Venue: Marymount Manhattan College, Regina Peruggi Room, 221 E 71st St, New York, NY
Registration Fee: $50. Cash or check payable to David Hunt at the door

RSVP by 11 October 2023 (Limited Space) to afionyc@gmail.com or David Hunt at 301-520-1417

Cash or check payable at the door to "David Hunt." 

PLEASE ADVISE by 11 October if you are attending. Preferably to: afionyc@gmail.com, or call chapter President David Hunt at 301-520-1417.

26 October 2023, 7:30 pm - Pasadena, CA - AFIO Los Angeles hosts AFIO National Board Member Everette Jordan, former Deputy Assistant of the Treasury for IC Integration and National Intelligence Manager for Economic Security and Threat Finance for the DNI. The chapter has an upcoming event with AFIO Board Member Everette Jordan on Oct. 26th. This will be a meet and greet event and will take place out in Pasadena at 7.30 PM at the El Cholo Cafe, 300 E Colorado Blvd Suite 214, Pasadena, CA 91101. Everette Jordan had an impressive 45-year career in service to the Departments of Defense, The Treasury, and the Army. Part of his service included leadership and staff assignments with IC partners and Capitol Hill. His more recent leadership roles were as the Deputy Assistant of the Treasury for IC Integration and National Intelligence Manager for Economic Security and Threat Finance for the DNI.
Please mark your calendar if you are able to attend. Look forward to you seeing you!
Questions to Vincent Autiero,  Chapter President, AFIO-Los Angeles Chapter, 5651 W Manchester Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045

27 October 2023 - Naples, FL - Meeting of the New Southwest Florida Chapter

The chapter president, Hugo Harmatz, requests members contact him to give suggestions of topics and speakers for programs. He seeks to ensure the chapter meetings are enjoyable and interesting for all.
He can be reached at lawyur@aol.com

See the AFIO Calendar of Events for scheduling further in the future.



Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

05 Oct 23, 1800-2130 (ET) – Washington, DC – Fireside conversation to discuss Dr. Mike Vickers's new memoir, By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Special Operations, Intelligence, and Strategy. – PIPS Alumni Network and OSS Society

In 1984, Michael Vickers took charge of the CIA’s secret war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. After inheriting a strategy aimed at imposing costs on the Soviets for their invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, Vickers transformed the covert campaign into an all-out effort to help the Afghan resistance win their war. More than any other American, he was responsible for the outcome in Afghanistan that led to the end of the Cold War. In By All Means Available, Vickers recounts his remarkable career, from his days as a Green Beret to his vision for victory in Afghanistan to his role in waging America’s war with al-Qa’ida at the highest levels of government. In captivating detail, he depicts his years in the Special Forces—including his training to parachute behind enemy lines with a backpack nuclear weapon in the event of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe—and reveals how those experiences directly influenced his approach to shaping policy. Vickers has played a significant role in most of the military and intelligence operations of the past four decades, and he offers a deeply informed analysis of the greatest challenges facing America today, and in the decades ahead.
Fee: $75pp. Attendees will receive a signed copy of Dr. Vickers new book By All Means Available. A cocktail hour with light hors d'oeuvres will follow the program. This event has limited seating and early registration is recommended. More information and registration here.

11 Oct 2023 (Wednesday), 1700-1900 (ET) - The 2nd Annual Cocktails & Codebreakers event - co-hosted by the National Cryptologic Foundation (NCF) and the Intelligence and National Security Foundation (INSF)

Attend to celebrate Men & Women in Cryptology at this 2nd Annual event.
We have also extended the early bird ticket rate of $150 through Tuesday, September 12th.
This year, Cocktails and Codebreakers will celebrate "Men and Women in Cryptology." Following an opening networking reception, The Honorable Ronald S. Moultrie, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (USDI&S) and GEN Paul M. Nakasone, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Director, National Security Agency; Chief, Central Security Service, will participate in a joint Fireside Chat.

The Early Bird & NCF Member Rate of $150.00 is EXTENDED until 12 September 2023
Individual Tickets = Early Bird & Members Rate of $150 - until 12 September 2023
Full Price Tickets = $189 per person (after September 4th)
Event location: The Hotel at Arundel Preserve: 7795 Arundel Mills Blvd, Hanover, MD 21076

Register now, or for more information, do so here.

14 - 25 April 2024 - Gary Powers' Cold War Espionage Tour of Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary - Travel Dates: April 14 to 25,2024 - 12 days/10 nights

Join author & historian Gary Powers Jr. on this 12-day tour of Cold War and espionage related sites in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary
The deadline to enroll is 11/30/23 with a required deposit of $495. Final payment is due 12/30/23.
What's Included: • Round-trip air transportation from Washington, DC; • 10 nights in centrally located, four-star hotels; • Full-time CHA Tour Director; • Valuable insight & informative commentary by Gary Powers Jr.; • On-tour transportation by private motorcoach; • Breakfast & dinner (or lunch) daily; • Sightseeing tours & visits shown in itinerary (subject to change based on availability)
Tour Prices: Full Tour Price: $5,695 per person; Land Tour Price: $4,645 per person (does not include round-trip airfare and airport transfers); Repeat Gary Powers travelers will receive a $200 discount! Price based on double occupancy.
A $600 single room fee will apply for travelers without roommates.
The deadline to enroll is 11/30/23 with a required deposit of $495. Final payment is due 12/30/23.
Questions? Call 1-800-323-4466 or email info@cha-tours.com.
Enroll Online at: www.cha-tours.com/GaryPowers

Gifts for Friends, Colleagues, Self


Now available: Black short-sleeved polo shirts with Embroidered AFIO logo
Show your support for AFIO with our new Black Short-sleeve Polo Shirts. Shirts are shrink and wrinkle resistant of fine cotton with a soft, "well-worn, comfy" yet substantial feel. They feature a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. Get a shirt for yourself and consider as gifts for colleagues, family, and friends. Only $50 each including shipping.
Sizes for (M) men, only; Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL. $50 per shirt.
You may pay by check or credit card. Complete your order online here or mail an order along with payment to: AFIO, 7600 Leesburg Pike, Ste 470 East, Falls Church, VA 22043-2004. Phone orders at 703-790-0320. Questions? Contact Annette at: annettej@afio.com.





PopSocket for cellphones or tablets
Show your support to AFIO while enjoying the convenience offered by our AFIO Logo PopSocket. The PopSocket is most commonly used as a stand and as a grip for your mobile phone or tablet; handy for taking selfies, watching videos, and for texting. The PopSocket looks like a small button or sticker which, when closed, sticks flat to your mobile device. However, its accordion-like design enables it to pop open for use. The benefits of using a PopSocket make it a must-have accessory for your mobile phone or tablet. It also aids in keeping your phone from slipping off your hand during use, falling, or breaking.
Price: $15. Order this and other store items online here.







Duffel Bags - Royal Blue and Black with Full Color AFIO Logo This duffel has it all when it comes to value, style and organization.
600 denier polyester canvas with polyester double contrast; D-shaped zippered entry for easy access. Front pocket with hook and loop closure. End mesh pocket Easy-access end pockets. Four durable, protective feet and built-in bottom board for added strength. Web handles with padded grip. Detachable, adjustable shoulder strap.
Dimensions: 11"h x 19.75"w x 9.75"d; Approx. 2,118 cubic inches
Price: $50. Order this and other store items online here.




AFIO Mug with color glazed seal.

Made in the U.S.A., dishwasher-safe.
$35 includes shipping.

Sip your morning joe in style or use it to stash pens, cards, paperclips, or candy.

Order this and other store items online here.



Caps - Dark Navy with Navy AFIO Logo
 An authentic silhouette with the comfort of an unstructured, adjustable fit. Fabric: 100% cotton. Unstructured. Fabric strap closure with adjustable D-clip. Price: $30. Order this and other store items online here.


 

PUBLISHED IN 2023
Be informed on career opportunities in the U.S. Intelligence Community
Intelligence as a Career - with updated listings of colleges teaching intelligence courses, and Q&As on needed foreign languages, as well as the courses, grades, extracurricular activities, and behavioral characteristics and life experiences sought by modern U.S. intelligence agencies.

AFIO's popular 47-page booklet reaches thousands of high school, college students, university guidance offices, and distributed in classes teaching intelligence, to help those considering careers in the U.S. Intelligence Community.
This is the all new fifth edition.
The publication is also popular with University Career Guidance Centers, professors and academic departments specializing in national security, and parents assisting children or grandchildren in choosing meaningful, public service careers.
This booklet is provided online as a public service from the generosity of AFIO board, volunteer editors/writers, donors, and members.
We thank all for their support which makes this educational effort possible.
  Careers Booklet (new 2023 Fifth Edition) can be read or downloaded here
  



Guide to the Study of Intelligence...and...When Intelligence Made a Difference

"AFIO's Guide to the Study of Intelligence" has sold out in hard-copy.
It is available in digital form in its entirety on the AFIO website here.

Also available on the website here are the individual articles of AFIO's history project "When Intelligence Made a Difference" that have been published to date in The Intelligencer journal. More articles will be appear in future editions.



Address Technical Issues Or Unsubscribe

Some features of the email version of the WIN do not work for readers who have chosen the Plaintext Edition, some AOL users, and readers who access their email using web mail. You may request to change from Plaintext to HTML format here afio@afio.com. For the best reading experience, the latest web edition can be found here: https://www.afio.com/pages/currentwin.htm

To unsubscribe from the WIN email list, please click the "UNSUBSCRIBE" link at the bottom of the email. If you did not subscribe to the WIN and are not a member, you received this product from a third party in violation of AFIO policy. Please forward to afio@afio.com the entire message that you received and we will remove the sender from our membership and distribution lists.



Disclaimer and Legal Protection

Weekly Intelligence Notes (WINs) are a carefully selected collection of timely open source reports and announcements and other media focused on intelligence and related national security matters that is produced for non-profit educational use by AFIO members and WIN subscribers. WINs are protected by copyright and intellectual property laws. They may not be reproduced or re-sent without specific permission from the Producer. Opinions expressed in the materials contained in the WINs are solely those of the content creators listed with each item. Notices in the WINs about non-AFIO events do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by AFIO.

(c) 1998 thru 2023


AFIO Members Support the AFIO Mission - sponsor new members! CHECK THE AFIO WEBSITE at www.afio.com for back issues of the WINs, information about AFIO, conference agenda and registrations materials, and membership applications and much more! .

AFIO | 7600 Leesburg Pike, Suite 470 East, Falls Church, VA 22043-2004 | (703) 790-0320 (phone) | (703) 991-1278 (fax) | afio@afio.com

About AFIO | Membership Renewal | Change of Address | Upcoming Events | Chapter Locations | Corporate/Institutional Memberships | Careers in Intelligence Booklet | Guide to the Study of Intelligence | Intelligencer Journal | Weekly Intelligence Notes | Make A Donation | AFIO Store | Member-Only Section | Code of Ethics | Home Page


RETURN TO TOP