Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Weekly Intelligence Notes

26 - 31 October 2023
(Issue 42)

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: Vulnerabilities in Cellphone Roaming Let Spies and Criminals Track You Across the Globe - The Intercept, 26 Oct 23
  • Article: Netanyahu Apologizes After Blaming Security Chiefs for Failure in Hamas Attack - New York Times, 29 Oct 23
  • Book Review: CIA plots, coups and a gold-capped molar in Congo: The Lumumba Plot by Stuart Reid - The Economist, 26 Oct 23
  • Article: Russia launches anti-spy operation in Ukraine’s south - New Age World, 27 Oct 23
  • Article: Indians given death penalty in Qatar accused of spying for Israel, sources say - Reuters, 27 Oct 23
  • Article: ‘Intelligence’ Review: Jake Heggie’s Songs for Spies - Wall Street Journal, 25 Oct 23
  • Article: Former NSA worker pleads guilty to trying to sell US secrets to Russia - Associated Press, 23 Oct 23
  • Article: Who’s Responsible for the Gaza Hospital Explosion? Here’s Why It’s Hard to Know What’s Real - Wired, 18 Oct 23
  • Article: Roads not taken in satellite photo-reconnaissance: Part 2, the 1970s - The Space Review, 30 Oct 23
  • Article: A Call to Action for the Intelligence Community Following Hamas Terror Attack - Cipher Brief, 30 Oct 23
  • Article: U.S. Tries New Tack on Russian Disinformation: Pre-Empting It - New York Times, 26 Oct 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

Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

  • 1 November 2023, 1200 - 1300 (ET) - Virtual - Leadership Analysis: Understanding an Intelligence Discipline - Johns Hopkins University
  • 8 November 2023, 6 - 8pm EST - Williamsburg, VA - Veterans Day Book Talk with Brian Morra '78 on "Cold War History to Today's Russian Invasion of Ukraine"
  • 28 November 2023, 5 - 6pm EST - Washington, DC - IWP hosts IN-PERSON book presentation by Dr. John Gentry on "The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences"
  • 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.



Christmas Gift for Young Readers

The Vienna Trilogy by Tom Gilligan (2023)

In the summer of 1947, Europe was in turmoil. Displaced persons were everywhere. The Red Army occupied Poland, Czechoslovakia, parts of German, and other countries. Austria was divided into zones – Russian, American, British, and French. The NKVD secret police followed on the heels of the Red Army, arresting, kidnapping, even killing those who opposed the communists. This is the setting for Tom Gilligan’s trilogy focused on 11-year old David Hale, whose father, a doctor, was deeply involved with medical treatment for refugees, and also was a former intelligence officer during World War II and continued to support American intelligence in post-war Austria. With his mother and sister on vacation in the US that summer, young David became involved in several intelligence support operations. The trilogy – Escape to the West, Nazi’s on the Run, and Stopping the Russian Bear – recount in fascinating detail how David assisted his father, and an American Intelligence agent, in three gripping adventures. Gilligan, a former CIA DO officer, has written a book appropriate for young readers. The characters are well drawn. The stories are well constructed and gripping. Each of the trilogies is a little more than 100 pages. The author explains the sophisticated words used and espionage terminology and concepts in footnotes, which is a clever tool for young readers to learn vocabulary and understand how HUMINT works. Gilligan also clearly explains the geo-political situation of 1947 in Europe via conversations between David and his father.

The Vienna Trilogy would make an excellent holiday present for young readers ages 10 to 14. On Amazon, $26.99 for all three books in one volume. Each of the books are also available separately.

Reviewed by Peter C. Oleson, Senior Editor, The Intelligencer.



OSS Society William J. Donovan Award Presentation

The OSS Society presented its William J. Donovan Award on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton
in Washington, DC, to CIA Director William Burns. (Picture left to right) Dr. Mike Vickers, CIA Director William Burns,
former CIA Director George Tenet, former commander of the US Special Operations Command Admiral Eric Olson,
and OSS Society President Charles Pinck.



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


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

LR, GR, PO, S, CP, KB

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 20 October 2023 released the photo above, which features some of their newest CIA items and other gift suggestions.

      

LATEST FROM AFIO


Released exclusively to members today, 31 October 2023...

Protecting & Preserving the U.S. Intelligence Community


Recorded 31 July 2023

Gen Michael Hayden, former DIRNSA & D/CIA
on "Protecting & Preserving the US Intelligence Community"

Interview of Monday, 31 July 2023 between Michael V. Hayden, General USAF (Ret), Former Director of NSA and CIA and first Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI), and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer. They discuss some of Mike Hayden's biggest challenges in the senior positions he held in the U.S. Intelligence Community. He also offers advice to those considering careers in intelligence.
The interview runs ~14 minutes and includes several Q&As.

Access the Michael Hayden's 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 Close End of November
Please Cast Your Vote

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



"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 I.S. Berry. In this episode, former CIA Operations Officer, lawyer, and novelist I.S. Berry discusses her latest novel, "The Peacock and the Sparrow", a spy thriller that takes place against the backdrop of the Arab Spring. Recorded 5 July 2023. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer.

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


28 November 2023 (Tuesday), 5 - 6 pm EST - Washington, DC - IWP hosts IN-PERSON book presentation by Dr. John Gentry on "The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences"

The Institute of World Politics invites you to attend an IN-PERSON book lecture by Dr. John Gentry, Author and Professor at the School of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University, discussing "The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences."
"The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences” is a presentation in association with Dr. Gentry's recent book, Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence Versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences (Armin Lear Press, 2023). Beginning in 2016 and continuing into 2021, current and former U.S. intelligence officers engaged in domestic partisan politics to an unprecedented extent. This discussion will describe and assess what happened at various agencies, the causes of the politicization, consequences for the agencies and national decision-making, and prospects for renewed politicization in 2024.
***Copies of Dr. Gentry's book will be made available for purchase at the conclusion of the event and can be signed by the author.*** ***This lecture is sponsored by the IWP IAFIE Alpha Student Chapter***
Location: The Institute of World Politics, 1521 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036.

More details and registration here.

Special Walking Tours Announcements
from SpyGuide Tours Inc.

Thursday, 18 January 2024.  Spyher partners with The Italian Oven, a cherished, longtime, establishment in the heart of McLean, Virginia to deliver "Vintage Espionage: Spies, Sips and Stories". This blind wine tasting with an espionage twist features former intelligence officer and sommelier DECANTER/1 (C/1) - who remains encrypted for security reasons. C/1 lived and served around the world as an intelligence officer and is an expert in relationship building and persuasion.  Did wine play a role in her career? Absolutely. Purchase tickets at https://spyher.co/ or contact rosanna@spyher.co to book a private event. Vintage Espionage travels throughout the U.S. 
Visit https://spyher.co to learn more and book all tours.




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 Morell 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


FROM THE AFIO STORE

NEW Gray long-sleeved polo shirts with embroidered AFIO logo. Men's sizes only.
Show your support for AFIO with our new Gray Long-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 $60 each including shipping.
Sizes for men, only: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL.  $60 per shirt. Order this and other store items online here.

NEW 20 oz ceramic Mug with color glazed logo. Made in America. Check out our new tapered, sleek AFIO coffee mug!! This handsome 20 oz. ceramic mug is made in the USA, has a white matte exterior, sports a beautiful navy-blue interior, and is dishwasher safe.  Order yours today! $35 per mug includes shipping to a CONUS address. [includes shipping to U.S. based address, only. For foreign shipments, we will contact you with a quote.] SHIPPING: For shipment to a U.S.-based CONUS address, shipping is included in price. For purchases going to AK, HI, other US territories, Canada, or other foreign countries the shipping fees need to be calculated, so please call our office M-F 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET at 703-790-0320 or email afio@afio.com providing following information: 1) your name, 2) mailing address (or addresses where each gift item will be shipped), 3) name of the AFIO store items you wish to purchase, 4) quantity of each, 5) your credit card number and expiration date, 6) amount (except for additional of shipping fees) authorized to charge, and 7) your phone number and email should we have questions. Foreign shipments fees will be calculated and estimates emailed to you, awaiting your approval.  Order this and other store items online here.

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.

Section I - CURRENT INTELLIGENCE NEWS HIGHLIGHTS


POLL: American Voters are Growing Hostile Towards Intelligence Agencies - Big Leage Politics, 26 Oct 23

According to a Rasmussen poll, 48% of likely United States voters perceive the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) favorably, which includes 17% with a very favorable impression. 41% view the CIA unfavorably, which includes 22% with a very unfavorable opinion. 10% are unsure. 51% currently believe US intelligence agencies have their own political agenda. By contrast, 36% of voters believe the agencies generally behave in an impartial manner. An additional 13% are unsure. 65% of voters believe it is likely that US intelligence agencies are influencing the corporate media’s coverage of political issues, which includes 38% who believe it’s very likely. 28% of voters said it’s not likely intelligence agencies are shaping media coverage. 77% of Republican voters, 53% of Democrat voters, and 65% of independent voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that American intelligence agencies are influencing corporate media coverage of political matters. (Full article here.)

Russia's FSB Increasingly 'Sabotaging' Putin's Orders: Report - Newsweek, 24 Oct 23

Cases of sabotage are increasing among Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) employees who wish to leave the agency, according to an independent Russian news outlet. A former FSB employee told Important Stories, an investigative Russian publication, that after Putin last year banned people from resigning from the agency while his partial mobilization decree remains in place, many employees have been acting out, hoping to be fired. The Russian president declared a partial mobilization of the population in September 2022, months into his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on September 21 last year that Russia would be targeting 300,000 reservists and ex-military personnel with "certain military specialties and relevant experience." The Kremlin has said it will not issue a decree ending the partial mobilization. (Full article here.)

Declassified CIA Satellite Spy Program Reveals Lost Ancient Roman Forts - Arkeonews, 30 Oct 23

Archaeologists have discovered “massive” ancient Roman forts that redraw the borders of the ancient empire using images from a declassified satellite spying program of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). High-resolution images were analyzed in a new study that was taken by multiple satellites during two U.S. military programs: the Corona Project (1960 to 1972) and Hexagon (1971 to 1986). The photos, which were taken by the U.S.’s CORONA and HEXAGON spy satellites, shed new light on the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire, revealing a constantly shifting frontier as the Romans grappled with Arab nomads and Persian armies for dominance over a strategically important region known as the Fertile Crescent. Before the publication of the study in the Antiquity Journal, it was believed that Roman forts in what is now Syria and Iraq were a line of defense. But this new data questions that hypothesis and suggests that the forts were actually for the safe passage of goods and people. (Full article here.)

Kenya: Noordin Hadji's National Intelligence Service Shakeup - The Nation, 26 Oct 23

National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji has been a busy man. Since his appointment in June, the former DPP has been working on crafting a spy agency that is more responsive, effective and aggressive in securing the country's interests. And this has come with both structure and personnel changes, including the agency's first female deputy spy chief. (Full article here.)

Crack a 1999 NSA Cryptography Standard and Win a Bounty - The New Stack, 22 Oct 23

A former Cloudflare/Golang cryptographer has offered a $12,288 "bounty" for finding the seeds of five elliptic curves produced by the NSA in 1999 that have since become an industry standard. Filippo Valsorda describes it as “a call to arms” to “help fill in a page of cryptographic history.” The former Cloudflare/Golang cryptographer has announced a $12,288 “bounty” for finding the seeds of five elliptic curves produced by the NSA in 1999 that have since become an industry standard. Valsorda calls them the “elliptic curves that power much of modern cryptography,” noting that they’re used, among other things, for the certificates securing millions of websites. They’ve been augmented over the decades with even more utility-enhancing formulas and interfaces. (Full article here.)

Indian Covert Action: pro-Modi media hints at other cases - Intelligence News, 27 Oct 23

Following Canada’s accusation of Indian involvement in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, there have been a number of suggestions that the killing reflects a broader hardline policy. The Telegraph reported last month that Prime Minister Narendra Modi favours a ‘more muscular and assertive’ role for India’s foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The agency’s set up means it is difficult to glimpse policy shifts, but there have been reports of bigger budgets and the promotion of operational field staff over those with more analytical backgrounds. The Telegraph contrasts this with a more traditional approach described by Dr Dheeraj Paramesha of Hull University: You don’t have Indian-trained intelligence operatives who are trained assassins, but it would be wrong to consider that Indian intelligence agencies are above and beyond the practice of assassinations, because their way of doing it is to use one group against another group. (Full article here.)

How the CIA Secretly Used Jackson Pollock & Other Abstract Expressionists to Fight the Cold War - Open Culture, 27 Oct 23

What’s the difference between the United States of America and a cup of yogurt? If you leave the cup of yogurt alone for 200 years, it develops a culture. So goes one of many jokes long in circulation about the supposed American tendency toward low-minded, expedient philistinism. I grant, as an American myself, that such humor surrounds at least a grain of truth. But there was a time when the federal government of the U.S., an organization not often accused of excessive high-mindedness, took an active role in promoting the country’s home-grown avant-garde — an appropriate term, notes Lucie Levine at JSTOR Daily, since it “began as a French military term to describe vanguard troops advancing into battle,” and American modern art had become a continuation of politics by other means. (Full article here.)

The former head of Israel's domestic intelligence service on its security challenges - NPR, 28 Oct 23

NPR's Scott Simon looks back and ahead at Israel's security challenges with Ami Ayalon. He's the former head of Israel's domestic intelligence service. Security has been at the core of Israel since it was founded in 1948 as a refuge in the world for people who have been targets of oppression and genocide for centuries. The Hamas attacks of October 7 shook that view. Ami Ayalon began his military service in 1963. He led Israel's navy and then Shin Bet, its domestic intelligence group, after the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. He joins us from Jerusalem. Thank you for being with us. (Full article here.)

Capturing the Beauty in Intelligence - CIA, 25 Oct 23

Every day officers crisscross the corridors of CIA Headquarters thousands of times passing historic intelligence artifacts and paintings on display. Many walk past on the way to their office or a meeting. Others stop to admire. Everyone who has been at the Agency for some time is familiar with the art and the missions they depict, but not everyone knows the artists behind the works—or that two were painted by CIA’s own, Deborah Dismuke. When Deborah picked up a paintbrush as a child, she never imagined that she would one day join the CIA let alone earn the distinction of being the first officer, first African American, and first woman, to have her work featured in the Intelligence Art Gallery inside its Headquarters. Her works are a snapshot in time of key intelligence figures or intelligence in action, shaping the course of history. (Full article here.)

China to tighten its state secrets law in biggest revision in a decade - South China Morning Post, 27 Oct 23

All state employees with access to classified information will be banned from traveling overseas without prior approval – and even for a period after they leave the job or retire – under a draft revision of China’s state secrets law. A dozen new clauses have been added to the Law on Guarding State Secrets in the revision, the details of which were made public on Wednesday. The revision – the first in a decade – expands the depth and reach of the law’s coverage, ranging from education, technology and internet use to military facilities. The sweeping changes come as Beijing is locked in an intelligence war with the US and its allies and reflects that national security remains a top policy priority for the leadership. (Full article here.)

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

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.

24 Oct | “Sayeret Matkal: Israel’s Top-Secret Elite Commando Unit” – with Aviram Halevi Lt. Col. (ret.) Aviram Halevi joins Andrew Hammond to discuss Israel’s top secret commando unit, Sayeret Matkal. Aviram formerly served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Sayeret Matkal.



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.

27 Oct | Countervailing forces are at play in the Israeli strategic decision about when and how extensively to execute its ground invasion in Gaza. Over two weeks after the brutal Hamas massacre, the Israelis are strategizing how to best decimate Hamas while saving as many hostages as possible. In a small country like Israel, that has historically been willing to make substantial concessions to bring home even a single Israeli hostage, the impact of several hundreds being held in Gaza should not be underestimated in their collective calculus. In the past two days, Israel has conducted two significant incursions into Gaza in preparation for the much-anticipated invasion. (Full version available to AFIO members in the coming days here.)


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.

31 Oct | Amidst Tensions Among UN Member States, the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza Continues to Deteriorate

After four failed attempts to adopt a resolution on Gaza, the UN Security Council (UNSC) met again yesterday in an emergency session on the situation. The meeting was called by China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and featured briefings from the head of the UN agency supporting Palestine refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, and a senior official from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Lisa Doughten. Mr. Lazzarini highlighted the mounting death toll, noting that 70 percent of those killed in Gaza have been women and children, and that 64 of his agency’s staff have been killed since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7. Ms. Russell expanded on the severe impact the conflict has had on children, noting that more than 420 children are being killed or injured each day in Gaza. Ms. Doughten noted both the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza, while also underscoring the causalities, displacement, and trauma inside Israel caused by rockets fired from Gaza into populated Israeli areas. Several UNSC members recalled the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) resolution on the crisis that passed on Friday and reiterated that international humanitarian law needed to be respected. The UNGA motion was originally proposed by Jordan and called for an “immediate, durable and sustainable humanitarian truce” that would allow humanitarian aid to flow unrestricted into Gaza. 120 countries were in favor, 14 voted against – notably the United States – while 45 countries abstained. Even though the motion is non-binding, it is important symbolically, and the General Assembly is expected to continue its emergency special session on the crisis later today.

30 Oct | Hezbollah's Choices Will Determine the Course of the Mideast Crisis

27 Oct | The Security Implications of Historic Levels of Migration at the U.S. Southwest Border

26 Oct | AI-Powered Disinformation in the Israel-Hamas War and Beyond

25 Oct | Elections Bring Venezuela One Step Closer to Thawing U.S. Relations

24 Oct | What Follows Hamas in Gaza?


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

Inside the SCIF - 26 Oct - Israel vs. Hamas




Target USA Podcast - 26 Oct - Israel-Hamas Conflict: The US military making moves

The Hunt Broadcast - 18 Oct - The fallout of the Israel-Hamas conflict





The Latest Insights from Jeff Stein and Colleagues in SpyTalk

28 Oct | Target Moscow - Jeff Stein
Israelis are not the only civilians hearing air raid sirens. They’re heard daily in Ukraine’s cities as well. Both nations are carrying the battle to their adversaries. For Israel, it’s Hamas and other Islamist terrorists, who have the backing of Iran, and by proxy, Russia. Ukraine is going right to the source. Ukraine’s intelligence and special ops agencies have grown increasingly bold in taking the war to Russia itself, with assassinations, sabotage, and drone attacks well inside their adversary’s territory—even Moscow—with, according to a recent report in The Washington Post, the somewhat jittery support of CIA bosses. (Full article here.)

27 Oct | Israel Turns to Advance Tech to Spy On Hamas Tunnels - Jonathan Broder
There is no higher priority for intelligence services in a war than locating the enemy. That’s why “find” is the first word in the combat mantra of “find, fix and finish.” For the intelligence officers helping the Israel Defense Force plan its ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, the first piece of business is to map the vast complex of underground tunnels that provide shelter for Hamas’s military leaders and weapons stores, not to mention the 220 hostages held by it and other militants. (Full article here.)




Section III - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS


Article: Vulnerabilities in Cellphone Roaming Let Spies and Criminals Track You Across the Globe - The Intercept, 26 Oct 23

The very obscure, archaic technologies that make cellphone roaming possible also makes it possible to track phone owners across the world, according to a new investigation by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab. The roaming tech is riddled with security oversights that make it a ripe target for those who might want to trace the locations of phone users. As the report explains, the flexibility that made cellphones so popular in the first place is largely to blame for their near-inescapable vulnerability to unwanted location tracking: When you move away from a cellular tower owned by one company to one owned by another, your connection is handed off seamlessly, preventing any interruption to your phone call or streaming video. To accomplish this handoff, the cellular networks involved need to relay messages about who — and, crucially, precisely where — you are. (Read full report here.)

Article: Netanyahu Apologizes After Blaming Security Chiefs for Failure in Hamas Attack - New York Times, 29 Oct 23

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not taken responsibility for Israel’s lapses in the Oct. 7 massacre, deleted a social media post in which he had pointed a finger at security agencies. The rifts and disarray among Israel’s top leaders erupted into the open on Sunday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to blame the military and security establishment for the failures that led to the surprise Hamas assault on Oct. 7 — even as Israeli forces were broadening their ground war in Gaza. The comments by Mr. Netanyahu on X, formerly Twitter, prompted a furious response, including from within his own war cabinet. The post was deleted, and the Israeli leader apologized in a new post, saying: “I was wrong.” (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a one time free subscription or sit behind a paywall.)

Book Review: CIA plots, coups and a gold-capped molar in Congo: The Lumumba Plot by Stuart Reid - The Economist, 26 Oct 23

Patrice lumumba was prime minister of newly independent Congo for less than three months in 1960, before he was murdered at the age of 35. Yet his tumultuous life—and gruesome death—set a pattern for coups and post-colonial interference that shaped Congo’s torrid path, as well as the gameplan for cia interventions and assassinations worldwide. “The Lumumba Plot” by Stuart Reid, an editor at Foreign Affairs, is many things at once: a biography, a history of Congo’s chaotic independence, a dissection of the un’s first big peacekeeping mission and a thriller about plots to kill Lumumba. There are villains of every stripe, from rogue Belgian pilots to shamelessly scheming un officials and racist ambassadors. This is a tragic tale but also a rollicking read. (Read full report here.)

Article: Russia launches anti-spy operation in Ukraine’s south - New Age World, 27 Oct 23

Russia said on Friday that it killed a suspected Ukrainian spy and shut down two pro-Kyiv online outlets during an operation in the occupied part of Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region. Since seizing control of large swathes of Ukraine last year, Russia has claimed to have foiled repeated acts of alleged sabotage as it tries to crack down on pro-Ukrainian resistance among the local population. ‘As a result of a special operation in the territory of Zaporizhzhia region, the FSB suppressed the activities of three large agent groups coordinated by Ukrainian intelligence,’ the FSB security service said in a statement. One man it suspected of working for Ukrainian intelligence was killed in a gunfight during the operation, the FSB said, without providing further details. The administrators of a pro-Ukrainian chat room and a media outlet in the Russian-controlled city of Melitopol were detained, it added. It said the administrators persuaded residents to gather information on the ‘locations and movements of Russian military personnel’ and had been fomenting ‘an anti-Russian agenda in the region’. (Read full report here.)

Article: Indians given death penalty in Qatar accused of spying for Israel, sources say - Reuters, 27 Oct 23

Eight Indian former naval officers who were handed the death penalty by a court in Qatar on Thursday were charged with spying for Israel, a source in India and another in Qatar said. Neither New Delhi nor Doha has officially stated the charges against the eight who were arrested in August 2022. In India, a government official aware of Doha's stance said the Qatar authorities had accused them of spying for Israel. The eight Indians will be able to appeal the death sentence, the source briefed on the case in Qatar told Reuters, as well as also saying they had been charged with spying for Israel. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the case. A spokesperson for India's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment about the sources' comments. There was no immediate reply from Qatar’s foreign ministry. (Read full report here.)

Article: ‘Intelligence’ Review: Jake Heggie’s Songs for Spies - Wall Street Journal, 25 Oct 23

In 2000, Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking” launched a flurry of activity in the creation and production of new American operas. It became one of the most produced 21st-century titles and made it to the Metropolitan Opera last month. On Friday, Houston Grand Opera opened its season with the world premiere—the company’s 75th—of Mr. Heggie’s most recent work, “Intelligence.” Like “Dead Man,” “Intelligence” is based on a true story, this one more than a century older. During the Civil War, Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond landowner, ran a Union spy ring with the assistance of Mary Jane Bowser, an enslaved woman in her household. Mr. Heggie, librettist Gene Scheer and director/choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar have blended historical record and imagination to fashion a tale centered on Mary Jane’s journey toward finding the truth of her traumatic past. The path is logical, but that narrative drive, full of heavy-handed foreshadowing, toward Mary Jane’s discovery—a slave auction and the forced separation of mother and child 20 years earlier—feels formulaic. The lengthy opera is an inert, mechanical structure, its characters and situations erected as plot points rather than an authentic, developing story with dramatic sweep. (Read full report here.) (NOTE: This material may require a one time free subscription or sit behind a paywall.)

Article: Former NSA worker pleads guilty to trying to sell US secrets to Russia - Associated Press, 23 Oct 23

A former National Security Agency employee from Colorado pleaded guilty Monday to trying to sell classified national security information to Russia. Federal prosecutors agreed to not ask for more than about 22 years in prison for Jareh Sebastian Dalke when he is sentenced in April if he adheres to the terms of a plea deal, but the judge will ultimately decide his punishment. Dalke, a 31-year-old Army veteran from Colorado Springs, technically faces up to a possible life sentence for giving the information to an undercover FBI agent who prosecutors say Dalke believed was a Russian agent. However, accepting responsibility for a crime usually leads to a lighter sentence. (Read full report here.)

Article: Who’s Responsible for the Gaza Hospital Explosion? Here’s Why It’s Hard to Know What’s Real - Wired, 18 Oct 23

Yesterday evening around 7 pm local time, an explosion rocked the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City. Within minutes, information about what had happened was distorted by partisan narratives, disinformation, and a rush to be first to post about the blast. Add in mainstream media outlets parroting official statements without verifying their veracity, and the result was a chaotic information environment in which no one was sure what had happened or how. “There’s just been this massive sort of pressure to get videos out there, get your take, get your analysis, and it’s like a perfect storm for chaos,” Kolina Koltai, a senior researcher at open source intelligence (OSINT) news outlet Bellingcat, tells WIRED. (Read full report here.)

Article: Roads not taken in satellite photo-reconnaissance: Part 2, the 1970s - The Space Review, 30 Oct 23

Throughout the 1960s, American aerospace companies proposed and/or studied various reconnaissance satellites that were never put into development. These were intended to fulfill various requirements, often not very well-defined, to improve ground resolution, area coverage, or timeliness. (See part 1 here.) That continued into the 1970s. The early part of the decade included numerous proposals for satellites to produce imagery on a much quicker basis—a day or less—than existing systems. The latter part of the decade included many studies of systems to replace the incredibly capable HEXAGON area search satellite that entered service in 1971. By the end of the decade, electro-optical imaging technology had finally entered service and spelled the end of the film-return technology that defined the early era of satellite reconnaissance. (Read full report here.)

Article: A Call to Action for the Intelligence Community Following Hamas Terror Attack - Cipher Brief, 30 Oct 23

The October 7 massacre perpetrated against innocent Israelis, Americans and other foreign nationals by the terrorist group Hamas and enabled by its primary patron Iran represents a failure for U.S. intelligence. This is not the first time the Intelligence Community (IC) has been surprised, nor will it be the last. Given the scope of the Hamas attacks and the regional and global implications, this failure has been compared with al Qaeda’s attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001, as well as the Egyptian-Syrian attacks on Israel in October 1973. In response to previous intelligence shortcomings, detailed post-mortem assessments were conducted to understand what happened and recommend remedial actions. For example, most Americans are familiar with the report of the national commission to investigate the 9/11 attacks. Decades earlier, then-Director of Central Intelligence William Colby commissioned a multi-agency assessment of the performance of the IC before the October 1973 attacks on Israel. (Read full report here.)

Article: U.S. Tries New Tack on Russian Disinformation: Pre-Empting It - New York Times, 26 Oct 23

An article that appeared in August on an international news outlet, Pressenza, recycled a false Russian claim that the West was looting religious relics and art from a monastery in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, one of the holiest sites in Russian Orthodoxy. The article stands out, U.S. officials said, not because of what it claimed — but because of its source and intended audience. State Department officials have linked the article to what they describe as a covert information operation to spread Russia propaganda in Central and South America by producing articles that appear to originate with local media organizations, not the Russian government. The operation is nascent, but the department’s Global Engagement Center is disclosing the influence campaign in hopes of blunting its effect in a region where Russia has sought to discredit the United States and erode international support for Ukraine. (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


Reel Life vs Real Life: Social Media and Your Security Clearance - Intelligence and National Security Alliance, October 2023

This paper assesses messaging from the Intelligence Community (IC) and the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding the examination of clearance applicants’ publicly available social media accounts. Social media in this paper refers to all forms of online networking platforms, to include: Discord, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok1. As the federal government adapts to rapidly changing technology and online behaviors by individuals using social media, it is imperative that it update policies and procedures associated with personnel vetting. Additionally, there is a need to improve messaging to the general public and the cleared community regarding how online conduct can impact eligibility for obtaining a clearance. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is currently implementing Trusted Workforce (TW) 2.0, a new paradigm for investigating candidates’ backgrounds and adjudicating clearances. An integral part of the TW 2.0 initiative is Continuous Vetting (CV), a regular automated review of seven categories of databases that provide insight into potentially concerning activities of cleared individuals. (Full report here.)

Shades of Grey: Cyber Intelligence and (Inter)national Security - EU Cyber Direct, 16 Oct 23

This paper about cyber intelligence in the context of national and international security builds on the discussion held during the third EU Cyber Direct Research Seminar organised by Leiden University on 3 November 2022. The paper acknowledges that despite earlier assumptions, cyberspace is less a war-fighting domain than one in which there is constant competition between intelligence agencies. It highlights the scope, scale and tenacity of many of the intelligence and intelligence-led cyber operations discovered over the past decade, each of which has set new precedents in terms of the number of government institutions, businesses and individuals affected, has caused much consternation, yet has led to little discernible action in terms of discussing possible legal or normative restraints or limits at the international level. The paper nonetheless highlights some of the normative actions that are slowly taking place at the national level, or in specialised bodies that shape national-level decisions, to place some restraints on the means and methods used in intelligence and intelligence-led cyber operations. (Full report here.)

Chinese State Security in Africa - Grey Dynamics, 23 Oct 23

China’s state security has a growing footprint in Africa. The Belt and Road Initiative has revealed a security vulnerability for China’s state-owned enterprises (SOE) in Africa. Chinese state security involvement in Africa ranges from the deployment of law enforcement and the use of commandos to the training and education of local governments. The number of personnel associated with Chinese state security has grown dramatically in the past decade. China’s motivations include enterprise security, the spreading of soft power, and intelligence collection. The rest of this content is locked and only accessible to Secret Plan, Top Secret Plan, Secret Plan Annual , and Top Secret Plan Annual members only. (Watch here.)

US Lethal Strikes Program Continues to Violate Int’l Human Rights Law - Just Security, 27 Oct 23

Last week, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee (HRC) reviewed U.S. compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the core international human rights treaty that protects civil and political rights, including the right to life. During the review, the Committee raised critical questions about the U.S. government’s ongoing use of lethal force outside of recognized conflict, including through drone and other air strikes. “The use of lethal drone strikes outside of recognized theaters of conflict is presumptively illegal and violates several covenant rights… [including] the right to life as the supreme right from which no derogation is permitted,” noted Canadian member Marcia V. J. Kran. The Committee is right to be concerned. As a group of civil society organizations, including ours, noted in a submission for its review, the secretive and unaccountable U.S. program of killing those it deems terrorism suspects outside of recognized conflict has caused tremendous harm, in particular to Black, Brown, and Muslim communities around the world. According to independent monitoring groups, the United States has carried out hundreds of lethal counterterrorism strikes outside the context of armed conflict since 2002, including in Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, that have killed thousands of people. These strikes continue under the current administration. According to Airwars, the Biden administration has conducted at least 32 declared strikes in Somalia and at least 6 alleged strikes in Yemen since Jan. 20, 2021. (Full report here.)

Why America needs a hypersonic Spy Plane (23 mins) - Sandboxx News, 27 Oct 23

With conflicts raging the world over and a renewed focus on competition between global powers, the United States may need to harken back to a Cold War approach to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance by fielding a new generation of supremely capable, and optimally high-speed, spy planes. But in this era of reusable rockets and advanced spy satellites, one of the biggest challenges that such a program could face, both among lawmakers and the general public, is the pervasive belief that high-flying reconnaissance aircraft are a thing of the past. (Full report here.)

"Surveillance: From Vision to Data” Explores History of Surveillance - Homeland Security News, 26 Oct 23

The term surveillance may suggest images of high-tech cameras or George Orwell’s ever-watching Big Brother, but surveillance involves more than watching and being watched. To understand surveillance and its consequences, look to data: who collects it, what information is compiled, how it is interpreted, and ultimately, why it matters. The new exhibition, “Surveillance: From Vision to Data,” opened at the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments on Sept. 22. The exhibition delves into the multifaceted concept of surveillance, exploring its historical origins, impact on society, and evolution into the digital age. Throughout history, scientists have created diverse instruments for producing and analyzing data. Colonial powers, intelligence agencies, and corporations alike have in turn wielded these techniques for surveillance — to oversee land, to make certain people visible, and to control behavior. The effects of surveillance through data have been both subtle and overt, from enabling new forms of discipline to entrenching social hierarchies. (Full report here.)

Ranked: The World's Top 25 Defense Companies by Revenue - Visual Capitalist, 27 Oct 23

Every year, the world’s most powerful countries spend billions of dollars on defense—but where does this money actually flow? To gain insight, we’ve ranked the world’s top 25 defense companies by 2022 revenues, using data from Defense News. Note that our graphic shows each company’s revenues from defense, and not total revenues. This is because many companies such as Boeing also generate revenue from non-defense related industries and sectors. (View graphic here.)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recent Content

True Intelligence Matters in Film - The Wasp Network - Olivier Assayas (2019)

Wasp Network is a 2019 spy thriller film written and directed by Olivier Assayas, based on the book The Last Soldiers of the Cold War by Fernando Morais. It stars Penélope Cruz, Édgar Ramírez, Gael García Bernal, Ana de Armas and Wagner Moura. It tells the true story of Cuban spies in American territory during the 1990s. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on 1 September 2019. It was released in France on 31 January 2020 by Memento Films, and was released on 19 June 2020 by Netflix.

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


Professional Courage: My Journey in Military Intelligence Through Peace, Crisis, and War
by Jack Leide
(Self Published, 25 Oct 23)

Professional Courage by Major General Jack Leide is a captivating journey through the life and career of an exceptional soldier and intelligence officer. With a profound blend of history, personal experiences, and invaluable insights, this book is a must-read for historians, students of warfare, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the military and intelligence realms. Leide's narrative takes you through his remarkable career, spanning airborne infantry, intelligence organizations, and special operations. His dedication to serving his nation and supporting fellow soldiers shines through the pages, offering a firsthand account of the challenges and sacrifices made in the line of duty. The book offers a unique window into the latter half of the 20th century, with vivid accounts of combat in Santo Domingo, the jungles of Vietnam, and the intense war room during Desert Storm. Leide's role as a defense and army attaché to China during the Tiananmen Square massacre and the evacuation of American citizens adds another layer of depth to his experiences. This book also sheds light on the challenges of working within international coalitions during combat, the value of human intelligence and special operations forces, and the moral dimensions of war.

Order book here.


Revealing Secrets: An unofficial history of Australian Signals intelligence and the advent of cyber
by Clare Birgin and John Blaxland
(University of New South Wales Press, 01 May 23)

What is Australian signals intelligence? Why do we have a national signals intelligence agency and why are our three armed services involved? What do they all do and why is it controversial? And how significant are our ties with, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand, the formidable Five Eyes partnership?

Order book here.


Spy Dust: Two Masters of Disguise Reveal the Tools and Operations That Helped Win the Cold War
by Antonio Mendez, Jonna Mendez, and Bruce Henderson
(Atria, 17 Sep 02)

The successive heads of the CIA's disguise and technical operations department, who are married to each other, recount their work to protect and rescue a source as they struggle against the Soviet Union in the late 1980s.

Order book here.


Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

Call for Information: Dr. Andrew Hammond and Dr. Mark Stout are seeking interviewees for a journal article on the CIA’s Office of Soviet Analysis (SOVA). The final output will be based on oral history interviews which can be (a) on-the-record (b) off-the-record or (c) utilizing a pseudonym. The data will be used for this project only and thereafter destroyed.Our aim is to understand how people who served in SOVA or who worked alongside SOVA made sense of it: what was it like, what was its culture, what were its strengths and weaknesses, how did it relate to the rest of the CIA and other agencies, is there anything we can learn from SOVA re the new era of Great Power Conflict, etc.? If you served in SOVA during the period 1981 to 1992 and would like to be interviewed, please contact Dr. Andrew Hammond at ahammond@spymuseum.org.

Call for Information: Seeking information on Al "Albert" Purdum, stationed at Arlington Hall 55, Defense Language School - Albanian 55-56, NSA Linguist, Sr. Cryptologist 57-95. Looking for colleagues or friends who knew him, of him. Researching Role of National Security Linguists and Foreign Affairs. Contact cristina.purdum@gmail.com.

Call for Information: Seeking information on Octavio Bermudez, State/Commerce Attache Latin America Crosley Broadcasting- 1922-1942. Sources needed - Passenger list of Hoover's 1928 Good Will Tour, Details/objectives by country, 25 year agreement with Ecuador to build broadcast station in Quito- role in Open Source Enterprise, WWII locating Axis Spies, American Propaganda/Spy Communication Network. 41-46 OCIAA propaganda, embedded code/scripts for broadcast, hand delivered to Crosley, Cincinnati - the only fenced compound, with 24 hr. armed guards, watch tower. Researching Role of Foreign Service Attaches - Development of American Broadcasting Capabilities pre WWII in Latin America. Contact cristina.purdum@gmail.com.

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 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 Articles: AFIO Journal, The Intelligencer

AFIO is seeking authors for its section on "When Intelligence Made a Difference" in the semi-annual Intelligencer journal. Topics of interest for which we are seeking authors include:

• The Richard Sorge espionage ring in Tokyo in World War II and the impact of his intelligence on Stalin and the battle for Moscow.
• How Rommel’s Afrika Korps used SIGINT against the British in World War II.
• How A.Q. Khan’s nuclear proliferation efforts were uncovered and stopped.
• The breaking of the Nazi U-boat SHARK encryption system.
• How US intelligence found Usama Bin Laden in Abbottobad, Pakistan.
• How allied SIGINT isolated the Afrika Korps from its logistics chain.
• How US intelligence discovered the Soviet’s high speed Shkval torpedo.
• Intelligence and the rescue of Scott O’Grady.
• Other topics are also welcome.

Interested authors please contact Peter Oleson, senior editor The Intelligencer, at peter.oleson@afio.com

Jobs

Adjunct Faculty - MS in Intelligence Analysis - Johns Hopkins University - Maryland

The Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) division of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences seeks non-tenure-track adjunct faculty to teach 473.665 Human Intelligence Operations within the MS in Intelligence Analysis program. The course will be taught fully online/asynchronously beginning Spring 2024. Candidates with online course development and teaching experience and those with experience teaching and engaging students from diverse backgrounds are of particular interest.

Additional information on qualifications and application instructions 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

Robert Hermann — Former NSA Deputy Director for Research and Engineering

Dr. Robert J. Hermann (Ph.D. Iowa State University), 90, died October 5, 2023, at home under hospice care in Darien, CT. From 1959 to 1982, Dr. Hermann served the US Government as: National Security Agency (NSA) Deputy Director for Research and Engineering; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Communications, Command, Control, and Intelligence (C3I); Assistant Secretary of the Air Force; and Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. He is an NSA Hall of Honor Inductee and has been called "one of the architects of America's modern world-wide technical intelligence networks." He was a past member of the Phoenix Society. After government service, Dr. Hermann served as Senior Vice President, Science and Technology for United Technology Corporation (UTC) until retirement in 1998.

Jim Pasquarelli —Former CIA and NSA Officer

James Vincent Pasquarelli, Jr., “Jim” or “P-Square,” 82, passed away peacefully at home on October 12, 2023. Jim was born in Greenwich, Connecticut and graduated from Greenwich High School in 1958 to go on to enlist in the U.S. Air Force. He dreamed of flying, but poor eyesight kept him grounded. He tested well for foreign languages and was sent to Yale’s Institute of Asian Studies for 18 months, excelling in Chinese and launching his career. Jim would have been successful at whatever he chose to do. He chose to serve his country, first in the Air Force from 1958-1967, then as a U.S. Intelligence officer at CIA and NSA until 1993. He retired at 52, not because he wanted to relax, but because after 35 years of service, he said, “It’s been great, but I just want to do something else.” That something else was teaching. He had been an instructor in the Air Force and loved training, so he combined that with his computer expertise and went to work in the mid-1990’s for the Dundalk Community College after-hours program, training workers from the General Motors plant, Bethlehem Steel, and the Baltimore County police officers who were just getting computers in their patrol cars. His students appreciated that he was able to communicate in understandable English, not techno-speak. When he and his wife moved to Italy in 2001, the State Department hired him to do computer training at the U.S. Embassy in Rome and consulates in Florence and Naples – truly a highlight of his life and career. In 2004, he returned part-time to NSA where he developed a 2-week curriculum to train new analysts in the art of intelligence analysis. His students, mostly recent college graduates, christened the program “P-Square University” and proudly displayed the certificates he created for them, framed from The Dollar Store. One lifetime wasn’t long enough for Jim to accomplish everything he loved. He threw himself into everything he did. It was almost as though he had parallel careers: the serious classified government work and his devotion to things and people he loved most. Jim took his avocations to levels most would not. As an Air Force enlistee on his first overseas tour in Okinawa, Japan, in the early 60’s, a friend taught him the basics of the guitar. Unlike most self-taught musicians, who might play alone behind closed doors, Jim practiced constantly and became so good that he was able to fulfill another avocation – entertaining audiences at small clubs in Annapolis, D.C., and Baltimore in the 70’s. Later, he brought these talents to his class at the Armed Forces Staff College and to overseas assignments in Germany and Japan in the 1980’s, where he orchestrated Christmas parties for the kids, dance parties for the adults, talent shows, and hail and farewell tributes for departing colleagues. He loved being Deejay “Jimmie Vincent” during off-duty hours at KOPR, the Onna Point base radio station on Okinawa, a profession he thought of pursuing at one time. He loved to draw and was a good cartoonist – which led him to develop a comic strip, “Fat Man and Blobbin,” with his best buddy Leo and to improve his skills through correspondence courses.

Section VI - AFIO Events

9 November 2023 (Thursday), 11:00 a.m. PST - Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Chapter Meeting features Amir Eden, Friends of The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Director of Nevada, and Colorado Chapters, discussing situation in Mideast. The AFIO Las Vegas Chapter meeting features Amir Eden, Friends of The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Director of Nevada, and Colorado Chapters. Given current world events we are fortunate to have this special speaker lined up that I’m sure you will enjoy. The event will be held at Charlie’s Lakeside Bar and Restaurant, 8603 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89117.
Qs and RSVPs to Linda Cohn at 702-239-1370 or by email if you have any questions. Early RSVPs are also appreciated. See you in November.

9 November 2023 (Thursday), 11:30 a.m. PST, - San Francisco, CA - AFIO San Francisco Chapter meeting features Ricky Deutsch on "Spies in the Sky: HEXAGON -- A History of the Last Film-Based Satellite."
Location: Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Avenue, South San Francisco. Time: 11:30am no host cocktails; 12 noon (Pacific) meeting start
RSVP here at Event Registration Link. Pre-registration required. Questions to Mariko Kawaguchi, PO Box 117578, Burlingame, CA 94011, afiosf@aol.com

11 November 2023 (Saturday), 11:30 a.m. EDT, - Indiatlantic, FL - The AFIO Florida Satellite Chapter hears from Col Susie Dabrowski USAF (Ret) on "High-Impact Operations."
Colonel Susie Dabrowski served over 26 years in the U.S. Air Force. Her career included positions in space and nuclear high-impact operations. She served in Pacific and European theaters and five Joint Commands. Upon retirement, she served as a Program Manager in the defense industry. She is currently the Vice President, Southeast Region, Space Force Association.
Location: Doubletree Hotel, Rt A1A, Indialantic, Florida. The sit-down lunch cost is $35.00 per person
RSVPs or Qs to Larry Sanford, President or call 978-502-3328.

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



Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

01 Nov 23, 1200-1300 (ET), - Leadership Analysis: Understanding an Intelligence Discipline - Virtual - Johns Hopkins University

Join Michael Ard for a curated conversation with Deborah Wituski on "Leadership Analysis: Understanding an Intelligence Discipline." Wituski is the vice president for Resilience and Risk Foresight at Google and is responsible for the global program that informs business decisions with trusted resilience and risk analysis to protect Google's people, property, and ideas. Prior to Google, Wituski served in the U.S. government for 20 years. Starting as a leadership analyst in Iraq for the Central Intelligence Agency, Wituski went on to work on Middle East and counterterrorism issues and held senior positions, including chief of staff to the director, CIA. Wituski earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in political science from West Virginia University and a PhD in political science from Ohio State University. Details and free registration here.

8 November 2023, 6 - 8pm EST - Williamsburg, VA - Veterans Day Book Talk with Brian Morra '78 on "Cold War History to Today's Russian Invasion of Ukraine"

Please join us for a Veterans Day event with W&M alumni Brian J. Morra ’78, who will be discussing his book "The Able Archers." The talk will focus on Brian’s writing process, the history of the Cold War period depicted in the book, and connections that can be drawn to the present-day Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Brian is a former U.S. intelligence officer and a retired senior aerospace executive. Learn more about him. A reception and book signing will follow the talk, and the library’s Special Collections Research Center will have select military collections on display. The W&M Bookstore will be there selling copies of his book. This event is produced in partnership with W&M Libraries, W&M Military and Veteran Affairs, and Association of 1775. Location: Swem Library, Read and Relax, 400 Landrum Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Map this location
Free food. Registration/RSVP Required Please register to be guaranteed a seat!
Register for this Event here.

28 November 2023, 5 - 6pm EST - Washington, DC - IWP hosts IN-PERSON book presentation byDr John Gentry on "The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences"

The Institute of World Politics invites you to attend an IN-PERSON book lecture by Dr. John Gentry, Author and Professor at the School of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University, discussing "The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences."
"The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences” is a presentation in association with Dr. Gentry's recent book, Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence Versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences (Armin Lear Press, 2023). Beginning in 2016 and continuing into 2021, current and former U.S. intelligence officers engaged in domestic partisan politics to an unprecedented extent. This discussion will describe and assess what happened at various agencies, the causes of the politicization, consequences for the agencies and national decision-making, and prospects for renewed politicization in 2024.
***Copies of Dr. Gentry's book will be made available for purchase at the conclusion of the event and can be signed by the author.*** ***This lecture is sponsored by the IWP IAFIE Alpha Student Chapter***
Location: The Institute of World Politics, 1521 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036.

More details and registration 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

NEW Gray long-sleeved polo shirts with embroidered AFIO logo. Men's sizes only.
Show your support for AFIO with our new Gray Long-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 $60 each including shipping.
Sizes for men, only: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL.  $60 per shirt. Order this and other store items online here.

NEW 20 oz ceramic Mug with color glazed logo. Made in America. Check out our new tapered, sleek AFIO coffee mug!! This handsome 20 oz. ceramic mug is made in the USA, has a white matte exterior, sports a beautiful navy-blue interior, and is dishwasher safe.  Order yours today! $35 per mug includes shipping to a CONUS address. [includes shipping to U.S. based address, only. For foreign shipments, we will contact you with a quote.] SHIPPING: For shipment to a U.S.-based CONUS address, shipping is included in price. For purchases going to AK, HI, other US territories, Canada, or other foreign countries the shipping fees need to be calculated, so please call our office M-F 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET at 703-790-0320 or email afio@afio.com providing following information: 1) your name, 2) mailing address (or addresses where each gift item will be shipped), 3) name of the AFIO store items you wish to purchase, 4) quantity of each, 5) your credit card number and expiration date, 6) amount (except for additional of shipping fees) authorized to charge, and 7) your phone number and email should we have questions. Foreign shipments fees will be calculated and estimates emailed to you, awaiting your approval.  Order this and other store items online here.

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.




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