Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Weekly Intelligence Notes

03 - 09 January 2024
(Issue 01)

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

CONTENTS


Section I - CURRENT INTELLIGENCE NEWS HIGHLIGHTS



Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)



Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

(Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives)



Section IV - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

(All Categories)

  • Article: Why a woman concealed a secret code in her silk dress 136 years ago - Interesting Engineering, 03 Jan 23
  • Article: Asian American Officials Cite Unfair Scrutiny and Lost Jobs in China Spy Tensions - New York Times, 31 Dec 23
  • Article: U.S. intelligence officials determined the Chinese spy balloon used a U.S. internet provider to communicate - NBC, 28 Dec 23
  • Article: Why the CIA No Longer Works—and How to Fix It by Charles Faddis - Imprimis, October 2023
  • Article: U.S. intelligence agencies ill-suited for China competition, study warns - Washington Times, 06 Jan 24


Section V - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

True Intelligence Matters in Film: Spycraft, Episode 6: Special Ops and the Saboteur - Marek Bures, Maria Berry, Jan Spindler (2021)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recent Content

Infographic: The Top News Stories of 2023, Based on Google Search Trends - Visual Capitalist, 02 Jan 24

Walking Tours: "The Spies of Embassy Row" and "Spies of Georgetown" - Washington, DC. (Sundays, Dates/Times Vary)



Section VI - Obituaries and Classifieds

(Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment)

Obituaries

Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

Employment



Section VII - Events

Upcoming AFIO Events

  • 30 Jan 24, 1900 (PST) - Former CIA Director General David Petraeus on challenges in Ukraine and the Middle East - In-Person, Yorba Linda, CA - AFIO Los Angeles Chapter; Dinner after

Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

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



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


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

FH, CP, LR, JH, JK, EB, S, FR

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

winseditor@afio.com

DISCLAIMER


The Weekly Intelligence Notes include a wide range of articles and commentary to inform our readers. Views expressed in articles are those of the authors; they do not reflect AFIO's support or endorsement. Notices about non-AFIO events do not reflect AFIO endorsement or recommendation.
AFIO does not vet or endorse research inquiries, career announcements, or job offers. Reasonable-sounding inquiries and career offerings are published as a service to readers, who should exercise caution and good judgment when responding and independently verify the source before supplying resumes, career data, or personal information.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES


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

LATEST FROM AFIO


Released exclusively to members 9 January 2024...

The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination


Recorded 2 October 2023

Stuart A. Reid,
Executive Editor of Foreign Affairs,

on "The Lumumba Plot - The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination"

Interview of Monday, 2 Oct 2023 between Stuart A. Reid, Executive Editor of Foreign Affairs, prolific author/writer; and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.
They discuss Stuart's new book "The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination."
The interview runs 30 minutes and includes several Q&As.
The Lumumba Plot can be purchased here.

Access the Stuart Reid interview here or click above image.

The AFIO Now video series in 2023 was sponsored by Northwest Financial Advisors.


Special Walking Tours Announcements
from SpyGuide Tours Inc

Weekend Tours in Washington DC
Georgetown Spy Tour
Embassy Row Spy Tour Daily Tours in New York City
The Spies of Wall Street

New 2024 Dates
Vintage Espionage: A Wine Tasting Event with an Espionage Twist.
Join us on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 at 5:30 PM-7:30 PM for an unforgettable evening of wine and espionage!
Immerse yourself in a world of mystery and intrigue. For security reasons your sommelier remains encrypted, known only as DECANTER/1 (C/1). C/1 lived and served around the world as an intelligence officer. She's an expert in relationship building and persuasion and guides you through a blind tasting of old-world and new-world wines. Together you'll assess and evaluate her selections. Enjoy her stories from a life on the front lines of intelligence operations. Be sure to bring your burning questions about wine and the world of spies!
Whether you're a wine connoisseur or simply love intrigue, Vintage Espionage promises an evening you won't want to miss. Gather your friends and join us for an unforgettable night of wine, and unforgettable tales of espionage.

Book here and use Promo code VE2024
Location: The Italian Oven, 6852 Old Dominion Dr. McLean, VA 22101
Date: Wednesday, 18 January 2024
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Admission: Limited availability, so book your tickets now!
Note: This event is for individuals aged 21 and above.

Use promo code VE2024 for a $20 discount. Read more and book here.

• Sunday, 4 February 2024, 4p-6p. The Golden Age; 1726 Connecticut Ave NW; Washington, DC 20009

Vintage Espionage: A Sisterhood of Spies, Spirits, and Secrecy. Read more and book on Eventbrite.
• Thursday, 18 January 2024, 6p-8p. 1310 Kitchen & Bar, 1310 Wisconsin Avenue NW; Washington, DC 20007

Visit Spyher Book | Buy | Contact us to schedule a private event |
Subscribe and “Get the Intel” for not-yet-public information on upcoming events

Vintage Espionage travels throughout the U.S. 
Visit https://spyher.co to learn more and book all tours.

New — from AFIO Partner The OSS Society


Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch

This new documentary, produced by OSS Society President Charles Pinck,
has received an early invitation as an official selection
of the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival,
an Academy Award qualifying film festival. Check out the film’s trailer here.




The Archive

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

Click here to watch interviews in the AFIO Now series released in 2024.
View interviews from 2020 to 2023 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" Podcast

LATEST PODCAST: In this episode,Jimmy Burns, Prize-Winning Author and Journalist, and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations, discuss Jimmy Burns's latest book "A Faithful Spy: The Life and Times of an MI6 and MI5 Officer" on the exceptional intelligence career of Walter Bell..

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



THE MARKETPLACE


THE AFIO STORE

Special Gifts for Colleagues, Self, or Others

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.



CIA's In-house 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.

Section I - CURRENT INTELLIGENCE NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Behind The Operations of US Army’s Massive $175 Million Spy Balloon - Fluctus, 04 Jan 24

"Welcome back to the Fluctus Channel for an overview of the incredible operations of surveillance balloons. Fluctus is a website and YouTube channel dedicated to sea geeks. Whenever you are curious or an incorrigible lover of this mysterious world, our videos are made for you ! We publish 3 videos a week on our YouTube channel and many more articles on our website. Feel free to subscribe to not miss any of our updates and visit our website to discover additional content." (Read more here.)

Concerns arise as S. Korea transfers espionage authority to police - The Chosun Daily, 02 Jan 24

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, South Korea’s police will handle counter-espionage investigations following the transfer of the National Intelligence Service’s authority. As an armistice nation, S. Korea has managed issues related to North Korean espionage and similar concerns through its counter-espionage authority. However, there are concerns that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) has not fully transferred its expertise in counter-espionage to the police. The challenge lies in transferring the NIS’s accumulated knowledge to the police, and in ensuring the police can maintain the capability. Counter-espionage investigations require skills such as analyzing encrypted information and accessing international intelligence networks. Until last year, spies who were apprehended demonstrated behaviors such as secret communication and clandestine overseas meetings, utilizing sophisticated encryption programs like ‘steganography’. (Read more here.)

Lawsuit accuses CIA of hiding records of bribes paid to conceal origins of COVID - Natural News, 01 Jan 24

The Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project is suing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for refusing to comply with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request involving the spook agency's Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lab leak theory investigation. According to the suit, the CIA bribed six of its seven COVID Discovery Team members to pretend as though they believed COVID came from bat soup at a Chinese wet market rather than from a bioweapons laboratory in Wuhan, China. A senior-level CIA agent who has worked at the agency for several decades reportedly came forward to blow the whistle on the scandal, which is explained as follows in the legal complaint... (Full article here.)

Ukraine says Russia hacked web cameras to spy on targets in Kyiv - The Record, 02 Jan 24

Ukraine’s security officers said they took down two online surveillance cameras that were allegedly hacked by Russia to spy on air defense forces and critical infrastructure in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. The cameras were installed on residential buildings in Kyiv and were initially used by residents to monitor the surrounding area and parking lot. After hacking them, the Russian intelligence services supposedly gained remote access to the cameras, changed their viewing angles, and connected them to YouTube to stream sensitive footage. According to Ukraine’s security service, SBU, this footage likely helped Russians direct drones and missiles toward Kyiv during a large-scale missile strike against Ukraine on Tuesday. During the attack, Russia fired almost 100 drones and missiles, primarily targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. At least 5 people were killed, and 129 were injured. (Full article here.)

20 Years Cipher Machines and Cryptology! - SIGINT Chatter, 03 Jan 24

Welcome to 2024! This year, the Cipher Machines and Cryptology website also celebrates its 20th anniversary. It all started in the first days of 2004 with a tiny users page on a server, to share the very first version of the Enigma Simulator. Over the years, and with the help of fellow crypto enthusiasts, the website gradually grew by adding more crypto machines, their history and technical details, simulations, and several cryptologic challenges. In early 2022, the website finally moved to its own domain, and the feared drop in visitors due to the move never occurred, with thanks to the visitors, and Google. The statistics exceeded all expectations. Meanwhile, the website received more than 4.5 million visits, and not only to read about cryptology. No less than 339 participants from 43 countries entered the Enigma Challenge. The Crypto Box Challenges also attracted 82 persons from 26 countries, and spy adventure Operation Tinker Bell is completed by 25 persons from 14 countries. A big Thank You to all those who invested so much time and effort in solving the various challenges, and they are all still open to new participants. (Full article here.)

Finnish intelligence reorganizes to boost information gathering - The Record, 02 Jan 24

The Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Suojelupoliisi or Supo) has been reorganized to “enhance information gathering,” the agency announced on Tuesday. It follows the agency warning that the Kremlin was treating Finland as a “hostile country” following its accession to NATO, and an act of suspected maritime sabotage. An investigation into the incident, in which a China-flagged ship sailing to Russia damaged a subsea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia, is ongoing. In November, Beijing promised its full cooperation with the investigation. Moscow said one of the country’s own cables was also damaged. Supo’s reorganization has cut the agency’s previous nine departments down to eight, publicly announced the head of each department and published them on its website, although it added further changes would not be made public. (Full article here.)

Atesh: The Unseen Heroes of Espionage in Occupied Crimea - BNN Breaking, 05 Jan 24

In the shadowy corners of the Crimean peninsula, a covert group is reportedly stirring the embers of resistance against Russian military might. Named Atesh, which translates to ‘fire’ in Crimean Tatar, this clandestine organization has allegedly taken up the mantle of espionage against Russian forces occupying Crimea. The Veiled Operation of Atesh... According to a report by the BBC, Atesh members, hidden amidst the ordinary population, carry out high-risk operations to gather strategic intelligence. Their targets include Russian troop movements, air defenses, and key military assets. The group’s audacious activities, conducted under the constant threat of severe punishment for treason, are said to have provided critical aid to Ukrainian strikes on key Russian military targets. (Full article here.)

Turkey’s intelligence agency MIT secures a whopping 126 pct budget increase for 2024 - Nordic Monitor, 01 Jan 24

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government granted a staggering 125.7 percent increase in this year’s budget for Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı, MIT), a key entity it has relied upon heavily over the last decade to govern the nation of 85 million with an iron fist. The government’s proposal to allocate 17.4 billion Turkish lira to MIT in the central budget, a significant increase from the 2023 budget of TL 7.7 billion, was rubber-stamped by the parliament without modification in late December. The increase in funding is yet another indication that President Erdogan intends to persist in relying on intelligence to maintain his hold on power, suppress opposition and perpetuate a climate of fear for critics and opponents. Since 2020 the government has ceased publishing MIT’s spending and asset reports — which were audited annually by the Court of Accounts (Sayıştay) on behalf of the legislature, which has oversight power to review government expenditures — as a means of concealing MIT’s financial resources and assets. (Full article here.)

IDF gains control of second key Hamas intel center in northern Gaza - Jerusalem Post, 02 Jan 23

The IDF has completed its takeover of the second most important Hamas intelligence center in northern Gaza, as it finishes ousting the terror group from its last spot in Daraj-Tuffah. Fighting over the area has gone on for weeks, with soldiers Yaron Eliezer Chnitz, Efrayim Yachman, and Itai Boton all falling in battle last week. Those units involved included Brigade 401 of Division 162, including Shaldag special forces, Yahalom, Engineering Battalion 601 and Battalion 52. After the Hamas intelligence center found near the Gaza City military quarter, this intelligence center is considered the most important in northern Gaza, including 37 structures, a vast tunnel network dropping 20 meters underground, three tunnel elevators, extensive stairs, and blast doors. (Full article here.)

China’s ‘Army Of Spies’ Horrifies Germany; Report Cautions Against Massive Influx Of Chinese Students - Eurasian Times, 03 Jan 24

The Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu underscored the importance of spies in his aphorism: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” About 2,500 later, Germany fears that the People’s Republic of China has raised an army of spies to keep an eye on its expatriates and glean sensitive information regarding technologies from different countries. In 2017, China put a secret service statute in place that called for “any organization or citizen shall support, assist and cooperate with state intelligence work, according to the law.” In other words, it gave the Chinese government the authority to mandate any Chinese national or business to assist the intelligence agencies. In essence, it is an unrestricted permit to spy. (Full article here.)

Britain’s got some of Europe’s toughest surveillance laws. Now it wants more. - Politico, 03 Jan 24

The U.K. already has some of the most far-reaching surveillance laws in the democratic world. Now it’s rushing to beef them up even further — and tech firms are spooked. Britain's government wants to build on its landmark Investigatory Powers Act, a controversial piece of legislation dubbed the "snooper's charter" by critics when introduced back in 2016. That law — introduced in the wake of whistleblower Edward Snowden’s revelations of mass state surveillance — attempted to introduce more accountability into the U.K. intelligence agencies’ sprawling snooping regime by formalizing wide-ranging powers to intercept emails, texts, web history and more. Now new legislation is triggering a fresh outcry among both industry execs and privacy campaigners — who say it could hobble efforts to protect user privacy. (Full article here.)

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

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



Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

Why doesn’t Canada have a foreign intelligence service? - Borealis Threat and Risk, 08 Jan 24

Canada is an outlier in the ‘5 Eyes’ intelligence club (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US) in that it does not have an independent foreign intelligence (FI) service. There is an FI SIGINT (signals intelligence agency) CSE (Communications Security Establishment) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) does have a FI mandate, but a weird one, constrained to collection in Canada (how Canadian, eh?). Do we need one and how would we go about creating one? Borealis speaks with three former CSIS intelligence officers on this issue. (Full report here.)

NSA 2023 Cybersecurity Year in Review - NSA, 01 Jan 24

Since World War II, the National Security Agency (NSA) and its predecessors have protected the United States’ most sensitive information. As technological advancements have created a more interconnected world with ever-increasing threats, NSA’s mission has expanded. NSA has embraced new responsibilities and operational authorities to ensure our networks remain secure. Today, NSA’s cybersecurity mission integrates cryptographic expertise, foreign signals intelligence, vulnerability analysis, defensive operations, and more to prevent and eradicate cyber threats to three key areas. NSA Cybersecurity protects and defends... (Full report here.)

The Rebirth of Russian Spycraft - Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec 23

In April 2023, a prominent Russian national with suspected ties to Russian intelligence pulled off an impressive escape from Italian authorities. Artem Uss, a Russian businessman and the son of a former Russian governor, had been detained in Milan a few months earlier on charges of smuggling sensitive U.S. military technology to Russia. According to an indictment issued by a federal court in Brooklyn, New York, in October 2022, Uss had illegally trafficked in the semiconductors needed to build ballistic missiles and a variety of other weapons, some of which were being used in the war in Ukraine. But while... (Full report here.)

UK Intelligence Community: An Overview - Grey Dynamics, 02 Jan 24

A testimony to intelligence history and marked by innovative procurement, the United Kingdom’s Intelligence Community (UKIC) stands out as one of the world’s most notable Intelligence Community (IC). Highly skilled and interoperable, the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence for national security significantly help influence Britain’s security. These efforts play a major role in policymaking decisions. The most notable agencies within the UKIC are the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6) who cover foreign intelligence, Security Service (MI5) on domestic issues, General Communications Head Quarters (GCHQ) with signals intelligence and electronic information (SIGINT), and Defence Intelligence (DI) with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The UKIC as a whole is broadly comparable to only the United States of America (USA). Mainly seen in terms of their intelligence capability and agency specialization. However, like any other country the UKIC stands out as an island of its own merit. (Read full report here.)

Delivering Climate Security Requires an Intelligence-Led Response - Royal United Services Institute, 05 Jan 24

More than a third of states now acknowledge that climate change poses a significant and growing challenge to global stability. Staying ahead of the myriad climate-related security risks, however, demands strong leadership guided by actionable intelligence and an enhanced focus on strategic early warning. The COP28 UN climate change conference in Dubai may have missed an opportunity to prevent the world’s average temperature from rising 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. But it should be remembered as the summit that placed climate security — a policy area concerned with overcoming the risks to peace and stability posed by the climate crisis — firmly on the international policy agenda. Over 100 climate security-related events were held during the conference, which took place between 30 November and 13 December 2023. Most predominantly focused on the human security consequences of climate change, including how climate change impacts – such as flooding, drought and extreme heat – can contribute to displacement and exacerbate food, water and livelihood insecurity. (Read full report here.)

An Elegy for the Military Intelligence Officer - Army U. Press, 31 Dec 23

How skilled should an Army intelligence officer be in signals intelligence (SIGINT) when directing Army intelligence missions? How skilled should that officer be in geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) when leading a unit with GEOINT missions? Or human intelligence (HUMINT) missions? Compared to an average intelligence sergeant in one of those disciplines, how skilled should a captain or a major be? Are they even be required to be knowledgeable in their branch disciplines? These questions stem from the issue that the Army, having deemphasized the technical training of its intelligence officer corps for forty-plus years, must now depend on those same officers to lead an increasingly complex, scientific, and technical discipline but without career-spanning technical education in the mechanisms to make it work. When combined with the systematic delinking of junior and senior noncommissioned officers (NCOs) from their own military occupational specialty-related technical competencies and an overreliance on the warrant officer cohort to fill mission leadership roles, the result is in an officer cohort that struggles to meet new challenges in an efficient, coordinated, or informed manner. (Read full report here.)

Intelligence Community Assessment: Foreign Threats to the 2022 U.S. Elections - National Intelligence Council via DNI, 18 Dec 23

This Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA)- prepared pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13848(1)(a)— addresses key foreign actors' intentions and efforts to influence or interfere with the 2022 US elections and to undermine public confidence in the US election process. It builds on analysis by CIA, DHS, FBI, the National Intelligence Council, NSA, and other IC elements published throughout the election cycle and provided to Executive Branch and Congressional stakeholders. This assessment references both licit and illicit activity that occurred during this election cycle to provide a holistic view of foreign plans, intentions, and operations. It does not include an assessment of the impact influence and interference activities may have had on the outcome of the elections in 2022. The IC is charged with monitoring and assessing the intentions, capabilities, and actions of foreign actors; it does not analyze US political processes, actors, election administration, vote tabulation processes, or public opinion. (Read full report here.)

Skip the corsets, we’d rather have childcare: gendering spycraft in genre fiction and memoir - Intelligence and National Security, 19 Dec 23

In ‘Skip the Corsets’ I ask how female former operatives writing about their work at CIA have responded to the post-9/11 era in both memoirs and fiction. I analyze texts that offer a vision of the post-9/11 world order as one in which the qualities of a good intelligence specialist may include empathy and maternal instinct. As the Agency has come under criticism for torture, illegal extraditions, and drone attacks, I look at how depictions of women intelligence specialists created by women writers have negotiated with that criticism, and also suggested other ways of envisioning the role of American intelligence. During the Cold War, the confrontation between two nuclear-armed superpowers often generated espionage writing in which men working for the Central Intelligence Agency were presented as tough, stoic, disciplined, physically powerful, and – thanks to their portrayal in films by actors like Harrison Ford, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Chris Pine – unusually attractive and virile guarantors of American safety. During the War on Terror, however, the enemy multiplied and has become more diffuse, and the qualities required to combat terrorism (or that the public, politicians, and the entertainment industry imagine are required to combat terrorism) have changed as well. This essay will ask how retiredFootnote1 women operatives writing about their work at CIA, in both memoirs and fiction, have responded to the post-9/11 era. I analyze texts that offer a vision of the post-9/11 world order as one in which the qualities of a good spy may include empathy and maternal instinct as well as lethal martial arts skills. As the Agency has come under criticism for torture, illegal extraditions, and drone attacks, I will ask, how have depictions of women analysts and case officersFootnote2 created by women writers negotiated with that criticism, and suggested other ways of envisioning the role of American intelligence? (Read full report here.)

Intelligence liaison in practice; service attachés in the Swedish Legation in London 1939-45 - Journal of Intelligence History, 20 Dec 23

During the Second World War, Britain was regarded by neutral Sweden as an important source of intelligence. Swedish service attachés were posted to London to use their diplomatic and service status to collect and report relevant intelligence to Swedish High Command in Stockholm for assessment and circulation. Their collection techniques in Britain meet Wilhelm Agrell’s definition of intelligence liaison and this paper describes how they were able to deliver significant results under difficult conditions. At times, they had to contend with a hostile and restrictive host country, communication difficulties (in every sense) with Stockholm and unappreciative diplomats and senior officers. Their efforts have gone largely un-noticed in Swedish Second World War historiography, and readers may be surprised to learn of the results that they achieved and the difficulties that they faced. This is the second of three articles on the work of Swedish and British service attachés during the Second World War. Using Wilhelm Agrell’s concept of intelligence liaison, this paper will look at how liaison operated in practice between Britain and Sweden for the Swedish service attachés posted to London during the Second World War. The paper will show that for the attachés at different stages, access to intelligence sources varied for a variety of factors, creating both barriers and enablers while the expectations and requirements from the General Staff in Stockholm shaped what intelligence they targeted and how they reported. (Read full report here.)

Is Russia Copying the U.S. Espionage Act? - Future of Freedom Foundation, 03 Jan 24

On December 29, the New York Times published an article entitled “How the Russian Government Silences Wartime Dissent,” which details the Russian government’s prosecution of Russian citizens who criticize Russia’s war on Ukraine. According to the article, “In the first 18 months of the war, the law scooped up a vast array of ordinary Russians — schoolteachers, pensioners, groundskeepers, a carwash owner — for punishment.” The article points out that the prosecutions have resulted in widespread “self-censorship” in which people are too afraid to speak out against the war. Of course, nobody should be surprised over Russia’s suppression of free speech during wartime, especially given Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian bent. What I found interesting about the Times’s article, however, was the total absence of any mention of the U.S. Espionage Act of 1917, which was enacted during World War I. After all, it’s entirely possible that Russian authorities are using the U.S. Espionage Act as a model in their suppression of wartime dissent in Russia. (Read full report here.)

Top-Secret Document Leaks: Unraveling Truths Amidst Modern Disinformation - Clearance Jobs, 03 Jan 24

We live, as the old song’s refrain from ‘Stand to Your Glasses’ tells us, ‘in a world of lies’. Investigators in the world of classified projects must always seek the truth, no matter where the leads take us. Not too long ago, a series of ‘Top Secret’ documents dealing with the Russian-Ukraine war appeared on X. These were purportedly American. From initial accounts they appeared genuine. In cases like this, I’m reminded of one of the first ‘folk-truisms’ of the investigative world that, “The first report is only 10% correct”. This would mean we need to dig deeper, to find out if the document is true, and if so, how did it get where it did? But then, that would only be half the story, wouldn’t it? We now have a world dominated by social media. This means, if I have something to say, I can be an ‘influencer’. Influencers used to be the newspapers. People who would spread disinformation often started there. Communist East Germans once fomented a plot to discredit the United States’ CIA. Communist agents planted a bogus story in a friendly Indian sub-continent newspaper. It claimed a CIA-created disease spread when it leaked from its secret American laboratory. That disease was claimed to be AIDS. More intriguing was the successful British plot to deceive the Germans on where the D-Day landing would occur. The British dropped a dead English citizen off the shores of Franco’s fascist Spain. When the body washed ashore, dressed as an English pilot with secret documents, he was turned over to German Abwehr counterintelligence officers in Madrid. The alleged secret maps he held showed the Allies would land at Pas-de-Calais, not Normandy, where they actually did. The Germans believed it. (Read full report here.)

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.

19 Dec | “Making Sense of China, Taiwan, & America” – Pacific Intelligence with Bonny Lin Bonny Lin joins Andrew Hammond to discuss the current state of China and intelligence. Bonny is the Director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.


Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

(Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives)


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.

04 Jan | While local concerns will drive the outcome of this year’s multiple elections, democracy and autocracy are also on the ballot. Over 40 elections will be held around the world in 2024 - including contests for leaders in the European Parliament, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, Mexico, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. But it’s uncertain which way the voters might lean - we’ve seen notable variations in preferences even in similar neighborhoods. For example, in Poland there was a recent centrist victory with the win by Donald Tusk, but in Italy and the Netherlands the right has asserted control. And the outcome of the next round of contested and polarizing elections speaks not only to the future of national policies, but to the dominant strain in worldwide governance. (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.

09 Jan | Undeterred, Houthis Threaten Regional Stability and Global Commerce

Bolstered by their persistent threat to Red Sea shipping traffic, the Houthis have emerged as the most active components of Iran’s axis of resistance, even if Lebanese Hezbollah remains the most potent group within the broader proxy constellation. Iran has long cultivated a large network of allies to exert influence on the outcome of regional crises such as the Israel-Hamas war. Currently, Iranian proxies are working to counter U.S.-backed Israeli efforts to end Hamas’ administrative and military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis, also known as the Ansrallah movement, have thwarted a nearly decade-long Saudi-led military effort to roll back their control over northern and central Yemen. Unlike other Iranian allies in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, the Houthis have not limited their targets to Israeli or U.S. forces over the course of the war in Gaza, but have also targeted commercial ships with ties to dozens of different countries.

08 Jan | Mideast Crisis Puts Anti-ISIS Mission at Risk

05 Jan | With Presidential Elections Ahead, U.S. Domestic Terrorism a Major Concern




Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell and former CIA Chief Operating Officer Andy Makridis on critical security challenges.

Intelligence Matters: The Relaunch is a Beacon Global Strategies podcast.

03 Jan | The Year of Living Dangerously: Michael Allen In this special episode, Beacon Global Strategies Managing Director Michael Allen turns the microphones on Michael and Andy and interviews them about their forecasts for national security and intelligence in 2024.



A Prose Elegy on the Death of Freedom of Thought by former CIA Executive Glen Corn - Military Review, 07 Jan 24

"We hear a lot today about cancel culture. Most of us have heard horrible stories about innocent people accused of crimes or unacceptable indiscretions requiring public humiliation and social isolation. Public figures, officials, or even a colleague in the office can be suddenly labeled as guilty by the court of public opinion for some uninvestigated allegation or unsubstantiated suspicion of a misdeed and given no chance to prove their innocence to a rumor-hungry mob that is either not capable of thinking critically or unwilling to take the time to research facts. Judgments passed as quickly as a tweet can be written, or condemnation can be posted. Souls can be crushed. Careers can be ended. Lives can be destroyed. Freedom of thought and expression can be threatened. This is a terrible trend in today's America—the phenomenon of character assassination and canceling others—but while this reality may appear to be something new to us, it is not." (Read more here.)

Revolt against Putin by former acting CIA Director and Deputy Director John McLaughlin - Politico, 05 Jan 24

This article is part of a larger piece titled The Unpredictable But Entirely Possible Events That Could Throw 2024 Into Turmoil. Scroll down to find McLaughlin's contribution, which begins "My candidate flows from Russia. As best we can tell, Putin’s approval rating is solid and high. The most reliable opinion data also suggests that the Russian public is broadly apathetic or at least chooses to not think about the war in Ukraine (except for minorities at both ends of the spectrum who actively approve or disapprove of the war). And by all accounts, Putin is feeling more comfortable than heretofore because of the static lines in Ukraine, divisions appearing in the West and turbulence in Ukrainian politics." (Read more here.)

What It’s Actually Like Being a Woman in the CIA by former CIA Operations Officer Valerie Plame - Foreign Policy, 06 Jan 24

In 2003, senior White House officials outed me as a covert CIA agent. They leaked my identity after my then-husband, U.S. Ambassador Joe Wilson, wrote an op-ed stating that the George W. Bush administration lied about the threat posed by Iraq ahead of its decision to invade the country. I have spent a lot of time in the decades since processing the trauma of that experience. It endangered my assets, ended my covert career, and unsettled my family. Even events that happened much later took me back to that time, such as then-President Donald Trump’s 2018 pardon of Scooter Libby, former Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, who was convicted of perjury and lying to the FBI during its investigation into the leak. In those years, I was called a liar, a traitor, and—in the words of one Republican congressman—a “glorified secretary.” (Read more here.)

Pinprick attacks on Houthi positions won’t solve the bigger problem by former CIA Chief of Counterterrorism Bernard Hudson - Cipher Brief, 05 Jan 24

It took two months of escalating attacks on commercial ships for the U.S. military to respond aggressively to the most sustained aerial assaults on global shipping since World War II. On New Year’s Eve, the U.S. Navy destroyed three Houthi vessels as they attempted to board and hijack a container ship at the southern end of the Red Sea. In more than 100 attacks aimed at the strategic waterways, the Yemeni rebel group has disrupted a staggering 12 percent of the world’s shipping trade, causing prices on goods to rise to accommodate the delays, uncertainty, and danger. The missile and drone attacks that accompany the Houthis’ hijacking attempts are audacious and technologically advanced. This is especially striking, as Yemen is one of the poorest countries on Earth, ranking near the bottom of every measure of economic and social development. (Read more here.)

Iran Is Pushing Biden Around by former senior CIA Operations Officer Douglas London - Wall Street Journal, 27 Dec 23

Hours after Kataib Hezbollah injured three American troops with an attack on an air base in Iraq on Dec. 25, the U.S. struck back, hitting three facilities used by the Iran-backed militia. U.S. officials described the act as a proportionate retaliation to deter further attacks and mitigate the risk of a full-scale war between the U.S. and Iran. (Full report here.)

The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: Causes and Consequences by former CIA Analyst Dr. John Gentry - Institute of World Politics, 14 Dec 23

"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. Dr. Gentry teaches for the School of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University. He was for 12 years an intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he mainly worked on economic issues associated with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries; for two of those years, he was a senior analyst on the staff of the National Intelligence Officer for Warning. He is a retired U.S. Army Reserve officer, with most assignments in special operations and intelligence arenas. He was mobilized in 1996 and spent much of 1996 as a civil affairs officer in Bosnia. Dr. Gentry formerly taught at Georgetown University, Columbia University, and the National Intelligence University. He has an economics background and received a Ph.D. in political science from George Washington University. He writes regularly on intelligence and security issues. His most recently published book is Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences (Armin Lear Press, 2023). (Watch here.)

Better intelligence needed to keep a world in crisis from getting worse by former senior CIA Operations Officer Daniel Hoffman - Washington Times, 28 Dec 23

At their recent meeting in San Francisco, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told President Biden that China would one day reunify Taiwan with mainland China. CIA Director William Burns warned months ago that Mr. Xi has directed his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. For the Pentagon, that's potentially a third major war to deal with on the not-so-distant horizon if Beijing is not deterred from taking military action. It's worth noting that the Israel Defense Forces are taking the fight to ruthless Hamas terrorists, and Ukraine is in an existential war to defend its sovereignty against a Russian onslaught in part because of intelligence failures, which have contributed to costly strategic failures to deter malicious... (Read full report here.)

New Podcast: Straight from the Shoulder by former Acting CIA Deputy Director of Operations Jack Devine and former government Intelligence Analyst Julia Stone

How might someone who worked at the CIA or NSA view what’s happening around the world? What can we learn about politics and risk from the intelligence vantage point - past and present? Straight from the Shoulder is a podcast that strives to analyze geopolitical events through the apolitical lens of intelligence officers. The podcast features commentary by Jack Devine, former Acting Deputy Director of Operations at the CIA and President The Arkin Group in conversation with Julia Stone, former government Intelligence Analyst and Senior Director at The Arkin Group. Listeners can expect a candid, non-partisan, and lively discussion that seeks to unravel the complex issues that threaten security and global stability. Episode 1: “How is the world being reshaped by two active wars involving US allies in Europe and the Middle East? And what will the outcome of these conflicts mean in terms of the world we want to live in? Join us for a thoughtful discussion about these destabilizing global conflicts, where we grapple with the question of what’s really at stake. On this episode, we’ll consider: The broader implications of supporting Ukraine and what’s currently happening in Washington; Parallels between the wars in Ukraine and Israel; The role of intelligence in mitigating violent outbreaks and how and why intelligence failures have an outsized impact on global stability. (Listen here.)




Section IV - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

(All Categories)

Article: Why a woman concealed a secret code in her silk dress 136 years ago - Interesting Engineering, 03 Jan 24

For over a decade, a code tucked into the folds of an 1880s silk dress perplexed codebreakers worldwide. Recently, a data analyst from the University of Manitoba cracked this century-old puzzle, revealing an unexpected story woven into the fabric of history. The vintage dress, procured from an antique shop in Maine, harbored a secretive pocket concealing a cryptic note that confounded experts and garnered the nickname "The Silk Dress Cryptogram." The breakthrough came from Wayne Chan, a determined data analyst and hobbyist codebreaker at the University of Manitoba. Chan's relentless pursuit led him to weather telegraph codes used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in the late 1800s, sparking a connection between the dress's mysterious note and historic weather observations. (Read full report here.)

Article: Asian American Officials Cite Unfair Scrutiny and Lost Jobs in China Spy Tensions - New York Times, 31 Dec 23

The State Department eventually reversed the ban on Mr. Wong after he and others raised the issue internally. Similarly, the State Department has lifted 1,400 assignment restrictions during the Biden administration, and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken this year announced an end to the practice. But there are still bars for officials to clear. Today, some 625 State Department employees remain under the ban, according to department data released to The New York Times. The agency did not initially explain why, then said in a statement two days after this story was posted online that those cases were ones in which the employee had not requested an appeal or in which the appeals process was ongoing. In addition, counterintelligence officers can recommend bans after investigating employees with job offers to countries, most prominently China, judged to pose special intelligence threats. (Read full report here.)

Article: U.S. intelligence officials determined the Chinese spy balloon used a U.S. internet provider to communicate - NBC, 28 Dec 23

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that the Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. this year used an American internet service provider to communicate, according to two current and one former U.S. official familiar with the assessment. The balloon connected to a U.S.-based company, according to the assessment, to send and receive communications from China, primarily related to its navigation. Officials familiar with the assessment said it found that the connection allowed the balloon to send burst transmissions, or high-bandwidth collections of data over short periods of time. The Biden administration sought a highly secretive court order from the federal Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to collect intelligence about it while it was over the U.S., according to multiple current and former U.S. officials. How the court ruled has not been disclosed. (Read full report here.)

Article: Why the CIA No Longer Works—and How to Fix It by Charles Faddis - Imprimis, October 2023

We need the CIA, but we also need to recognize the uncomfortable reality that the CIA is not performing at the level we require. It is not keeping us safe. It must be repaired, and it must be repaired quickly. The CIA was created after World War II with one overriding primary mission—to prevent a reoccurrence of what happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. We were never going to allow an enemy to surprise us on that scale again. We were never going to find ourselves blind regarding a threat of that magnitude and immediacy. We would be forewarned and forearmed. Then came 9/11. Members of Al Qaeda hijacked four airliners. They crashed three of them into their targets. They were prevented from succeeding with the fourth only by the heroism of the brave American passengers. (Read more here.)

Article: U.S. intelligence agencies ill-suited for China competition, study warns - Washington Times, 06 Jan 24

U.S. intelligence agencies are not structured to address threats and challenges posed by China and need urgent reforms, according to a report by a national security think tank. The nation’s 18 intelligence agencies need to retool and refocus so they can do a better job addressing challenges posed by an increasingly aggressive China and its leaders, the report issued late last month by the MITRE Corp. warns. The report identified several intelligence areas that need “urgent attention, resources and top-level government leadership engagement.” (Read full report here.)



Section V - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Books — Forthcoming, Newly Released, Overlooked


"Nothing if Not Eventful" A Life's Journey in CIA
by Thomas L. Ahern, Jr.
(Center for the Study of Intelligence, December 2023)

Having published his rendering of Bill Lair's experience as a CIA officer stationed in Thailand for about twenty years, Thomas L. Ahern, Jr., has written his own memoir of nearly 70 years of service with CIA, as a staff officer and contract historian.

Download book here.


The Bulldog Detective: William J. Flynn and America's First War against the Mafia, Spies, and Terrorists
by Jeffrey D. Simon
(Prometheus, 16 Jan 24)

America in the early twentieth century was rife with threats. Organized crime groups like the Mafia, German spies embedded behind enemy lines ahead of World War I, package bombs sent throughout the country, and the 1920 Wall Street bombing dominated headlines. Yet the story of the one man tasked with combating these threats has yet to be told. The Bulldog Detective: William J. Flynn and America’s First War Against the Mafia, Spies, and Terrorists is the first book to tell the story of Flynn, the first government official to bring down the powerful Mafia, uncover a sophisticated German spy ring in the United States, and launch a formal war on terrorism on his way to becoming one of the most respected and effective law enforcement officials in American history. Long before Eliot Ness and the Untouchables went after Al Capone and the Italian mob in Chicago, Flynn dismantled the first Mafia family to exist in America. Next stop for the indefatigable crime fighter would be Chief of the Secret Service where he would set his crosshairs on the country’s most notorious currency counterfeiters. Coined “the Bulldog” for his tenacity, Flynn’s fame soared as he exposed Kaiser Germany’s sophisticated spy and sabotage ring on the cusp of America’s entry into World War I. As the Director of the Bureau of Investigation (the forerunner of the FBI), the Bulldog would devise the first counterterrorist strategy in U.S. history. In this riveting biography, author Jeffrey D. Simon brings to life the forgotten saga of one of America’s greatest crime and terrorist fighters. Exquisitely researched, The Bulldog Detective finally uncovers the important legacy of this fascinating man who will now no longer be lost in history.

Order book here.


Military Intelligence, 1870-1991: A Research Guide (Research Guides in Military Studies)
by Jonathan M. House
(Greenwood, 21 Jun 93)

This research guide is an introduction to military intelligence, a neglected aspect of warfare that provides commanders and national leaders with essential information for decision making. The introduction provides the general reader with an explanation of the terminology, procedures, and institutional problems of military intelligence, while outlining the history of this field and identifying areas for further research. The core of the guide is an extensively annotated bibliography of unclassified English language materials on military intelligence, the evolution of intelligence operations, the role of intelligence in air, ground, and naval operations, and specialized fields of espionage, counter intelligence, technical intelligence, and aerial photography. This guide is intended to fill a void in the literature for soldiers, historians, and general readers.

Order book here.


True Intelligence Matters in Film - Spycraft, Episode 6: Special Ops and the Saboteur - Marek Bures, Maria Berry, Jan Spindler (2021)

Special ops require the very best people to execute them. But some of the most famous missions in modern history relied on elite technology as well.

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






Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recent Content

Infographic: The Top News Stories of 2023, Based on Google Search Trends - Visual Capitalist, 02 Jan 24

In an age of rapid-fire social media updates, memes, and never-ending cat videos, what’s the world still collectively paying attention to. We visualize the the top 10 news stories of 2023 according to Google Search trends. (View graphic here.)

Walking Tours - "Spies of Embassy Row" and "Spies of Georgetown" - 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 VI - Obituaries and Classifieds

(Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment)

Obituaries

Clyde Berryman — Career Foreign Service Officer

Clyde P. Berryman, 69, passed away on December 31, 2023, at Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. Born in New York City to an American father and a French mother, he grew up in Sumatra, Indonesia and Tripoli, Libya. After Tripoli, Clyde graduated from the Admiral Farragut Academy in New Jersey, the University of Alabama, and the University of Paris 1 (Pantheon - Sorbonne). He worked briefly in shipping in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia before embarking on a career as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer with postings in France, Great Britain, Iceland, Mauritius, Italy and back in France before retiring in the United States. He spoke fluent French, Turkish, and Italian. His other lifelong passion was for naval and military history. He built model warship kits and read extensively on the subject while becoming absorbed in the hobby of naval and military board wargaming.

Guy Stern — One of The Ritchie Boys

Guy Stern, 101, of West Bloomfield, died 12/7/2023. Born in Hildesheim, Germany in 1922, Guy emigrated to St. Louis, Missouri in 1937. His entire family was lost in the Holocaust. Guy entered the U.S. Army and became a part of a secret military intelligence branch, which served in the European Theater of Operations. As one of the so-called Ritchie Boys, Master Sgt. Stern received a Bronze Star for exceptional service and for innovation of successful interrogation techniques. At war’s end Guy resumed his studies, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts from Hofstra University and his Masters and PhD from Columbia University. The majority of his career was spent teaching at several universities in the U.S. and in Germany as Professor of German studies. He is the founder of the Academy of Scholars at WSU. From 2003 to 2022 Guy worked at the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills, MI, for many years as the Director of the International Institute for the Righteous. He continued to make speeches warning of the threat of rising bigotry, hatred, and anti-semitism in the United States and Germany. Guy received many honors, including honorary PhDs, the Goethe Medal of Germany, and the Medal of the Legion of Honor in France.

Helen Hodgkins — Career NSA Medical Officer

Helen M. Hodgkins, 82, a long-time resident of Round Bay in Severna Park, passed away on December 2nd, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Helen was born in Amesbury Mass. She was a graduate of Haverhill Mass High School and The Concord Hospital School of Nursing, Concord NH. Helen grew up in Newton NH. Helen's career included Staff Nurse positions at Exeter (NH) Hospital, Portsmouth (NH) Hospital, a Clinical Allergy Nurse and extended service at NSA. At NSA she became Board Certified as an Occupational Health Nurse and served as Nurse Manager in successive positions. She served as Chief, Occupational Health Services at Menwith Hill, Yorkshire, England, and Executive Officer, Medical Clinic, Bad Aibling, Germany. Helen was also a certified Hazardous Materials Technician, a certified American Red Cross Instructor of CPR and standard first aid and was a member of the National Cryptology School Adjunct Faculty. During her career she received many awards and acknowledgements. She retired from NSA in 2003. She was a former member of the Phoenix Society.

Tony King — Career Federal Government Officer

Anthony Robert King (Tony), 70, passed away on 24 December 2023 after a valiant battle with lymphoma. Born in San Mateo, CA, he grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. After graduating in 1971 from Carlmont High School, Tony attended one year of junior college before serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Navajo Nation. Tony then attended Brigham Young University, where he would major in Asian Studies and Economics and also earn a Masters in Public Administration. Tony's career with the U.S. Federal Government stationed him in Northern Virginia, East Asia, Europe, and the Greater Middle East. While overseas, he developed appreciation for the local culture, history, and of course, cuisine. After retiring from his 30-year career with the federal government in 2009, he settled back in Provo, Utah and he embarked on his new passion - Chinese genealogy. As part of this, he conducted research in such places as California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Canada, Hong Kong, and southern China. Along with tracing his roots back thousands of years, he was able to connect with previously unknown relatives and even visit some of his ancestral villages. Becoming a renowned expert in Chinese genealogy, he lectured on the subject in cities throughout the U.S. and Asia and became known for his phrase "it's about hearts, not charts.


Vince Kluge — Career NGA Officer

Vince Kluge, 68, was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin. He passed from this world to the next on December 13, 2023. In his early life, his family moved around a few times for his father's job. He moved to St. Louis when he was 9 1/2. He attended Bayless Elementary and High Schools and the University of Missouri St. Louis. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in astrophysics. Three months later he was hired by what was then called the Defense Mapping Agency; now it's the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). He later earned a masters degree in system engineering from the University of Missouri in Rolla, and another system engineering certification, which was two classes short of a masters, also from Rolla. He worked at NGA for 39 years and one month at the time of his accident. He had accumulated one year and 10 months of sick leave so by the time he officially retired, he had been employed there for one month short of 42 years.



Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

  • National Intelligence Summer Academy (NISA) for High School Students: 15-19 July 2024. University of Northern Georgia - Cumming Campus. $149 fee covers meals, course materials, and the motor coach travel on the last day of the program. Scholarships available. Application deadline 15 April 2024. More information, including eligibility and application, here.
  • Call for Interviews: Alex W. Palmer, a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine, is working on a book about the history of American intelligence on China. He's looking to speak with any intelligence officers who worked in or on China during their career, from whatever timeframe and in whatever role. He can be reached at alex.palmer@nytimes.com and +1-262-894-7160 on Signal.
  • 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 and Operation Urgent Fury, Leonard Barrett. The Washington Post is developing a multi-part audio documentary series chronicling the Grenadian revolution and the US intervention in 1983. They have interviewed nearly 100 individuals so far--heads of state, former Grenadian officials, current and former US officials, veterans, and intelligence officers. They are interested in speaking to individuals who served at the time and are knowledgeable about intelligence activities in Grenada and the southern Caribbean between 1979 and Operation Urgent Fury, and persons who knew Leonard Barrett during the same period. If you are interested in participating, contact Washington Post reporter Ted Muldoon 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 can contact The Intelligencer's senior editor, Peter Oleson, at peter.oleson@afio.com

Jobs

  • Wanted: Retired Federal Government Employees - NSA - Fort Meade, Maryland

    • The National Security Agency (NSA) may occasionally need skilled civilian retirees to augment the existing work force on high priority projects or programs. In order to fill these temporary positions quickly, we need to know who may be interested and available to return to work with us on a short notice basis as well as their skills. Retired federal government employees at NSA provide expertise and corporate knowledge to temporarily support mission requirements, manpower shortfalls, and/or mentor the next generation of Agency employees. Applications accepted until 30 September 2024.

    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.


Section VII - AFIO Events

30 Jan 24, 1900 (PST) - Former CIA Director General David Petraeus on challenges in Ukraine and across the Middle East - In-Person - Yorba Linda, CA - AFIO Los Angeles Chapter.

Location: Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda, CA 92886. Following the presentation, we will meet at 2030 hours for dinner at Chilis Grill (18380 Yorba Linda Blvd.). If you plan to attend, please RSVP here. Questions? Contact Vincent Autiero, President, AFIO-Los Angeles Chapter, at afio_la@yahoo.com


Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Axis of Resistance - 10 Jan 23, 0700-0800 (ET) - Virtual - Johns Hopkins University

Join host Michael Ard for a conversation with former intelligence analyst Steven Ward on "The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Axis of Resistance." Steven Ward worked as an intelligence officer for nearly 30 years with the Central Intelligence Agency, covering Middle Eastern, South Asian, and related national security issues. Ward served as a Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia on the National Intelligence Council (2005-2006) and as a Director of Intelligence Programs for the National Security Council (1998-1999). Ward is the author of Immortal: A Military History of Iran and Its Armed Forces (Georgetown University Press, 2014) and Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence: A Concise History (Georgetown University Press, forthcoming). Ward currently works as a contract historian for the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint History and Research Office where he is preparing Volumes XVI and XVII of the classified history series, The Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Policy, covering the George W. Bush administration. Additional information and free registration here.

Thursday, 18 January 2024, noon-1pm – Washington, DC – Spy Chat with Chris Costa ft. Special Guest Kenneth L. Wainstein – Virtual International Spy Museum Program

Join us for an online discussion of the latest intelligence, national security, and terrorism issues in the news. Spy Museum Executive Director Chris Costa, a former intelligence officer of 34 years, will be joined by Kenneth L. Wainstein, Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Wainstein is responsible for providing the Secretary, DHS senior leadership, DHS components, and state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners with the homeland security intelligence and information needed to keep the country safe, secure, and resilient. The Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) is a member of, and the Department's liaison to, the US Intelligence Community. Wainstein serves as the Chief Intelligence Officer for DHS and reports directly to the DHS Secretary and Director of National Intelligence. Prior to his confirmation in June of 2022, Wainstein was a litigation partner in the Washington, DC, office of Davis Polk & Wardwell. During his time in private practice, Wainstein also served as a law school adjunct professor teaching national security law, as a commissioner on the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, as a member of the Public Interest Declassification Board, and in a number of other national security organizations. Wainstein previously spent over 20 years in law enforcement and national security positions in the federal government including as Chief of Staff to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III and Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush. Program is free of charge but requires advanced registration. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Saturday, 20 January 2024, noon-4pm – Washington, DC – In-Store Book Signing Event: Spy Pilot with Author Gary Powers Jr. – In-Person International Spy Museum Book Signing

The Spy Museum Store is hosting a special book signing event for Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 Incident, and a Controversial Cold War Legacy with author Gary Powers Jr. He is the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Cold War Theme Study which assists the National Park Service to identify historic Cold War sites for preservation. In 2015, he consulted for a Steven Spielberg thriller, Bridge of Spies, about the 1962 spy exchange between KGB spy Rudolph Abel and CIA U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, Sr. Gary is the author of Letters from a Soviet Prison and Spy Pilot. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Monday, 22 January 2024, 7-8:30pm – Washington, DC – AI and Emerging Technologies: Intelligence Opportunities & Challenges with Dawn Meyerriecks, David S. Cohen and Chris Inglis – In-Person International Spy Museum Program

Is Artificial Intelligence the end of intelligence operations as we know them or an exciting new way of collecting and analyzing intel? Join us for a timely discussion with experts currently grappling with the new tech and its implications for national security. Dawn Meyerriecks, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director for Science and Technology, will moderate a conversation with the Deputy Director of the CIA David S. Cohen and Chris Inglis who served as the first National Cyber Director and is also a former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency. The speakers will explore how the US government has promoted AI safety and how it addresses security considerations resulting from this advanced tech. They will address how the intelligence community stays on top of emerging technologies and the implications of ongoing breakthroughs. They will also consider the interplay between the public sector and commercial leaders and what may lie ahead. Co-sponsored by the Council on Intelligence Issues. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Sunday, 28 January 2024, 11am-1pm – Washington, DC – Brush Pass Brunch with Eric O'Neill at The Mayflower – In Person International Spy Museum Program at Tolson in The Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave NW

Bubbles, Bribes, Blackmail…Brunch. Everyone loves brunch, even spies! Join us for an intriguing and egg-citing midday exploration of espionage while enjoying a delicious meal. Eric O'Neill will share tales from his job at the FBI where his background in surveillance led to his role as Robert Hanssen's assistant with the secret task of spying on his boss. Not that we recommend spying on your boss, but Hanssen was suspected of being a mole who was working for Russia. Eric will also reveal some spy stories involving food and drink from around the world. You'll enjoy some spy surprises, code-cracking puzzles, secret messages, and a front row seat for some re-enacted spy scenes. Brush Pass Brunch will be held at Tolson in The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection. The hotel is the scene of many famous spy stories and the restaurant is named for the FBI's longtime head J. Edgar Hoover who dined at The Mayflower daily and the private dining space Tolson is a nod to his protégé and lifelong confidant. Tolson is located in The Mayflower Hotel at 1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20036. Tickets are $125; members tickets are $100. Your ticket includes a choice of brunch entrée, sliced seasonal fruit, The Mayflower's famous banana bread (secret recipe), and a spy mole-mosa (a mimosa!). Visit www.spymuseum.org.

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 2024


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