Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Weekly Intelligence Notes

14 - 20 February 2024
(Issue 07)

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

Please send contributions and comments to: winseditor@afio.com.


CONTENTS


Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Events, Developments, 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: The art of espionage: a comprehensive exploration - Isra Pundit, 17 Feb 24
  • Book Review: ‘Beverly Hills Spy’ Review: Under the Palms, Spying for Japan - MSN, 15 Feb 24
  • Article: Kremlin runs disinformation campaign to undermine Zelensky, documents show - Washington Post, 16 Feb 24
  • Article: India's first spy satellite made by local private player set for SpaceX liftoff - Economic Times, 19 Feb 24
  • Article: Law professors to DOJ: Drop Assange prosecution - Freedom of the Press Foundation, 14 Feb 24
  • Article: The Kitty Was a Spy - National Geographic, 14 Feb 24
  • Article: Military Judge to Rule on C.I.A. Torture Program in Sept. 11 Case - New York Times, 12 Feb 24
  • Article: French security experts identify Moscow-based disinformation network - The Guardian, 12 Feb 24
  • Article: SpaceX launching secret Space Force mission today - Space.com, 14 Feb 24
  • Book: Starmen: A Novel by AFIO member Francis Hamit - Amazon, 14 Feb 24
  • Article: Chinese Influence Campaign Pushes Disunity Before U.S. Election, Study Says - New York Times, 15 Feb 24
  • Article: U.S. Disrupts Hacking Operation Led by Russian Intelligence - New York Times, 15 Feb 24

*The editor thanks the following contributors of content for this issue:

FH, LR, GR, MA, JK, EB, CP, FR


Section V - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

True Intelligence Matters in Film: The Silence of the Mole - Anaïs Taracena (2021)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recent Content

Infographic: The World's Most Powerful Passports in 2024 - Visual Capitalist, 16 Feb 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

  • Seeking Interview Subjects: Current or former intelligence officers, analysts, and counterintelligence (CI) professionals with firsthand experience in dealing with Russian illegals to participate in confidential interview sessions as part of a PhD dissertation.
  • Call for Information: Swiss photographer Bruno Zehnder and research activity/death in Mirny Antarctica 1997 / info on climate between Russia and the CIA in the 19980s/90s regarding adhering to the scientific treaty and the race to be the first to breach Lake Vostok.
  • Call for Information: DIA officers VADM Eric Burkhalter and Colonel Roy Jonkers 1980 - 1985
  • Call for Information: University professor seeks information about POW camp in Ambon, 1942-45
  • National Intelligence Summer Academy (NISA) for High School Students 15-19 July 24 in Cummings, GA. Deadline 15 April 2024
  • Call for Interviews: Author of forthcoming book seeks conversation with intelligence officers who have worked on China during their career
  • Call for Information: CIA’s Office of Soviet Analysis (SOVA) 1981-1992
  • Call for Information: Al "Albert" Purdum, stationed at Arlington Hall 55, Defense Language School - Albanian 55-56, NSA Linguist, Sr. Cryptologist 57-95
  • Call For Articles: AFIO Journal, The Intelligencer

Employment



Section VII - Events

Upcoming AFIO Events

  • 06 Mar 24, 1800 hours (ET) - The East Tennessee AFIO Chapter hosts Jennifer Daniel on her 37-year IC career, including work at NGA and the DNI. - Virtual
  • NOTE NEW DATE: 26 March 2024, noon EDT - The Florida Suncoast AFIO Chapter hosts Michael Pullara on "1993 Murder of CIA Station Chief Freddie Woodruff." - In-Person at MacDill AFB, FL or by Zoom
  • Friday, 19 Apr 2024, 1100 (EST) - AFIO National Spring Luncheon features fireside chat with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence. Morning speaker is Jonna Mendez, CIA's former Master of Disguise, "In True Face." - In Person, Tysons, Virginia
  • NOTE NEW DATE: 30 July 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 presentation.

Events from Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

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



DISCLAIMER


The Weekly Intelligence Notes include a wide range of articles and commentary to inform our readers. It also includes several paid advertisements. Views expressed in articles and advertising are those of the authors and advertisers; 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.

     

LATEST FROM AFIO

Released exclusively to members on 20 February 2024...

Cambodian Allies who Defied the Khmer Rouge


Recorded 19 October 2023

Dr. Chip Beck,
CIA Officer, Foreign Service Officer, Naval Commander on
"Final Days of Heroes"

Interview of Thursday, 19 Oct 2023 between Chip Beck, CIA Officer, Sailor, Artist; and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer. They discuss Chip's book "Final Days of Heroes: How a CIA Agent and his Cambodian Allies Fought, Defied, and Resisted the Khmer Rouge."
The interview runs 25 minutes and includes several Q&As.
His book FINAL DAYS OF HEROES is available for purchase here

Access the Chip Beck video interview here or click above image.

The AFIO Now video series in 2024 continues to be proudly sponsored by Northwest Financial Advisors.

VOLUNTEER GRANT WRITER SOUGHT


AFIO is excited to announce that we have begun planning for an update to the 2016 Guide to the Study of Intelligence, widely used by academics around the world. The new release will bring previous content up to date and include material on wholly new developments in the past decade--OSINT, cyberespionage, AI, and more.

To cover editorial and publication costs, we are seeking the volunteer assistance of a member—or someone recommended by a member—who can help explore grant opportunities and draft grant applications. If you are interested in helping, please contact winseditor@afio.com for additional information.

Registration quickly filling... Will you be joining us?

AFIO National In-Person Spring Luncheon features fireside chat with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence.
Morning speaker is Jonna Mendez, CIA's former Master of Disguise, "In True Face."

AFIO Spring Luncheon, Friday, 19 April 2024

Avril Haines, DNINOON SPEAKER: Fireside Chat with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, begins at noon. Please note the earlier time.

MORNING SPEAKER: Jonna Mendez, former CIA Chief of Disguise, speaks at 11:00 a.m.

She will be discussing her latest book: "In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked" - published 5 March 2024. Copies will be available.

Jonna MendezQ&A follows each talk or presentation.

Lunch served 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Event ends at 2:00 p.m.

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

Register here while seats remain. Registration closes 5 p.m., Friday, 12 April.

Check-in and badge pickup for Registered Attendees begins at 10:30 a.m.
NO registrations or walk-ins at hotel. No payments by cash or check or onsite registrations at venue.

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

Cancellation Schedule: AFIO must commit to the hotel facilities and regrets it must charge a cancellation fee. No cancellations with refund after 1 April. Any cancellations 2 to 12 April will be converted to donation to AFIO. A donor statement will be sent showing you made a "gift to AFIO." Gifts to AFIO are tax-deductible as charitable donations.
Cancellations after 12 April are not donations because your meal has been guaranteed to hotel per event contract. Thank you for your understanding.

All attendees must be members of AFIO or accompanied by a current member. For security reasons, we are unable to accept late or last minute substitutions for non-attendance or changes in your guests. Register here.

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

Questions regarding this event to events@afio.com


The 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.


The Podcast

LATEST PODCAST: In this episode, AFIO Special Edition - 'Iran and Its Surrogates' with Norman Roule
*AFIO Special Edition episodes offer intelligence expertise and assessments of breaking news*
In this inaugural AFIO Special Edition episode, former CIA Division Chief and National Intelligence Manager for ODNI, Iran, Norman Roule discusses the aerial system attack at a military base in Jordan near the Syrian border last week that killed 3 service members. Recorded 31 Jan 2024. Interviewer: Jim Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer
The interview runs 27 minutes and includes several Q&As.
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; TuneIn; iHeartRadio; Pandora

From The OSS Society



Full information and registration here.

Special Walking Tours Announcements
by SpyGuide Tours Inc

Weekend Tours in Washington DC

New 2024 Dates

Saturday March 2nd and Saturday April 20th: The January 6th Experience. The definitive walking tour of the conspiracy and national security event of our lifetimes. See the sights of Pennsylvania Avenue as you trace the steps of the mob that attacked Congress with your guide - an expert in misinformation and trained intelligence analyst. Examine the scheme to overturn the 2020 election, learn about the Stop The Steal movement, the fake electors plot, and more. Learn more and book at https://spyher.co

Starting March, evening spy tours of Georgetown and Embassy Row are available. Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about the shadowy world of spies, these 90-minute walking tours promise an unforgettable experience. And, yes! You'll conduct a secret operation. Private group tours available upon request.  Learn more and book at https://spyher.co

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.

THE MARKETPLACE


THE AFIO STORE

Special Gifts for Colleagues, Self, or Others

ONLY THREE COPIES REMAIN. Roy Berkeley's "A Spy's London" - Original U.S. Edition

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.

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.



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 - CURRENTS

(Recent Events, Developments, Highlights)

Congress to Examine U.S. Spy Agencies’ Work on Havana Syndrome - New York Times, 12 Feb 24

The House Intelligence Committee is investigating how U.S. spy agencies examined cases of Havana syndrome, a potential challenge by Congress to their conclusions about the mysterious illnesses. At the beginning of the Biden administration, intelligence agencies began a push to determine the causes of the anomalous health incidents, the government’s term for Havana syndrome. As a result of that work, intelligence agencies concluded that environmental causes, undiagnosed medical conditions or stress, rather than a sustained global campaign by a foreign power, had caused most of the ailments. But the House investigation will look at the spy agencies’ analysis and the integrity of their work. The inquiry, depending on what it discovers and concludes, could reopen the debate over the causes of Havana syndrome, which quieted after the intelligence community said it was not the result of an adversarial country. (Read more here.)

Chinese Minister's Downfall Linked to Lover Who Was Suspected British Spy - News Week, 13 Feb 24

Qin Gang, China's ex-foreign minister, tried to take his own life when he was confronted with evidence that his secret lover was a foreign agent, a former U.S. official told Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. The former official's account, retold in the paper on Monday, said Qin's disappearance and unceremonious dismissal followed a high-level warning issued by the Kremlin. Moscow had discovered a connection between Qin's lover, former state media journalist Fu Xiaotian, and Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6. President Xi Jinping's moves to securitize all of government and society have made the inner workings of the Chinese political system increasingly difficult to read, even for long-time watchers and top intelligence services in the West. However, few subject-matter experts thought a sex scandal alone was enough to derail Qin's rise. Many believe Xi has surrounded himself with loyal Communist Party cadres. He is estimated to have purged dozens of military and political officials at various levels as part of a personal campaign to root out weaknesses including a vulnerability to corruption. (Full article here.)

FBI reveals controversial spy tool foiled terror plot as Congress debates overhaul - Politico, 13 Feb 24

The FBI revealed it used a controversial foreign surveillance tool to foil a terrorist plot on U.S. soil last year, part of a series of last-minute disclosures it hopes will sway Congress as lawmakers debate overhauling the measure later this week. The bureau shared three newly declassified instances with POLITICO in which its access to data collected under the digital spying authority — codified in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — allowed it to protect national security, including one in which it thwarted a “potentially imminent terrorist attack” against U.S. critical infrastructure last year. The spying tool is set to expire in April if Congress does not renew it. The House is expected to vote as early as Thursday on whether to approve a major change to the foreign surveillance authority, which has faced backlash because it also sweeps in data from Americans. That change would require bureau analysts to acquire a warrant or court order before searching a database of emails, texts and other digital communications of foreigners for information on U.S. citizens. (Full article here.)

Alleged Afghan-born Russian spy tries to regain revoked British citizenship - Intel News, 12 Feb 24

An Afghan-born man, who became a naturalized British citizen and worked for British intelligence for over a decade, is attempting to regain his British citizenship, which was revoked after he was accused of being a Russian spy. The man, who is identified in court documents only as “C2”, was born in Afghanistan and grew up under the Soviet occupation in the 1980s. When the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan he left the country alongside the Russian forces and resettled in Russia, where he attended university and married a Russian woman. By 2000, when he entered the United Kingdom as an Afghan asylum seeker, he was in possession of Russian citizenship due to his marriage to a Russian citizen. He was eventually granted asylum in Britain and began to work as an interpreter for the Foreign Office and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Britain’s signals intelligence agency. His fluency in Russian, Dari, and Pashto, made him invaluable to British intelligence as the United States-led ‘war on terrorism’ escalated in Afghanistan. In the late 2000s, the British Foreign Office sent C2 to Afghanistan, where he worked to build ties between the nascent post-Taliban Afghan government and the British diplomatic corps stationed in the country. (Full article here.)

DNI Avril Haines Earns 4th Consecutive Wash100 Award for National Intelligence Leadership - Govcon Wire, 12 Feb 24

Executive Mosaic is pleased to honor Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines for the fourth consecutive time as an inductee into the Wash100 Award for elite government contracting leaders. In 2024, she is recognized for leading the intelligence community in fighting disinformation and strengthening its resilience. “Advanced technologies, geopolitical tensions, information warfare and peer competition have drastically changed the global intelligence landscape, making it more important than ever that the U.S. stays at the forefront of intel advancements. As Director of National Intelligence, Avril is a stalwart protector of American interests, a champion of intelligence innovation and the strategic leader we need in this complex threat landscape. Her vision and reliability are a welcome addition on this year’s Wash100 list,” said Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award. Haines has remained a strong advocate of providing support to Ukraine amid its war with Russia. In January, she was one of the panelists at the World Economic Forum discussing the importance of Western aid to Ukraine. She called the war “a grinding conflict where quite literally, we’re talking about hundreds of meters being fought over in the context of the frontlines.” “It will be extremely important for Ukraine to receive essential military assistance and economic assistance moving forward in order for them to be able to continue to manage what they have been heroically doing,” she said. (Full article here.)

“Credited For Saving 200 US Soldiers” – How Tech-Armed Spy Animals Are Reshaping Global Intelligence Ops - Eurasian Times, 17 Feb 24

A recent article by National Geographic on whether a cat or pigeon is a better spy is going around on social media all over the world. It has revived the topic of how birds and animals have long been unsuspecting participants in the clandestine world of espionage all over the world. Incidentally, an incident that occurred in India has triggered the debate over the subject. Though highly underplayed in the Indian media, the story is like this. Last May, the Mumbai Police caught a pigeon after they found a message on the bird’s wings in illegible letters, suspected to be the Chinese language. The bird had two rings of copper and aluminum attached to its legs, with the message written in Chinese-style lettering. Suspecting the pigeon to be a ‘spy,’ it was sent to an animal hospital for a medical checkup and then was ‘jailed’ in a separate cage there for “deep and proper inquiry and investigations.” (Full article here.)

Recorded Future launches intelligence-focused enterprise AI - Intelligence Community News, 16 Feb 24

On February 14, Boston, MA-based Recorded Future announced that Recorded Future AI is emerging out of beta to augment humans and defend democracy against converging global threats. Expanding Recorded Future AI capabilities, new enterprise capabilities offer every analyst across an organization a powerful generative AI-based assistant for intelligence and defense as well as the ability to software define very large enterprise threat surfaces in physical and cyber space and use those in AI analytics. Effective threat intelligence is predicated upon the ability to process vast amounts of data, in real time, coming from varied and disparate sources, thereby requiring the use of AI. Built on the Intelligence Graph, the world’s largest intelligence holdings, Recorded Future AI was the first-to-market AI solution for intelligence, built by an AI-native company, and is used by the world’s foremost organizations and countries who defend the core infrastructure that society depends on. Contextualizing the rapid onslaught of converging, AI-driven threats across cyber, physical, and influence operations domains, Recorded Future AI understands and helps explore the threat landscape in real time, enabling defenders to quickly gain situational awareness and take action. (Full article here.)

German politicians warn of Russian espionage through far-right AfD - DPA International, 13 Feb 24

German politicians have warned of the infiltration of democratic institutions and espionage by Russia through members of parliament from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). "For the AfD, the alternative for Germany is autocratic Russia," Green Party politician Konstantin von Notz said in Berlin on Tuesday. "It is to be feared that the proximity of AfD MPs to dictatorships such as Russia, China, Syria and North Korea is not just ideological." Members of parliament are authorized to deal with classified information even without security checks, said von Notz, who is deputy leader of the Greens parliamentary group and chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee. This applies not only to the Defence Committee, but also to other committees and bodies of the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, "also with regard to possible espionage activities." (Full article here.)

Financial espionage specialist Pavel Ivanov appointed head of Russia's most secret foreign intelligence service department - The Insider, 14 Feb 24

On February 1, 2024, Pavel Ivanov, former head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Economic Intelligence Directorate (also known as Directorate “E”), was appointed commander of Military Unit 39949. Unit 39949 is the SVR’s most secret unit. Its structure includes the Directorate of Political Intelligence (“P”), Directorate of Legal Intelligence (“L”), Directorate of Scientific and Technical Intelligence (“N”) and Directorate of Illegal Intelligence («S»). Officers in 39949 run the SVR's largest residences around the world and spy from Russian embassies abroad under the guise of diplomats. They usually hold positions of ambassadorial aides and 1st or 2nd secretaries. They also use jobs at major Russian banks and energy companies that have foreign subsidiaries as a cover — as well as roles in the foreign correspondent offices of most Russian state-owned media. (Full article here.)

New Resource: Free Archive of Renowned Intelligence Historian Rose Mary Sheldon's Academic Papers - Academia.edu, 20 Feb 24

Professor Sheldon is a specialist on intelligence activities in the ancient world and a Virginia Military Institute, History, Emerita. She has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Military History and the International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. (Access archive here.)

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

  • China holds citizen on spying charges after she did ‘admin’ work for US - The Guardian, 15 Feb 24
  • Discharged IDF Officer Accused of Posing as Active Intel Officer During War, Sharing Classified Information - Haaretz, 12 Feb 24
  • 3 civic activists sentenced to 12 years in prison on espionage charges - Korea Times, 17 Feb 24
  • Manuel Rocha, charged with being a Cuban agent, appeared in federal court today - NPR, 16 Feb 24
  • More questions than answers surround espionage arrest in Hengqin - Macau Business, 17 Feb 24
  • Russia’s ‘spy hunters’ are modeling James Bond to sabotage Ukraine and NATO - The Hill, 14 Feb 24
  • Red flags, missed clues: How accused US diplomat-turned-Cuban spy avoided scrutiny for decades - Associated Press, 15 Feb 24
  • Alberta RCMP officer charged with national security breach by accessing records for Rwanda - Calgary Herald, 14 Feb 24
  • Ex-FBI spy hunter sentenced to 2 years for concealing payments from former Albanian intelligence officer - CBS News, 16 Feb 24
  • Indian Embassy Employee Arrested For Spying For Pak Was Honey-Trapped: Cops - NDTV, 14 Feb 24
  • South Korea to tighten punishment for industrial espionage - Deutsche Welle, 14 Feb 24
  • Turkish court sentences 17 suspects to prison in Mossad spy case - Daily Sabah, 13 Feb 24
  • Military technology stolen in California; More charges in Hydro-Québec case; Apple engineer jailed for tech theft - The Spy Hunter, 13 Feb 24

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



Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service public report 2024 - Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, 16 Feb 24

To begin our ninth annual report with a positive message: there is no doubt that Ukraine’s continued steadfastness and resilience in the face of Russian aggression are truly remarkable. However, Russia will likely continue its war of attrition against Ukraine in 2024. While the likelihood of a direct military attack against Estonia remains low in the coming year, the security situation in Europe and along Estonia’s borders in the near future depends on whether Ukraine, with the support of its allies, can shatter Russia’s imperialist ambitions. Even though Russia’s blitzkrieg plans have failed, Vladimir Putin still believes that by continuing the conflict, he can force the opposing parties to come to the negotiating table. I refer to the opposing parties in plural because, in the Kremlin’s mindset, they are not only fighting Ukrainians, but their chosen path involves a long-term confrontation with the entire “collective West”. This is exemplified by Russia’s military reform, which is presented as a response to NATO’s expansion. The success of this reform largely depends on the course of the ongoing war, but we can expect that within the next decade, NATO will face a Soviet-style mass army that, while technologically inferior to the allies, poses a significant threat due to its size, firepower and reserves. Although Russia’s massive human resources – reduced to cannon fodder – have not been able to conduct large-scale offensive operations in Ukraine, the Kremlin’s war machine still has enough fuel. (Full report here.)

Espionage in Brazil: A Situational Assessment - Grey Dynamics, 14 Feb 24

In recent weeks, Brazil has experienced a significant political shock. This time it is not due to the violence of criminal gangs. On the contrary, the controversy is due to allegations that former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his government used the country’s intelligence agencies to spy on rivals and critics. This happened in a context of great political instability that reached its peak with the January 2023 assault on public institutions by his supporters. How the current Brazilian government responds to the case will have implications for Brazil’s press freedom, democratic institutions, and intelligence agencies. Key judgment 1: During his government, Bolsonaro and his allies likely used intelligence services to spy on their rivals. Key judgment 2: Bolsonaro and his allies likely facilitated the assault on Congress that sought to prevent the takeover of the new government. Key judgment 3: The espionage trials are unlikely to lead to serious political instability in the next six months. (Full report here.)

How China stifles dissent without a KGB or Stasi of its own - Economist, 15 Feb 24

Much thought has gone into making the Beijing Police Museum a family-friendly attraction. Housed in a classical mansion near Tiananmen Square, the museum is big on crime-fighting heroics. Glass cases show guns used by Chinese police. A model of a police dog sports a bullet-proof vest, commando-style helmet and protective boots on its paws. During the lunar-new-year holidays, a recent weekday found parents and children admiring displays about police helicopters, drug squads, traffic patrols and cyber-officers keeping the internet “healthy”. Political repression earns a passing mention—but in a historical section. An old photograph shows student protesters being arrested by plain-clothes agents, decades before the Communist Party took power. (Full report here.)

Poking the Bear: Social Media and Human Intelligence Recruitment - Royal United Services Institute, 14 Feb 24

Recent CIA social media campaigns have shown how the past can be weaponised to encourage modern-day potential agents to work with the West. The UK’s intelligence agencies would do well to take note. The CIA recently released a video appealing to Russians disillusioned with their government to spy for the US agency. It is the third time that the agency has produced such a video, aiming to capitalise on concerns within Russia’s intelligence agencies and wider government over the implications of the country’s invasion of Ukraine. A CIA spokesperson said that two previous campaigns, launched in 2022 and 2023, had been extremely successful, being viewed more than 2.1 million times across multiple social media platforms including Telegram, Facebook, X (previously Twitter) and Instagram. The CIA joined Telegram, the popular Russian social media platform, in May 2023, having previously issued instructions in 2022 on how disaffected Russians could contact the agency on the Dark Web. (Full report here.)

FISA Legislative ‘Reform’: Secret House Session Edition - Cato Institute, 12 Feb 24

In the legislative business, there are certain “tells” that one side is losing the policy debate so badly that they have to resort to extreme tactics to try to pull out a win. Such appears to be the case with the House Intelligence Committee, which it seems is all but demanding a secret House floor session to debate portions or perhaps the entire compromise FISA reform bill... Since 1830, the House has met in secret session only four times: in 1979 (Panama Canal Treaty), 1980 (Soviet‐Cuban activity in Nicaragua), 1983 (also on Nicaragua), and 2008. The latter session was on the FISA Amendments Act, which created the now‐infamous FISA Section 702 program which will be the subject of this possibly upcoming new House secret floor session. This is becoming the legislative equivalent of an episode of the “War on Terror” era Fox Television series 24. (Full report here.)

The Czechoslovak agent in the BBC who almost was - Engelsberg Ideas, 14 Feb 24

On a cool summer evening in August 1987 a man and a woman in their late thirties arrived at Ashford railway station in Kent. Shortly after they got off their respective trains, acknowledging each other’s presence with a brief glance, they walked in the same direction, maintaining a cautious distance. Thirty minutes into their covert encounter, finally confident that they were free of hostile surveillance, they greeted each other and entered Blueberries restaurant on Church Street. It was here that Terézia Javorská, a BBC World Service broadcaster, reportedly agreed to become an agent – a top category of willing collaborator tasked with carrying out intelligence tasks – for the Czechoslovak State Security Service (Státní bezpečnost, or StB). Her initiation into the role was, however, also her last contact with the StB. She became an agent, but only on paper. (Full report here.)

The Classification Problem: Can the CIA Defeat Its Greatest Internal Enemy? - National Interest, 14 Feb 24

In a world of rapid change and geopolitical turbulence, intelligence services are an important weapon in a policymaker’s arsenal. When it comes to human intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is arguably at the top. For 76 years, the Agency has been spying and analyzing information to equip American presidents with the necessary tools. There have been many public failures and an unknown number of great successes. CIA Director Bill Burns recently wrote an opinion piece in the Foreign Affairs magazine outlining the current intelligence environment and the challenges the CIA and the rest of the U.S. Intelligence Community face. What he said about technology and the concept of strategic declassification is revealing. (Full report here.)

British former spy chiefs say UK intelligence structure needs a shakeup - The Record, 15 Feb 24

The former heads of two of the United Kingdom’s intelligence agencies said Thursday they do not believe the traditional divisions of the country’s security services — domestic, foreign, and signals intelligence — make much sense in the modern era. Speaking at the Munich Cyber Security Conference on Thursday, Sir Jeremy Fleming (formerly of GCHQ) and Sir Alex Younger (formerly of MI6) said they overcame these limitations while in office by focusing on integrating their capabilities rather than fighting for territory. The differentiation between domestic and foreign threats was no longer at all useful, Fleming said, “unless you’re talking about the U.S. Constitution, and it probably doesn’t work there either.” “Intelligence agencies shouldn’t be organized around their traditional structures, they need to be organized against the threats they’re countering and the safety of the populations they serve,” the former GCHQ chief said. (Full report here.)

Canada needs its own CIA: The case for a Canadian foreign intelligence agency - The Hub, 15 Feb 24

What’s so foreign about Canada having another spy agency? Canada is a proud member of an intelligence club known as the Five Eyes, which has been around in various forms since shortly after the Second World War, originally consisting of the U.K. and the U.S., but now encompassing Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is by far the world’s premier intelligence-sharing network, where very sensitive data, including SIGINT (signals intelligence), is sent back and forth among the allies. All this secret information can contribute to better policy and decision-making by our government’s top officials. And yet, we in Canada are different. Our country is the only Five Eyes member without a foreign intelligence service. This has been a longstanding issue that has been raised in public from time to time, but as of 2024 is still unresolved (and unlikely to be so any time soon). (Full report here.)

Research espionage is a real threat – but a drastic crackdown could stifle vital international collaboration - The Conversation, 15 Feb 24

Australia’s research institutions are targets for nefarious actors, from China and elsewhere. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has publicly tabled an “awareness” of various attempts to compromise the sector. What are we doing about it? Not enough, according to critics. One recent charge is that Australia “lags behind” its allies and partners in responding to threats to “research security” such as espionage, foreign interference and theft of intellectual property, emanating overwhelmingly from China. This is far from the case. On the contrary, Australia’s flexible and proportionate response to the threat of foreign interference manages the risks without hampering the international collaboration that is essential to research in the 21st century. (Full report here.)

The evolution of Australian intelligence: revisiting Harvey Barnett’s ‘Tale of the Scorpion’ - Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 19 Feb 24

Scorpions are fascinating. Found on every continent except Antarctica, their fossil records span 420 million years. Indeed, they might be the oldest land animals still in existence. With astonishing resilience, they withstand heat and cold extremes, tempering their metabolism to thwart starvation. Calculating and precise animals, scorpions can even consciously adjust their sting’s venom level. SCORPION was also the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s (ASIO’s) long-standing, publicly registered telegraphic address—and inspired the title of a most unusual and candid memoir of Australian intelligence, 1988’s Tale of the Scorpion by Harvey Barnett. It’s level of venom: measured, subtle but stinging. Barnett was ASIO Director-General 1981-1985, having served two decades with ASIO’s sister agency, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). By 1984, and owing to the second Hope Royal Commission, Barnett would be thrust into the public spotlight. Similarly, his unusual memoir was a first of its kind, opening the door to Australian intelligence’s historically closed shop. While Sir Edward Woodward’s One Brief Interval (2005) included some chapters on ASIO, Tale of the Scorpion is not autobiography. Rather it’s a meditation on the Australian way of espionage and counterespionage. (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.

13 Feb | CIA Director, Secretary of Defense, Gentleman with Leon Panetta Leon Panetta joins Andrew to discuss his lifetime of American public service. Secretary Panetta was the 2023 recipient of SPY’s William H. Webster Award. 


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.

15 Feb | With Ukraine distracted by domestic politics, Putin is poised to benefit if Washington can’t resolve its own political impasse. Focus on the battlefield has been undermined by Ukrainian domestic politics and internal strife that saw President Zelenskyy ultimately dismiss the popular General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. And while the two leaders purportedly disagreed about Ukraine’s counteroffensive strategy, it’s also possible that Zelenskyy sought to sideline a political rival as much as he sought new momentum and leadership in the prosecution of the war. Either way, it’s an unfortunate distraction while Ukraine scrambles to recalibrate for the forthcoming fighting season. (Full report 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.

16 Feb | Indonesia Elections Show Defense Minister Subianto Poised to Win

As the votes continue to be tallied following Indonesia’s elections this week, the country’s defense minister, Prabowo Subianto, claimed victory, declaring it “the victory of all Indonesians,” even as neither of his opponents has yet conceded defeat. Prabowo is facing off against the former governor of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, as well as the former governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo. With the majority of the votes tallied, Subianto looks to be headed toward a decisive victory with nearly sixty percent of the votes. Though a controversial figure, Subianto was close to Indonesia’s longtime dictator Suharto (also his father-in-law at one point), who led the country’s military dictatorship from 1967 until 1998. Subianto was banned from the United States for nearly two decades due to his egregious human rights record, having been accused of abducting and torturing political opponents during his time as a general in Indonesia’s army, though he denies these allegations. The armed forces eventually discharged him over the allegations in 1998, finding he was involved in the disappearances and torture of pro-democracy activists – more than a dozen are still considered missing and are believed to be dead. His public comments have sometimes been critical of democracy and elections. But most would argue that Subianto has undergone an effective rebranding, now presented as a friendly, grandfatherly-type politician instead of a fiery ex-special forces commander. And given Indonesia’s younger voting demographic, many of the younger generation do not remember the era when Subianto mostly donned the image of a strongman.

15 Feb | Postponed Elections Trigger Another Wave of Unrest in Senegal

14 Feb | After October 7th, Is Saudi-Israeli Normalization Just a Mirage?




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.

14 Feb | Live at Texas A&M Bush School in Washington Michael and Andy visit the Washington, D.C., campus of the Texas A&M Bush School of Government and Public Service where they record a 'live' episode of the podcast with students and others. They discuss current national security threats, how the government handles classified documents, careers in the intelligence community, and artificial intelligence.



The Munich Dispatches: Ukraine and the World are Waiting on Washington with Former CIA Director Petraeus - Cipher Brief, 17 Feb 24

The Cipher Brief: What are the biggest issues on the minds of European leaders at this year’s gathering? General Petraeus: What hangs over this entire conference really is the degree of uncertainty about U.S. support for Ukraine. At the end of the day, the Europeans have come through. The European Union, as you know, just approved 50 billion euros in additional funding that takes them well over the two to every one U.S. dollar that already has been provided. European countries individually have each been doing a great deal as well. The big question now is, when will the assistance be coming from the United States? We’ve had reassurances from members of Congress who are here. But of course, there’s no set date and there’s a real concern that Ukraine could begin to run out of air defense interceptors or artillery. Artillery is already reportedly being rationed. President Volodymyr Zelensky made a very, very powerful and compelling case for the need to get this decision made quickly and to get on with the assistance that is so crucial from the United States, which after, all is the most important contributor to the Ukraine war at the end of the day. (Read here.)

The Oswald Enigma - Author's Preface by Former CIA Operations Officer Bruce Held - Oswald Enigma, 18 Feb 24

My novel The Oswald Enigma is a work of historical fiction. It tells Lee Harvey Oswald’s story from September 1957, when he arrived as a 17 year old Marine radar operator at a TOP-SECRET U-2 spy plane base in Japan, through his 1959-1962 defection to the Soviet Union, to his assassination of President Kennedy and his own murder in November 1963. It is a fun read. Although fiction, the novel is historical in that it is consistent with all the facts we know about Oswald’s life. These facts are most prominently included in the book by Vincent Bugliosi Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, pages 513-788. The narrator of my novel, Andrei Nikolayevich Kostamarov, is a fictional character based on the true KGB officer, Andrei Nikolayevich, who we know pitched Oswald to work for the KGB when they met in Room 214 of Moscow’s Metropole Hotel during November 1959. There are 17 chapters in The Oswald Enigma. I will publish them in digestible bits on Substack over the next 8 days. You can get a feel for the novel by reading the first chapter and the previews of chapters 2-17, all of which are free. You can read the entire novel by subscribing for one month at the Substack minimum price of $5.00 per month. Remember to unsubscribe after reading the novel to avoid further monthly charges. (Read more here.)

Spying in Canada: 'Pretty much anyone' wants our intelligence, warns ex-CSIS officer with Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service Officer Neil Bisson - CTV News, 14 Feb 24

A front-line RCMP officer in Alberta has been charged as part of a national security investigation and is accused of accessing police record systems and sharing that information with the Republic of Rwanda. It's just the latest in a string of incidents that has seen foreign actors trying to get a hold of sensitive information and one former CSIS intelligence officer warns it should spark a review of who is able to access Canada's most valuable secrets. "What's the reason these people are accessing this information?" Neil Bisson, director of the Global Intelligence Knowledge Network, told CTV News Channel on Wednesday. "This is definitely opening up the eyes of a lot of intelligence and law enforcement organizations." (Watch here.)

Navigating the Future of Open Source Intelligence (44 mins) with former senior CIA Operations Officer Aaron Brown - Securing Our Future Podcast, 13 Feb 24

Our guest host sits down with, associate founder at 2430 -- a nonprofit dedicated to defending American innovation, industry, and critical technology against foreign adversaries. Aaron has over two decades of experience in law enforcement, Army Special Operations, and national security, including as a senior operations officer and field leader at the Central Intelligence Agency. Aaron is a proven problem solver and innovator, with experience leading complex, dynamic, and multimillion dollar intelligence missions across the globe, in war zones, austere environments, throughout the Near East, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Aaron is a recognized expert in the exponential risk of surveillance technology. He has advised numerous intelligence community programs about such risks and developed advanced solutions for this rapidly growing threat–hundreds have attended his sensitive talks on technology, including CIA executives and senior leaders from the Special Operations community. Aaron‘s final role at CIA was as Deputy Chief of Operations for Southeast Asia, where he gained deep regional expertise. (Listen here.)

Innovation as a force multiplier for national security by former CIA Chief Operating Officer Andrew Makridis - Federal Times, 13 Feb 24

World War II’s Manhattan Project, the CORONA satellite program of the early Cold War, the Global Positioning System of the mid 1970s to early 1990s, the Internet of the 1980s - throughout modern history, innovation and technological advancements have been key to U.S. success. Innovation as a tool to advance American leadership around the world is not only in our national ethos but it has proven, time and time again, to be a force multiplier to our national security interests. Today, our national security community is actively competing in a race against other world powers for the most technologically advanced tools. But is the U.S. government doing all it needs to encourage our innovators to drive forward at a pace that is necessary to win that race? While we aren’t today, we could be. (Read here.)

Biopic: Video Interview of Former CIA Acting Deputy Director for Operations Jack Devine (171 mins) - The Team House, 16 Feb 24

Jack is a 32-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency (“CIA”). Mr. Devine served as both Acting Director and Associate Director of CIA’s operations outside the United States from 1993-1995, where he had supervisory authority over thousands of CIA employees involved in sensitive missions throughout the world. In addition, he served as Chief of the Latin American Division from 1992-1993 and was the principal manager of the CIA’s sensitive projects in Latin America. Between 1990 and 1992, Mr. Devine headed the CIA’s Counternarcotics Center, which was responsible for coordinating and building close cooperation between all major U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies in tracking worldwide narcotics and crime organizations. From 1985-1987, Mr. Devine headed the CIA’s Afghan Task Force, which successfully countered Soviet aggression in the region. In 1987, he was awarded the CIA’s Meritorious Officer Award for this accomplishment. Mr. Devine’s international experience with the U.S. government included postings to Latin America and Europe. During his more than 30 years with the CIA, Mr. Devine was involved in organizing, planning and executing countless sensitive projects in virtually all areas of intelligence, including analysis, operations, technology and management. (Watch here.)




Section IV - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

(All Categories)

Article: The art of espionage: a comprehensive exploration - Isra Pundit, 17 Feb 24

The art of spying, or espionage, has been an integral part of human history for centuries, evolving alongside societal, technological, and political changes. From ancient civilizations to modern nation-states, espionage has played a pivotal role in shaping the course of events, influencing diplomacy, warfare, and even the fate of nations. This essay aims to delve into the multifaceted world of espionage, exploring its history, techniques, ethical considerations, and contemporary relevance. (Read full report here.)

Book Review: ‘Beverly Hills Spy’ Review: Under the Palms, Spying for Japan - MSN, 15 Feb 24

The biggest naval confrontation of World War I, the Battle of Jutland in 1916, also has the distinction of being the first battle during which a plane was launched from an aircraft carrier. The pilot of a British seaplane flew toward the German warships off the coast of Denmark, and his observer radioed the enemy’s coordinates back to the British fleet. When the plane’s engine failed on the return leg, the pilot, Frederick Rutland, landed on the water, repaired the engine and safely returned to his ship. To top it off, he later jumped into the sea to rescue a wounded sailor. He was decorated for his bravery, had two audiences with King George V, and became a national hero, “Rutland of Jutland." By the end of the next war, Rutland was disgraced. Ronald Drabkin chronicles his dramatic rise and fall in “Beverly Hills Spy.” This compelling but somewhat puzzling book, written with the help of recently declassified intelligence files, traces Rutland’s years spying for Japan in the lead up to the surprise strike on America in 1941. (Read full report here.)

Article: Kremlin runs disinformation campaign to undermine Zelensky, documents show - Washington Post, 16 Feb 24

When news first emerged last month that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was preparing to fire his top military commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, officials in Moscow seemed jubilant. They had been trying to orchestrate just such a split for many months, documents show. “We need to strengthen the conflict between Zaluzhny and Zelensky, along the lines of ‘he intends to fire him,’” one Kremlin political strategist wrote a year ago, after a meeting of senior Russian officials and Moscow spin doctors, according to internal Kremlin documents. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s administration ordered a group of Russian political strategists to use social media and fake news articles to push the theme that Zelensky “is hysterical and weak. … He fears that he will be pushed aside, therefore he is getting rid of the dangerous ones.” (Read full report here.)

Article: India's first spy satellite made by local private player set for SpaceX liftoff - Economic Times, 19 Feb 24

India's first military grade spy satellite, manufactured by the domestic private sector, is ready and has been shipped for launch on a SpaceX rocket. The ground control in Bengaluru will direct the satellite's path and process imagery. It will provide imagery with 0.5-metre spatial resolution. The satellite has been built in partnership with Satellogic. (Read more here.)

Article: Law professors to DOJ: Drop Assange prosecution - Freedom of the Press Foundation, 14 Feb 24

Over 35 law professors told the Department of Justice in a letter today that the Espionage Act charges against Julian Assange “pose an existential threat to the First Amendment.” An appellate hearing on the WikiLeaks founder’s extradition from Britain to the United States is scheduled to be held at the High Court in London on Feb. 20-21. The professors write that although their “personal views on Assange and WikiLeaks vary,” they are nonetheless “united in our concern about the constitutional implications of prosecuting Assange.” Those implications, they explain, “could extend beyond the Espionage Act and beyond national security journalism [to] enable prosecution of routine news gathering under any number of ambiguous laws and untested legal theories.” (Read more here.)

Article: The Kitty Was a Spy - National Geographic, 14 Feb 24

At CIA headquarters, there’s a famous wall of agents who gave their lives for America. Should a cat be there, too? What happened to the Agency’s $20 million Operation Acoustic Kitty serves as a warning to the limits of using animals as spies. But do feathery or furry animals (one shown slinking above) still engage in espionage today? (Read full report here.) (NOTE: Access to this article may require a one-time, free registration or a paid subscription.)

Article: Military Judge to Rule on C.I.A. Torture Program in Sept. 11 Case - New York Times, 12 Feb 24

The lead prosecutor, Clayton G. Trivett Jr., defended the program, and revelations that the F.B.I. collaborated with the C.I.A. in the black sites, as the response of a wounded and fearful nation at war “while the towers were still smoldering.” On Sept. 12, 2001, Mr. Trivett said, Mr. Bush concluded that the United States could “no longer afford” to continue its “simple catch, apprehend, indict and prosecute” approach to law enforcement. Mr. Trivett said it made sense that the F.B.I. coordinated its investigation with the C.I.A., particularly because a lack of intelligence coordination was blamed for failing to prevent the Sept. 11 attacks. “It would be outrageous if it didn’t,” he said. (Read full report here.) (NOTE: Access to this article may require a one-time, free registration or a paid subscription.)

Article: French security experts identify Moscow-based disinformation network - The Guardian, 12 Feb 24

French military and cybersecurity experts say they have identified a Moscow-based network spreading propaganda and disinformation in western Europe. France’s Viginum agency, which was set up in 2021 to detect digital interference from foreign entities aimed at influencing public opinion, says Russia is paving the way for a new wave of online manipulation in the run-up to the European elections and other crucial votes this year. The agency says the online network, which it has named “Portal Kombat”, includes at least 193 sites disseminating pro-Russian propaganda defending the Russian invasion of Ukraine and criticising the government in Kyiv. Much of the disinformation directed through social media sites and messaging apps is targeting those propagating conspiracy theories, it said. (Read full report here.)

Article: SpaceX launching secret Space Force mission today - Space.com, 14 Feb 24

SpaceX launched a mysterious national security mission today (Feb. 14) in a flawless late afternoon launch. A Falcon 9 rocket launched the classified USSF-124 mission for the U.S. Space Force today from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station right on time at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT). The Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth for a vertical touchdown at sunny Cape Canaveral about eight minutes after liftoff. SpaceX's launch webcast shortly thereafter at the request of the Space Force. The landing marked SpaceX's 272nd landing of an orbital-class rocket. (Read here.)

Book: Starmen: A Novel by AFIO member Francis Hamit - Amazon, 14 Feb 24

This novel begins at the El Paso branch of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1875 when the budding Anthropologist George James Frazer needs help contacting a local Apache tribe and a huge hot air balloon appears over the town. It is owned by the British Ethnographic Survey which is up to no good. Frazer infiltrates the Apaches and discovers that Apache witches can fly. The Pinkertons have a few witches of their own. Two Pinkertons go in search of bad men wanted "Dead or Alive" and a missing heir from a wealthy Chicago family and discover a very unusual town that is playing host to some very unusual gun fighters. Other complications ensue. The result is an action-packed, mind bending adventure with romance and political elements...and some Quantum Mechanics and String Theory. (Read full report here.)

Article: Chinese Influence Campaign Pushes Disunity Before U.S. Election, Study Says - New York Times, 15 Feb 24

A Chinese influence campaign that has tried for years to boost Beijing’s interests is now using artificial intelligence and a network of social media accounts to amplify American discontent and division ahead of the U.S. presidential election, according to a new report. The campaign, known as Spamouflage, hopes to breed disenchantment among voters by maligning the United States as rife with urban decay, homelessness, fentanyl abuse, gun violence and crumbling infrastructure, according to the report, which was published on Thursday by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a nonprofit research organization in London. An added aim, the report said, is to convince international audiences that the United States is in a state of chaos. Artificially generated images, some of them also edited with tools like Photoshop, have pushed the idea that the November vote will damage and potentially destroy the country. (Read full report here.) (NOTE: Access to this article may require a one-time, free registration or a paid subscription.)

Article: U.S. Disrupts Hacking Operation Led by Russian Intelligence - New York Times, 15 Feb 24

The F.B.I., working with other countries, disrupted a Russian hacking operation that infiltrated more than 1,000 home and small-business internet routers in the United States and around the world, the Justice Department announced on Thursday. Russian intelligence, collaborating with cybercriminals, created a botnet, or a network of private computers infected with malicious software, to spy on military and security organizations and private corporations in countries like the United States. Using a court order, the F.B.I. secretly copied and deleted stolen data and malware from hacked routers. Doing this stopped Russia’s ability to use the routers without affecting how they function, officials said. The F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, shared details of the operation at an annual security conference in Munich. (Read full report here.) (NOTE: Access to this article may require a one-time, free registration or a paid subscription.)



Section V - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Books — Forthcoming, Newly Released, Overlooked



The Russian FSB: A Concise History of the Federal Security Service (Concise Histories of Intelligence)
by Kevin P. Riehle
(Georgetown University Press, 01 Mar 24)

Since its founding in 1995, the FSB, Russia's Federal Security Service, has regained the majority of the domestic security functions of the Soviet-era KGB. Under Vladimir Putin, who served as FSB director just before becoming president, the agency has grown to be one of the most powerful and favored organizations in Russia. The FSB not only conducts internal security but also has primacy in intelligence operations in former Soviet states. Their activities include anti-dissident operations at home and abroad, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, criminal investigations of crimes against the state, and guarding Russia's borders. In The Russian FSB, Kevin P. Riehle provides a brief history of the FSB's origins, placed within the context of Russian history, the government's power structure, and Russia's wider culture. He describes how the FSB's mindset and priorities show continuities from the tsarist regimes and the Soviet era. The book's chapters analyze origins, organizational structure, missions, leaders, international partners, and cultural representations such as the FSB in film and television. Based on both English and Russian sources, this book is a well-researched introduction to understanding the FSB and its central role in Putin's Russia.

Order book here.



Beverly Hills Spy: The Double-Agent War Hero Who Helped Japan Attack Pearl Harbor
by Ronald Drabkin
(William Morrow Publishing, 13 Feb 24)

Frederick Rutland’s story is a rags-to-riches coup for the ages—a lower-class boy from England bootstraps his way up the ranks of the British military, becoming a World War I pilot, father of the modern aircraft carrier, cosmopolitan businessman, and Hollywood A-list insider. He oversaw this small empire from his mansion on the fabled Bird Streets of Beverly Hills. Snubbed for promotion in the Royal Air Force due to little more than jealousy and class politics, Rutland—to all appearances—continued to spin gold from straw, living an enviably lavish lifestyle that included butlers, wild parties, private clubs, and newsworthy living...and it was all funded by the Japanese Empire. Beverly Hills Spy reveals the story of Rutland’s life of espionage on behalf of the Axis, selling secrets about fleet and aircraft design to the Japanese Imperial Navy that would be instrumental in its ability to attack Pearl Harbor, while collecting a salary ten times larger than the best-paid Japanese admirals. Based on recently declassified FBI files and until-now untranslated documents from Japanese intelligence, Ronald Drabkin brings the scope of this unforgettable tale into full focus for the first time. Rutland hides in plain sight, rubbing elbows with Amelia Earhart and hosting galas and fundraisers with superstars like Charlie Chaplin and Boris Karloff, while simultaneously passing information to Japan through spy networks across North and Central America. Countless opportunities to catch Rutland in the act are squandered by the FBI, British Intelligence, and US Naval Intelligence alike as he uses his cunning and charm to misdirect and cast shadows of doubt over his business dealings, allowing him to operate largely unfettered for years. In the end, whether he fully intends to or not, Rutland sets in motion world events that are so monumental, their consequences are still being felt today. Beverly Hills Spy is a masterpiece of research on spy craft, a shocking narrative about an unknown but pivotal figure in history, and brings new information to light that helps us understand how Pearl Harbor happened—and how it could have been prevented.

Purchase book here. Also


OSS: The Secret History of America's First Central Intelligence Agency
by Richard Harris Smith
(Lyons Publishing, 01 Jan 05)

In the months before World War II, FDR prepared the country for conflict with Germany and Japan by reshuffling various government agencies to create the Office of Strategic Services—America's first intelligence agency and the direct precursor to the CIA. When he charged William ("Wild Bill") Donovan, a successful Wall Street lawyer and Wilkie Republican, to head up the office, the die was set for some of the most fantastic and fascinating operations the U.S. government has ever conducted. Author Richard Harris Smith, himself an ex-CIA hand, documents the controversial agency from its conception as a spin-off of the Office of the Coordinator for Information to its demise under Harry Truman and reconfiguration as the CIA. During his tenure, Donovan oversaw a chaotic cast of some ten thousand agents drawn from the most conservative financial scions to the country's most idealistic New Deal true believers. Together they usurped the roles of government agencies both foreign and domestic, concocted unbelievably complicated conspiracies, and fought the good fight against the Axis powers of Germany and Japan. Colorful personalities and truly priceless anecdotes abound in what may arguably be called the most authoritative work on the subject.

Order book here.


True Intelligence Matters in Film - The Silence of the Mole - Anaïs Taracena (2021)

The story of a journalist turned covert penetration. In the 1970s, journalist Elías Barahona, also known as "The Mole", infiltrated the heart of one of the most repressive governments in Guatemalan history. The film captures the moments when revelations from the past explore the cracks in the walls of silence that surround the country's secret history.

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






Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recent Content

Infographic: The World's Most Powerful Passports in 2024 - Visual Capitalist, 16 Feb 24

People around the world enjoy significantly greater travel freedom than they did just a couple decades ago. In 2006, people could travel visa-free to 58 countries on average, while today that number has jumped to 111 destinations. Even in the last year, French, German, Spanish, and Italian citizens can now travel visa-free to three new countries. (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

Bill Rodier — Career CIA Officer and Intelligence Studies Academic

Bill Rodier, 81, died on 18 December 2023 at the Adler Center for Caring in Aldie, Virginia after coping with dementia for several years. After rowing for the New York Athletic club during high school, Bill entered Virginia Military Institute where he ran track and with his usual discipline running became part of his life. At VMI he earned a BS in Chemistry followed by an MA in Psychology from Hollins University and a Ph.D in Psychology from The University of Virginia. The following two years he served in the Vietnam War. Promoted from First Lieutenant to Captain, he commanded a civil affairs platoon of ten specialists and several senior enlisted men. He was awarded the Bronze Star. Returning to Charlottesville, Virginia, Bill completed a variety of 'Post Docs' built around the study of endocrinology and psychology. Subsequently, he spent a year contracting with USAID in seven countries around the developing world, researching the acceptability of a new supplement for children, pregnant and lactating mothers. Taking stock of his experiences and interests, Bill then joined the CIA as an analyst in what was the Political Psychology Division in the Directorate of Intelligence. In the early 1980's he was asked to lead the Directorate's Insurgency analysis which he did for some years. Another career turn came when he joined the Directorate of Operations where he served throughout Africa and the Middle East. Unsurprisingly he was one of the first to go into Afghanistan after 9/11. Always retaining a love for the Army, he accepted an appointment to The Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as Senior Intelligence Representative from 1995-1998. As a member of The Department of National Security and Strategy he helped integrate intelligence issues into the curriculum. The Commandant of The Army War College awarded him A Superior Civilian Service Award for exceptionally meritorious service after Bill's efforts helped prove instrumental for the College being recognized as the Army's center for strategic thought. Bill completed his professional career when requested to serve as the De Serio Chair of Strategic Intelligence for the academic year 2011 at the Army War College. Bill viewed the Army War College as another great institution much like Virginia Military Institute in its dedication to disciplined learning and thinking.

Jim Gordon — Former CIA Executive

James "Jim" Caldwell Gordon III, 67, on 05 February 2024 passed away peacefully at home overlooking Lake Livingston, Texas, surrounded by his family after a brief illness. He was a proud graduate of Duke University, twice, and thrived as a 32-year career intelligence officer for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1986 to 2017, rising to the rank of Senior Intelligence Service. Jim was known as an exceptionally creative CIA program manager and is survived by his spouse, former Principle Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon.



Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

  • Seeking Interview Subjects:Current or former intelligence officers, analysts, and counterintelligence (CI) professionals with firsthand experience in dealing with Russian illegals to participate in confidential interview sessions as part of a PhD dissertation. Research Topic: The research investigates the impact of technological advancements on the operations and effectiveness of the Russian illegals program. Your insights will be invaluable in understanding the evolving landscape of espionage and informing potential countermeasures. Confidentiality: Your anonymity will be strictly protected. No identifying information will be used in the dissertation or any subsequent publications unless otherwise agreed to. However, written transcripts of the interviews will be retained for academic purposes. Eligibility: If you possess relevant experience and are willing to share your expertise in a confidential setting, please email omid.townsend@kcl.ac.uk.
  • Call for Information: A documentary on the life and death of Swiss photographer Bruno Zehnder needs some help. His family members received information that Bruno may have been approached by the CIA in the 1990s to help inform on Russian research activity in Antarctica. Bruno died whilst on a 1997 expedition there at Mirny under questionable circumstances as he was dubbed ‘ the western spy’ on board. We are looking for anyone who may have any information in Bruno or more generally who may be able to speak to the climate between Russia and the CIA in the 19980s/90s regarding adhering to the scientific treaty and the race to be the first to breach Lake Vostok. Contact Thomas Whitmore at Naomi.harvey@clockworkfilms.tv.
  • Call for Information: Private civilian researcher seeking information about VADM Eric Burkhalter and Colonel Roy Jonkers working in the Defense Intelligence Agency during the period of 1980 to 1985, and VADM Burkhalter’s activities as Director, Intelligence Community Staff during that time. Contact Thomas Whitmore at twhitmore87@gmail.com.
  • Call for Information: Professor Emerita Joan Beaumont, Australian National University, Canberra, is currently revising, for republication in 2025, her 1988 book on Australian prisoners of war on Ambon, Gull Force: Survival and Leadership in Captivity. The POW at Tan Tui (Tan Toey), Ambon, was bombed twice during the war, on 15 February 1943 and 28 August 1944. These raids were two of many on the island. I am trying to ascertain whether the presence of the POW camp was known to the USAAF and RAAF when they set targets for bombing the island. The existence of the POW camp was reported by men who escaped back to Australia in March–April 1942 and reported to Army Headquarters in Melbourne. This information was shared with senior US naval officers (Vice Admiral Leary vetoed a proposed rescue plan in June 1942). My question: would this intelligence have been forwarded to air force bases in the Norther Territory? And how were targets for bombing raids set? The Australian official history of the air war in the Pacific by George Odgers (vol. II 41) suggests that the squadron involved in the 15 February 1943 bombing might have been no 319, 90th Bombardment Group, based at Fenton. Any information that might be germane to my research should be sent to joan.beaumont@anu.edu.au. or +61418376909.
  • 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 Articles: AFIO's Journal, The Intelligencer. AFIO seeks 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 and how allied SIGINT isolated the Afrika Korps from its logistics chain. (Potentially two separate articles.)
    - The breaking of the Nazi U-boat SHARK encryption system.
    - How A.Q. Khan’s nuclear proliferation efforts were uncovered and stopped.
    - How US intelligence found Usama Bin Laden in Abbottobad, Pakistan.
    - How US intelligence discovered the Soviet’s high speed Shkval torpedo.
    - Intelligence and the rescue of Scott O’Grady.
    - The Trust (Bolshevik deception operation -1920-26).
    - The hunt for Pablo Escobar.
    - How National Technical Means (NTM) have been used for environmental purposes (MEDEA Program).
    - Other topics are also welcome.

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

Jobs

  • Wanted: Former intelligence officers to lead spy-themed walking tours in Washington D.C. - Spyher Tours

    • These are 90-120 minute historical tours with an interactive "operational" component. Most tours start at 10am on select Thursdays-Sundays. The immediate opportunity is for dates in March, but additional opportunities are available through June, and new opportunities are likely to become available throughout the year. This is a fun way to get back out on the streets, engage/educate the public on the world of espionage, and make some extra cash. The next opportunities to see a tour in action (and train before the Spring rush) are Sunday 2/18 and Sunday 3/3. Please contact Rosanna at 571-236-9052 or rosanna@spyher.co. Visit https://spyher.co.

  • 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

06 Mar 24, 1800 hours (ET) - Virtual - The East Tennessee AFIO Chapter hosts Jennifer Daniel to discuss her 37-year IC career, including work at NGA and the DNI. Ms. Daniel is known for her transformational leadership across diverse mission sets including collection, analysis, IT Solutions, human capital, budget management, and international relations. Among her many roles, Ms. Daniel served as the Associate Director for Enterprise at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Mission Priorities, Analysis, and Collection in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of NGA’s Persistent GEOINT Office. Currently, she is President of the NGA Alumni Association East, a board member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, and CEO of JS&N Consulting LLC. Contact admin@ETNAFIO.com for Google Meet invite and/or chapter questions.

NOTE NEW DATE: 26 March 2024, noon EDT - In-Person at MacDill AFB, FL or by Zoom - The Florida Suncoast AFIO Chapter hosts Michael Pullara on "1993 Murder of CIA Station Chief Freddie Woodruff." The Florida Suncoast AFIO Chapter is holding its upcoming luncheon at noon on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, at the MacDill AFB Activity Center (formerly the Surf's Edge Club), 7315 Bayshore Boulevard, MacDill AFB, FL 33621. Our speaker is Michael A. Pullara, a veteran trial lawyer and masterful storyteller who investigated the 1993 murder of CIA Officer Freddie Woodruff and authored a thrilling true-life espionage tale. Thanks to Pullara's investigation, in 2008 the Russians ultimately freed from prison the original suspect who'd been sentenced to 15 years' hard labor for the crime.
The luncheon includes a box lunch and costs are based on timing of your reservation/response.
Early response, $15 luncheon fee, no later than noon on Tuesday, 27 February.
Response cut-off, $20 luncheon fee, no later than noon on Thursday, 14 March.
ZOOM registration cut-off, $0 fee, no later than noon on Thursday, 14 March.
If you wish to participate by ZOOM please click on the this registration link to complete the registration request before noon on Monday, 14 March 2024. This is NOT the ZOOM meeting link. Subject to approval, you will receive the ZOOM meeting link by separate email. Please check your ZOOM program in advance to ensure it is working properly and that you have the confirmed ZOOM meeting link handy to join the meeting. It is next to impossible to trouble-shoot ZOOM connections on the day of the meeting.
Questions or to attend, contact the Chapter Secretary, Michael Shapiro, for more information, mfshapiro@suncoastafio.org.

Friday, 19 Apr 2024, 1100 (EST) - Tysons Corner, VA - AFIO National In-Person Spring Luncheon features fireside chat with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence. Morning speaker is Jonna Mendez, CIA's former Master of Disguise, "In True Face."
Note different timing: NOON SPEAKER: Fireside Chat with Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, begins at noon. Please note the earlier start time. MORNING SPEAKER: Jonna Mendez, former CIA Chief of Disguise, speaks at 11:00 a.m. She will be discussing her latest book: "In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked" - published 5 March 2024. Copies will be available. Q&A follows each talk or presentation. Lunch served 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Event ends at 2:00 p.m. Luncheon prices are $60 for Members; $75 for nonmember guests and all Subscribers. Payment by credit card required at time of registration. No mailed checks or "at the door" payments accepted or permitted.
Register here. Registration closes 5 p.m., Friday, 12 April.
Check-in and badge pickup for Registered Attendees begins at 10:30 a.m. NO registrations or walk-ins at hotel. No payments by cash or check or onsite registrations at venue.
Though we do not provide special overnight room rates, if you wish to make room reservations at the hotel, do so here.
Cancellation Schedule: AFIO must commit to the hotel facilities and regrets it must charge a cancellation fee. No cancellations with refund after 1 April. Any cancellations 2 to 12 April will be converted to donation to AFIO. A donor statement will be sent showing you made a "gift to AFIO." Gifts to AFIO are tax-deductible as charitable donations. Cancellations after 12 April are not donations because your meal has been guaranteed to hotel per event contract. Thank you for your understanding. All attendees must be members of AFIO or accompanied by a current member. For security reasons, we are unable to accept late or last minute substitutions for non-attendance or changes in your guests.
Questions regarding this event to events@afio.com

NOTE NEW DATE: 30 July 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

Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 12pm-1pm – Virtual – "Foreign-Backed Disinformation: Its Impact on the Homeland" – Johns Hopkins University. Inside Intelligence presents Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary for Intelligence Brian Murphy. More information and free registration here here.

Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 2:00-3:00pm – Washington, DC – SPY with Me: Program for Individuals with Dementia and their Care Partners – Virtual International Spy Museum Program. SPY with Me is an interactive virtual program for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Join SPY as we use music and artifacts to explore some of our favorite spy stories. Programs last one hour and are held virtually through Zoom. To register, please email Shana Oltmans at soltmans@spymuseum.org. Free but space is limited. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 7pm – Washington, DC – WWI Series Part II: World War I and the Foundations of American Intelligence – Virtual International Spy Museum Program. In the second part of our WWI series, dive deeper into America's intelligence history with author and global security historian, Dr. Mark Stout as he discusses his new book World War I and the Foundations of American Intelligence. The book examines the army, navy, and State Department's increasing reliance on intelligence personnel around the globe during the Great War to create a new professional practitioner that transcended the Armistice to active peacetime service leading up to the founding of the Office of Strategic Services in World War II. Stout examines the breadth of American intelligence in the war, not just in France, not just at home, but around the world, and demonstrates how these far-flung efforts endured after the Armistice in 1918. For the first time, there came to be a group of intelligence practitioners who viewed themselves as different from other soldiers, sailors, and diplomats. Stout will also discuss how this gave the United States a solid foundation from which to expand to meet the needs of the second world war and the Cold War that followed. Support for this program has been provided by a generous grant from the Pritzker Military Foundation, on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. 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

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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.

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