Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Weekly Intelligence Notes

24 - 30 April 2024
(Issue 16)

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 Developments)



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: Kidon - Mossad’s Tip of the Spear - Grey Dynamics, 28 Apr 24
  • Article: Soviet-Era Pseudoscience Lurks behind ‘Havana Syndrome’ Worries - Scientific American, 24 Apr 24
  • Article: German spycatchers raise game against China and Russia - Financial Times, 23 Apr 24
  • Article: Brits charged with helping Russia after suspected arson attack on Ukraine-linked firm - Politico, 26 Apr 24
  • Article: Kremlin-linked cyberespionage group has unleashed “GooseEgg” malware into U.S., Ukrainian and Western European government systems. - Microsoft, 22 Apr 24
  • Article: Cases of suspected Chinese espionage in Europe - Reuters, 23 Apr 24
  • Article: Sweden Thinks Russian "Shadow Fleet" Tankers May be Used for Espionage - Maritime Executive, 23 Apr 24
  • Article: Germany sees spike in Chinese and Russian espionage - Deutsche Welle, 23 Apr 24
  • Article: German far right tries to brush off spy scandals - Financial Times, 24 Apr 24
  • Article: Cambridge spy Anthony Blunt may have helped the Nazis - The Telgraph, 28 Apr 24
  • Article: Algeria - General Abdelkader Haddad to be appointed head of DGSI - Atalayar, 12 Apr 24
  • Article: The spy who flunked it: Kurt Gödel’s forgotten part in the atom-bomb story - Nature, 20 Mar 24
  • Article: The Next US President Will Have Troubling New Surveillance Powers - Wired, 22 Apr 24

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

FR, GR, LR, S, EB, JU, JG, TM, JK, CP


Section V - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

True Intelligence Matters on Film: The Spy (original title "Spionen") - Jens Jonsson (2019)

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released 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

  • Bob Sargent, Former Foreign Service Officer
  • Dan Dawidowicz, Former NSA Officer

    • Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

    • Call for papers: National Intelligence History Conference: "People in Intelligence" - Bletchley Park and GCHQ - 24 May Deadline.
    • Call for information: Seeking input and suggestions for a chapter on Counterintelligence for the second edition of the Oxford University Handbook of National Security Intelligence.
    • Call for information: Seeking information on Priscilla Griffin de Mauduit, OSS-CIA, 1941-1965.
    • Call for information: Seeking information on Peruvian communist terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path).
    • Seeking Interview Subjects: Seeking information on Czech-U.S. relations late 1970s and 1980s, StB’s techniques and effectiveness, exposition and expulsion of U.S. staff in Prague, Czech intel operatives on U.S. soil.
    • 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
    • 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 - Assorted Topics

    Employment



    Section VII - Events

    Upcoming AFIO Events

    • Monday, 6 May 2024, noon CDT - in-person - AFIO San Antonio Chapter hears Brian Morra on "Able Archer" and a 1983 Soviet Nuclear War Crisis.
    • Thursday, 16 May 2024 11:30 AM MDT – Colorado Springs - The AFIO Rocky Mountain Chapter hosts Bob Pence discussing "FBI Relations with the Military"
    • Wed, 22 May 2024, 6:30 to 7:30 PM - Webinar via Zoom - AFIO Atlanta Chapter webinar with retired CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos
    • 30 July 24, 1900 (PT) - 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

    No events at this time.

    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.

    		     


    Please update your records to...

    AFIO
    220 Spring St Suite 220
    Herndon, VA 20170

    Our phones, fax, emails, web remain the same

    MORE FROM AFIO

    Released to members ...23 April 2024...

    Would a Victorious post-Ukraine Russia Eye the Baltics?


    Recorded 12 December 2023

    James Stejskal,
    Author, Military Historian, Conflict Archaeologist,
    author of "Dead Hand" on a victorious post-Ukraine Russia eyeing the Baltics

    Interview of Tuesday, 12 December 2023. James Stejskal, Author, Military Historian, Conflict Archaeologist, former CIA and Special Forces, on his book "Dead Hand" on a story of what happens after Russia has won the war in Ukraine and is eyeing the Baltics. As the world stands on the precipice of war, a legendary CIA Officer rushes to meet a spy deep in the Kremlin, on an operation where failure could mean nuclear Armageddon.
    Interviewer/host is AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations.
    The interview runs 14 minutes and includes several Q&As.
    "Dead Hand" is available here.

    Access the James Stejskal video interview here or click above image.

    If you missed the most recent installment in The OSS Society's "Oh So Social" Conversation Series on April 3rd, when Dr. Mike Vickers interviewed LTG Charles Cleveland, USA (Ret.) about his RAND report, "The American Way of Irregular War: An Analytical Memoir," watch it here.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    BOOK REVIEWERS WANTED

    With the growth in intelligence-related books, AFIO seeks volunteers who are willing to review new releases. We are looking for short reviews (500 words) for inclusion in the WIN. The make-up of AFIO's membership puts us in a position to offer unique reviews in the intelligence studies world, matching backgrounds with subject matter. If interested, please contact the WIN editor at winseditor@afio.com


    Special Walking Tours
    by SpyGuide Tours Inc.

    New 2024 Dates


    Spring has sprung and Spyher is here for it. See our lineup of spy-themed tours and events. Visit us at https://spyher.co to book or schedule a private experience.

    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 Podcast


    LATEST PODCAST: In this episode, Liza Mundy, award-winning journalist and New York Times-bestselling author of five books; Linda Millis, Former Senior CIA, NSA, and ODNI Executive, Assistant Professor, Marymount University / AFIO Board Member, and AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer and Former NSA Associate Deputy Director of Operations, discuss Liza's latest book "The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA."
    The interview runs 24 minutes and includes several Q&As.
    The Sisterhood is available here.
    Her earlier book, Code Girls, is available here.

    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

    The Archive

    AFIO Now Video Interviews and Podcasts in 2023 and 2024 are 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 MARKETPLACE


    THE AFIO STORE

    Special Gifts for Colleagues, Self, or Others

    NEW Gray long-sleeved polo shirts with embroidered AFIO logo. Men's sizes only.
    Show your support for AFIO with our new Gray Long-sleeve Polo Shirts. Shirts are shrink and wrinkle resistant of fine cotton with a soft, "well-worn, comfy" yet substantial feel. They feature a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. Get a shirt for yourself and consider as gifts for colleagues, family, and friends. Only $60 each including shipping.
    Sizes for men, only: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL.  $60 per shirt. Order this and other store items online here.


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



    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 27 April 2024 released the photo above, which features some of their newest CIA items and other gift suggestions.

    Section I - CURRENTS

    (Recent Events, Developments, Highlights)

    Film documents OSS World War II contributions from Hollywood’s finest - Washington Times, 28 Apr 24

    A round of applause please for the World War II-era Office of Strategic Services — the first organized U.S. effort to implement a centralized system of strategic intelligence, and the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Special Operations Command, and the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. A round as well for a new documentary film titled “Filming Under Fire: John Ford’s OSS Field Photo Branch,” which tells the story of how top Hollywood figures contributed to America’s victory in World War II through their service in that OSS branch. Among the big names covered besides Ford, a six-time Academy Award-winning director, are cinematographers Harold Rosson, Gregg Toland and Joe August; screenwriter Budd Schulberg; and actor Sterling Hayden. (Read more here.)

    The Czech illegals: Husband and wife outed as GRU spies aiding bombings and poisonings across Europe - The Insider, 29 Apr 24

    Villa Elena, a three-storey hotel in Frama, Halkidiki, northern Greece, boasts a large outdoor swimming pool, gazebo, private garden, not to mention sprawling grounds. Even if the interior – all loud greens and purples with gold-rimmed cabinets – looks hopelessly post-Soviet, the amenities include foam pillows, hairdryers and bathrobes. One could do worse for $155 a night. But Nikolay and Elena Šapošnikov, for whom the pillared pile on the Aegean is named, are no ordinary hoteliers. They are Russian “illegals,” or spies operating outside of diplomatic cover, who spent decades living under false pretenses as naturalized citizens of Czechia. And Villa Elena is no ordinary hotel. (Read more here.)

    Google’s GDC Hosted Service Authorized for Top Secret Missions by DoD and U.S. Intelligence - Clearance Jobs, 29 Apr 24

    Google Public Sector shared that its Google Distributed Cloud Hosted (GDC Hosted) service has received authorizations to host some of the most sensitive missions for the Defense Department (DoD) and U.S. intelligence community agencies. With these authorizations, GDC Hosted can now handle Top Secret missions for DoD and both Secret and Top Secret missions for intelligence agencies. This move underscores Google Public Sector’s commitment to providing secure, cutting-edge technology to government agencies, empowering them with advanced cloud capabilities while ensuring stringent security requirements are met. Google shared that GDC Hosted is an “air-gapped cloud solution built specifically for stringent security requirements, allowing U.S. intelligence and DoD agencies to host, control, and manage their infrastructure and services in a highly secure environment, while leveraging the power of advanced cloud capabilities like data analytics, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI).” (Read more here.)

    Intel community seeks to centralize OSINT under new strategy - Federal News Network, 24 Apr 24

    With social media feeds and data brokers awash in valuable intel, leaders of the top U.S. intelligence agencies have signed onto a plan to centralize open source intelligence (OSINT). The new OSINT strategy, signed out by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and CIA Director William Burns last month, aims to make open-source an “the INT of first resort.” Those words, in the title of the strategy, are a tacit recognition that spy agencies have traditionally favored gaining intelligence from highly secretive sources — such as human intelligence, spy satellites, and electronic signals — rather than open-source data. (Read more here.)

    Russian FSB Counterintelligence Chief Gets 9 Years in Cybercrime Bribery Scheme - Krebs on Security, 22 Apr 24

    The head of counterintelligence for a division of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) was sentenced last week to nine years in a penal colony for accepting a USD $1.7 million bribe to ignore the activities of a prolific Russian cybercrime group that hacked thousands of e-commerce websites. The protection scheme was exposed in 2022 when Russian authorities arrested six members of the group, which sold millions of stolen payment cards at flashy online shops like Trump’s Dumps. As reported by The Record, a Russian court last week sentenced former FSB officer Grigory Tsaregorodtsev for taking a $1.7 million bribe from a cybercriminal group that was seeking a “roof,” a well-placed, corrupt law enforcement official who could be counted on to both disregard their illegal hacking activities and run interference with authorities in the event of their arrest. (Full article here.)

    Beyond planning: The Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex project breaks ground - DIA, 23 Apr 24

    The Joint Intelligence Analysis Complex is one step closer to reality. On April 12, the project broke ground at RAF Molesworth. DIA Deputy Director Suzanne White participated in the groundbreaking ceremony and described the future facility as “a beacon of partnership and solidarity.” The facility is part of the Department of Defense’s overall European Infrastructure Consolidation efforts, and it will combine 20 facilities and over 1,000 DIA personnel into one location. Among others, it will host members of the NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre, Battlefield Information Collection and Exploitation System, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. European Command and U.S. Air Force elements in a cross-agency, multi-mission collaboration. In her remarks, White said the facility enables the U.S. and allies’ shared mission of “outpacing our strategic competitors and addressing threats together wherever they may arise.” (Full article here.)

    Chinese spy claims: Beijing summons German ambassador to protest after 4 arrested on espionage charges - South China Morning Post, 26 Apr 24

    China’s foreign ministry summoned the German ambassador over Berlin’s arrest of four German citizens accused of spying for Beijing. Patricia Flor posted on X, formerly Twitter, that she had been summoned by the foreign ministry in Beijing on Thursday “after four Germans were arrested this week for allegedly spying for Chinese secret services” adding that it was a “quite telling move”. In her tweet, Flor stressed that Germany did not tolerate spying “regardless of which country it comes from”. She added: “We protect our democracy and our constitutional state by constitutional means. An independent court will decide on the accusations.” On Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a scheduled press conference that Beijing “has made solemn representations with Germany over its groundless accusations”. (Full article here.)

    Dakota State University hosting new 'Cyber Espionage Camp' this summer - SDBP, 25 Apr 24

    Dakota State University is hosting a first-of-its-kind Cyber Espionage Camp this summer. The camp is designed to introduce students to emerging tech fields and their relationship with modern life and promote the university and its Cyber Leadership and Intelligence major to future students. Kurt Kemper is a professor at DSU and the director of the camp. He said the program is part of a bigger focus by state leaders and others to satisfy the increasing demand for tech-related jobs. Despite the unpredictable and evolving nature of the field, he said this camp is useful for curious students. “What we’re trying to do is make sure students have broad skills and be able to think within the existing framework of the historic social sciences, things like economics, criminal justice, criminology, international relations, history, and utilize those skills to bring to this cyber-enabled world,” Kemper said. (Read here.)

    Iranian general 'executed' after spying for CIA is 'ALIVE and living under new identity in US' - The Mirror, 25 Apr 24

    A former major general of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was believed to have been executed following acts of espionage with the CIA, is allegedly alive and living under a new name in America. Ali-Reza Asgari was once a senior official in the Iranian paramilitary force and a former deputy defence minister who allegedly helped build up Hezbollah's power in Lebanon. In December 2006, while in Turkey, Asgari seemingly vanished into thin air leaving behind two wives, four daughters, and a son. For years, rumours swirled that Mossad or CIA abducted the retired IRGC commander. And in July 2020, Iran’s judiciary formally accused him of spying on behalf of the US intelligence and claimed that they had executed him for his treachery. (Full article here.)

    ACLU Sues NSA, Defense Department for AI Spy Program Records - Bloomberg Law, 25 Apr 24

    The American Civil Liberties Union sued the National Security Agency Thursday, alleging it failed to disclose documents about its deployment of artificial intelligence under federal public records law. Transparency about the agency’s ramped-up use of AI is critical to allowing the public to understand how their rights are being affected, and the agency hasn’t complied with the federal Freedom of Information Act, according to the ACLU’s lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit, shared first with Bloomberg Law, also names as defendants the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Defense Department. The group is asking the court to force the agencies to release all “reports, assessments, studies, audits, analyses, or presentations concerning the risks or impacts posed by the NSA’s use or proposed use of AI or machine learning for privacy, civil liberties, or civil rights that were created on or after January 1, 2022.” (Full article here.)

    Swedish signals intelligence agency to take over national cybersecurity center - The Record, 23 Apr 24

    After failing to achieve “expected results,” Sweden’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) is facing a range of reforms, including being brought under the control of the country’s cyber and signals intelligence agency. The failures were assessed as part of a government review, rather than in response to a single incident, but come amid a changing geopolitical situation for Sweden, which formally joined NATO this March in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The restructuring will see Sweden move toward a model for its cybersecurity center similar to that of the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark, where those bodies are parts of GCHQ, the Norwegian National Security Authority and the Danish Defence Intelligence Service, respectively. (Full article here.)

    Security Agencies Warn Election Officials to Brace for Attacks on U.S. Presidential Race - Homeland Security News Wire, 18 Apr 24

    U.S. intelligence and security agencies are trying to prepare election officials for a wave of new attacks aiming to destroy voter confidence in November’s presidential election, just as a series of reports warn some familiar adversaries are starting to ramp up their efforts. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), along with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the FBI, issued a new warning on Wednesday that “the usual suspects” — Russia, China and Iran — are looking for ways to stoke tensions and divide American voters. All three countries, the guidance said, are “leveraging influence operations exploiting perceived sociopolitical divisions to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions.” (Full article here.)

    Russian Intelligence Cover Group Holds “Traditional Values” Conference in Tbilisi - Civil, 22 Apr 24

    The Russian National Research Institute for Communication Development (NIIRK), which is led by former foreign intelligence and FSB officials, co-organized a discussion on “Traditional Values as a Factor of Connecting Countries and People” on April 22 in Tbilisi, according to the agenda of the event published by NIIRK. The meeting was held at an undisclosed location and hosted by two Kremlin-affiliated entities in Georgia, the Eurasian Institute and the SIKHA Foundation. According to the announcement of the event, Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, Director of the Eurasia Institute, and Archil Sikharulidze, founder of the SIKHA Foundation, were to address the conference participants. Rtskhiladze is also affiliated with several other pro-Kremlin organizations and media outlets and represents Russian racist and imperialist ideologue Alexander Dugin. (Full article here.)

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

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



    Section II - DEEP DIVES

    (Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

    From ‘dirty word’ to ‘critical enabler’: the evolution of peacekeeping-intelligence - Journal of Intelligence History, 27 Apr 24

    The article provides a historical analysis of the evolution of ‘Peacekeeping-Intelligence’ (PKI) as a UN intelligence system and tool of conflict management. It examines the processes leading to the development of the PKI Policy by analyzing the analytical entities that cumulatively contextualized these developments. It also examines the institutional mechanisms at the UNHQ, the underlying logic, and the challenges surrounding these processes. The article first traces the various iterations of information and analysis structures within the UN since the early 1960s. It then focuses on intelligence developments in the 1990s and the new millennium, where the lack of intelligence capabilities, particularly at the mission level, was identified as an underlining factor for the operational problems faced by the UN. It concludes with an examination of the PKI policy as an evolutionary step in UN peacekeeping. The paper argues that PKI offers a new pathway to effective peacekeeping and provides a foundation for enhanced decision-making through situational awareness, the safety and security of peacekeepers, and the protection of civilians. (Full report here.)

    Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW): Inside India’s Foreign Intelligence Agency - Grey Dynamics, 27 Apr 24

    Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is one of the key intelligence agencies in India. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) stands as one of India’s key intelligence agencies. It initially focused primarily on China and Pakistan, but over the past forty years, it has expanded its mandate, significantly bolstering India’s global influence. RAW’s primary responsibility is to provide the government with strategic and comprehensive information to facilitate challenging decision-making. Collaborating with numerous intelligence services globally, such as the CIA, MI6, and Mossad, RAW actively plans, executes, and exchanges intelligence. (Access here.)

    Counterintelligence and escalation from hybrid to total war in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict 2014–2024 - Intelligence and National Security, 25 Apr 24

    This article examines certain counterintelligence (CI) aspects of the on-going conflict between Russia and Ukraine since 2014 in terms of key problems in current western CI concepts, doctrine and processes. It examines not only the CI threat to Ukraine during the Donbas ‘frozen war’ and 2022 invasion from the traditional CI triad of espionage, sabotage and subversion but also from Russian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities and activities supporting both irregular and regular combatants. The article concludes that a UK and allied approach to CI shaped by a two-decade security focus on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency may not be fit for purpose in a contemporary strategic environment characterized by a persistent and escalating threat from strategic peers engaged in state-supported hybrid conflict. (Access here.)

    OSHIT: Seven Deadly Sins of Bad Open Source Research - Bellingcat, 25 Apr 24

    When news breaks and the internet is aflutter with activity and speculation, many turn to open source accounts and experts to make sense of events. This is truly a sign that open source research — using resources like satellite images to flight tracking websites and footage recorded on the ground — is seen as credible and is increasingly sought after. It’s free, publicly available and anybody can do it. But such success comes with drawbacks. In monitoring events from Iran and Ukraine, this surge in credibility allows the term ‘OSINT’ to be easily abused, either knowingly or unknowingly, by users who don’t actually follow the best practice of open source research methods. In fact, since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, there has been a spike in verified ‘OSINT’ Twitter accounts which create additional noise and confusion with poor open source analysis. (Full report here.)

    China’s Intelligence Shakeup Boosts Information Warfare - Spy Talk, 25 Apr 2024

    In a major shakeup at the top of China’s intelligence and security apparatus, President Xi Jinping last Friday unexpectedly abolished its key eavesdropping and codebreaking agency, the Strategic Support Force (SSF) and replaced it with three new agencies put directly under the Chinese Communist Party’s military oversight body, the Central Military Commission. It’s the rough political equivalent of President Biden abolishing the NSA and creating three new powerful spy agencies under the direct purview of the White House National Security Council. Analysts told SpyTalk that rumors of an intelligence shakeup have been floating around for at least several weeks, but the creation of three separate “forces,” as China calls them, from the SSF, including a new information warfare agency, was a surprise. It reflected Xi’s dissatisfaction with the rate of progress in the development of China’s “intelligentized warfare,” or what the U.S. calls Joint Doctrine, the fusing of ground, air, space, cyber and naval forces operations through digital networks bolstered by artificial intelligence. (Access here.)

    Challenging Biases and Assumptions in Analysis: Could Israel Have Averted Intelligence Failure? - Harvard University's Belfer Center, 26 Apr 2024

    The human tragedy continuing to unfold in Gaza and Israel reminds us how important it is to get strategic forecasting right. While in no way excusing Hamas’ culpability for 7 October, we also cannot dismiss the fact that the failure to anticipate and prepare for such an attack has had grave consequences for communities on both sides of this conflict, undermined efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the region, and affected global interests through the expansion of the conflict to the Red Sea and potentially beyond. This example is certainly not the first such failure, and sadly, it will not be the last. The Tet Offensive, the misidentification of a weapons of mass destruction program in Iraq, and 9-11 are among U.S. failures that had similarly grave consequences. There are hundreds of examples, big and small, that have vexed intelligence communities around the world. Each is unique, but most come down to human, social, and cultural shortcomings. (Full report here.)

    Learning From National Security Education Day - Jamestown Foundation, 26 Apr 2024

    April 15 was National Security Education Day (全民国家安全教育日). It was also the tenth anniversary of the launch of the “comprehensive national security concept (总体国家安全观)” (hereafter, the Concept) (MCT, April 15). Over the last decade, national security has grown to become a totalizing concern for the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Not only has the Concept grown to encompass numerous domains and all walks of life, but the power of the security services—in particular the Ministry of State Security (MSS)—has risen dramatically. The rise of the MSS as national security concerns overseas increased predates Xi Jinping (see China Brief, January 14, 2011). Xi, however, has explicitly advanced national security prerogatives to an unprecedented degree. [1] The ways in which April 15 was celebrated across the PRC and the emphasis on incorporating national security into discussions of both economic development and traditional culture are indicative of the direction in which the country is heading. Namely, one that is more paranoid, but also more capable of cracking down when perceived threats appear. (Full report here.)

    James Bamford on FISA & How U.S. Intel and Palantir Feed Israel’s Killing Machine in Gaza - Democracy Now, 23 Apr 2024

    This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman, as we continue with Part 2 of our interview with James Bamford, investigative journalist, whose new piece for The Nation is headlined “The NSA Wants Carte Blanche for Warrantless Surveillance.” This is Democratic Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois speaking against extending the reauthorization of FISA. That’s the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It would later be signed into law by President Biden. (Full report here.)

    An Oversight Model for AI in National Security: The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board - Just Security, 26 Apr 2024

    As national security agencies race to adopt AI, it is critical that Congress and the Biden administration shore up oversight of these technologies, which they acknowledge pose serious risks to privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently issued guidance that mandates transparency for federal uses of AI, identifies numerous uses that are presumptively rights- and safety-impacting, and requires minimum risk management practices—including a requirement that agencies provide individuals with notice and an opportunity to challenge decisions made using AI. But national security systems—which include everything from domestic intelligence programs to autonomous weapons systems—are exempted from that guidance. (Full report here.)

    The CIA’s Man in Constantinople - The American Conservative, 23 Apr 2024

    Everyone knows that the Moscow Patriarchate is in bed with the Kremlin. Few realize that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is deeply beholden to the United States government. This ignorance is surprising, given that many Greek Orthodox leaders are quite proud of the fact. In 1942, Athenagoras Spyrou—the Archbishop of America for the Greek Orthodox Church—wrote to an agent of the Office of Strategic Services. “I have three Bishops, three hundred priests, and a large and far-flung organization,” Athenagoras wrote. “Every one under my order is under yours. You may command them for any service you require. There will be no questions asked and your directions will be executed faithfully.” In 1947, the OSS was rechristened as the Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA. One year later, Athenagoras was elected Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodoxy. (Full report here.)

    The German opposition question in British World War II strategy: interpreting Hugh Trevor-Roper’s wartime intelligence reporting - Journal of Intelligence History, 26 Apr 2024

    What explains the British decision not to lend significant support to the internal German opposition to Hitler during World War II? Some historians have labelled the absence of aid to the German resistance as an intelligence failure. P.R.J. Winter and others instead accuse the British government of policy failure by highlighting the excellent efforts of Britain’s wartime radio intelligence team, led by Hugh Trevor-Roper. But by closely reading the key piece of evidence in this case for intelligence success, the ‘Canaris and Himmler’ report, and by placing that assessment in the broader context of Trevor-Roper’s intelligence reporting through the end of the war, we argue that Trevor-Roper’s team did not lay the analytical groundwork for a shift in British strategy. Trevor-Roper neither appreciated nor conveyed to British policymakers the existence and strength of the German opposition, and he denigrated the opposition’s central hub, the Abwehr. This can be classed as a significant intelligence failure. Nevertheless, we also suggest that the intelligence versus policy failure framing of the German opposition question is something of a false dichotomy, as Whitehall’s intelligence and policy communities operated under a shared set of assumptions and reinforced each other’s beliefs about the appropriateness of British strategy. (Full report here.)

    A short history of "kill lists," from Nazi Germany to the CIA to Gaza - Salon, 21 Apr 2024

    The Israeli online magazine +972 has published a detailed report on Israel’s use of an artificial intelligence system called Lavender to target thousands of Palestinian men in its bombing campaign in Gaza. When Israel attacked Gaza after the Hamas attack last Oct. 7, the Lavender system had a database of 37,000 Palestinian men with suspected links to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Lavender assigns a numerical score, from one to 100, to every man in Gaza, based mainly on cellphone and social media data, and automatically adds those with high scores to its kill list of suspected militants. Israel uses another automated system, known as Where’s Daddy?, to call in airstrikes to kill these men and their families in their homes. The report is based on interviews with six Israeli intelligence officers who have worked with these systems. As one of the officers explained to +972, by adding a name from a Lavender-generated list to the Where’s Daddy? home tracking system, he can place the man’s home under constant drone surveillance, and an airstrike will be launched once he comes home. (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.

    23 Apr | Navigating a Career in Counterterrorism as a Muslim – with Angie Gad Angie Gad joined Andrew to discuss her career in intelligence analysis. Angie is a first-generation Egyptian-American.


    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.

    26 Apr | The true strength of American power and capacity to drive geopolitics was on display this week when the U.S. Congress -- after months and months of languishing -- finally passed a $95 billion foreign aid assistance bill. The benefit goes not only to three of America’s most beleaguered allies – $26 billion to Israel, $2 billion to Taiwan (as part of an $8 billion Indo-Pacific Security Supplement), and $61 billion to Ukraine – it at last also serves as a message to America’s allies and adversaries that the United States is both willing and able to continue to play a critical role in international global security. (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.

    30 Apr | Axis of Resistance Continues its Battle

    U.S. and global officials are assessing the effectiveness of their efforts to date to prevent the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza from expanding into a sustained conflict that encompasses the entire region. For the six months following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the region appeared to settle into a predictable, if volatile, pattern in which Iran acted indirectly, through its so-called “Axis of Resistance” partners, to strike against Israel, Israel’s main backer, the United States, and global commerce transiting the Red Sea, as a means of exerting pressure on Israel to end its offensive against Hamas. Iran and its partners hope to enable Hamas, also a member of the Axis, to survive the war and retain power in the Gaza Strip. Lebanese Hezbollah engaged in exchanges of artillery and rocket fire across the Israel-Lebanon border to try to tie down Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and reduce pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria conducted 180 attacks on U.S. bases in those two countries to raise the price to the United States of its political and military support for Israel’s goal of defeating Hamas. Iran’s ally in Yemen, the Houthi movement, in November began a campaign of missile and armed drone attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea to impose on the United States and its European partners significant economic costs for extending support to Israel.

    29 Apr | Still No End in Sight for the War in Gaza

    26 Apr | Islamic State Threat to the West and New Campaign Targeting Sporting Events

    25 Apr | U.S. Troops Preparing to Withdraw from Niger in Major Blow to Counterterrorism Efforts in the Sahel

    24 Apr | Iranian President Raisi Travels to Pakistan to Smooth Over Bilateral Relations



    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.

    23 Apr | Cyber Intelligence: Andrew Boyd Andy speaks with former CIA Center for Cyber Intelligence Director Andrew Boyd about protecting systems from the most sophisticated cyber terrorism and hacking attempts. Andrew outlines the current cyber threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and non-state actors like ransomware groups. Andy and Andrew also discuss the US cybersecurity strategy, partnerships between the government and the private sector, and challenges around emerging technologies like AI.



    Inside Intelligence presents "Developing 21st Century Intelligence Leaders" (59 mins) with former senior CIA Analyst Michael Ard and former CIA Director of Leadership Learning Darryl A. Lansey - Johns Hopkins University, 24 Apr 2024

    Join host Michael Ard for a curated conversation with Darryl Lansey, former director of leadership learning at the CIA, on "Developing 21st Century Intelligence Leaders." Darryl A. Lansey was CIA's Director of Leadership Learning prior to his retirement in March 2018. He was responsible for creating and executing CIA's vision, guiding philosophy, and strategy for providing enterprise-level training for new supervisors to senior executives. Previous to Leadership Learning, he was the National Reconnaissance Office's Chief and Deputy Chief Learning Officer. During Darryl's CIA career, he served in four of five Directorates, including more than 20 years in the Directorate of Intelligence (now Analysis) where he authored and managed analyses on an array of topics including: chemical and biological weapons proliferation, counternarcotics, counterterrorism, and the Balkans. Upon Darryl's retirement, CIA awarded him with its Career Commendation Medal, which was the last of more than 30 exceptional performance awards and citations that he received during his career. (Access here.)

    Ex-NSA hacker and ex-Apple researcher launch startup to protect Apple devices with former NSA officer Patrick Wardle - Tech Crunch, 25 Apr 24

    Two veteran security experts are launching a startup that aims to help other makers of cybersecurity products to up their game in protecting Apple devices. Their startup is called DoubleYou, the name taken from the initials of its co-founder, Patrick Wardle, who worked at the U.S. National Security Agency between 2006 and 2008. Wardle then worked as an offensive security researcher for years before switching to independently researching Apple macOS defensive security. Since 2015, Wardle has developed free and open source macOS security tools under the umbrella of his Objective-See Foundation, which also organizes the Apple-centric Objective by the Sea conference. His co-founder is Mikhail Sosonkin, who was also an offensive cybersecurity researcher for years before working at Apple between 2019 and 2021. Wardle, who described himself as “the mad scientist in the lab,” said Sosonkin is the “right partner” he needed to make his ideas reality. (Access here.)

    Dangerous times ahead if Ukraine falls with former CIA senior military analyst David P. Hunt - The Daily Item, 24 Apr 24

    These are dangerous times, said former Central Intelligence Agency officer David P. Hunt during a Tuesday night speech at Bucknell on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and the Russian president’s goals. Before an audience of about 75 people in the Forum at the Elaine Langone Center, Hunt, the keynote speaker at Bucknell’s 7th Annual National Security Forum hosted by the Department of Political Science, began his presentation by saying that “if Putin prevails, there is no telling what might happen in Europe.” A renowned military analyst and frequent guest on FOX-TV, Hunt drew a personality profile of Putin, and his gradual emergence as Russia’s uncontested leader. Early on, Putin put on a “charm offensive,” Hunt said, “so much so that the CIA even stopped teaching the Russian language. He was the ultimate con man. The West welcomed him as a new kind of Russian leader, after the fall of the Soviet Union.” That fall and a determination to restore and recreate the Soviet empire has been Putin’s primary motivation, Hunt said. (Read here.)

    Spy and Tell: The Promise and Peril of Disclosing Intelligence for Strategic Advantage by former CIA Analyst and Operations Officer David Gioe and former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell - Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr 24

    On October 25, 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, Adlai Stevenson, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, confronted his Soviet counterpart, Valerian Zorin, in the chamber of the Security Council. Live on television, Stevenson grilled Zorin about whether the Soviet Union had deployed nuclear-capable missiles to Cuba. “Yes or no?” Stevenson demanded. As Zorin waffled, Stevenson went in for the kill: “I am prepared to wait for an answer until hell freezes over if that’s your decision. And I’m also prepared to present the evidence in this room.” Stevenson then revealed poster-sized photographs taken by a... (Read here.)

    After Resignation of Israel’s Intelligence Chief, Will Other Heads Roll? with former CIA Executive, DDNI, and PDB Briefer Beth Sanner - The Cipher Brief, 23 Apr 24

    The resignation on Monday of Major General Aharon Haliva, head of the Military Intelligence Directorate of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), marked the first announced departure among Israel’s senior leadership over the failure to anticipate and thwart Hamas’ brutal attack on 7 October. The timing of his resignation – in the midst of an active war – was both unexpected and curious, raising questions as to whether and when others may follow suit. Haliva, having acknowledged his responsibility for the intelligence failure just 10 days after 7 October, had telegraphed his intent to resign but pledged to stay on until the war with Hamas had concluded. That war shows little sign of abating, with the tempo of crossfire attacks with Lebanon increasing, violence in the West Bank raging, a renewed offensive in southern Gaza in the offing, and a dangerous escalation with Iran barely averted last week. (Access here.)

    The Politicization of the CIA with former CIA Analyst John A. Gentry - Judicial Watch, 23 Apr 24

    Dr. John A. Gentry served as an intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Dr. Gentry is currently an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Dr. Gentry received his Ph.D. in political science from the George Washington University. Order Dr. Gentry's Book "Neutering the CIA" (Access here.)

    HAL-9000 (and AI) Shouldn’t Keep You Up at Night with former CIA Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency for Digital Innovation Jennifer Ewbank - The Cipher Brief, 29 Apr 24

    At the center of Stanley Kubrick’s visionary masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey,” HAL-9000 looms large as a symbol of artificial intelligence (AI) gone awry, turning against its human creators in a chilling narrative that has since colored our perception of AI, machine learning (ML), and more recently, large language models (LLMs). While HAL’s rebellion made for thrilling cinema, it’s essential we distinguish science fiction from the potential of AI in the real world. It is both good and right that technology leaders have voiced concerns about AI/ML. These technologies pose ethical dilemmas and potential risks that require careful navigation, as we’ve witnessed with the rise of disinformation campaigns and now criminal fraud powered by AI. However, we must not let caution become paralysis. Our global competitors are not waiting patiently for us to resolve our ethical debates. They are rapidly advancing their AI capabilities, aiming to outstrip the United States in technology and global influence. If we stall, we risk ceding ground in a race where second place could have profound implications for our national security and global leadership. (Access here.)




    Section IV - MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

    (All Categories)

    Article: Kidon - Mossad’s Tip of the Spear - Grey Dynamics, 28 Apr 24

    Within the shadows of international espionage and covert operations lies the Kidon unit. A special operations group nestled within the Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency. The Kidon has carved out a reputation as one of the world’s most formidable units specialising in targeted assassinations (source). This elite unit operates under a veil of mystery, executing missions with an outstanding level of precision and discretion. The inception of the Kidon traces back to the early days of the Mossad. It evolved from a need to address immediate threats to Israel’s national security through direct and decisive action (source). Over the years, the Kidon has executed many operations that have significantly impacted Israel’s geopolitical landscape. From eliminating key figures who posed imminent threats to conduct sabotage missions that have derailed potential dangers, the impact of the Kidon’s operations is visible in the records of Israel’s military and intelligence successes. This article will explore the unit’s history and operational achievements. Also, the ethical, strategic, and tactical dimensions that define its existence. Through this exploration, we aim to show how the Kidon is a pivotal element in Israel’s national security strategy. This element safeguards the nation against external threats through covert operations and strategic interventions. (Read full report here.)

    Article: Soviet-Era Pseudoscience Lurks behind ‘Havana Syndrome’ Worries - Scientific American, 24 Apr 24

    In the 1970s U.S. spy agencies believed that Soviet scientists were using telepathy and other supposed paranormal abilities to develop mind-control weaponry. U.S. Army and Air Force journals fretted about a “new mental battlefield” of “psychic warfare.” If you saw The Men Who Stare at Goats, based on the nonfiction book by Jon Ronson, or read Annie Jacobsen’s Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government’s Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis, then you know what happened next. The Defense Department for the next two decades squandered millions of dollars on ridiculous “psychic spy” research. It recruited paranormal enthusiasts to practice levitating and walking through walls, among other absurdities. (Read full report here.)

    Article: German spycatchers raise game against China and Russia - Financial Times, 23 Apr 24

    With a spate of high-profile arrests of suspected Chinese and Russian spies in recent days, Germany’s counter-intelligence agents, once criticised for their lack of mettle, may have come in from the cold. On Tuesday morning, German police swooped on Jian Guo, a staffer working in the European parliament, accused by prosecutors of spying for China. On Monday, three German citizens, including a husband and wife, were picked up in the western German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen on suspicions of trying to sell sensitive military technology to Beijing. And just last Thursday, two men were taken into custody in Bavaria for allegedly plotting to bomb military and logistical sites in Germany on behalf of the Russians. (Read more here.)

    Article: Brits charged with helping Russia after suspected arson attack on Ukraine-linked firm - Politico, 26 Apr 24

    Two British men have been charged with helping Russian intelligence after a suspected arson attack on a business linked to Ukraine. Prosecutors announced Friday that Dylan Earl, aged 20, and Jake Reeves, 22, had been charged with national security offenses after a blaze at a warehouse in east London in March. A statement from the U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Earl, who was arrested earlier this month, had been charged with “assisting a foreign intelligence service,” as well as aggravated arson and planning conduct which could endanger life or create “a serious risk to the health and safety of the public in the United Kingdom.” (Read more here.)

    Article: Kremlin-linked cyberespionage group has unleashed “GooseEgg” malware into U.S., Ukrainian and Western European government systems. - Microsoft, 22 Apr 24

    Microsoft Threat Intelligence is publishing results of our longstanding investigation into activity by the Russian-based threat actor Forest Blizzard (STRONTIUM) using a custom tool to elevate privileges and steal credentials in compromised networks. Since at least June 2020 and possibly as early as April 2019, Forest Blizzard has used the tool, which we refer to as GooseEgg, to exploit the CVE-2022-38028 vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler service by modifying a JavaScript constraints file and executing it with SYSTEM-level permissions. Microsoft has observed Forest Blizzard using GooseEgg as part of post-compromise activities against targets including Ukrainian, Western European, and North American government, non-governmental, education, and transportation sector organizations. While a simple launcher application, GooseEgg is capable of spawning other applications specified at the command line with elevated permissions, allowing threat actors to support any follow-on objectives such as remote code execution, installing a backdoor, and moving laterally through compromised networks. (Read full report here.)

    Article: Cases of suspected Chinese espionage in Europe - Reuters, 23 Apr 24

    The arrest in Germany of a European Parliament aide on suspicion of "especially severe" espionage for China is the latest in a series of incidents involving allegations of Chinese spying in Europe. Beijing has denied all such accusations. Jitters about alleged Chinese spying have mounted across Western Europe in recent months. Tensions between Beijing and Western powers over espionage have been rising as Western intelligence agencies increasingly sound the alarm on Chinese state-backed hacking activity. China has also begun in recent years to call out alleged Western hacking operations. (Read full report here.)

    Article: Sweden Thinks Russian "Shadow Fleet" Tankers May be Used for Espionage - Maritime Executive, 23 Apr 24

    The Swedish Navy's top officer believes that Russia may be using some of its "shadow fleet" tankers to spy on its neighbors in the Baltic Sea. If true, it would be an expansion of Russia's decades-old tradition of placing military surveillance equipment on fishing trawlers. In the mid-1960s, these over-equipped ships were so common that the U.S. gave them a name: "Auxiliary General Intelligence" vessels (AGIs). According to Rear Adm. Ewa Skoog Haslum, some of the less reputable Russia-linked tankers in the Baltic have been found to be carrying "antennas and masts that typically do not belong" to merchant vessels. These are the kinds of fittings that intelligence officers associate with Moscow's "hybrid operations," a common Russian practice of espionage and disruption. Her service also has evidence that these vessels are fitted out to pick up signals intelligence from their neighbors. (Read full report here.)

    Article: Germany sees spike in Chinese and Russian espionage - Deutsche Welle, 23 Apr 24

    The press office of Germany's Federal Prosecutor is a hive of activity these days: "Arrest for suspected secret service agent activity" — read the headline of a press release from April 23, 2024. A press release from the day before had exactly the same headline. All four suspects — three men and one woman — are alleged to have spied for China. "We must finally understand that this is a very serious and very real threat to our security," said Green Party lawmaker Konstantin von Notz who heads the Parliamentary Control Committee for the Intelligence Services in the lower house, the Bundestag. "We must act quickly and decisively both through criminal prosecution and by uncovering the structures and networks," he added. The latest developments came as no surprise to the head of Germany's domestic intelligence service. "We initiated these investigations, and once the evidence was clear, we were able to hand this case over to the police and the public prosecutors," Thomas Haldenwang, president of Germany's domestic intelligence service, told DW. (Read full report here.)

    Article: German far right tries to brush off spy scandals - Financial Times, 24 Apr 24

    The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has stuck by its lead candidate for upcoming European parliament elections even as growing espionage scandals involving Russia and China erase months of gains in the polls for the party. Maximilian Krah tops the AfD list for the June 9 elections and is currently a member of the EU parliament. He was summoned to meet with AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla to explain himself after one of his staffers was arrested on Tuesday on charges of spying for China. In a carefully worded statement on Wednesday, the AfD leadership said Krah had agreed not to take part in an upcoming kick-off event “in order not to put a strain on the election campaign”, but stopped short of announcing any further measures him. (Read full report here.)

    Article: Cambridge spy Anthony Blunt may have helped the Nazis - The Telgraph, 28 Apr 24

    Anthony Blunt, one of the Cambridge Five spies, may have betrayed secrets not only to the Soviet Union but also to the Nazis, leading to the death of thousands of Allied troops in the Second World War, according to a new book. The MI5 double agent, who was exposed as a Soviet mole in 1979, has been revealed as the possible figure behind the traitor codenamed Josephine, who leaked details of Operation Market Garden to the Germans in 1944. The betrayal contributed to the failure of the Allied airborne invasion, resulting in the deaths of thousands of British, American and Canadian soldiers. Blunt, who died at his home in Highgate, North London, in 1983 at the age of 75, was the fourth member of the infamous Cambridge spy ring, who betrayed Britain to Moscow during the Cold War. The former Army intelligence officer, who was a distant relative of the late Queen, was often regarded as one of the least treacherous of the Cambridge spies, whose activities were largely confined to the war years when Moscow was one of the Allies. However, a new book claims to have unearthed evidence suggesting Blunt may have also been responsible for leaking vital intelligence to the Nazis, warning Hitler of secret plans to drop 40,000 Allied troops into the Netherlands to secure bridges over the Rhine. (Read full report here.)

    Article: Algeria - General Abdelkader Haddad to be appointed head of DGSI - Atalayar, 12 Apr 24

    General Abdelkader Haddad, head of the main operational centre of the secret services, known as the "Antar centre", where torture is practised in its most abject forms, will be appointed in the next few days as head of the Directorate General of Internal Security. At the end of the Eid El-Fitr prayer at the newly inaugurated Grand Mosque in Algiers, and while receiving congratulations from senior government officials and the diplomatic corps of Muslim countries accredited in Algiers, General Abdelkader Haddad, alias Nacer El-Djen (the devil), presented himself to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to present his congratulations in turn. The exchange between the two men left an indelible mark on all Algerians who followed the scene on public television. "Mr Nacer, get ready," the president shouted aloud to the general, calling him by the pseudonym by which he became known as the most feared assassin in Algerian and world history. (Read full report here.)

    Article: The spy who flunked it: Kurt Gödel’s forgotten part in the atom-bomb story - Nature, 20 Mar 24

    The 2023 film Oppenheimer narrates the story of the atomic bomb entirely from the perspective of its eponymous hero. But there’s much that is left out. It is well-known that US efforts to build the bomb started years before physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer took over as director of the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico in 1943. That project was initiated by fellow physicist Leo Szilard. Concerned by the pace at which nuclear-science discoveries were being made in Germany, Szilard persuaded Albert Einstein in August 1939 to write a letter to then-president Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning him of the risk of an atomic bomb in Adolf Hitler’s hands. But Szilard wasn’t the only physicist to try to use Einstein’s prestige to alert the president. Viennese physicist Hans Thirring independently arrived at the same idea. Thirring’s attempt petered out, but deserves a footnote in history, if only because it involves none less than Kurt Gödel in the unexpected role of a secret agent. The tale has all the trappings of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. (Read full report here.)

    Article: The Next US President Will Have Troubling New Surveillance Powers - Wired, 22 Apr 24

    The ability of the United States to intercept and store Americans’ text messages, calls, and emails in pursuit of foreign intelligence was not only extended but enhanced over the weekend in ways likely to remain enigmatic to the public for years to come. On Saturday, US president Joe Biden signed a controversial bill extending the life of a warrantless US surveillance program for two years, bringing an end to a months-long fight in Congress over an authority that US intelligence agencies acknowledge has been widely abused in the past. At the urging of the agencies and with the help of powerful bipartisan allies on Capitol Hill, the program has also been extended to cover a wide range of new businesses, including US data centers, according to recent analysis by legal experts and civil liberties organizations that were vocally opposed to its passage. (Read full report here.)



    Section V - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

    Books — Forthcoming, Newly Released, Overlooked


    Agent Link: The Spy Erased from History (Security and Professional Intelligence Education Series)
    by Raymond Batvinis
    (Rowman and Littlefield, 15 Apr 24)

    Agent Link: The Spy Erased from History is a biography of William Wolfe Weisband who one colleague described as a “charter member” of America’s top-secret Cold War codebreaking pioneers. Every day for years he worked with cryptanalysts as they struggled to tease out secrets from a mind-numbing jumble of numbers. As breakthroughs emerged, codebreakers sought his help for insights and meanings before the startling revelations were passed to US policy makers. What no one knew, however, was that with every new breakthrough, Weisband was keeping his KGB masters informed about American progress. The Army Security Agency, NSA’s codebreaking predecessor, had simply swept the scandal under the rug. Government leaders said, “nothing about the case in public, and little in private either,” an NSA history recorded. America’s codebreaking hierarchy “simply wanted the case … to go away.” Weisband was air – brushed out of history and the new NSA organization wanted it kept that way. This one insider spy experts say “did greater damage to America’s national security” than later traitors like Jack Dunlap, William Martin and Bernon Mitchell, and Ronald Pelton: even more than Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. Weisband’s story has never been told. A half a century after his death, the mystery surrounding this man remains.

    Order book here.



    Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age
    by Norman Ohler (author) and Marshall Yarbrough (translator)
    (Mariner Books, 09 Apr 24)

    The author of the New York Times bestseller Blitzed returns with a provocative new history of drugs and postwar America, examining the untold story of how Nazi experiments into psychedelics covertly influenced CIA research and secretly shaped the War on Drugs. Berlin 1945. Following the fall of the Third Reich, drug use—long kept under control by the Nazis’ strict anti-drug laws—is rampant throughout the city. Split into four sectors, Berlin's drug policies are being enforced under the individual jurisdictions of each allied power—the Soviet Union, Britain, France, and the US. In the American zone, Arthur J. Giuliani of the nascent Federal Bureau of Narcotics is tasked with learning about the Nazis’ anti-drug laws and bringing home anything that might prove “useful” to the United States. Five years later, Harvard professor Dr. Henry Beecher began work with the US government to uncover the research behind the Nazis psychedelics program. Begun as an attempt to find a “truth serum” and experiment with mind control, the Nazi study initially involved mescaline, but quickly expanded to include LSD. Originally created for medical purposes by Swiss pharmaceutical Sandoz, the Nazis coopted the drug for their mind control military research—research that, following the war, the US was desperate to acquire. This research birthed MKUltra, the CIA's notorious brainwashing and psychological torture program during the 1950s and 1960s, and ultimately shaped US drug policy regarding psychedelics for over half a century. Based on extensive archival research on both sides of the Atlantic, Tripped is a wild, unconventional postwar history, a spiritual sequel to Norman Ohler’s New York Times bestseller Blitzed. Revealing the close relationship and hidden connections between the Nazis and the early days of drugs in America, Ohler shares how this secret history held back therapeutic research of psychedelic drugs for decades and eventually became part of the foundation of America’s War on Drugs.

    Purchase book here.


    Klop: Britain's Most Ingenious Secret Agent
    by Peter Day
    (Biteback Publishing, 01 Jan 14)

    Klop Ustinov was Britain's most ingenious secret agent, but he wasn't authorised to kill. Instead, he was authorised to tell tall tales, bemusing and beguiling his enemies into revealing their deepest, darkest secrets. From the Russian Revolution to the Cold War, he bluffed and tricked his way into the confidence of everyone from Soviet commissars to Gestapo Gruppenfuhrer. In 'Klop: Britain's Most Ingenious Secret Agent,' journalist Peter Day brings to life a man descended from Russian aristocrats and Ethiopian princesses but who fancied himself the perfect Englishman. His codename was U35 but his better-known nickname 'Klop' meant 'bedbug', a name given to him by a very understanding wife on account of his extraordinary capacity to hop from one woman's bed to another in the service of the King. Frequenting the social gatherings of Europe in the guise of innocent bon viveur, he displayed a showman's talent for entertaining (a trait his son, the actor Peter Ustinov, undoubtedly inherited), holding a captive audience and all the while scavenging secrets from his unsuspecting companions. Klop was masterful at gathering truth by telling a story; this is his

    Order book here.


    True Intelligence Matters on Film - The Spy (original title "Spionen") - Jens Jonsson (2019)

    Sonja Wigert is a diva and star in Stockholm when World War II breaks out, rapidly getting attention from German officer Josef Terboven. She's then recruited by Swedish intelligence as a spy, but Terboven makes her spy on the Swedes.

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





    Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released 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. This graphic shows the most powerful passports in 2024, with data from the annual Henley & Partners Passport Index. (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

    Bob Sargent — Former Foreign Service Officer

    Robert Malcolm Sargent (Bob), 87, died unexpectedly on April 4, 2024. He was born in Tsinan, China. Young Bob also lived in Chengdu, China, Granville, Ohio, Philadelphia, and Georgetown. He attended Cranbrook School and Western High School. Bob was shaped by his family’s strong tradition of public service. At Bowdoin, where he received a BA in history, Bob played football and was on the college’s first-ever lacrosse team. His love of sports and athleticism was lifelong, as was his reverence for “The Offer of the College.” After finishing Bowdoin, Bob enlisted in the Air Force and attended OCS at Lackland. In 1959, the new second lieutenant married Jane Maurey in Pennsylvania and they set off to Stead AFB in Reno on their honeymoon. Bob joined the foreign service and his career spanned more than 25 years, bringing his family to the Netherlands, Belgium, Vietnam (solo), Bulgaria, Türkiye, and Tunisia. Jane and Bob retired to his ancestral home in Sargentville, Maine, where he played an active role in public service locally, regionally, and around Maine as a consultant and volunteer.

    Dan Dawidowicz — Former Air Force Security Service and NSA Officer

    Daniel J. Dawidowicz, age 89, of Hanover, Maryland passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Daniel J. Dawidowicz, born at Deaconess Hospital in Buffalo. He graduated in 1952 from Buffalo East High School, with a concentration in music, where he played piano and flute. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War as a Bandsman and subsequently was reassigned to the electronic communications specialist and linguist fields. He served overseas tours with the Air Force Security Service in the Philippines, Turkey, and West Berlin, Germany before retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant. He had earned several awards including two Air Force Commendation Medals and achieved a college degree. Following retirement from the Air Force, Daniel worked for Rockwell International, Harris Electronics, Watkins-Johnson Corp. and the Department of Defense, NSA until his retirement. He worked part-time with Honeywell as a contractor in the Archives.



    Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

    • Call for papers: National Intelligence History Conference: "People in Intelligence" - Bletchley Park and GCHQ - 24 May Deadline. The theme of the 2024 conference is ‘People in Intelligence’. The call for papers deadline is 24 May 2024 and the programme will be published in July 2024. Topics presented at the conference may include the history of intelligence organisations, personal stories, biographies, cryptography and cryptanalysis throughout history, representations of intelligence in popular culture, human intelligence and espionage. Delegates will enjoy three days of panel discussions, plenary lectures, poster displays, networking opportunities and free access to the Bletchley Park heritage site and facilities. Booking for the conference (3-day or 1-day tickets available) opens 1 July 2024. Conference runs 20-22 November 2024. More information here.
    • Call for information: Paul Redmond requests members’ input and suggestions for a chapter that he will be writing on Counterintelligence for the second edition of the Oxford University Handbook of National Security Intelligence (last edition published in 2010). Tentative Title: Challenges to Counterintelligence in 21st Century United States. Some examples of possible topics: Post- Ames reforms in CIA; DNI's NCIX/NCSC and its expansion into security role; leakers as a new threat; post-Cold-War cultural changes in the United States relating to USG CI and Security; post-911 concentration on terrorism perhaps at expense of CI; cyber threat from outside, cyber threat from inside (systems administrators); impacts of policy changes, such as transfer of some of CIA personnel data to OPM; impact/implications of DNI-imposed policy of “obligation to provide;” lessons learned and implemented from espionage/leak cases; impact/implementation of DNI promulgated “Insider Threat” policy; implementation by succeeding administrations of Presidential Decision Directives; effect of Congressional oversight on USG counterintelligence; impact of enhanced reporting requirements on contractors and contract employees; overall impact of the Internet and digital technologies on the CI craft; and impact of post-Cold war geopolitics on counterintelligence; impact of CIA involvement in military activities on CI; Attitudes of senior national security agencies management on CI. Published materials will be precleared with CIA's PCRB. Contact Paul Redmond at pjr@redmondfamily.net or 202-288-0671.
    • Call for information: In search of information on the career of my grandmother, Priscilla Griffin de Mauduit, at OSS-CIA, 1941-1965. She worked mostly in the Washington, DC office except for 1963-1965 in Miami during the Cuban crisis. Believed to have been forging documents during WWII and did some anti-communist research in the 1950s regarding Albania. She also worked on clothing disguises and “pocket litter”. I have seen her personnel file for OSS, which has only the first 10 months of her employment beginning as a gs4 assistant in the security office doing applicant background checks. She started at OSS at the age of 50 and worked 7 years past the automatic retirement age of 65. As she was multi-lingual and knew Germanic script she moved early on into forging passports for agents. Any assistance would be appreciated. Contact Sharon C. Park at sharoncpark@gmail.com.
    • Call for information: AFIO member, author, and former CIA officer Michael Ard is researching the Peruvian communist terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) and how intelligence made a difference in capturing its leaders. Anyone with information that would help with his research is asked to contact Michael at mard@jhu.edu.
      • .
    • Seeking Interview Subjects: Seeking information on Czech-U.S. relationship in the late 1970s and 1980s, including StB’s techniques and effectiveness, exposition and expulsion of U.S. staff in Prague; conversely frequency of U.S. finding Czech intelligence operatives on U.S. soil. Have any former StB personnel spoken publicly about their previous work? Please email viveca.novak@gmail.com.
    • 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.
    • 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 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 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

    • Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies - Mercyhurst University - Erie, Pennsylvania

      • Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA, invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies in the School of Intelligence, Computing and Global Politics. The position is at the Erie campus and begins Fall Semester 2024. Successful candidates will teach introductory and applied courses in Crime and Law Enforcement intelligence analysis at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in addition to the ability to teach undergraduate or graduate courses in: Leadership in Intelligence; Advanced Analytic Techniques; Intelligence Collection and Analysis. Additional information and application instructions here.

    • Associate Professor and Chair of National Security - University of New Haven, Connecticut

      • The Department of National Security invites nominations and applications for a tenured Full/Associate Professor and Chair of National Security. The department includes a dynamic undergraduate program encompassing four distinct bachelor’s degrees (Security & Defense Policy, Intelligence Analysis, Homeland Security, and International Affairs), a robust master’s degree program, and several practitioner-oriented certificates. Qualifications: A terminal degree in national security, public policy, political science, or related field is required; Ph.D. preferred. The successful applicant will have a record of teaching excellence at the university level, established catalog of academic publications, and an innovative research agenda. Applicants should also possess experience in university-level service and leadership. The department is particularly interested in candidates with policymaking experience in national security at either the federal, state, or local level. Tenurable Assistant Professors may also be considered in accordance with the aforementioned qualifications. Application Instructions: Please submit a brief cover letter explaining teaching experience and philosophy, publication record, practitioner-oriented experience (if applicable), CV, and the name and contact information for three references. Applicants may also include up to 3 artifacts of teaching ability (examples include syllabi, student evaluations, learning exercises, assignments, or other feedback) that illustrate teaching experience. All materials should be submitted online via interfolio link: https://apply.interfolio.com/138857 and indicate position search #24-26F in the subject line. For additional information, feel free to contact Search Committee Chair, Dr. Jeffrey Treistman at jtreistman@newhaven.edu.

    • 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 - Events

    AFIO Events

    Monday, 6 May 2024, noon CDT - in-person - AFIO San Antonio Chapter hears Brian Morra on "Able Archer" and a 1983 Soviet Nuclear War Crisis. The program will be in two parts: A review of the Reforger and Able Archer military exercises in Europe followed by an AFIO Now video interview with Brian Morra, a USAF Intelligence Officer during the 1983 Soviet Nuclear War Crisis. The Soviet Union and NATO almost mistakenly went to war with nuclear weapons! Blue Skies of Texas residents are invited to attend the program. The San Antonio AFIO Chapter meeting will be at the Blue Skies Texas West complex, 5100 John D Ryan Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78245. AFIO Members attending should identify themselves to the Blue Skies gate guard as coming for the intelligence meeting in the Roadrunner Lounge at The Towers. AFIO members attending should park in front of The Towers. You may come early and have lunch in the dining room adjacent to the Roadrunner Lounge. Please pay with a credit cardQuestions to San Antonio Chapter President John Franklin, 210.863.0430 or at satxafio@gmail.com.

    Thursday, 16 May 2024 11:30 AM MDT – Colorado Springs - The AFIO Rocky Mountain Chapter hosts Bob Pence discussing "FBI Relations with the Military." Abstract: The presentation will include stories from my book titled "My Non Political FBI" which describe the close working relationship between the FBI and our military agencies as well as details of cases worked jointly between the Bureau and various military agencies during my career. Bio: During 30 years with the FBI, Bob Pence served in a number of supervisory and executive positions, retiring as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of FBI offices in the Rocky Mountain states with Division Headquarters in Denver. Since retirement he has traveled throughout the U.S. and abroad as a speaker and law enforcement consultant in matters involving crime and terrorism. Bob has also served as a media consultant to national TV networks and local media organizations, appearing frequently in matters dealing with public safety issues. For further information, contact Anthony Leto at rmcafio@gmail.com

    Wed, 22 May 2024, 6:30 to 7:30 PM - Webinar via Zoom - AFIO Atlanta Chapter webinar with retired CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos

    The AFIO Atlanta Chapter invites you to join its May 22, 2024 webinar with retired CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos. This webinar will be held on Wed, May 22, beginning at 6:30 PM and concluding at 7:30 PM. This event is open to the public and a Zoom link will be distributed the Monday prior to the event to those who have indicated interest using email address below.
    Please RSVP by COB May 21 to membership@afioatlanta.com, and direct all questions to this email. About Our Speaker: Marc served for 26 years at the CIA before retiring as a member of the Senior Intelligence Service (the CIA equivalent of a 4-star general). While in the DIrectorate of Operations, he specialized in the Middle East, South Asia, and counterterrorism, and served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan embedded with military special operations forces. Marc was one of the CIA's most highly decorated operations officers who served in multiple field assignments from operative to multiple tours as a Chief of Base and Chief of Station, ultimately retiring as Chief of Operations for Europe and Eurasia. His decorations for exceptional service include: the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Intelligence Commendation Medal, and the Intelligence Medal of Merit. Marc frequently comments on international events in the US media, including the Washington Post, the New York Times, Fox News, GQ, Yahoo News, CNN, and MSNBC. He also writes a weekly column on intelligence as a Washington Examiner contributor. His book, "Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA," was published by HarperCollins in June 2021

    Tuesday, 30 July 24, 1900 (PT) - 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

    No events at this time.

    Gifts for Friends, Colleagues, Self

    NEW Gray long-sleeved polo shirts with embroidered AFIO logo. Men's sizes only.
    Show your support for AFIO with our new Gray Long-sleeve Polo Shirts. Shirts are shrink and wrinkle resistant of fine cotton with a soft, "well-worn, comfy" yet substantial feel. They feature a detailed embroidered AFIO seal. Get a shirt for yourself and consider as gifts for colleagues, family, and friends. Only $60 each including shipping.
    Sizes for men, only: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, and XXXL.  $60 per shirt.     Order this and other store items online here.




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

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





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







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




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


     

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

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



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

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

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



    Address Technical Issues Or Unsubscribe

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

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



    Disclaimer and Legal Protection

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

    (c) 1998 thru 2024


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

    AFIO | 220 Spring St Suite 220, Herndon, Virginia 20170-6205 | (703) 790-0320 (phone) | (703) 991-1278 (fax) | afio@afio.com

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


    RETURN TO TOP