Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Weekly Intelligence Notes

04 - 10 December 2024
(Issue 46)

Send submissions and comments to: winseditor@afio.com.

CONTENTS


Section I - CURRENTS

(Recent Developments)

General Interests

Special Collections

  • Counterespionage - Arrests, convictions, expulsions, and more...
  • Cyberespionage - New actors, collection and sabotage ops, countermeasures, policy, other...
  • Covert Action - Influence ops, assassinations, sabotage, intel agency paramilitary action, countermeasures, and more...


Section II - DEEP DIVES

(Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)


Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

(Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives
and Recent Endeavors)


Section IV - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

Books: (Forthcoming, New Releases, Overlooked)

True Intelligence Matters on Film: Yuri Nosenko: Double Agent - Mick Jackson (1986)

Intelligence in Pop Culture: No Such Puzzle: Reindeer Games - NSA, 07 Dec 24

Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

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



Section V - Obituaries and Classifieds

(Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment)

Obituaries

  • Pat Clements — NSA Executive
  • Frank Curley — Decorated NSA Officer

    • Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

    Employment

    Section VI - Events

    Upcoming AFIO Events

    Events of Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

    • Thursday, 12 December 2024, 12-1 PM – Washington, DC – Spy Chat with Chris Costa Featuring Special Guest Matthew G. Olson – Virtual International Spy Museum Program
    • Sunday, 15 December 2024, 8:00-10:00am – Washington, DC – Access to SPY: A Morning for the Neurodiverse Community – In Person International Spy Museum Program
    • 30 Apr - 02 May 2025 – In Person – Cryptologic History Symposium - National Cryptological Foundation and NSA Center for Cryptologic History, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
    • 30 Aug - 8 Sep 2025 - Mediterranean Cruise - Spies, Lies & Nukes announce Espionage on the High Seas! Plan NOW to join the late-summer 2025 cruise.

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


    Acknowledgments

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

    JU, TM, FR, GR, LR, EB, S


    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.

    		     

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    - RELEASED TODAY TO MEMBERS ONLY -

    Joe Keogh, PhD
    former CIA S&T Executive and Disguise Expert
    discusses his book
    Creating Mission Impact:
    Essential Tradecraft for Innovators at CIA and Beyond
    co-authored with Joe Ball and Greg Moore

    Recorded: 24 Oct 24
    Interviewer: AFIO Board Vice Chair and former CIA Officer Christopher J. Parker
    Host: AFIO President and former CIA Senior Ops Officer James Hughes
    Duration: 38 minutes

    Creating Mission Impact can be purchased here.

    Access the KEOGH video interview here or click above image.

    To accomplish our goals, we rely on our members to
    donate their time and funding. On this Giving Tuesday
    please consider donating to the AFIO. A donation this year
    will go a long way to keeping us strong as we move into the
    future as we celebrate AFIO's 50th Anniversary in 2025.

    See this letter from AFIO President Jim Hughes.

    Elections for AFIO National Board Are Open
    Please cast your vote here.

    Voting closes 1 January 2025


    Other AFIO Exclusive Content

    WIN Exclusive Book Review
    (December 2024)

    Dr. Giangiuseppe Pili
    Intelligence Analysis Program
    James Madison University

    reviews

    Professional Courage:
    My Journey in Military Intelligence Through Peace, Crisis, and War

    by Maj. Gen. Jack Leide (ret.)
    (October 2023)

    Access review here.


    Latest AFIO Now Audio Podcast

    AFIO Now Podcasts Presents: Barry Werth
    award-winning journalist

    Barry Werth discusses the remarkable true story of the longest-held prisoner of war in American history, John Downey, Jr., a CIA officer who was captured in China during the Korean War and imprisoned for twenty-one years..

    Host and Interviewer: AFIO President James Hughes, a former senior CIA Operations Officer.

    Interview: 1 Aug 2024.

    The audio-only version of AFIO Now, great for listening to in your car or while accomplishing other tasks, can be downloaded or streamed on any of the following podcast platforms by searching for "AFIO":

    Podbean; iTunes; Spotify; Amazon Music; TuneIn; iHeartRadio; Pandora


    AFIO Now Archive

    AFIO Now interviews, video and audio-only forms, in 2024 and 2023, 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 in the section above.

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

    Spyher Winter Savings
    15 December 2024 - 15 March 2025
    $15 off and 2-for-1 deals
    Book now on Eventbrite

    Spyher Gift Cards
    Give the Gift of an Exclusive Spy History Tour with a Former Intelligence Officer
    Purchase an e-gift card online at https://spyher.co/gift-card/
    For a physical gift card - a perfect stocking stuffer - contact rosanna@spyher.co

    THE MARKETPLACE


    THE AFIO STORE

    Special Gifts for Colleagues, Self, or Others

    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.


    20 oz ceramic Mug with color glazed logo. Made in America. Check out our 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 November 2024 released the photo above, which features some of their newest CIA items and other gift suggestions.

    Section I - CURRENTS

    (Recent Developments)

    General Interests

    Criminal Charges Unsealed Against Two Former High-Ranking Syrian Government Intelligence Officials for War Crimes against Americans and Other Civilians - US Dept. of Justice, 09 Dec 24

    An indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Illinois charging two high-ranking Syrian officials under former President Bashar al-Assad with war crimes. The indictment charges the former Syrian intelligence officials with engaging in a conspiracy to commit cruel and inhuman treatment of civilian detainees, including U.S. citizens, during the course of the Syrian civil war. Former Syrian Air Force Intelligence officers Jamil Hassan, 72, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, 65, were each charged in connection with a conspiracy to commit war crimes through the infliction of cruel and inhuman treatment on detainees under their control, including U.S. citizens, in detention facilities at the Mezzeh Military Airport (Mezzeh Prison), near Damascus, Syria. Warrants for the defendants’ arrest have been issued, and they remain at large. “The perpetrators of the Assad regime’s atrocities against American citizens and other civilians during the Syrian civil war must answer for their heinous crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As alleged, these Assad regime intelligence officials whipped, kicked, electrocuted, and burned their victims; hung them by their wrists for prolonged periods of time; threatened them with rape and death; and falsely told them that their family members had been killed. The Justice Department has a long memory, and we will never stop working to find and bring to justice those who tortured Americans.” (Read more here.)

    Russian spy Anna Chapman discusses her glamorous 007 life in London in new book - Express U.S., 09 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    42-year-old Anna Chapman was the Russian equivalent of 007 not so long ago. Now, for the first time, she has revealed all the juicy secrets of how she was recruited by Vladimir Putin's foreign intelligence service and spied for Russia whilst living in London. In the book, Anna explains that she was recruited by the SVR, Russia's foreign intelligence service, after splitting from her British husband, Alex Chapman. According to her new autobiography, Anna was taken on by a young London-based Moscow spy she names as Kirill, after being impressed by her networking skills with wealthy and influential men. (Read more here.)

    Japan to increase drone fleet for maritime intelligence, surveillance, strengthening - Indo-Pacific Defense Forum, 09 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    Japan's Ministry of Defense will strengthen its maritime situational awareness with new unmanned aerial vehicles deployed in the waters around Japan, a move that comes as the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) increases its presence in the vast East China Sea region, including near the uninhabited Senkaku Islands. Japan currently operates three U.S.-made SeaGuardian MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles and plans to buy 23 more over the next decade or so, the Ministry of Defense announced in mid-November 2024. The unmanned aerial vehicles will carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The aircraft is more efficient than similarly configured manned reconnaissance aircraft: Made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, SeaGuardian burns 90% less fuel, requires half the crew to operate it, and can stay aloft longer. Measuring nearly 12 metres in length and with a 24-metre wingspan, the drone can fly nonstop for around 24 hours on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions with a range of 4,800 km - longer than the distance from Japan to the Philippines, according to the Japan Forward website. The drone's cameras and radar can collect information on ship traffic day and night. (Read more here.)

    Hungarian CIA reportedly spied on EU officials - Politico, 06 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    Hungary’s intelligence agency spied on EU officials visiting the country, searching their hotel rooms and recording their phone conversations, according to a bombshell report. A joint investigation by Direkt36 and De Tijd found Hungary’s Information Office (IH), Budapest’s equivalent of the CIA, targeted investigators at the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), which at one point was looking into a Hungarian company owned by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s son-in-law. The report by Hungarian investigative media center Direkt36 and Belgian newspaper De Tijd cited examples between 2015 and 2017 in which EU officials working for OLAF who had traveled to Hungary were physically followed during car journeys and had their phones tapped. (Read more here.)

    Money launderer for Russian spies won deal to help defend Ukraine power plant - Financial Times, 05 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    A London-based businessman won a Ukrainian state contract to help defend a key power plant from Russian attacks while secretly helping Moscow’s intelligence services to launder money and evade sanctions, according to investigators and procurement records. Andrejs Bradens, a Latvian national living in London and self-described “international entrepreneur”, also worked with companies that helped Moscow procure sanctioned electronics during its invasion of Ukraine. The award of such a sensitive state contract to a company owned by a person now under sanctions for running a multibillion-dollar money-laundering network used by Russian spies is likely to be an embarrassing security concern for Kyiv. (Full article here.)

    House intel panel concludes ‘increasingly likely’ adversary behind mysterious Havana syndrome - New York Post, 05 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    It is “increasingly likely” that a nefarious foreign actor is behind the mysterious ailment known as Havana syndrome, the House Permanent Select Subcommittee on the CIA concluded in an unclassified interim report it released Thursday. The short unclassified version of the report took aim at a prior US Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) assessment that slapped down suggestions the peculiar ailment was the product of an “intentional weaponized attack” and underscored the need for further study of the matter. “I have discovered that there is reliable evidence to suggest that some Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs) are the work of foreign adversaries,” Subcommittee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) said in a statement. (Full article here.)

    Russian spies surveilled Ukrainian troops at US base, trial hears - BBC, 03 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    A Russian spy ring operating out of the UK tried to use sophisticated surveillance equipment to compromise and track the mobile phones of Ukrainian soldiers being trained at a US airbase in Germany, a court has heard. The operation, which was only stopped after the suspects were arrested, would have had profound implications for Ukraine’s defence. Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanchev, 39 - all Bulgarian nationals living in the UK - deny conspiring to spy. Ms Ivanova also denies possessing multiple false identify documents. Orlin Roussev, 46, from Great Yarmouth, and Biser Dzhambazov, 43, from London, have already admitted being part of a conspiracy to spy. (Access here.)

    North Korea Ministry of State Security Issues Unusual Order To Strengthen Surveillance - Kangnam Times, 03 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    North Korea's Ministry of State Security recently held a two-day training course in Pyongyang for counterintelligence officers from each provincial security bureau, instructing them to strengthen anti-espionage activities by the end of the year, it was reported on the 2nd. North Korea-focused media outlet Daily NK quoted a source inside North Korea, who requested anonymity to protect her identity, as saying, “A short-term training course for heads of domestic counterintelligence departments of each provincial NSA bureau was held for two days from the 20th of last month at the guesthouse of the Ministry of State Security headquarters in Pyongyang.” It added, “At the training session, the direction for each provincial NSA bureau’s year-end work was outlined, in order to deepen the anti-espionage struggle and ensure the purity of the revolutionary ranks.” According to sources, in response to the issue of a military alliance with Russia and rising tensions between North and South Korea, the Ministry of State Security instructed troops to thoroughly crack down on internal critics of the regime and those who are subject to instability, and to strengthen unity within the revolutionary ranks. (Access here.)

    Counterespionage - Recent arrests, convictions, expulsions, and more...

    Cyberespionage - Newly identified actors, collection and sabotage ops, countermeasures, policy, other...

    • Japan eyes monitoring international communications for cyber defense - Japan Times, 07 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)
    • US senators vow action after briefing on Chinese Salt Typhoon telecom hacking - Reuters, 04 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)
    • A New Phone Scanner That Detects Spyware Has Already Found 7 Pegasus Infections - Wired, 04 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)
    • Anti-War Russians Targeted by FSB’s Spy Software – NGO - The Moscow Times, 04 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)
    • Spy v Spy: Russian APT Turla Caught Stealing From Pakistani APT - Security Week, 04 Dec 24

    Covert Action - Influence ops, assassinations, sabotage, intel agency paramilitary action, countermeasures, and more...

    Section II - DEEP DIVES

    (Research Papers, OpEds, Analysis, Podcasts)

    The Role of Non-State Actors as Proxies in Irregular Warfare and Malign State Influence - Irregular Warfare Center, 09 Dec 24

    This paper explores the ways that states benefit from the activities of non-state actors (NSAs) as tools of irregular warfare (IW), with a particular focus on China and Russia. An examination of the historical relationships between state and non-state actors reveal that while proxies provide many potential advantages to their authoritarian patrons, they also present significant problems. The paper further demonstrates how China and Russia each utilizes a wide range of NSAs in a similarly broad spectrum of irregular warfare activities, including low-level persistent operations designed to erode adversaries’ institutions over time, to much more kinetic operations that directly challenge the territorial integrity of other sovereign states. Implications for how to respond to these activities are discussed. (Access here.)

    My Battle with Tulsi Gabbard’s Cult Followers in Hawaii - SpyTalk, 04 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    Twice in my life I've experienced political realities so implausibly sinister, I mistook them for bad dreams. Both incidents involved my former congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard. The first was in January 2017. I'd been digging into wild whispers from some neighbors that Gabbard was in a money laundering cult in our community. I was a former journalist turned teacher with zero interest in political reporting at the time. I had just moved from Kauai Island to Kailua, in Windward Oahu. When one Kailua neighbor learned of my financial reporting background, he encouraged me to figure out “what’s up with the money laundering.” I did have solid financial investigative reporting training from the University of California at Berkeley’s graduate school of journalism, and I had done a brief stint with Bloomberg News in Singapore. I'd long ago left the trade, though, to become a special educator, a career change I wrote about for The New York Times in 2008. I had no plans to return to it. (Access here.)

    Ideological Agenda of Russian Information Influence in Africa - Foreign Policy Research Institute, 08 Dec 24

    Russian information operations in Africa are a tool to expand Russia’s presence on the continent and to turn African countries into allies of Russia in its confrontation with the West. This article focuses on the ideological content of Russian information influence in African countries—specifically a set of narratives and ideas that Russia seeks to root in the information environment of African countries. Russian information operations in Africa are multidimensional, malleable, and opportunistic. It is hard to find a sphere of social life where Russians are not present—from daily life of small villages to cooperation in the nuclear sphere and space industry. The content of Russian communication is designed to be efficient in all dimensions of information environments of the target countries, and it is presented by three groups of actors: Russian top government officials, the Russian Orthodox Church, and representatives of Russian public diplomacy including Rossotrudnichestvo, Russkiy Mir Foundation, and other organizations. While the content of communication and its style differs depending on the group of communicators and the target audience, a general frame of a grand narrative, and even ideological framework, exists particularly for the African countries. (Access here.)

    The “special relationship,” and the overseas Chinese: the Information Research Department (IRD) and the United States Information Agency (USIA) cold war partnership in East Asia, 1950s-1970s - Intelligence and National Security, 04 Dec 24

    From the 1950s to the 1970s, Britain’s strategic role in the Cold War in East and Southeast Asia shaped the post-WWII contours and ramifications of what Winston Churchill famously dubbed the Anglo-American ‘special relationship’. Through its clandestine Information Research Department (IRD), Britain targeted anti-communist propaganda, focusing on neutral nations and the overseas Chinese communities. The IRD assessed communist influence among emigrant Chinese communities along with their views of the United States. The IRD served to support American goals while bolstering Britain’s regional influence. Despite occasional divergences, the IRD and the United States Information Agency (USIA) coordinated efforts to counter communist expansion, reflecting the adaptability of their ‘special relationship’. (Access here.)

    Escalating Espionage and Propaganda: Russia and China’s Strategic Maneuvers in the Arctic and Beyond - OODA Loop, 03 Dec 24

    Recent reports highlight Russia's intensified espionage activities in the Arctic and a collaborative propaganda effort between Russia and China to undermine democratic values globally. (Full article here.)

    The Irregular Warfare Center & Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Host Inaugural Intelligence Support to IW Symposium - Irregular Warfare, 03 Dec 24

    The Department of Defense (DoD)’s Irregular Warfare Center (IWC), in partnership with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (OUSD(I&S)), recently hosted the first Intelligence Support to Irregular Warfare Symposium. Held from October 29-31, 2024 at the U.S. Naval Institute Jack C. Taylor Conference Center in Annapolis, Md., the symposium marked the beginning of an initiative to examine the U.S. Intelligence Community’s capability to address emerging global threats with a particular focus on adversarial activities in the gray zone. The inaugural symposium provided a platform for government, industry, and academic leaders to engage on the role of intelligence in supporting irregular warfare activities, with a focus on collaboration across the Defense Intelligence Enterprise. The IWC and OUSD (I&S) drew participants from outside of the U.S., including South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Italy, Romania and Canada. (Access here.)

    Section III - FORMERS' FORUM

    (Legacy Intel Practitioners' Informed Perspectives
    and Recent Endeavors)

    Three Assads: A fallen dictator, a cousin, and a former CIA officer - with Former CIA Operations Officer Joseph Assad, HUMINT, 09 Dec 24

    That’s it. Bashar al-Assad has fled to Moscow, just like other ousted leaders. His reign of abduction, torture, and chemical attacks has ended, and the U.S. has been striking ISIS targets to try to prevent the terrorists from regrouping. From a national security perspective, it will be important to closely watch Russia and Iran, who protected Assad and got major perks. This time, when the brutal dictator came calling, they were too mired in the wars with Ukraine and Israel to offer much help in putting down rebels. But you’ll find those stories easily. Instead, I want to give you the perspective of two Assads. One shares the same blood as the fallen president. The other shares just the name and is a former CIA officer. (Access here.)

    It’s Time for Church Committee 2.0 - by Former NSA Counterintelligence Officer John Schindler, TOP SECRET UMBRA, 06 Dec 24 (Member Contribution)

    Does history repeat? Few historians would say so. Poets may differ. George Santayana famously opined that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Eugene O’Neill countered with “There is no present or future – only the past, happening over and over again – now.” The less we say about Karl Marx’s take, “History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce,” perhaps the better. That said, with the coming inauguration of Donald Trump as our 47th president in a little over a month, marking his return in triumph to the White House, the history of American intelligence may be set to repeat. Moreover, it should. A half-century ago, on the heels of a scandal-ridden Republican presidency, in a highly partisan period in Washington, DC, a Democrat-controlled Congress took upon itself the weighty task of exposing the misdeeds of American intelligence, at home and abroad. In 1975, the Senate led the charge with its so-called Church Committee, named after its chair, Sen. Frank Church (D-ID); the House’s equivalent Pike Committee garnered less media attention. (Access here.)

    Former Paramilitary Operations Officer Ric Prado on his life in the Shadows (61 min) - Grey Dynamics Podcast, 06 Dec 24

    The week we are talking to Ric Prado, a former CIA paramilitary operations officer and clandestine Special Activities Division (SAD) operator. Ric spent 24 years in the CIA, operating in the Middle East, Latin America, and East Asia. During the war on terror, Ric served as Chief of Operations at the CIA Counterterrorist Center (CTC), as well as setting up the Bin Laden Task Force. Previously, he served as an elite US Air Force Pararescue operator. His New York Times Bestseller book, “Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior”, tells his life story and experiences along the way. We spoke about leaving Cuba as a refugee, experiences on operations, being in the CIA as 9/11 unfolded and much more. (Access here.)

    How a director of national intelligence helps a president stay on top of threats from around the world with Former National Intelligence Council Chairman Gregory F. Treverton - Defense One, 05 Dec 24

    In all the arguments over whether President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for director of national intelligence is fit for the job, it’s easy to lose sight of why it matters. It matters a lot. To speak of telling truth to power seems terribly old-fashioned these days, but as a veteran of White House intelligence operations, I know that is the essence of the job. The director of national intelligence is the president’s principal adviser on intelligence, though the CIA director has remained somewhat co-equal in that role. The director of national intelligence is responsible for both the President’s Daily Brief, where the most crucial and sophisticated intelligence is presented, and for the work of the National Intelligence Council. Most of the President’s Daily Brief items are still done by the CIA, but the director of national intelligence or their deputy briefs the president, daily in most administrations but one or two times a week in the first Trump administration. (Access here.)

    Tulsi Gabbard as U.S. Spymaster? by former CIA Senior Operations Officer John Atwell - Hawaii Tribune Herald, 08 Dec 24

    The 20th anniversary of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s founding is fast approaching and will commemorate the U.S. Intelligence Community's reorganization resulting from the 9/11 Commission Report in 2004. President-elect Donald Trump on 14 November this year announced his early birthday gift to that office, and the 18 intelligence agencies that it oversees, by nominating Hawaii’s own American-Samoan darling, Tulsi Gabbard, to be its new director. Chee hoo! So, why are Republican and Democrat congressional representatives’ reactions ranging from eye-rolling to rolling on the House Chamber floor in laughter? Why are career intelligence professionals emerging from the shadows to ring alarm bells over this “national security risk?” Why are adversarial nations’ spymasters sniggering while allies’ intelligence chiefs stand speechless over the announcement? (Access here.)

    Is Putin’s Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism? with Former US Army Counterintelligence Officer Chris Costa - SpyTalk, 03 Dec 24

    Chris Costa knows the spy business. As a U.S. Army counterintelligence officer, Costa ran covert networks for years from the Horn of Africa to Afghanistan that targeted America’s adversaries. Later, he served as the National Security Council’s director of counterterrorism during President Trump’s first term, developing the strategy that ultimately led to the dismantling of the ISIS caliphate and the death of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. But these days, if there’s anything that worries Costa more than the still active terrorist groups he once worked to destroy, it’s the brazen escalation of “active measures” by Russian intelligence services. The Kremlin has ordered a spate of assassinations, bombings, arson plots, and other operations across Europe that Costa argues amount to full-scale “hybrid warfare” against the West and even state-sponsored terrorism. (Access here.)

    Are We Positioned to Win the Race for AI Supremacy? by Former CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation Jennifer Ewbank - Cipher Brief, 02 Dec 24

    In the high-stakes geostrategic race for artificial intelligence supremacy, the United States faces an unexpected adversary: its own government procurement system. While China rapidly pursues AI dominance through a coordinated whole-of-government approach, America’s federal acquisition process remains mired in procedures designed for a bygone era of hardware purchases and traditional defense contracting. And the stakes could not be higher. As we approach the eventual development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—systems capable of human-level reasoning across multiple domains—the nation that achieves this breakthrough first will gain an unprecedented strategic advantage. This is not science fiction; it is an eventual reality that will reshape global power dynamics. The winner of this race will have the capability to revolutionize everything from economic modeling to weapons development, from cyber defense to scientific discovery. Yet America’s procurement system remains our national security community’s Achilles’ heel. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), while laudably designed to ensure fairness and accountability, has become a barrier to rapid innovation. Its rigid requirements reflect a risk-averse culture and create lengthy timelines that are fundamentally incompatible with the pace of technological change. While China can rapidly deploy new technologies through its military-civil fusion strategy and other means, U.S. government agencies often spend years navigating complex procurement processes even for simple capabilities. (Access here.)


    Section IV - BOOKS, FILM, HISTORY, POP CULTURE

    Rethinking Thought: A Practitioner’s Guide to Critical Thinking in Intelligence Analysis
    by Akshata Kumavat, Randall Stickley
    (Amazon Publishing, 27 Sep 24)

    "Rethinking Thought: A Practitioner’s Guide to Critical Thinking in Intelligence Analysis" is a groundbreaking resource for anyone involved in national defense, homeland security, or law enforcement. Intelligence analysis demands more than just processing data – it requires sharp critical thinking skills, adaptability, and, above all, the ability to reason without bias. This book delves into the core principles of critical thinking, teaching analysts how to navigate ever-changing threat environments while maintaining objectivity. The authors explore the pervasive issue of cognitive bias, providing readers with practical strategies to identify and remove it from their analysis. Whether you are working in the high-stakes world of national security or day-to-day law enforcement operations, mastering the art of unbiased thinking is crucial. "Rethinking Thought" offers a clear roadmap for analysts to enhance their reasoning abilities, improve analytical accuracy, and cultivate ethical decision-making. It’s not just about understanding what critical thinking is, but also how to apply it in real-world intelligence scenarios. By recognizing and addressing mental blind spots, this book equips you to overcome common challenges in analysis and presents tools to refine your thought processes. With a focus on practical application, it helps build confidence, mental agility, and mastery in thought – traits every intelligence professional needs to succeed. If you’re ready to take your analytical skills to the next level, this book is an essential guide to becoming a more effective, clear-minded, and ethical intelligence professional

    Order book here.

    White Malice: The CIA and the Covert Recolonization of Africa
    by Susan Williams
    (C. Hurst and Co., 01 Jan 21)

    In 1958 in Accra, Ghana, the Hands Off Africa conference brought together the leading figures of African independence in a public show of political strength and purpose. Led by the charismatic Kwame Nkrumah, who had just won Ghana’s independence, his determined call for Pan-Africanism was heeded by young, idealistic leaders across the continent and by African Americans seeking civil rights at home. Yet, a moment that signified a new era of African freedom simultaneously marked a new era of foreign intervention and control. In White Malice, Susan Williams unearths the covert operations pursued by the CIA from Ghana to the Congo to the UN in an effort to frustrate and deny Africa’s new generation of nationalist leaders. This dramatically upends the conventional belief that the African nations failed to establish effective, democratic states on their own accord. As the old European powers moved out, the US moved in. Drawing on original research, recently declassified documents, and told through an engaging narrative, Williams introduces readers to idealistic African leaders and to the secret agents, ambassadors, and even presidents who deliberately worked against them, forever altering the future of a continent.

    Order book here.

    Hard Measures: How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9/11 Saved American Lives
    by Jose A. Rodriguez, Jr.
    (30 Apr 12)

    Puerto Rican–born Jose A. Rodriguez, Jr., served the United States for twenty-five years as an undercover officer before bringing his wealth of field knowledge to the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center; now, in this riveting account and fascinating life story, one of America’s top undercover operatives reveals how hard measures have derailed terrorist activity targeting the U.S., and saved countless American lives. Fully disclosed here for the first time are the undercover operations and tactics implemented during the George W. Bush presidency—which were approved by the highest levels of the U.S. government, certified as legal by the Department of Justice, and supported by bipartisan leadership of congressional intelligence oversight committees. But as the shock of 9/11 faded, the support that the intelligence community enjoyed and deserved gave way to shortsighted and potentially dangerous political correctness. One by one, the tools needed to successfully fight terrorism were banished, and the men and women who volunteered to carry out our nation’s orders in combating al-Qa'ida found themselves second-guessed, hamstrung, and investigated— including Rodriguez himself. In effect, the United States has chosen to willfully and unilaterally disarm itself in the war on terror. In Hard Measures, Rodriguez convincingly argues for the techniques used, and uncompromisingly details when these techniques were necessary, why they worked, and how, ultimately, they contributed to the capture of the world’s most-wanted terror operatives, including Usama bin Ladin. From law school student to CIA recruit to his role as America’s top spy, Rodriguez’s full story is one of utmost importance—a rare, insider’s look at an issue that demands attention. Above all, it’s a reasoned, imperative, and fully informed case for hard measures, and an explosive and gripping account of the real war on terror— where it’s been and where it’s headed.

    Order book here.

    True Intelligence Matters on Film - Yuri Nosenko: Double Agent - Mick Jackson (1986)

    This film tells the true-life story of Yuri Nosenko, a top Soviet KGB agent who defected to the West at the height of the Cold War in 1964.

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





    Intelligence in Pop Culture - No Such Puzzle: Reindeer Games - NSA, 07 Dec 24

    For each No Such Puzzle in December, we provide a clue to a phrase and some of the letters in the phrase. Each clue leads to an answer that contains the letters of one of Santa's reindeer. These letters may appear elsewhere as well. Find the answer to the clue.

    Access puzzle here.

    Intelligence in History - A Collection of Recently Released Content

    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 V - Obituaries and Classifieds

    (Research Requests, Academic Opportunities, Employment)

    Obituaries

    Pat Clements — Former NSA Executive

    Patricia Gans Clements, 79, of Clarksville, MD, passed peacefully November 4, 2024. She was born in Philadelphia PA. After graduating from American University, Pat had a long and storied career as an Analyst and Manager for the National Security Agency. She was a long-time member of the Phoenix Society.

    Frank Curley — Decorated Former NSA Executive

    Francis (Frank) Boyd Curley, Sr., 84, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 22. Born on December 30, 1939, in Brighton, MA, he led a very full and happy life. Frank was a graduate of Boston College, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in 1961, in Economics. Out of college, he moved to the D.C. area to start his career at the National Security Agency. He was a graduate of the National War College and was awarded the Exceptional Civilian Service Award. He worked for NSA for 39 years before retiring as an executive manager. He was a former member of the Phoenix Society.

    Research Requests and Academic Opportunities

    • Call for Collaboration: AFIO member seeks a collaborator with YouTube technical expertise to launch a channel that will highlight specific examples of Russian and Chinese misinformation. Please contact Greg Rushford at gregrushford@gmail.com.
    • Internship Opportunity: U.K.-based private intelligence company Grey Dynamics is accepting applications for its analyst internship program. Excellent resume building experience for aspiring intel analysts and, for intelligence studies students (and graduates) who are interested in analysis and writing, a great entry-level opportunity to exercise your skills in a real editorial and publication setting. See full details and application instructions here.

    • Call for Information: Child of former CIA Commo Officer Walter E. MacLeod seeks information on her father's life and work to help build a better understanding of the family's history. MacLeod EODed in 1951 and served in Saipan, Havana, WTC, Caracas, Jakarta, Saigon, Paris, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, and Bangkok. He retired in 1975. If you have information to share, contact Kathy MacLeod katherinemacleod@gmail.com.

    • Call for Intelligence Studies Course Syllabi: An adjunct professor in the criminology department at Florida International University in Miami is developing a course in intelligence studies for the school and would welcome the opportunity to review syllabi used by other intel studies teachers. If you have a syllabus that you are willing to share, contact Salvador Rivas at salvador.rivas@fiu.edu or (786) 547-0428.

    • Call for Interviews: Kingston Trinder is a Los Angeles-based nonfiction author and documentary film and television executive who is seeking extraordinary true, untold, stories featuring unforgettable characters, and unbelievable narrative arcs. He develops compelling factual storytelling with a variety of international publishing houses and television networks, and is in search of primary source material from former intelligence officers about their lives, specific cases or projects that they can get cleared for discussion, or other aspects of working in the shadows that would be informative and entertaining for readers who live outside of that world. Please email hello@kingstontrinder.com or call (323) 570-5715.

    • Call for Online Survey Participants: Northeastern University is conducting an Institution Review Board approved research project on critical thinking skills for national security intelligence analysts and welcomes the input, via online survey, of AFIO members. Access survey here.

    • Call for Information and Interview Subjects: In search of information on possible espionage activity in New York City in the WWII and post-war era to help a family investigating their heritage. Specifically looking at The Plaza (1955), Hotel Pierre (1935 through 1970), and Hotel Delmonico (1945) (now Trump Park Avenue) as well as "Office of 39" Room 3603, and the OWI (Office of War Information) (1945). Details on the Grand Central Station underground and Waldorf Astoria Secret Elevator are also of interest. Other areas of interest for any information on the following people or more generally who may be able to speak to the climate include Swiss involvement in the Abwehr, The Nestle Company 1935-1945, Reinhard Gehlen, German Soldier Thilo Von Trotha in Addis Ababa in 1948-53, Michael Wardell in London, John B. McNair, Canada, Lord Beaverbrook in Cromarty 1948-49. Contact Rosanna Minchew at Rosanna@spyher.co.

    Jobs

    • Assistant Professor in Intelligence and National Security Studies - University of Texas, El Paso

      • The University of Texas at El Paso invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies in the Department of Criminal Justice and Security Studies. We seek applicants with demonstrated research expertise in one or more of these areas: Open-Source Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Cyberwarfare, or Intelligence Analysis. Successful candidates will indicate how they can contribute to establishing and growing UTEP's Open-Source Intelligence Center. More information about our program and dynamic campus, as well as application materials, can be found here.

    • 2 Assistant Professors in Intelligence and Security - Institute of Security and Global Affairs, University of Leiden - Netherlands

      • The successful candidates will have demonstrable research records in themes related to the vacancy and strong teaching background in intelligence and security, or a related field, as well as in topics related to the Institute's Bachelor's and Master's programme offerings. The candidate will be expected to teach across several programmes in the Institute, notably the master's programme Crisis and Security Management and the bachelor programme Security Studies, and our minor in Intelligence Studies. The positions are aimed at strengthening the Institute's teaching, research and grant-acquisition capacities in a phase of growth and exciting interdisciplinary research opportunities. Full details on qualifications, duties, and application here.

    • 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. More information and application here or 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.

    • 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 VI - Events

    AFIO Events

    Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 6:30 - 8 pm EST - Sandy Springs, GA - AFIO Atlanta Hosts Social Gathering. AFIO Atlanta is organizing a chapter social on Wednesday, 11 Dec. 2024, from 6:30 - 8:00 PM, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Mutation Brewery at 5825 Roswell Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Drop on by, share a beer and some apps, and network with your ATL area intel enthusiasts! DETAILS: Dress Code - Casual.
    RSVP at this Google Form link. Or use this Google Form Link Alternate. If you cannot open the form, then reply by email to afioatlanta@gmail.com by noon on Tues, 10 Dec 2024. We will send out a message on Dec. 10 at noon to confirm the event. Questions? Contact Grant Miller, Vice President, AFIO Atlanta, at afioatlanta@gmail.com

    Events of Advertisers, Corporate Sponsors, Others

    Thursday, 12 December 2024, 12-1 PM – Washington, DC – Spy Chat with Chris Costa Featuring Special Guest Matthew G. Olson – Virtual International Spy Museum Program

    Join us for an online discussion of the latest intelligence, national security, and terrorism issues in the news. Spy Museum Executive Director Chris Costa, a former intelligence officer of 34 years, will be joined Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice. In that capacity, Olsen leads the Justice Department's mission to combat terrorism, espionage, cyber crime, and other threats to the national security. From 2011 to 2014, Olsen served as the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Prior to leading NCTC, Olsen was the General Counsel for the National Security Agency. For 18 years, Olsen worked at the Department of Justice as a career attorney and in a number of leadership positions. He served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General for national security and was Special Counselor to the Attorney General. In 2006, Olsen helped establish the National Security Division and served as the first career Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security. For over a decade, Olsen was a federal prosecutor in the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. He also served as Special Counsel to the Director of the FBI, supporting the Bureau's post-9/11 transformation. Olsen began his public service career as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. This program is generously sponsored by Alakai Defense Systems. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

    Sunday, 15 December 2024, 8:00-10:00am – Washington, DC – Access to SPY: A Morning for the Neurodiverse Community – In Person International Spy Museum Program

    The International Spy Museum is pleased to offer a sensory friendly community program geared for families who have a neurodivergent child or an individual with sensory processing differences. What might be a mission impossible visit during normal operating hours is now mission possible. On this special Access morning, the Museum has set private hours (8:00-10:00 am) for families to enjoy an exclusive visit with less noise, fewer people, and a designated quiet room. In addition, guests can participate in a scavenger hunt, decode a secret message, and get into disguise. While this program is geared for families, we welcome all ages and individuals with sensory processing differences to attend this event. This program is free of charge but requires advance registration. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

    30 Apr - 02 May 2025 – In Person – Cryptologic History Symposium - National Cryptological Foundation and NSA Center for Cryptologic History, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland

    Since 1990, the Cryptologic History Symposium has served as an opportunity to present historical scholarship found in unclassified and declassified cryptologic records and engage in discussion about their significance to history. The event is an occasion for historians and those interested in history to gather for reflection and debate on relevant and important topics from the cryptologic past. Regular speakers include historians from CCH, the Intelligence Community, the defense establishment, the military services, scholars from American and international academic institutions, veterans of the cryptologic profession, graduate and undergraduate students, and noted authors. Past symposia have featured scholarship that set out new ways to consider our cryptologic heritage. The conference provides many opportunities to interact with leading historians and other experts. The mix of practitioners, scholars, and interested observers guarantees a lively debate that promotes an enhanced appreciation for past events and their applicability to current and future issues. More information and registration here.

    30 Aug - 8 Sep 2025 - Mediterranean Cruise - Spies, Lies & Nukes announce Espionage on the High Seas! Plan NOW to join the late-summer 2025 cruise. Instead of their traditional Spies, Lies & Nukes conference in 2024, Valerie Plame and other intelligence colleagues are thrilled to introduce an exciting variation for 2025: Spies at Sea. A combined cruise and conference through the breathtaking Mediterranean, from August 30 to September 8, 2025! See brochure here.
    What to Expect:
    • Intimate Conference Setting: Enjoy the same close-knit, engaging environment you've come to expect, with unparalleled access to our expert speakers.
    • Exclusive Shore Excursions: Explore clandestine meeting spots, delve into espionage history, and more on excursions EXCLUSIVE TO OUR GROUP.
    • Seminars at Sea: Participate in lectures and presentations led by Valerie Plame and other top intelligence professionals, all the while cruising through some of the Mediterranean's most iconic destinations.
    • Special Events: Enjoy exclusive cocktail receptions, surprise activities, and one-on-one conversation time.
    Exclusive Spies, Lies & Nukes Itinerary Highlights:
    • Barcelona, Spain: Begin your adventure in this vibrant city.
    • Valletta, Malta: Walk through history with guided tours led by espionage experts who will lift the veil on area spy stories and meeting sites.
    • Mykonos, Greece: Discover the charm and beauty of this picturesque island.
    • Ephesus, Turkey: Explore ancient ruins with a private guide and enjoy a unique group lunch, all while learning about intelligence activities that took place at each spot.
    • Santorini, Greece: Experience the iconic beauty of Santorini with endless photographic opportunities.
    • Naples, Italy: Enjoy a group lunch at a local restaurant and an exclusive walking tour with a private guide while learning a few spy secrets from Naples, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.
    We've secured a discounted rate that includes your stateroom, meals, classic beverage package, wi-fi, exclusive excursions, and all conference activities. These cabins will get booked quickly, so don't wait—book now and get $100 off! This is your chance to combine professional enrichment with an unforgettable travel experience. Network with like-minded professionals, gain exclusive insights, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Secure Your Spot Today.

    Gifts for Friends, Colleagues, Self

    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.




    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