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TOP SECRET Personal Attention, SpyCast Listeners Known to be the podcast real spies listen to -(STOP)- eavesdrop on conversations with high level sources from around the world -(STOP)- spychiefs molehunters defectors covert operators analysts cyberwarriors and researchers debriefed by SPY Historian Hammond -(STOP) stories secrets tradecraft and technology discussed -(STOP)- HUMINT SIGINT OSINT IMINT GEOINT and more -(STOP)- rumored to be professional education internal communication and public information -(STOP)- entire back catalog available online for free -(STOP)- please investigate this claim with all possible haste -(STOP)- SPY Historian Hammond said to have a Scottish accent -(STOP)- is this a countermeasure or a hearts-and-minds campaign? (END TELEGRAM)
- 774 - “Interstellar Intelligence” – with Harvard Astrophysicist Avi Loeb
Summary Avi Loeb (Harvard Biography, Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence in outer space. He is a Professor in the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The Galileo Project & its goals The Intelligence Community and Outer Space Government positions on the existence of extraterrestrial life Connections between intelligence and astrophysics Reflections The enormity of our universe Evidence over opinion or speculation And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “And my hope is that realizing that we have a smart neighbor that we can learn from would convince us to change our priorities from fighting over territories on this small piece of rock, trying to kill each other, to something more noble, just looking up and having bigger aspirations because there is so much more real estate out there than you find here on Earth.” – Avi Loeb. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Spotlight Resource* Interstellar: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Our Future in the Stars, Avi Loeb (Mariner Books, 2023) *SpyCasts* I Helped Solve the Final Zodiac Killer Cipher with David Oranchak (2024) The 18-Year-Old Soviet Spy on the Manhattan Project: Ted Hall with Director Steve James (2023) Espionage and the Metaverse with Cathy Hackl (2023) The Information Battlespace – Foreign Denial and Deception with Bill Parquette (2023) *Beginner Resources* What is Astrophysics? A. Belter, Space (2022) [Short article] What You Need to Know About Astrobiology - The Search for Life in the Universe! NASA, YouTube (2020) [2 min. video] Glossary of astronomical terms, International Comet Quarterly (n.d.) [Glossary] DEEPER DIVE Books In Plain Sight: An Investigation into UFOs and Impossible Science, R. Coulthart (HarperCollins, 2023) Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, A. Loeb (Mariner Books, 2022) Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, N. deGrasse Tyson (W. W. Norton & Company, 2017) Primary Sources Report on the Historical Record of U.S. Government Involvement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (2024) Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (2021) UFO Files: The Untold Story (1979) Space tests branded as propaganda (1964) People Are Talking About … Little Green Men (1964) Unidentified Flying Objects: Writer Says They’re a Dangerous Problem (1954) *Wildcard Resource* This week, our recommended music accompaniment to this episode is, of course, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie. This 1972 album, a classic example of the Glam Rock and early Punk era, includes the single “Starman,” which Andrew mentions in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 - 773 - “Navigating a Career in Counterterrorism as a Muslim – with Angie Gad”
Summary Angie Gad (LinkedIn, Website) joined Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss her career in intelligence analysis. Angie is a first-generation Egyptian-American. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The role of state fusion centers to national intelligence How counterterrorism analysis evolved after 9/11 The connections between ISIS and Far Right Extremists The mental health implications of counterterrorism Reflections The importance of diversity of thought and experience Personal identity in professional life And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “I think that's what drives me as an analyst. I love to understand why extremists do what they do, what leads them, what are the motivators and the driving force behind their actions and their thoughts and their radicalization.” – Angie Gad. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Telling Americans About China (and Intelligence) with Sara Castro (2024) The Eye of Horus: Egyptian Intelligence with Dina Rezk (2023) Leader, Lecturer, Analyzer, Nerd with Jorhena Thomas (2023) The Counterterrorism and Counter WMD Strategist with Dexter Ingram (2022) *Beginner Resources* What Is Counterterrorism? National Museum of American Diplomacy, YouTube (2023) [5 min. video] What is Intelligence Analysis and Why is It So Important? National American University (2020) [Short article] Role of Fusion Centers, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (n.d.) [Short brief] DEEPER DIVE Books Compassionate Counterterrorism: The Power of Inclusion In Fighting Fundamentalism, L. Al Olaimy (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2019) Black Flags: Rise of ISIS, J. Warrick (Doubleday, 2015) Reducing Uncertainty: Intelligence Analysis & National Security, T. Fingar (SUP, 2011) Primary Sources United States of America v. Ammon BUNDY, Jon RITZHEIMER, Joseph O'SHAUGHNESSY, Ryan PAYNE, Ryan BUNDY, Brian CAVALIER, Shawna COX, Peter SANTILLI (2016) National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan (2013) Progress Made and Work Remaining in Implementing Homeland Security Missions 10 Years after 9/11 (2011) Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States (2011) 9/11 Commission Report (2004) Targets of Suspicion: The Impact of Post-9/11 Policies on Muslims, Arabs and South Asians in the United States (2004) American Psyche Reeling From Terror Attacks (2001) *Wildcard Resource* The Rosetta Stone was originally found in the Nile Delta of Egypt in 1799. The priceless piece of human linguistic history has been on display at the British Museum since 1802. The question of the potential repatriation of the Rosetta Stone back to Egypt is one of the most highly discussed topics in the museum field today. Read more about the Egyptian campaign to reclaim their ancient artifacts here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 - 772 - “The Foundations of American Intelligence in WWI” – with Mark Stout
Summary Mark Stout (X; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his new book, World War I and the Foundations of American Intelligence. Mark Stout is a former intelligence analyst and former SPY Historian. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The first American intelligence “agencies” Codebreaking during WWI The American Protective League and spy paranoia WWI’s effect on American culture and politics Reflections Challenging common historical thought Studying the “forgotten” wars And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “[After World War I] there will never be a time again when the United States won't have squadrons in the Army Air Corps, later the U. S. Air Force, and similarly the Navy. We would never again be without aerial reconnaissance squadrons. There would never again be a time when the United States didn't have at least one code-breaking organization.” – Mark Stout. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Spotlight Resource* World War I and the Foundations of American Intelligence, Mark Stout (University Press of Kansas, 2023) *SpyCasts* Rise of Devils: The Origins of Modern Terrorism with James Crossland (2024) Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023) The Lion and the Fox – Civil War Spy vs. Spy with Alexander Rose (2023) The Birth of American Propaganda – A Conversation on Manipulating the Masses with John Hamilton (2021) *Beginner Resources* World War I, Explained in 5 Minutes! YouTube (2023) [5 min. video] The Journey of the Intelligence Community, M. Thomas, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (2023) [Timeline of the US IC] The United States in the First World War, National Park Service (2021) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books Manipulating the Masses: Woodrow Wilson and the Birth of American Propaganda, J. M. Hamilton (LSU Press, 2020) Codes, Ciphers and Spies: Tales of Military Intelligence in World War I, J. F. Dooley (Copernicus, 2016) The Zimmermann Telegram: Intelligence, Diplomacy, and America's Entry into World War I, T. Boghardt (Naval Institute Press, 2012) Primary Sources Treaty of Versailles (1919) Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points Speech (1918) Telegram Announcing Armistice (1918) Sedition Act (1918) The Zimmermann Telegram (1917) Espionage Act (1917) Woodrow Wilson Third Annual Message, Warns of Espionage (1915) *Wildcard Resource* 12 Step Method to Reveal Secret Writing (ca. 1913-1924) Germany was particularly fond of invisible ink as a tactic of spycraft during World War I. If you came across a document suspected of secret writing, you might use these 12 steps to reveal the hidden message … Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 16 Apr 2024 - 771 - “The Director-General of NZ Security Intelligence Service” – with Andrew Hampton
Summary Andrew Hampton joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence in New Zealand. Andrew is the Director General of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The New Zealand Intelligence Community How geography effects national security The lasting impact of the Christchurch Mosque attacks New Zealand’s relationship with China Reflections The power of community organization The nuanced nature of global politics And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “I think for a long time there was a view that our geographical isolation protected us from a range of national security threats. But unfortunately, in the current world, geostrategic competition is playing out in our region. Going back to my old role, you’re only one click away from a cyber-attack … This and misinformation and violent extremism are permeating the whole world. ” – Andrew Hampton. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024) Australian National Day Special: Intelligence Down Under with John Blaxland (2024) SPY CHIEFS: Director-General of Security Mike Burgess - ASIO, Australia & America (2022) Keeping Secrets/Disclosing Secrets with Spy Chief turned DG of Australia’s National Archives David Fricker (2022) *Beginner Resources* What Is The Five Eyes Alliance? K. Haan, Forbes [Short Article] A Brief History of New Zealand, Live and Work New Zealand (2022) [Short article] Why Isn't New Zealand a Part of Australia? History Matters, YouTube (2020) [3 min. video] DEEPER DIVE Books Voyagers: The Settlement of the Pacific, Nicholas Thomas (Basic Books, 2021) Pacific Century: The Emergence of Modern Pacific Asia, Mark Borthwick (Routledge, 2013) The Penguin History of New Zealand, Michael King (Penguin Books, 2003) Primary Sources He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand (1835) Te Tiriti o Waitangi — the Treaty of Waitangi (1840) New Zealand Security Intelligence Service Act (1969) Intelligence and Security Committee Act (1996) Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act (1996) Government Communications Security Bureau Act (2003) Intelligence and Security Act (2017) *Wildcard Resource* The Women’s Suffrage Petition - Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine In 1893, this document gave all women in New Zealand the right to vote in general elections – Making New Zealand the first country in the world to enact universal women’s suffrage! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 09 Apr 2024 - 770 - “I Helped Solve the Final Zodiac Killer Cipher” – with David Oranchak
Summary David Oranchak (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his work helping to solve the 340 Zodiac cipher. Dave is a software developer and avid puzzle solver. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The difference between codes and ciphers The cryptological methods used by the Zodiac killer The history of cryptography and its importance to intelligence How Dave and his team cracked the 340 Cipher Reflections Persistence and dedication Average citizens as avid participants And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “It felt like we had gotten a brand new letter from the Zodiac Killer. You know, the case had been dormant for so long … We started to see the message coming through, it was like he was back to life so to speak, he was talking to us again after so many years of not saying anything. So that was kind of eerie to kind of hear the voice of a serial killer.” – David Oranchak. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* My Father the Navajo Code-Talker with Laura Tohe (2023) Venice’s Secret Service with Ioanna Iordanou (2023) El Chapo, the Sinaloa Cartel & Intelligence with Trial Reporter Noah Hurowitz (2022) CYBER AUGUST: “So, You Want to Be a Codebreaker?” with Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh (2021) *Beginner Resources* A brief history of cryptography: Sending secret messages throughout time, J. Schneider, IBM (2024) [Short article] What is the Difference Between a Code and a Cipher? Mysterious Writings (2018) [Short Article] Infamous Killers: The Zodiac Killer, A&E, YouTube (2017) [5 min. video] DEEPER DIVE Books Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation's Most Elusive Serial Killer, R. Graysmith (Berkley, 2007) The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography, S. Singh (Anchor, 2000) The Codebreakers: The Comprehensive History of Secret Communication from Ancient Times to the Internet, D. Kahn (Scribner, 1996) Primary Sources The Zodiac Killer FBI Case File (1969) San Francisco Zodiac Letter (1969) San Francisco Suspect Sketches (1969) Zodiac’s 408 Cipher (1969) Zodiac’s 340 Cipher (1969) The Beale Papers (1885) The Dorabella Cipher (1897) Voynich Manuscript (ca. 1401-1599) *Wildcard Resource* If you’re an amateur codebreaker and you feel inspired by this episode, try your hand at cryptanalysis with this FBI-created dot code. Erin tried, but could not begin to crack it – She’ll stick to podcasting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 02 Apr 2024 - 769 - “Bond After Fleming, the Continuation of an Icon” – with Mark Edlitz
Summary Mark Edlitz (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss how James Bond lived on in literature after the death of Ian Fleming. Mark is an author and pop culture expert. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The original Fleming novels Intellectual property and author’s rights to iconic characters The evolution of Bond as a literary character The relationship between the Bond books and the Bond movies Reflections Can icons ever truly die? Just how malleable are our favorite characters? And much, much more … Resources SURFACE SKIM *Spotlight Resource* James Bond After Fleming: The Continuation Novels, Mark Edlitz (2023) *SpyCasts* The James Bond Collector with Mike VanBlaricum (2024) 70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 1 of 2 (2023) 70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 2 of 2 (2023) My Life Looking at Spies and the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022) *Beginner Resources* James Bond Books: The Continuation Novels, D. Leigh, The James Bond Dossier (2024) [Short biographies of each continuation author] Ian Fleming – Life Story, Short Biographies, YouTube (2023) [8 min. video] Can I do a sequel to someone else's book or movie? Miller IP Law (n.d.) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books Bond, James Bond: Exploring the Shaken and Stirred History of Ian Fleming’s 007, B. Gilmore & M. Kalinowski (Mango, 2022) The Many Lives of James Bond: How the Creators of 007 Have Decoded the Superspy, M. Edlitz (Lyons Press, 2019) James Bond: The Evolution of the World's Most Famous Spy, A. Geiger (CompanionHouse Books, 2016) Primary Sources An Interview with Raymond Benson (2023) License Renewed: Interview with John Gardner (1994) Gardner Assumes Ian Fleming's Pen To Keep James Bond Alive (1988) An Interview with Kingsley Amis (1975) Allen Dulles and Ian Fleming (1964) Books of the Times (1963) *Wildcard Resource* James Bond is a fantastically well-known character, but he is not technically in the public domain. Characters that do exist in the public domain include Count Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, Sherlock Holmes, and Robin Hood. Studying the origins of these characters is fascinating. Take Robin Hood, for example – The first written mention of the heroic outlaw comes from the poem “The Vision of Piers Plowman” by William Langland, written in 1380. That’s 593 years before Disney’s classic adaptation of the story! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 26 Mar 2024 - 768 - “The Skinny on American Intelligence & the Law” – with D.C. “Super Lawyer” Mark Zaid
Summary Mark Zaid (X, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss American intelligence and the law. You’ve heard of a “lawyer to the stars,” Mark is the “lawyer to the spies” What You’ll Learn Intelligence The quirks of being a lawyer in this space How the Espionage Act works in practice The trial of the Rosenbergs The origins of FOIA and its purpose The Legal foundations underpinning espionage and intelligence Reflections Challenging authority The delicate balance of secrecy And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “I still love working every day, 30 years later, because there's still something new. As much as I fight for declassification and transparency, I will at times also see information and learn of events where I go, “Oh, I get it. Yeah, that stuff cannot be known. That's incredible what we did. That's pretty wild.” – Mark Zaid. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Agent of Betrayal, FBI Spy Robert Hanssen with CBS’ Major Garrett and Friends (2023) David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023) Havana Syndrome – A Panel featuring Nicky Woolf, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Mark Zaid (2023) How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023) *Beginner Resources* What Is a Whistleblower? Protections, Law, Importance, and Example, W. Kenton, Investopedia (2022) [Short article] What is a Lawyer? American Bar Association (2019) [Short article] Legal System Basics, CrashCourse, YouTube (2015) [8 min. video] DEEPER DIVE Books State of Silence: The Espionage Act and the Rise of America's Secrecy Regime, S. Lebovic (Basic Books, 2023) Ethel Rosenberg, A. Sebba (Griffin, 2022) Spies on Trial: True Tales of Espionage in the Courtroom, C. C. Kuhne (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019) Primary Sources A Letter from Aldrich Ames on Polygraph Testing (2000) Whistle Blower Protection Act (1989) DoD Polygraph Program (1984) National Security Decision Directive 84 (1983) Inspector General Act (1978) Freedom of Information Act (1966) Administrative Procedure Act (1946) Espionage Act (1917) *Wildcard Resource* John Adams, a 2008 HBO Mini-Series chronicling the Founding Father’s role in early America John Adams, much like Mark, was a lawyer dedicated to the right to representation. Adams, ever dedicated to the honor of his profession, was the only attorney who agreed to defend the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. You can read the whole trial here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 19 Mar 2024 - 767 - Telling Americans About China (and Intelligence) – with Sara Castro
Summary Dr. Sara Castro (LinkedIn, Bio) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the history of US-China diplomacy. Sara is an Associate Professor of History at the United States Air Force Academy. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The Dixie Mission The history of US-China relations dating back to the Opium Wars China’s involvement with the OSS during WWII How Mao Zedong & Chiang Kai-shek built modern China Reflections Understanding and empathy Knowledge is power And much, much more … Resources SURFACE SKIM *Spotlight Resource* Mission to Mao: US Intelligence in China during World War II, Sara B. Castro, (Georgetown University Press, 2024) *SpyCasts* Making Sense of China, Taiwan, & America Pacific Intelligence with Bonny Lin (2023) China’s Corporate Spy War with CNBC’s Eamon Javers (2023) Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle with China with Aynne Kokas (2022) *Beginner Resources* Beyond the Balloon: The Complicated History Behind US-China Relations, Voice of America, YouTube (2023) [8 min. video] China’s Overlooked Role in World War II, C. Klein, The History Channel (2022) [Short article] Secret Agents, Secret Armies: The Short Happy Life of the OSS, The National World War II Museum (2020) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books Spies and Lies: How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World, A. Joske (Hardie Grant, 2022) The Hundred-Year Marathon: China's Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower, M. Pillsbury (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2016) Forgotten Ally: China's World War II, 1937–1945, R. Mitter (Mariner Books, 2013) Primary Sources Dixie Mission Remembered in Beijing (2004) U.S.-PRC Political Negotiations, 1967-1984 (1985) CIA Intelligence Report: Mao’s “Cultural Revolution” (1967) War Report: Office of Strategic Services: Operations in the Field (1949) Madame Chiang Kai-Shek Address to the U.S. House of Representatives (1943) Treaty Of Tianjin (1858) Treaty Of Wangxia (1844) *Wildcard Resource* After the signing of the SACO Treaty in 1942, Chinese spymaster Dai Li took command of the US-China intelligence cooperation during World War II. Six decades later in 2005, Nickelodeon premiered the now immensely popular American anime series Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the series, the elite secret police agency of fictional capital city Ba Sing Se are appropriately named, The Dai Li. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 - 766 - The James Bond Collector - with Mike VanBlaricum
Summary Mike VanBlaricum (X; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his journey as a James Bond fanatic and collector. Mike is the President of the Ian Fleming Foundation. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How Mike became an obsessive James Bond collector with 10,000 artifacts Mike’s favorite Bond cars, movies, and books How From Russia with Love was one of John F Kennedy’s favorite books Mike’s tips on the best place to start if you want to read the Bond novels Reflections The passion of a collector Pop culture influencing the “real” world And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “I've always been fascinated about the study of creativity. And so, between wanting to understand spy craft and that whole human side as well as creativity, creativity like Fleming – How one person can change popular culture, you know, ultimately, something that came out of his mind can change popular culture is just fascinating to me.” – Mike VanBlaricum Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* 70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 1 of 2 (2023) 70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 2 of 2 (2023) CIA Officers Turned Authors with David McCloskey and James Stejskal (2022) My Life Looking at Spies and the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022) *Beginner Resources* How to Watch All the James Bond 007 Movies in Order, P. Saperstein, Variety (2023) [Short article] Bond In Motion Exhibition at the International Spy Museum! International Spy Museum (2024) [2 min. video] Ian Fleming Life Timeline, Ian Fleming Publications (n.d.) [Timeline] DEEPER DIVE Books For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming + James Bond, B. Macintyre (Bloomsbury USA, 2008) Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films, J. Chapman (I.B. Tauris, 2008) Ian Fleming, A. Lycett (St. Martin’s Press, 1995) Primary Sources FBI Targeted a Fictional Spy (1980) E. Germany Brands 007 As ‘Fascist’ (1965) Memorandum For the Record from Marshall S. Carter (1964) Our Spy-Boss Who Loved Bond by Allen Dulles (1964) A Spy’s Spy, a Knight vs. Dragon – That Was the Image of James Bond (1964) *Wildcard Resource* Who’s The Deadliest Bond? Pierce Brosnan – And by a high margin! Brosnan’s 007 had an average of 27 kills per movie. His runner-up, Roger Moore, clocked in an average of 16.6. o Read the stats by movie here. License to Kill indeed... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 05 Mar 2024 - 765 - A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 2 with Dr. Ursula Wilder
Summary Dr. Ursula Wilder (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the intersections between psychology and intelligence. Ursula is a clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience working at the Central Intelligence Agency. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How psychology can be useful to national security Historical examples of leadership analysis Leadership personality assessments & the Cuban Missile Crisis Psychoanalytic theory and espionage Reflections Human nature throughout history History repeating itself And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “Together, these documents are quite powerful. The psych assessments are very, very carefully, tightly held and are classified at a high level. Every intelligence officer has this fantasy about seeing the file that's kept on them by the opponents.” – Dr. Ursula Wilder. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Agent of Betrayal, FBI Spy Robert Hanssen with CBS’ Major Garrett and Friends (2023) The North Korean Defector with Former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo (2023) SPY@20 – “The Spy of the Century” with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022) “How Spies Think” – 10 Lessons in Intelligence with Sir David Omand (2020) *Beginner Resources* What is Psychoanalysis? Institute of Psychoanalysis, YouTube (2011) [3 min. video] Psychologists in the CIA, American Psychological Association (2002) [Short article] 7 Reasons to Study Psychology, University of Toronto (n.d.) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books Freud and Beyond, S. A. Mitchell (Basic Books, 2016) Narcissism and Politics: Dreams of Glory, J. M. Post (Cambridge University Press, 2014) The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, E. Hoffer (Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2010) Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, D. K. Goodwin (Simon & Schuster, 2004) Leaders, Fools, and Impostors: Essays on the Psychology of Leadership, M. F. R. Kets de Vries (iUniverse, 2003) Primary Sources Charles de Gaulle to Pamela Digby Churchill (1942) Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat (1940) Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (1885) Gettysburg Address (1863) House Divided Speech (1858) Excerpt on Cleopatra from Plutarch's Life of Julius Caesar (ca. 2nd century AD) Plutarch’s The Life of Alexander (ca. 2nd century AD) Appian’s The Civil Wars (ca. 2nd century AD) Virgil’s The Aeneid (19 B.C.E) *Wildcard Resource* On Dreams by Sigmund Freud (1901) In this simplified version of the father of psychoanalysis’ seminal book The Interpretation of Dreams, you can get a small taste for Freudian philosophy. Freud believed that dreams were a reflection of the subconscious mind and that studying a person’s dreams can elucidate their inner wants and needs. What are your dreams telling you? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 27 Feb 2024 - 764 - A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 1 with Dr. Ursula Wilder
Summary Dr. Ursula Wilder (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the intersections between psychology and intelligence. Ursula is a clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience working at the Central Intelligence Agency. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How psychology can be useful to national security Historical examples of leadership analysis Leadership personality assessments & the Cuban Missile Crisis Psychoanalytic theory and espionage Reflections Human nature throughout history History repeating itself And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “Together, these documents are quite powerful. The psych assessments are very, very carefully, tightly held and are classified at a high level. Every intelligence officer has this fantasy about seeing the file that's kept on them by the opponents.” Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Agent of Betrayal, FBI Spy Robert Hanssen with CBS’ Major Garrett and Friends (2023) The North Korean Defector with Former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo (2023) SPY@20 – “The Spy of the Century” with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022) “How Spies Think” – 10 Lessons in Intelligence with Sir David Omand (2020) *Beginner Resources* What is Psychoanalysis? Institute of Psychoanalysis, YouTube (2011) [3 min. video] Psychologists in the CIA, American Psychological Association (2002) [Short article] 7 Reasons to Study Psychology, University of Toronto (n.d.) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books Freud and Beyond, S. A. Mitchell (Basic Books, 2016) Narcissism and Politics: Dreams of Glory, J. M. Post (Cambridge University Press, 2014) The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, E. Hoffer (Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2010) Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, D. K. Goodwin (Simon & Schuster, 2004) Leaders, Fools, and Impostors: Essays on the Psychology of Leadership, M. F. R. Kets de Vries (iUniverse, 2003) Primary Sources Charles de Gaulle to Pamela Digby Churchill (1942) Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat (1940) Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant (1885) Gettysburg Address (1863) House Divided Speech (1858) Excerpt on Cleopatra from Plutarch's Life of Julius Caesar (ca. 2nd century AD) Plutarch’s The Life of Alexander (ca. 2nd century AD) Appian’s The Civil Wars (ca. 2nd century AD) Virgil’s The Aeneid (19 B.C.E) *Wildcard Resource* On Dreams by Sigmund Freud (1901) In this simplified version of the father of psychoanalysis’ seminal book The Interpretation of Dreams, you can get a small taste for Freudian philosophy. Freud believed that dreams were a reflection of the subconscious mind and that studying a person’s dreams can elucidate their inner wants and needs. What are your dreams telling you? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 20 Feb 2024 - 763 - CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta
Summary Leon Panetta (Panetta Institute) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss his lifetime of American public service. Secretary Panetta was the 2023 recipient of SPY’s William H. Webster Award. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Directing the Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence & the Abbottabad Raid Working within the Clinton Administration A life’s dedication to the safety of the American public Reflections The power of patience and the ability to listen Handing immense pressure and responsibility And much, much more … Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* My Life in American Intelligence with Barry Zulauf (2023) David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023) Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023) The 75th Anniversary of the CIA with former Director Robert Gates (2022) *Beginner Resources* What Does the Secretary of Defense Do? MasterClass (2022) [Short article] How did the US find and kill Osama bin Laden? 60 Minutes Australia, YouTube (2018) [4 min. video] Leon E. Panetta, Panetta Institute for Public Policy (n.d.) [Short biography] DEEPER DIVE Books The Spymasters: How the CIA Directors Shape History and the Future, C. Whipple (Scribner, 2021) The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency, C. Whipple (Crown, 2018) Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace, L. Panetta & J. Newton (Penguin Books, 2014) SECDEF: The Nearly Impossible Job of Secretary of Defense, C. A. Stevenson (Potomac Books, 2007) Primary Sources Statement on Syria before the Senate Armed Services Committee (2012) Nomination of Hon. Leon E. Panetta to be Secretary of Defense (2011) Statement to Employees by CIA Director Leon Panetta on the Death of Usama Bin Ladin (2011) Nomination of Leon Panetta to be Director, Central Intelligence Agency (2009) Memorandum for Leon Panetta on POTUS’ Time Investment (1996) Letter from Brown to Panetta Regarding Fiscal Year 1994-1997 (1993) Letter to the Honorable Leon E. Panetta from George Bush (1977) *Wildcard Resource* Secretary Panetta now lives on a lovely vineyard in sunny California. Speaking of wine and spies, check out Vint Hill Winery in Warrenton, Virginia. In 1942 the US Army set up top-secret SIGINT operations at the now-vineyard after the farm’s owner, a Ham Radio enthusiast, set up a wire on the roof of the barn that could reach signals from Berlin. The farm was the site of The Signal Corps cryptographic school, which famously intercepted messages from Hiroshi Oshima in 1943. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 13 Feb 2024 - 762 - “The British Monarchy and Secret Intelligence” with Rory Cormac and Richard Aldrich
Summary Rory Cormac (X) and Richard Aldrich join Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence and the British Monarchy. The links between the royals and espionage prove the Crown to be far more than just a figurehead. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Prince William’s internship with British Intelligence How Elizabeth II knew perhaps more secrets that anyone else in history King Charles' love of intelligence Queen Victoria as Spymaster MI5, MI6, and the Diana conspiracies Reflections Secrets within secrets Power and knowledge And much, much more … Quotes of the Week ”What struck me the most was how much access Queen Elizabeth II had, how much she knew … And I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that she probably knew more state secrets than any human being who has ever walked the history of the earth, because she had access to everything for 70 odd years.” – Rory Cormac Resources SURFACE SKIM *Spotlight Resource* Crown, Cloak, and Dagger: The British Monarchy and Secret Intelligence from Victoria to Elizabeth II, R. Cormac & R. J. Aldrich (Georgetown University Press, 2023) *SpyCasts* Rise of Devils: The Origins of Modern Terrorism with James Crossland (2024) British Defence Attaché, U.S.A. with Rear Admiral Tim Woods (2023) St. Ermin’s Hotel, London: The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023) Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023) *Beginner Resources* UK Royal Family: What does the King do? Jennifer Clarke, BBC (2024) [Short article] An Average Day in the Life of Queen Elizabeth II, The Infographics Show, YouTube (2020) [9 min. video] Kings and Queens of England & Britain, Ben Johnson, Historic UK (n.d.) [Brief bios of all Monarchs] DEEPER DIVE Primary Sources Operation Paget Report (2006) CIA Confirms Official Met With LaRouche (1984) Anthony Blunt, 75, Dies; Was Soviet Spy in Britain (1983) More Cloak Than Dagger – An 18th Century Spy (1965) The Queen Delivering her speech to the House of Lords (1838) Popay the Spy Political Cartoon (1833) *Wildcard Resource* Have a sweet tooth? So did many queens. Several delectable desserts have been named by or for British royals. Try these recipes: Victoria Sponge, named for Queen Victoria’s favorite afternoon tea accompaniment Charlotte Cake, supposedly named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Queen Elizabeth Cake, first published in the 1953 Coronation Cook Book and served at Elizabeth II’s coronation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 06 Feb 2024 - 761 - From the Vault: 70th Anniversary of James Bond - with Alexis Albion
Summary Curators Alexis (LinkedIn) and Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) use James Bond artifacts in SPY’s collection to discuss all things 007. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Ian Fleming novel, Casino Royale. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Bond vs. Real Life Spies The birth of James Bond Ian Fleming’s intelligence past Bond and MI6 Reflections What makes a character timeless? Pop culture mirroring real life And much, much more … *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, curators Andrew and Alexis join forces to put the past 70 years of Bond into historical perspective. To help frame their conversation, our collections team brought out a fantastic selection of Bond artifacts for Andrew and Alexis to interact with during the recording of this episode. Quotes of the Week “I think in general the spy genre always has to have one foot, often two, in the real world. It's part of what makes that genre appealing and not science fiction. It takes place in the real world. And whether that is, you know, some of the technology or real-world threats, it has to be relatable and recognizable in that sense.” – Alexis Albion. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCast’s* Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023) Secrets Revealed with Curators Alexis and Andrew on SPY’s Pop-Up Exhibit (2023) CIA Officers Turned Authors with David McCloskey and James Stejskal (2022) The Spy of the Century with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022) My Life Looking at Spies and the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022) *Beginner Resources* MI6 History & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica (2022) [Brief history of MI6] The Evolution of James Bond, Fandom Entertainment, YouTube (2021) [15 min. video] Ian Fleming, Famous Authors (n.d.) [Short biography] *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Primary Sources Primos Bionic Eye, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021) James Bond’s Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Watch, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021) 007 Fragrance Commercial, YouTube (1965) James Bond Action Pak Toy Commercial, American Character, YouTube (1964) Aston Martin DB5, Collection of the International Spy Museum (1964) The Zimmermann Telegram, National Archives (1917) *Wildcard Resource* Everyone has a favorite James Bond theme song. If you just can’t choose just one, check out The Ultimate James Bond Medley – A production from Alchemistic Records featuring all 25 Bond songs. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 30 Jan 2024 - 760 - Australian National Day Special: “Intelligence Down Under with John Blaxland”
Summary John Blaxland (Twitter, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence in Australia and Oceania. John is a widely recognized as a leading expert in this area. What You’ll Learn Intelligence -Australia’s Intelligence Community -SIGINT in Australia during WWII -Australia’s relationship with South Asia -The Pine Gap facility Reflections -The implications of geography -The power of collaboration And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “The shift from the analog to the digital world … The shift for digital espionage, digital footprint management. How do you hide in the noise? How do you cover your identity? How do you protect your identity? … The digital revolution has actually enabled states to exercise a lot more power, a lot more control, a lot more monitoring, a lot more surveillance, a lot more interference.” – John Blaxland. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Spotlight Resource* -Revealing Secrets: An unofficial history of Australian Signals intelligence and the advent of cyber, C. Birgin & J. Blaxland (University of New South Wales Press, 2023) *SpyCasts* -SPY CHIEFS: Director-General of Security Mike Burgess - ASIO, Australia & America (2022) -Keeping Secrets/Disclosing Secrets with Spy Chief turned DG of Australia’s National Archives David Fricker (2022) -Desperately, Madly in Love – Brett Peppler and the Australian IC (2021) *Beginner Resources* -East Timor Independence: a short history of a long and brutal struggle, Guardian Australia, YouTube (2019) [4 min. video] -Our Agencies, National Intelligence Community of Australia (n.d.) [Overview of each agency in the Australian IC] -What is signals intelligence?, BAE Systems (n.d.) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books -Spies & Sparrows: ASIO & the Cold War, P. Deery (Melbourne University Press, 2022) -Australia's First Spies: The Remarkable Story of Australia's Intelligence Operations, 1901-45, J. Fahey (Allen & Unwin, 2019) -The Official History of ASIO – 3 Volumes, D. Horner, J. Blaxland, R. Crawley (Allen & Unwin, 2014/2015/2016) Primary Sources -United Nations Resolution 1272 (1999) -United Nations Resolution 1264 (1999) -Five Power Defence Arrangements (1971) -Agreement between the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of the United States of America relating to the Establishment of a Joint Defence Space Research Facility (1966) -6 Wireless Unit signal sighting of Allied shipping (1945) -Role and effectiveness of Signals Intelligence in World War II (1945) -Four Rotor Enigma Machine, Collection of the International Spy Museum (1943-1944) *Wildcard Resource* -Pine Gap A TV show about the top-secret satellite surveillance base of the same name. If you’ve seen it, you know it all about Australian Intelligence. Just kidding. But it’s a good watch! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 23 Jan 2024 - 759 - Rise of Devils: The Origins of Modern Terrorism with James Crossland
Summary James Crossland (Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the origins of modern terrorism. James is an expert on terrorism, intelligence, and propaganda. What You’ll Learn Intelligence -The origins of modern terrorism -19th century spymasters -Covert action and assassinations -Intelligence as a weapon Reflections -Philosophy and ideology’s effect on history -The power of fear And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “These waves of repression that feed into discontent and create more radical strains of discontent, that is a process that's really observable during this period. The reason why I think this is the first real age of terrorism is because you have all this stuff coming together: Communications that you need to promote terrorist activities to gain the attention you need, societal discontent, dangerous ideas … and it's all moving around together as part of the same process.” – James Crossland. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Spotlight Resource* -The Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism, J. Crossland (Manchester University Press, 2023) *SpyCasts* -Venice’s Secret Service with Ioanna Iordanou (2023) -St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site, with Stephen Duffy (2023) -Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023) -The Lion and the Fox – Civil War Spy vs. Spy with Alexander Rose (2023) *Beginner Resources* -Terrorism, J. P. Jenkins, Encyclopaedia Brittanica (2023) [Short article / definition] -What Were The Most Important Events of the 19th Century?, C. Seaver, History Defined (2022) [Short article] -Marxism in Under 5 Minutes, Theory in 5, YouTube (2020) [3 min. video] DEEPER DIVE Books -Sofia Perovskaya, Terrorist Princess: The Plot to Kill Tsar Alexander II and the Woman Who Led It, R. R. Riggs (Global Harmony Press Inc., 2018) -The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914, R. J. Evans (Penguin Books, 2017) -Blood and Rage: A Cultural History of Terrorism, M. Burleigh (Harper, 2009) Primary Sources -The assassination, who is responsible? (1901) -New York Times “Empress of Austria Slain” Article (1898) -New York Times “War On Terrorism” Article (1881) -La vérité sur Orsini (1872) [The Truth about Orsini] -Manifesto of the Paris Commune (1871) -The Revolutionary Catechism (1869) -On the Fenian Prisoners in Manchester (1867) -Procès de Orsini (1858) [The Trial of Orsini] *Wildcard Resource* -You may have already read his classic play Crime and Punishment, but have you read Dostoevsky’s The Idiot (1869)? This novel is known as Dostoevsky’s most personal work, a story that clearly shows the threads of his own life experiences during 19th century Russia. The novel explores many of the same questions of philosophy and politics explored in this episode of SpyCast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 16 Jan 2024 - 758 - From the Vault: The Professional Hacker with Eric Escobar (Pt 1.)
Summary Eric Escobar (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss compromising networks and information security. He has a coveted DEFCON Black Badge. What You’ll Learn Intelligence -What keeps Eric up at night -Thinking like an ethical hacker (aka a “penetration tester) -Protecting your information (i.e., “Hardening the attack surface”) -Plain English explanations of key cyber concepts like “Kill Chains” and “Zero Days” Reflections -Having a cool job -The information revolution and life in the modern world And much, much more… Episode Notes Eric Escobar commits several thousand felonies on any given day, if he didn’t have permission to do what he was doing. A Principal Security Consultant with SecureWorks, Eric has compromised pretty much everything out there: from healthcare and banking to technology and critical infrastructure, through to amusement parks and next generation military aircraft. “From my perspective, it’s the coolest job in the entire world.” His team consecutively won first place in the Wireless CTF category at DEF CON 23, 24, and 25, snagging a Black Badge along the way. He has a BS and MS in Civil Engineering. And… The links between computing, hacking and the 60’s counterculture are FASCINATING. Learn more by dipping your toes here and here, or dive deeper with What the Dormouse Said (2005) by John Markoff and From Counterculture to Cyberculture (2006) by Fred Turner. Quote of the Week "Watching any critical infrastructure get compromised is really the thing that keeps me up at night because lives are in the balance…and we do a lot of testing for critical infrastructure, and I've seen computers and machines that have been online and not been taken offline, longer than I've been alive…So really interesting to see those types of things because they interact with really big, expensive hardware…there's a catch 22 that happens where you can't really take the machine offline to do maintenance on it because it's critical infrastructure. So then how do you test it to make sure that a hacker can't take it offline, or maintenance can't be done on it? " – Eric Escobar. Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* -Word Notes From beginner thru advanced, you’ll find some helpful definitions of things like “Web 3.0,” “NFT’s” and “Digital Transformation” on this Cyberwire audio glossary. *SpyCasts* -Inside Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) – with John Lambert and Cristin Goodwin (2021) -The Cyber Zeitgeist – with Dave Bittner (2021) -Securing Cyberspace – with Charlie Mitchell (2016) *Beginner Resources* -What is Hacking? The Economic Times (n.d.) [web] -Ethical Hacking in 8 Minutes, Simplilearn (2020) [8 min video] -Cybersecurity in 7 minutes, Simplilearn (2020) [7 min video] Books -The Cyberweapons Arms Race, N. Perloth (Bloomsbury, 2021) -Cult of the Dead Cow, J. Menn (PublicAffairs, 2020) -Breaking & Entering, J. Smith (Mariner Books, 2019) -The Art of Invisibility, K. Mitnick (L, B & C, 2017) -Ghost in the Wires, K. Mitnick (Back Bay Books, 2012) -Kingpin, K. Poulson (Crown, 2012) -The Cuckoo’s Egg, C. Stoll (Doubleday, 1989) -Neuromancer, W. Gibson (Ace, 1984) Articles -2022 State of the Threat: A Year in Review, Secureworks (2022) -The Anthropology of Hackers, The Atlantic (2010) -Timeline Since 2006: Significant Cyber Incidents, CSIS (n.d.) Documentary -DEFCON, The Documentary Network (2013) Resources -Government Hacking Bibliography, S. Quinlan, New America Foundation (2016) *Wildcard Resource* -“The Aurora Shard” Come to the International Spy Museum to see an ugly chunk of metal. Why? Well, it speaks to a revolution in the relationship between the material world and the non-material world. Broken down? 30 lines of code blew up a 27-ton generator. Zeros and ones can cause violent explosions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 09 Jan 2024 - 757 - From the Vault: “The Counterintelligence Chief” – with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler
Summary Alan Kohler joins Andrew to discuss the FBI’s counterintelligence division. He is a recipient of the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Counterintelligence Investigation. ***FULL SHOWNOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** What You’ll Learn Intelligence -Counterintelligence vs. Counterespionage -How the FBI recruit’s foreign agents -Ideological motivations behind spying -Effect of technology on counterintelligence Reflections -Staying grounded under pressure -The value of creativity Notes Alan Kohler (LinkedIn, Website) has been the FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence since 2020. Alan and Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) talk all things counterintelligence. ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE*** *SpyCasts* -The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran, Part 1 (2022) -The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran, Part 2 (2022) -My Global Career as a Female FBI Agent with Kathy Stearman (2021) -The FBI Way with Counterintelligence Spy Chief Frank Figliuzzi (2021) ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE*** *Beginner Resources* -What We Investigate, FBI (n.d.) [webpage] -FAQ’S, FBI (n.d.) [webpage] -US Opens Counterintelligence Investigation into China Every 12 Hours (Dir. Wray), MSNBC (2022) [video] -What We Know About China’s Spy Agency, Bloomberg Originals (2019) [video] -Hollow Nickel/Rudolf Abel, FBI (n.d.) [Article] -NCSC Mission, Vision, and Goals, ODNI (n.d.) [Website] Glossary: -Counterintelligence: Information gathered, and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, disrupt, or protect against espionage or other intelligence activities -FBI Attaché: a special agent assigned to a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas to liaise with local law enforcement and intelligence agencies. They pursue terrorist, intelligence, and criminal threats with international dimensions. -Occam’s Razor: a rule of thumb theory that states when you are faced with competing explanations for the same phenomenon, the simplest one is probably the correct one. Attributed to William of Ockham, a 14th century English theologian. ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE*** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 02 Jan 2024 - 756 - From the Vault: Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year on – with Shane Harris
Summary Shane Harris (Twitter, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the role of intelligence in the Ukraine conflict one year after it began. Shane reports on intelligence for the Washington Post and is the author of two books. What You’ll Learn Intelligence -Where we are with the war in Ukraine -The role intelligence agencies are playing in the conflict -The leadership of Zelensky and Putin -What it’s like to report on spies -Dealing with sources inside the intelligence agencies Reflections -The tenacity of the Ukrainian people and army -History as both repetitive and unpredictable Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, Shane Harris of The Washington Post joins Andrew to reflect on the previous year and discuss the role of intelligence within the war in Ukraine. He has been writing about these issues for more than two decades, including a period with the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of two books, The Watchers, on the rise of surveillance in the US, and @War, on the rise of the military-internet complex. He was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2021. Quote of the Week “At the outset, [I] believed that what we were looking at was probably a pretty swift Russian victory … They would come in, they would decapitate the central government in Kiev in the first 72 hours, and it would be bloody, and it would be violent, but that Russia would prevail because they were deemed to have the superior military in terms of technology experience numbers. Turns out, all those things were spectacularly wrong.” – Shane Harris. Resources *SpyCasts* -How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023) -Dealing with Russia A Conversation with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022) -Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer with Janosh Neumann (2022) -The Information Battlespace: Foreign Denial and Deception with Bill Parquette (2022) *Beginner Resources* -Has Putin's war failed and what does Russia want?, P. Kirby, BBC (2023) -A Brief History of Modern Ukraine, BBC (2022) [YouTube video] -Russia-Ukraine Relations in 60 Seconds, CBC News (2022) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 26 Dec 2023 - 755 - “Making Sense of China, Taiwan, & America” – Pacific Intelligence with Bonny Lin
Summary Bonny Lin (Biography) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the current state of China and intelligence. Bonny is the Director of the ChinaPower Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. What You’ll Learn Intelligence -China’s economic power and status -The current landscape of Chinese intelligence -China’s relationship with Taiwan -The ChinaPower Project Reflections -Power and prominence -The global community as a complicated ecosystem And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “In the last couple of years, we've seen really a securitization of how China views intelligence and national security in general. And just this July, we saw China pass a revised counter espionage law. So with the whole host of laws of China's past since 2014 … it basically has made collection of intelligence and protecting Chinese national security the responsibility of every Chinese citizen.” - Bonny Lin. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* -The Eye of Horus: Egyptian Intelligence with Dina Rezk (2023) -China’s Corporate Spy War with CNBC’s Eamon Javers (2023) -The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) -Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle with China with Aynne Kokas (2022) *Beginner Resources* -China-Taiwan crisis explained: What is behind the tensions?, ITV News, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video] -8 things you need to know about China’s economy, World Economic Forum (2016) [Short article] -Xi Jinping, Forbes (n.d) [Brief profile] DEEPER DIVE Books -Spies and Lies: How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World, A. Joske (Hardie Grant, 2022) -The Chinese Invasion Threat: Taiwan’s Defense and American Strategy in Asia, I. Easton (Eastbridge Books, 2019) -The Hundred-Year Marathon: China's Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower, M. Pillsbury (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2016) Primary Sources -National Intelligence Estimate – China-Taiwan: Prospects or Cross-Strait Relations (1999) -Forecasting the Sino-Vietnamese Split (1986) -China-Vietnam: A Status Report (1983) -Establishment of a China Task Force (1966) -Communist Chinese Intervention in the Vietnam War (1966) -Controls on Trade with Communist China (1955) *Wildcard Resource* -Need a good cookie recipe for the holidays? Try this recipe adapted from the 1300-year old cookies found during the 1915 excavation of the Astana Cemetery in Xinjiang, China. -The petrified cookies are currently part of the collection of the British Museum, and still look quite tasty! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 19 Dec 2023 - 754 - “My Life in American Intelligence” – with Barry Zulauf
Summary Barry Zulauf (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his extensive experience working across the American intelligence community. Barry is the President of the International Association for Intelligence Education. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What is the “Intelligence Community?” The organizational structure of American intelligence The establishment of the ODNI The intelligence components of the DEA Reflections A life of service Passion to serve the people And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “[Fentanyl] is an enormous, enormous problem and no single organization, even as big as the Defense Intelligence enterprise, can deal with it alone. So, it's going to be a lot of diplomacy and a lot of building bridges, convincing people to do the right thing.” – Barry Zulauf. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* First of Many…America’s First Female Intelligence Agency Chief with former NGA Director Letitia “Tish” Long (2023) Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023) Irregular Warfare & Intelligence with IWC Director Dennis Walters (2023) El Chapo, the Sinaloa Cartel & Intelligence with Trial Reporter Noah Hurowitz (2022) *Beginner Resources* America's intelligence community, explained, The Washington Post, YouTube (2014) [2 min. video] Members of the IC, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (n.d.) [Brief summaries of the 18 agencies] Who We Are, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (n.d) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Primary Sources The WMD Commission Report (2005) The 9/11 Commission Report (2004) The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (2004) The Clark Report (1955) The Doolittle Report (1955) National Security Act (1947) CIA Review of the World Situation (1947) *Wildcard Resource* Barry mentioned early in the episode that he actually rowed into town the morning we recorded this episode – Barry shares this hobby with Teddy Roosevelt, an avid rower and the president that was instrumental in the creation of the FBI. Check out this Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt that catapulted the FBI into existence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 12 Dec 2023 - 753 - “The Most Famous Art Detective in the World” – with ex-FBI Legend Robert Wittman
Summary Robert Wittman (Website; Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his career and the FBI’s Art Crime Team. Bob recovered over $300 million worth of stolen art and cultural property over the course of his career. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How the FBI’s Art Crime Team (ACT) was formed The intelligence angle when investigating provenance Living and working undercover abroad Museums & Intelligence Reflections The importance of cultural property Questions of ownership and belonging And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “The motivation for writing the book was to get the word out how important cultural heritage is. It really is important to make the public realize that this is an important program that should be supported by law enforcement both local and federal.” – Robert Wittman. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Featured Resource* Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures, R. Wittman (Crown Publishing, 2011) *SpyCasts* The Gambling Capital of the World: Intelligence, Las Vegas Style! with James Lockhart and Keith Michaels (2023) Venice’s Secret Service with Ioanna Iordanou (2023) 70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007 (2023) How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023) *Beginner Resources* Why art gets stolen time and again, R. Pryor, The Art Newspaper (2020) [Short article] FBI Art Theft Program, FBI, YouTube (2013) [6 min. video] What is cultural property?, Information and Heritage Inspectorate (n.d.) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Primary Sources Crystal Sphere, Collection of the University of Pennsylvania Museum Mask of the Man with the Broken Nose, Collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum The Concert, Collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum The Rosenberg Diary, Collection of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Museums and the theft of works of art (1973) *Wildcard Resource* Can you identify famous pieces and artists like an art detective? Take this Google Arts & Culture quiz to see if you’re cut out for the job! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 05 Dec 2023 - 752 - “The Eye of Horus: Egyptian Intelligence” – with Dina Rezk
Summary Dina Rezk (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Egyptian intelligence. Dina is an Associate Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of Reading. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Egyptian leadership & intelligence The intelligence landscape of Egypt Egypt’s relationship with neighboring countries Ashraf Marwan’s story from the Egyptian perspective Reflections Leadership, power, and opposition International perspectives and changing views And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “I think that's one of the ways in which the Egyptian Intelligence Service sort of conceives of its primary responsibility. It's about maintaining internal security, and particularly at the moment you know, since 2014, I would say sort of eliminating any sort of political opposition, any possibility of political opposition.” – Dina Rezk. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* The Intelligence Legacy of the Yom Kippur War with Uri Bar-Joseph (2023) Former Senior Indian Intelligence Officer with R&AW Special Secretary Vappala Balachandran (2023) Kenya, East Africa, and America with African Intelligence Chief Wilson Boinett (2023) Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2023) *Beginner Resources* Egypt Profile, BBC News (2019) [Timeline] Abdul Fattah al-Sisi - in 60 seconds, BBC News, YouTube (2014) [1 min. video] Why Was The Suez Crisis So Important?, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article] *Featured Resource* The Arab World and Western Intelligence: Analysing the Middle East, 1956-1981 (Intelligence, Surveillance and Secret Warfare), D. Rezk (Edinburgh University Press, 2018) DEEPER DIVE Books Making the Arab World: Nasser, Qutb, and the Clash That Shaped the Middle East, F. A. Gerges (Princeton University Press, 2018) Egypt on the Brink: From Nasser to Mubarak, T. Osman (Yale University Press, 2011) Nasser: The Last Arab, S. K. Aburish (Thomas Dunne Books, 2004) Orientalism, E. W. Said (Vintage Publishing, 1979) Primary Sources Mining of the Red Sea (1984) CBS Broadcast “The Assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat” (1981) ‘The Most Dangerous Game’ In Mideast (1980) Special Assessments on the Middle East Situation (1967) “Cairo Hails Nasser as Situation Sends Dulles to England” Newsreel (1956) Meeting at the White House to Discuss Suez Crisis (1956) *Wildcard Resource* “Intelligence” in Egypt goes back as far as the ancient times of pyramids and pharaohs. One of the earliest accounts of the impact of spies and propaganda in Ancient Egypt is the Battle of Kadesh, a major conflict against the Hittite Empire around 1275 BC. Check out this relief seen inside the Great Temple of Ramses II depicting an ancient view of interrogation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 28 Nov 2023 - 751 - “British Defence Attaché, U.S.A.” – with Rear Admiral Tim Woods
Summary Rear Admiral Tim Woods (Biography) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his role as Britain’s Defence Attaché to the United States. Tim previously served as the British Defence Attaché in Kyiv, Ukraine. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What does a Defense Attaché do How intelligence impacts military strategy Admiral Woods’ experience of the 2021 Russian invasion of Ukraine What it’s like to constantly be surveilled Reflections The power of relationships and connections Sacrificing personal privacy for national security And much, much more … Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023) Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023) Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023) *Beginner Resources* What Is The Five Eyes Alliance?, K. Haan, Forbes (2023) [Short article] Russian invasion of Ukraine: A visual timeline of the war, ABC News, YouTube (2023) [6 min. video] What is a defence attaché?, Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (2007) [Backgrounder] DEEPER DIVE Books The Secret History of the Five Eyes: The untold story of the shadowy international spy network, R. Kerbaj (Blink Publishing, 2022) The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, S. Plokhy (Basic Books, 2017) Defense of the West, S. Sloan (Manchester University Press, 2016) Primary Sources UK defence policy and the role of the armed forces (2023) Integrated Review Refresh 2023: Responding to a more contested and volatile world (2023) Defence Command Paper 2023: Defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world (2023) Statement on the Salisbury & Amesbury Investigation by Neil Basu (2018) Strategic Defence and Security Review: First Annual Report (2010) Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine (1991) *Wildcard Resource* Midway (1976) A (dramatic) retelling of the 1942 Battle of Midway, one of the most critical naval battles of the Second World War – A battle that perfectly exhibits the importance of intelligence in a time of war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 21 Nov 2023 - 750 - “My Father the Navajo Code-Talker” – with Laura Tohe
Summary Laura Tohe (Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the stories of the WWII Navajo Code Talkers. Laura is a Diné author and the Poet Laureate of the Navajo Nation. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How the Code Talking units were formed How the Navajo people used their language as a weapon Laura’s father, Benson Tohe’s story Did the Japanese ever break the code? Reflections The relationship between language and the state Storytelling and the power of oral history And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “When they got into the service they were told, ‘Now you're going to use your language to develop a code.’ They said, ‘But, back at home they told us not to speak Navajo, and now they want us to develop a code in Navajo?’ So, they were not only astounded, they were puzzled why they would be asked to do this when they were in a school where their identity was being erased.” – Laura Tohe. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* The 18-Year-Old Soviet Spy on the Manhattan Project: Ted Hall with Director Steve James (2023) ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: “The D-Day Deception” with National WWII Museum Curator Corey Graff (2023) St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023) Hitler’s Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023) *Beginner Resources* 1942: Navajo Code Talkers, Intel.gov (n.d.) [short article] Basic Navajo Introduction, YouTube (2012) [3 min. video] American Indian Code Talkers, WWII Museum (n.d.) [short article] *Featured Resource* Code Talker Stories, Laura Tohe (Rio Nuevo, 2012) DEEPER DIVE Primary Sources Navajo Code Talkers: Oral History Interviews (various) Proclamation 4954 -- National Navaho Code Talkers Day (1982) Memorandum from Commander General Vogel to the Marine Corps Regarding Enlistment of "Navaho" Indians (1942) *Wildcard Resource* Diné Bahaneʼ: The Navajo Creation Story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 14 Nov 2023 - 749 - “Agent of Betrayal, FBI Spy Robert Hanssen” – with CBS’ Major Garrett and Friends
Summary Andrew leads a SPY Museum panel discussion between four experts on the most damaging mole in FBI history, Robert Hanssen. This program was in collaboration with CBS/Paramount on their new podcast “Agent of Betrayal" What You’ll Learn Intelligence The story of Robert Hanssen How his colleagues reacted to his betrayal A psychological analysis of Hanssen How the Hanssen case has impacted the FBI and U.S. intelligence Reflections Disillusionment and betrayal “The child is father of the man” And much, much more … Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) Code Name Blue Wren: Cuban Spy Ana Montes with Jim Popkin (2023) SPY@20 – “The Spy of the Century” with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022) America's Most Damaging Russian Spy, FBI Agent Robert Hanssen with Lis Wiehl (2022) *Beginner Resources* Here's the damage notorious Russian spy Robert Hanssen caused the US in over 20 years, YouTube (2023) [5 min. video] How Robert Hanssen Spied for the Soviets, History (2017) [Short article] How is a mole different from a spy?, The Times of India (2006) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West, C. Walton (Simon & Schuster, 2023) A Spy in Plain Sight: The Inside Story of the FBI and Robert Hanssen―America's Most Damaging Russian Spy, L. Wiehl (Pegasus Books, 2022) Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America, D. Wise (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2003) Primary Sources A Review of the FBI’s Progress in Responding to the Recommendations in the Office of the Inspector General Report on Robert Hanssen (2007) The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Voted Today to Begin a Formal Investigation of the Robert Philip Hanssen Espionage Case (2001) George W. Bush Remarks on the Robert Hanssen Espionage Case (2001) Affidavit in Robert Hanssen Spy Case (2001) Veteran FBI Agent Arrested and Charged with Espionage (2001) Statement of FBI Director Louis J. Freeh On the Arrest of FBI Special Agent Robert Philip Hanssen (2001) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 07 Nov 2023 - 748 - Double Bill: “Former Head of Counter-terrorism Analysis, IDF” – with Shlomo Mofaz; and “Former Head of Intelligence, Mossad” – with Zohar Palti
Summary Col. (Ret.) Shlomo Mofaz (LinkedIn) and Col (Ret.) Zohar Palti (Wikipedia) join Andrew to discuss their respective careers in the Israeli Defense Forces and the Mossad. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Israel’s relationships with neighboring countries The role of intelligence within the Intifadas Israel and the Lebanon War Hezbollah, Hamas, and other groups that pose threats to Israeli security Reflections Pressure and power Dealing with constant threats And much, much more … Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, we bring you a Double Bill featuring Shlomo Mofaz and Zohar Palti. Shlomo Mofaz is the former Head of Counter-terrorism Analysis for the Israeli Defense forces, and currently serves as the director of the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Among positions within the IDF and the Ministry of Defense, Zohar Palti formerly served as the Head of Intelligence for the Mossad. This episode is the final installment of SpyCast’s month-long special series on Israeli intelligence. This series has coincided with the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. We hope that through these episodes we’ve provided listeners with a bit of clarity and background on the conflict and its major players. Quotes of the Week “When you're dealing with intelligence, mistakes are very problematic … People make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but you need to choose the best people that you can work with and you can count on to bring the information or the service that you need in real time.“ -Shlomo Mofaz. “They can't be the best over here in the Middle East right now that we can deal with any threat in a radius of 2000 kilometers without being, in a way, superpowering intelligence. We are not superpowering other issues. In intelligence, we are really, really good. And this is, first of all, to protect our family. And secondly, surviving over here in the region. We have to be the best.” -Zohar Palti. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Former Senior Indian Intelligence Officer with R&AW Special Secretary Vappala Balachandran (2023) Irish Garda Intelligence Chief with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn (2023) Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2023) The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) *Beginner Resources* A Timeline of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict, E. Bubola, The New York Times (2023) [Timeline] The Middle East's cold war, explained, YouTube (2017) [10 min. video] What is an intifada?, A.V., The Economist (2017) DEEPER DIVE Books Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations, R. Bergman (Random House, 2018) Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad, G. Thomas (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015) 34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon, A. Harel & A. Issacharoff (St. Martin’s Press, 2008) Video The Green Prince (2014) Primary Sources A Strategic Assessment of the Hizballah War: Defeating the Iranian-Syrian Axis in Lebanon (2006) The PLO Weapons Ship from Iran (2002) Israeli Perspectives on the Gulf Crisis (1990) The Intifada in Judea and Samaria: A View From the Field (1990) Judea and Samaria: Behind the Uprising (1988) Hamas Covenant (1988) Israel’s “Peace for the Galilee” Operation in Lebanon – Some Initial Perspectives (1982) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel on Strategic Cooperation (1981) *Wildcard Resource* Indiana “Dietrick” Jones?! Ever wanted to go on an architectural dig, intrigued by the prospect of finding an ancient artifact – or even treasure…grab your hat and bullwhip and book your dig for a day in Israel here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 31 Oct 2023 - 747 - “Sayeret Matkal: Israel’s Top-Secret Elite Commando Unit” – with Aviram Halevi
Summary Lt. Col. (ret.) Aviram Halevi (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Israel’s top secret commando unit, Sayeret Matkal. Aviram formerly served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Sayeret Matkal. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The origins of Sayeret Matkal Collaboration across Israeli intelligence Operation Spring of Youth & the Entebbe Raid Intelligence & hostage retrieval Reflections The value of teamwork No room for fear And much, much more … Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, Andrew was joined by Aviram Halevi, former Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s top-secret elite commando unit. Aviram served over two decades in various branches of Israeli intelligence, and recently co-wrote the book Sayeret Matkal: The Greatest Operations of Israel's Elite Commandos. Andrew and Aviram discuss the origins and history of the unit, including the stories of some of Sayeret Matkal’s most notable operations. And… Sayeret Matkal’s motto is “Who Dares Wins” – A motto first used by Britain’s Special Air Service during World War II. Since then, 11 other elite special forces units have also adopted the saying. Quotes of the Week “What makes [Sayeret Matkal] so unique? The fact is that these people, and you mentioned that before, we are not rambos and there is no ramboism in the unit in Sayeret Matkal. On the contrary, the basic building block of the Sayeret is the team. The team is what you're kind of imprinted with once you get drafted. And this will be your designation forever. I'm team Raz. Raz was my commander, and my soldiers are team Aviram for the rest of their lives.” – Aviram Halevi. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* The Intelligence Legacy of the Yom Kippur War with Uri Bar-Joseph (2023) Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023) Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2022) Black Ops: The Life of a Legendary CIA Shadow Warrior with Ric Prado (2022) *Beginner Resources* Massacre at the 1972 Olympic Games, National Park Service (2023) [Short article] What Is Sayeret Matkal, Israel's Special Forces Unit Set For Hostage Rescue Operation In Gaza?v, YouTube (2023) [7 min. video] Entebbe Raid, Encyclopedia Brittanica (n.d.) [Short encyclopedia entry] DEEPER DIVE Books Sayeret Matkal: The Greatest Operations of Israel's Elite Commandos, A. Shur & A. Halevi (Skyhorse, 2023) No Mission Is Impossible: The Death-Defying Missions of the Israeli Special Forces, M. Bar-Zohar & N. Mishal (Ecco, 2016) Operation Thunderbolt: Flight 139 and the Raid on Entebbe Airport, the Most Audacious Hostage Rescue Mission in History, S. David (Little, Brown and Company, 2015) Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team, G. Jonas (Simon & Schuster, 2005) Video Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story (2012) One Day in September (1999) Primary Sources Entebbe Protocols (1976) [Rabin, Allon, Peres, etc.] Ambassador Dinitz and Secretary Kissinger (June 30, 1976) Ambassador Dinitz and Secretary Kissinger (July 5, 1976) Uganda, Kenya Dispute (1976) Amin Says Uganda Retains Right to Reply to the Raid (1976) Speech by Ugandan Prime Minister on the 40th Anniversary of Entebbe (2016) *Wildcard Resource* Elite commando units like Sayeret Matkal, while not as focused on intelligence, go back as far as military history. To read about the special forces of antiquity, check out Persia’s The Immortals, Byzantine’s Tagma, and Rome’s Extraordinarii Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 24 Oct 2023 - 746 - BONUS Episode: Spy Valley – An Engineer’s Nuclear Betrayal: Panel Discussion
Welcome to a very special bonus episode of SpyCast, coming to you directly from the stage of the International Spy Museum. Last month, we hosted a live panel discussion in collaboration with our friends at Goat Rodeo who produced the new podcast, Spy Valley: An Engineer’s Nuclear Betrayal, a series by Project Brazen and PRX. The riveting series tells the true story of James Harper, a Silicon Valley engineer turned spy who sold nuclear secrets to the Soviet Bloc. The series takes listeners on a journey of nuclear spying, technology theft, and double agents, with intelligence that might still help Moscow in a nuclear exchange today. Tune in to all six episodes of Spy Valley NOW to learn more! This live panel features moderator Sharon Weinberger, the national security and foreign policy editor at The Wall Street Journal, featuring Zach Dorfman, investigative journalist and host of Spy Valley; John Gibbons, who headed the United States Attorney's prosecution team in the case against James Harper; Dr. Raymond J. Batvins, Former Supervisory Special Agent and Counterintelligence Course Instructor at the Institute of World Politics; and Dr. Vince Houghton, Director of the National Cryptologic Museum and former historian at SPY. They’ll explore how the tech capital of the world became a hotbed for Soviet Bloc spies and what James Harper’s betrayal of his country has meant for modern day warfare. Thank you to our friends and collaborators at Goat Rodeo, Project Brazen, and PRX for their support of this program. Listen to the series here or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fri, 20 Oct 2023 - 745 - “The Intelligence Legacy of the Yom Kippur War” – with Uri Bar-Joseph
Summary Uri Bar-Joseph (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the intelligence failure of the Yom Kippur War. Uri is an author and professor emeritus at Haifa University. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How Israel failed to predict the Yom Kippur War Egyptian spy Ashraf Marwan’s role in the War How Israeli intelligence evolved post-War Israeli leadership’s accountability for the failure Reflections Learning and adapting from mistakes Catastrophe and national trauma And much, much more … Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2023) POW’s, Vietnam and Intelligence with Pritzker Curator James Brundage (2022) The CIA and the 9/11 Commission Report – A Conversation with Alexis Albion (2021) Pearl Harbor at 75: An Interview with Steve Twomey (2016) *Beginner Resources* Yom Kippur, Encyclopedia Brittanica (2023) [Short Article] Intelligence Failure: What, When, Why and How, A. Clark, Grey Dynamics (2023) [Article] Yom Kippur War, Pritzker Military Museum and Library, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video] DEEPER DIVE Books Eighteen Days in October: The Yom Kippur War and How It Created the Modern Middle East, U. Kaufman (St. Martin Press, 2023) THE ANGEL: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel, U. Bar-Joseph (Harper Publishing, 2017) The Watchmen Fell Asleep: The Surprise of Yom Kippur and Its Sources, U. Bar-Joseph (State University of New York Press, 2005) The Yom Kippur War: The Epic Encounter That Transformed the Middle East, A. Rabinovich (Shocken, 2004) Primary Sources Agranat Commission of Inquiry Interim Report, Center for Israeli Education (1974) Israel-Egypt Separation of Forces Agreement, Center for Israeli Education (1974) Intelligence Memorandum: The Israeli Primary Elections (1973) United Nations Resolution 338 (1973) Response to U.S. Appeal for a Ceasefire (1973) Transcript of Secret Talks between Egyptian National Security Adviser Hafez Ismail and US National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger, Center for Israeli Education, Center for Israeli Education (1973) Commemoration of IDF Casualties and Congratulations on Victory in Battle (1967) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 17 Oct 2023 - 744 - “Former Israeli National Security Advisor” – with Uzi Arad
Summary Uzi Arad (Wikipedia) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence and policy at the highest level. Uzi was also a former foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Director of Intelligence for the Mossad. What You’ll Learn Intelligence National security in Israel Israel’s position within the Middle East State leaders as consumers of intelligence Uzi’s relationship with PM Netanyahu Reflections Handling intense pressure Power, proximity, and influence And much, much more … Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Irregular Warfare & Intelligence with IWC Director Dennis Walters (2023) Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2023) Keeping Secrets/Disclosing Secrets with Spy Chief turned DG of Australia’s National Archives David Fricker (2022) Intelligence & the World’s Largest Democracy with Former Indian Intelligence Director Vikram Sood (2021) *Beginner Resources* National Security Definition and Examples, R. Longley, ThoughtCo (2021) [Short article] What Was the Iran-Contra Affair?, HISTORY, YouTube (2018) [5 min. video] A 60-Second Guide To The Arab Spring, G. Wyler, Insider (2011) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books Eighteen Days in October: The Yom Kippur War and How It Created the Modern Middle East, U. Kaufman (St. Martin’s Press, 2023) Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu, A. Pfeffer (Basic Books, 2018) Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad, G. Thomas (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015) Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, M. B. Oren (Presidio Press, 2006) Primary Sources Trilateral Statement on the Middle East Summit at David Peace, The Avalon Project (2000) The Wye River Memorandum (1998) The Washington Declaration, Jewish Virtual Library (1994) Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair, CIA FOIA (1987) Israel’s “Peace for the Galilee” Operation in Lebanon – Some Initial Perspectives, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (1982) Sitting 145 of the Ninth Knesset (1978) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 10 Oct 2023 - 743 - “A Crash Course in Israeli Intelligence” – with Erez David Maisel
Summary Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez David Maisel (Twitter, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to provide a crash-course in Israeli Intelligence history. Erez is a researcher and former head of the IDF’s International Cooperation Division. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* What You’ll Learn Intelligence Early history of intelligence in Israel The origins of Israeli intelligence organizations Preparing for a Nazi invasion of British Palestine The shift from British to American influence on Israeli intelligence Reflections The challenge of survival Conflict and compromise, or lack thereof And much, much more … *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, Andrew was joined by Erez David Maisel to discuss an overview of the history of intelligence and espionage in Israel. This episode is the first in our 5-part series on Israeli Intelligence. In this month-long series, SpyCast takes a deep dive into the ins and outs of intelligence and espionage in Israel – its intricate history, agencies, major successes and failures, and current state. In this first episode, Erez helps us to lay out a broad roadmap of the history of Israeli intelligence, providing an excellent foundation of knowledge to build upon in the coming weeks. Stay tuned! And… Erez is an alumni of the University of Haifa, which sits atop the northeastern slope of Israel’s Mount Caramel mountain rage. On the western side of the range, you can find the The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that documents over 500,000 years of the history human evolution. Quotes of the Week “I would say that from 1909 until probably the early eighties of the 20th century, the biggest threat is survival. You know, this fear that somebody … would come and do something. And we have to protect ourselves from that.” – Erez David Maisel. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Kenya, East Africa, and America with African Intelligence Chief Wilson Boinett (2023) Irish Garda Intelligence Chief with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn (2023) Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2023) Hitler’s Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023) *Beginner Resources* Israel Profile: Timeline, BBC (2019) [Timeline of important events] The Israel-Palestine conflict: a brief, simple history, Vox, YouTube (2016) [10 min. video] Zionism, Encyclopedia Britannica (2023) [Short background article] *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books A State at Any Cost: The Life of David Ben-Gurion, T. Segev (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2019) A History of the First Arab-Israeli War, B. Morris (Yale University Press, 2009) The Sword And The Olive: A Critical History Of The Israeli Defense Force, M. Van Creveld (PublicAffairs, 2002) One Palestine, Complete: Jews and Arabs Under the British Mandate, T. Segev (Picador, 2001) Primary Sources The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel (1948) Israel Requests Recognition From the United States, Jewish Virtual Library (1948) Presentation of the Jewish case by representatives of the Jewish Agency, Jewish Virtual Library (1947) The Balfour Declaration, Center for Israel Education (1917) The Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916) The Jewish Question and the Plan for the Jewish State, Center for Israel Education (1896) *Wildcard Resource* While this episode focuses mainly intelligence over the past 100 years, the history of espionage in Israel goes back much further. Check out the Story of the 12 Spies from a portion of the Torah to learn more about biblical spies! *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 03 Oct 2023 - 742 - “First of Many…America’s First Female Intelligence Agency Chief” – with former NGA Director Letitia “Tish” Long
Summary Letitia “Tish” Long (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her time as the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Tish was the first woman to be appointed director of an American intelligence agency. What You’ll Learn Intelligence GEOINT & its importance Tish’s recollection of the Bin Laden raid The differences between NGO and NGA Information sharing between spy chiefs Reflections The value of mentorship Being the first, but certainly not the last And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “Make sure that you are taking care of yourself, that you're getting that balance, you know, work life balance. And when I say that, I mean many different things because everybody is different. Whether it's family, friends, spiritual, physical, or working out, you’ve got to take care of all aspects of yourself so you're ready to give 110%. Because that's what the intelligence community takes.” – Tish Long. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023) Leader, Lecturer, Analyzer, Nerd with Jorhena Thomas (2023) SPY CHIEFS: “From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief” with Ellen McCarthy (Part 1 of 2) SPY CHIEFS: “From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief” with Ellen McCarthy (Part 2 of 2) *Beginner Resources* What is Geospatial Intelligence or GEOINT?, Geospatial World, YouTube (2023) [2 min. video] Spy Satellite Expert Explains How to Analyze Satellite Imagery, Wired, YouTube (2021) [5 min. video] NGA History, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (n.d) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books Geospatial Intelligence: Origins and Evolution, R. M. Clark (Georgetown University Press, 2020) Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence, J. Clapper (Penguin Books, 2018) Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad, P. L. Bergen (Crown, 2012) Primary Sources The Advent of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Office of the NGA Historian (2011) Geospatial Intelligence Basic Doctrine, NGA (2006) Memorandum to the Director of NIMA on Expanded Use of US Commercial Space Imagery, CIA (2002) A Century of CORONA, CIA (1968) NGA Reference Chronology, Office of the NGA Historian (n.d.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 26 Sep 2023 - 741 - “Former Senior Indian Intelligence Officer” – R&AW Special Secretary Vappala Balachandran
Summary Vappala Balachandran (Wikipedia) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his career and the ancient roots of espionage in India. Bala formerly served as Special Secretary for India’s Cabinet Secretariat. What You’ll Learn Intelligence India’s Research and Analysis Wing The Tamil Tigers’ threat to Indian national security Intelligence considerations within India-Pakistan relations Lessons in intelligence from Ancient India Reflections Intelligence, the 2nd oldest profession Transitioning from leader to student And much, much more … Quotes of the Week “There was a lot of pressure. There was a lot of pressure, especially, for example: Certain incidents happening – What would be the repercussions in India? Now, anything that happens in Pakistan, it will have some repercussions in India. And, same thing in Afghanistan, and then all the neighboring countries, we are to watch them.” – Vappala Balachandran. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Irish Garda Intelligence Chief with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn (2023) Venice’s Secret Service with Ioanna Iordanou (2023) Indian Intelligence & Cyber, A Conversation with Sameer Patil, ORF Mumbai (2023) Intelligence & the World’s Largest Democracy with Former Indian Intelligence Director Vikram Sood (2021) *Beginner Resources* The Entire History of India in Under 10 Minutes, Made in History, YouTube (2022) [10 min. Video] RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations, Y. Yadav, New Indian Express (2020) [Short article] Timeline: India-Pakistan Relations, A. Hashim, Al Jazeera (2019) [Historical timeline] DEEPER DIVE Primary Sources Agreement on a ceasefire between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (2022) Pradhan Inquiry Commission Report, 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks (2009) Lessons from the Mumbai Terrorist Attacks, US Senate Hearing (2009) Kautilya’s Arthashastra (1915 translation) Thiruvalluvar’s Tirukkuṟaḷ (1886 translation) The Police Act (1861) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 19 Sep 2023 - 740 - “Irish Garda Intelligence Chief” – with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn
Summary Michael McElgunn (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence in the Republic of Ireland. Michael is the Assistant Commissioner of An Garda Síochána’s Crime and Security Intelligence Service. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The history of An Garda Síochána The intelligence components of the Garda The present state of Northern Ireland relations Current threats to Irish national security Reflections The value of collaboration Evolving alongside a changing world And much, much more … Quote of the Week “I think people should in general take comfort from the work that is done by intelligence services and the exceptional collaboration that there is with these services to keep people safe. And that is not just at home, that's abroad – Where we come into possession of a piece of intelligence that we feel will be a value elsewhere, we'll share that elsewhere.” – Michael McElgunn. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Kenya, East Africa, and America with African Intelligence Chief Wilson Boinett (2023) St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023) Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023) The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy (2022) *Beginner Resources* A Brief History of Ireland, T. Lambert, Local Histories, n.d. [Short article] Our History, An Garda Síochána, n.d. [Web page] The Troubles, J. Wallenfeldt, Encyclopedia Britannica [Encyclopedia entry] DEEPER DIVE Books We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland, F. O’Toole (Liveright, 2023) Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, P. R. Keefe (Anchor, 2020) Policing Twentieth Century Ireland: A History of An Garda Síochána, V. Conway (Routledge, 2013) The Guarding of Ireland – The Garda Síochána and the Irish State 1960–2014: A History of the Irish Police Force, C. Brady (Gill Books, 2014) Primary Sources Gárda Síochána (Temporary Provisions) Act (1923) Royal Irish Constabulary Office Preliminary Arrangements for Disbandment, Garda Archives (1922) Orders for the Guidance of the Troops, Garda Archives (1919) National Union of Police and Prison Officers, National Museum of Ireland (1919) The Police and the Nation, Garda Archives (1916) 1916 Proclamation, National Museum of Ireland (1916) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 12 Sep 2023 - 739 - “Kenya, East Africa, and America” – with African Intelligence Chief Wilson Boinett
Summary Brigadier General (Ret.) Wilson Boinett joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Kenyan intelligence. Wilson is the former Director of Kenya’s National Intelligence Service. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The effect of colonialism on intelligence The organization of Kenya’s National Intelligence Service Wilson’s role in adapting and reforming Kenyan intelligence The Nairobi bombings and effects on East Africa Reflections Institutional insurgency The courage to push for and enact change *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, we are thrilled to be joined by our first ever African intelligence chief. Brigadier General (Ret.) Wilson Boinett is the individual credited with transforming Kenya’s National Intelligence Service into the world-class agency it is today. Following a decades long career in the Kenyan Army, Wilson became the first Director of the newly created intelligence agency in 1999. He believed in the possibly of change and the potential for collaboration amongst East African countries and set out to do just that. Tune in to this week’s episode to learn more about his extraordinary career and lessons in leadership. This episode is the second in our Spy Chiefs Special series that will run throughout September. Stay tuned in the weeks to come to hear perspectives from Ireland, India, and the first woman to direct an American intelligence organization. *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Quotes of the Week I was coming in at the time when all those things were happening and the Cold War was over, and the western intelligence did not care very much what Kenya was going to do. So, I had an opportunity to look at this monster called change …. I went to the president, and I said, “I think it is time to change.” And he said, “Go change it.” Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023) Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023) Irregular Warfare & Intelligence with IWC Director Dennis Walters (2023) The 75th Anniversary of the CIA with former Director Robert Gates (2022) *Beginner Resources* A Brief History of Kenya, A. Boddy-Evans, ThoughtCo (2020) [Short Article] The Late British Empire, History Matters, YouTube (2017) [Ten-minute video] What Was the Mau Mau Uprising? Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books History of Resistance in Kenya, M. wa Kĩnyattĩ (Mau Mau Research Center, 2019) Kenya After 50: Reconfiguring Historical, Political, and Policy Milestones, M. M. Kithinji et al. (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) Population, Tradition, and Environmental Control in Colonial Kenya, M. S. Shanguhyia (University of Rochester Press, 2015) Kenya: A History Since Independence, C. Hornsby (I.B. Tauris, 2013) Primary Sources Report of the Accountability Review Boards: Bombings of the US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, US Department of Justice (1999) 5 Fugitives Indicted in Embassy Bombings, J. Mintz, The Washington Post (1998) The National Security Intelligence Service Act (1998) Lancaster House Agreement, United Nations Peacemaker (1979) Kenya Independence Act (1963) Kenyan Independence Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth, UK National Archives (1963) Mau Mau Violence – Control Measures, CIA (1953) The Situation in Kenya (Mau Mau Uprising), CIA (1952) General Act of the Berlin Conference on West Africa, San Diego State University (1885) *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* *Wildcard Resource* Take a trip to Nairobi from your couch and explore the National Museums of Kenya through Google Arts & Culture. Explore Kenya’s 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Take a Tour of the Nairobi Gallery, or Learn a Bit of Swahili, one of Kenya’s two official languages! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 05 Sep 2023 - 738 - “David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence” – with the former CIA Director & 4* General
Summary David Petraeus (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter, LinkedIn) to discuss his strategic analysis of the war in Ukraine. General Petraeus is a former Director of the CIA. What You’ll Learn Intelligence General Petraeus’ appraisal of the situation in Ukraine What victory would look like for each side What role intelligence is playing in the War General Petraeus’ time as Director of the CIA Reflections The power of narrative Organizational culture *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes David Petraeus was CIA Director between September 2011 and November 2012, and prior to that had a 37-year career in the U.S. Army, rising to its highest rank of 4 star General. Are you curious to hear an in-depth strategic analysis of the Ukraine War from one of the most talented American officers of his generation? Would you like to know more about his time as CIA Director? Listen in to find out. Quotes of the Week "This is the first war with smartphones, internet connectivity, and social media, such as we see here. It was not present before. even really in the Iraq and Afghanistan war, certainly not to this scale. so that is a dramatic change…It also gives a degree of transparency to this war that I don't think has ever existed before." – David Petraeus. *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023) Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023) Irregular Warfare & Intelligence with IWC Director Dennis Walters (2023) Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023) The 75th Anniversary of the CIA with Former Director Robert Gates (2022) *Beginner Resources* 5 Things You Should Know About the War in Ukraine, UN Refugee Agency (2023) [Short article] What Caused the Ukraine War?, J. S. Nye, Harvard Belfer Center (2022) [short article] A History of Ukraine in 5 Minutes, Sky News (2014) [5 min video] Putin’s War on Ukraine, Explained, Vox (2022) [8:48 min video] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, D. Petraeus & A. Roberts (Harper, 2023) The New Makers of Modern Strategy, H. Brands et al. (Princeton University Press, 2023) The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, S. Plokhy (Basic Books, 2017) Primary Sources Petraeus Testimony on U.S. Middle East Policy, Senate.gov (2015) Petraeus Confirmation Hearings to be Director, CIA, Senate.gov (2011) Petraeus Military Retirement Speech, American Rhetoric, YouTube (2011) Petraeus Confirmation Hearing, ISAF and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, C-SPAN (2010) The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam, David Petraeus, DocumentCloud (1987) [Petraeus’ Ph.D. dissertation] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* *Wildcard Resource* General Petraeus was known for the counterinsurgency approach he implemented in Afghanistan and Iraq – sometimes called The Petraeus Doctrine. You can implement your own counterinsurgency by playing a board game developed by former CIA analyst Volko Ruhnke - A Distant Plain: Insurgency in Afghanistan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 29 Aug 2023 - 737 - “America 3.0” – with Bill Britton of the California Cybersecurity Institute (CCI)
Summary Bill Britton (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) in a discussion about cybersecurity and cyber awareness. Bill is the Director of the California Cybersecurity Institute and CIO at Cal Poly. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How to better protect your online information Why cybersecurity is more important now than ever How Cal Poly is addressing cybersecurity challenges The state of cyber in California and America Reflections Confronting our learned habits Lifelong learning *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, Andrew was joined in the studio by Bill Britton, Vice President of Information Technology, Chief Information Officer at Cal Poly, and the Director of the California Cybersecurity Institute. Bill joins us to discuss the work Cal Poly is doing to train, accelerate, and empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. And… In 2011, Oprah Winfrey declared San Luis Obispo “America’s Happiest City,” and it’s no wonder why – the quiet city is nestled within a beautiful landscape surrounded by historic architecture, interesting landmarks, and over 250 vineyards. Erin and Andrew are rethinking their East coast lifestyles… Quotes of the Week “We're trying to establish a way that people think differently about what cyber really is and does for them, and how it can be an expediter of their abilities to have a job and do great things for not just themselves, but the nation at large.” – Bill Britton *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Indian Intelligence & Cyber with Sameer Patil of ORF Mumbai (2023) Espionage and the Metaverse with Cathy Hackl (2023) Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle with Aynne Kokas (2022) Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization with Eric Escobar, Part 1 (2022) Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization with Eric Escobar, Part 2 (2022) *Beginner Resources* CyberWire Word Notes, CyberWire (2023) [Audio glossary] What is Cybersecurity?, CISA (2021) [Short article] Cybersecurity in 7 minutes, Simplilearn (2020) [7 min video] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books The Cyberweapons Arms Race, N. Perloth (Bloomsbury, 2021) Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World, J. Menn (Public Affairs, 2019) The Art of Invisibility, K. Mitnick (Little, Brown, and Company, 2017) Ghost In The Wires: My Adventures as the World's Most Wanted Hacker, K. Mitnick & W. L. Simon (Little, Brown, and Company, 2011) Primary Sources Cybersecurity Case Library, Vol. 1, California Cybersecurity Institute (2021) NASA’s Cybersecurity Readiness, NASA (2021) Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986, US Congress (1986) *Wildcard Resource* Defend the Crown (2021) A computer game for all ages that teaches the basics of cybersecurity, through the defense of your virtual castle from cyber ninjas! *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 22 Aug 2023 - 736 - "The Gambling Capital of the World: Intelligence, Las Vegas Style!" – with James Lockhart and Keith Michaels
Summary Keith Michaels (LinkedIn) and James Lockhart (LinkedIn) join Andrew to discuss intelligence in an unlikely place: Casinos! James and Keith have collectively over 30 years of experience within Las Vegas gaming surveillance. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How casinos conduct surveillance Collaboration between casinos and intelligence organizations The mob origins of Las Vegas Nation-state intelligence threats in casinos Reflections It’s just the luck of the draw…or is it? Playing your cards right And much, much more … ***FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, Andrew is joined by Keith Michaels and James Lockhart on a journey into the secret underbelly of the “Gambling Capital of the World,” Las Vegas. How do casinos conduct surveillance, and what prompted them to adopt formal surveillance operations? Tune in to find out. Quotes of the Week “Casino operations are venues for intelligence activity, not just for the low-level criminal or the higher-level criminal, but also nation states … You know, we're only catching about 35% of what's going on. There's a lot of cash moving around very fast. A lot of people coming in and out in a casino. So, the possibilities are kind of endless.” – James Lockhart. ***FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* 70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 1 (2023) 70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 2 (2023) How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023) Baseball and Espionage with Ryan Zimmerman and Marc Polymeropoulos (2022) Dealing with Russia: A Conversation with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022) *Beginner Resources* A Brief History of Las Vegas, T. Lambert, Local Histories (2021) [Short Article] A Brief History of Gambling, R. Cormack, Medium (2018] [Short Article] How to Play Baccarat, WikiHow (2020) [Short Video] ***FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** DEEPER DIVE Books Casino: The Rise and Fall of the Mob in Las Vegas, N. Pileggi (Ebury Press, 2015) Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, D. G. Schwartz (Winchester Books, 2013) Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, B. Mezrich (Free Press, 2002) Casino Royale, I. Fleming (Jonathan Cape, 1953) Primary Sources Federal Special Agent Pleads Guilty To Gambling With Government Funds, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada (2022) Surveillance Standards for Nonrestricted Licensees, Nevada Gaming (2005) Gaming probers sue CIA, CIA (1979) How U.S. Made Unholy Alliance with the Mafia, CIA (1975) Bugsy Siegel Collection, FBI (n.d.) *Wildcard Resource* In 1983, William Casey, then Director of the CIA, was invited to the Recording Industry Cultural Award Dinner. Luckily for him, Kenny Rogers was the featured performer of the night. He probably played “The Gambler,” a song that Erin thinks is a spot-on analogy for the Intelligence Cycle. You’ve got to know when hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em … Know when to walk to away, and know when to run. ***FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 15 Aug 2023 - 735 - “China’s Corporate Spy War” – with CNBC’s Eamon Javers
Summary Eamon Javers (Twitter, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter, LinkedIn) to discuss China’s Corporate Spy War. Eamon is the Senior Washington correspondent at CNBC. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Why go after corporate secrets? What’s at stake for the United States The case of Yanjun Xu and GE Aviation Military implications of economic espionage Reflections The innovation nation Simple twists of fate And much, much more … ***FULL SHOWNOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, Andrew is joined by CNBC’s Senior Washington Correspondent Eamon Javers to discuss his new documentary, China’s Corporate Spy War. Quotes of the Week “I don't think people in corporate America knew that, fully understood the scale of the threat. They thought this was kind of an annoyance like shoplifting is, and that you kind of just build in some procedures and there's some sunk costs associated with that, and you move on. What these intelligence guys were describing was an entirely different threat. This was the elimination of major American brands from the global marketplace.” - Eamon Javers. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023) The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle with China with Aynne Kokas (2023) The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran, Part 1 (2022) The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran, Part 2 (2022) Dealing with Russia – A Conversation with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022) *Beginner Resources* What is Corporate Espionage?, A. T. Tunggal, UpGuard (2023) [Article] Timeline: U.S.-China Relations, Council on Foreign Relations (n.d.) [Timeline] A Tale of High Stakes Corporate Espionage, Bloomberg (2023) [7:44 video] ***FULL SHOWNOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** DEEPER DIVE Books SPIES: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West, C. Walton (Simon & Schuster, 2023) The Scientist and the Spy: A True Story of China, the FBI, and Industrial Espionage, M. Hvistendahl (Riverhead Books, 2020) To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence, J. Olson (GUP, 2019) Broker, Trader, Lawyer, Spy: The Secret World of Corporate Espionage, E. Javers (HarperCollins, 2010) Primary Sources A Survey of Reported Chinese Espionage, 2000 to the Present, CSIS (2023) Justice Department Announces Five Cases as Part of Recently Launched Disruptive Technology Strike Force, U.S. Department of Justice (2023) Chinese Government Intelligence Officer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Espionage Crimes, Attempting to Steal Trade Secrets From Cincinnati Company, U.S. Department of Justice (2022) Executive Summary - China: The Risk to Corporate America, FBI (2019) Economic Espionage Act (1996) *Wildcard Resource* The Second Letter from Père d’Entrecolles to Father Orry (1722) The art of porcelain making and selling was mastered under the Qing Dynasty. The West got curious and knew the form of pottery could be profitable to produce on their own. Because of the secrets shared by this Jesuit priest, China’s monopoly on porcelain production quickly toppled and the practice was spread across Europe. ***FULL SHOWNOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 08 Aug 2023 - 734 - “The 18-Year-Old Soviet Spy on the Manhattan Project: Ted Hall” – with Director Steve James
Summary Steve James (IMDb) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his new film, A Compassionate Spy. 18-year-old Ted Hall was the youngest physicist working on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Soviet-American relations during WWII The Manhattan Project and the development of the Atomic Bomb Motivations for atomic espionage The life and story of Theodore Hall Reflections With great power … comes great responsibility State allegiance vs. personal conscience And much, much more And… Steve James has been nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Documentary Feature in 2018 for Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, and Best Film Editing in 1995 for Hoop Dreams. Steve is the first Oscar nominee to join us on SpyCast since Robert de Niro sat down with our first host Peter Earnest in 2009! Quotes of the Week “Ted was young and naive in some ways, but his reasons for what he did were not grounded in fantasy … Whether you support what he did or not, I don't know that the U. S. having the bomb all to itself would have been a great thing, given that we are the only nation to have actually dropped the bomb on anyone, period.” – Steve James. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Headline Resource* A Compassionate Spy, Steve James, Magnolia Pictures (2022) Available in select theaters and streaming on August 4th *SpyCasts* Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023) St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023) Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer with Janosh Neumann (2022) The Nuclear Doomsday Machine with Sean Maloney on Cold War Emergency Plans (2022) *Beginner Resources* What Was the Manhattan Project?, T. Metcalfe, Scientific American (2023) [Article] U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control (1949-2021), Council on Foreign Relations (n.d.) [Timeline] Theodore Hall: American-born physicist and spy, Encyclopaedia Britannica (n.d.) [Encyclopedia entry] DEEPER DIVE Books Sleeper Agent: The Atomic Spy in America Who Got Away, A. Hagedorn (Simon & Schuster, 2021) The Manhattan Project: The Birth of the Atomic Bomb in the Words of Its Creators, Eyewitnesses, and Historians, C. C. Kelly (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2020) Atomic Spy: The Dark Lives of Klaus Fuchs, N. T. Greenspan (Penguin Books, 2020) Bombshell: The Secret Story of America’s Unknown Atomic Spy Conspiracy, J. Albright & M. Kunstel (Times Books, 1997) Video Modern Marvels: The Manhattan Project, The History Channel, YouTube (2020) Science Behind the Atom Bomb, Nuclear Museum, Atomic Heritage Foundation (2013) Primary Sources Report by the Ad Hoc Committee to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “Evaluation of Effect on Soviet War Effort Resulting from the Strategic Air Offensive,” National Security Archive (1949) The Evaluation of the Atomic Bomb as a Military Weapon, Harry Truman Presidential Library (1947) A Petition to the President of the United States from Los Alamos Scientists, Harry Truman Presidential Library (1945) Albert Einstein to Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman Presidential Library (1945) Decision to Maintain Contact with Theodore Hall, National Security Agency (1944) *Wildcard Resource* The development of nuclear weapons not only had a massive impact on history and science – It also inspired new architectural designs and art. Read this Architectural Digest article on the Atomic Age Design and why our brains still register it as “futuristic” 75 years later! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 01 Aug 2023 - 733 - "Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy" – with Michael Vickers
Summary Michael Vickers (Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his remarkable career and memoir. He was formerly the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. What You’ll Learn Intelligence His specialized training to wear a “Nuclear Backpack” (yes, literally!) Overseeing a multibillion-dollar CIA covert action program against the Soviets Planning the Osama Bin Laden raid Retooling defense intelligence for the 21st century Reflections Finding a narrative that unites the various chapters of your life Serving a country vs. serving a political party And much, much more … Episode Notes Michael Vickers has been on a heck of a ride. He started out as a U.S. Army private with no degree and went on to oversee hundreds of thousands of people as the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence while holding a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins. Michael is the author of By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operation & Strategy. Quotes of the Week "That weapon was called the Special Atomic Demolition Munition [i.e., “Nuclear Backpack] ...it was a sporty, uh, you know, it seemed like a good idea when I was 23 years old. So, there you have it." – Michael Vickers. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* “The Nuclear Doomsday Machine” – with Sean Maloney (2022_ “The Spies Who Came in From the Cold” - Chris Costa and John Quattrocki (2022) “The Spymaster’s Prism” – CIA Legend Jack Devine (2021) “Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service” – Hank Crumpton (2012) “The CIA and the End of the Cold War” – Milt Bearden (2011) *Beginner Resources* Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, Homeschool History (2022) [2:25 min video] Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, Encyclopedia Britannica (2023) [3-minute read] The Operation That Took Out Osama Bin Laden, Military.com (2023) [3-minute read] The Plan to Get Osama, ABC News (2012) [6:44 min video] DEEPER DIVE Video The End of a Superpower - The Collapse of the Soviet Union, DW Documentaries (2022) Manhunt: The Search for Osma bin Laden, HBO (2013) Afghanistan 1979, the War that Changed the World, Gulya Mirzoeva, Icarus Films (2015) Red Star Over Khyber, PBS Frontline (1984) Primary Sources Commander, 500th MI Group, Subj: Guerilla Use of Stinger Missiles and Their Effect on Soviet Tactics in AF, circa 1987. Memorandum of Conversation between Vice President Bush and Pakistani President Zia, December 8, 1982 Conversation between M.S. Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan on Afghanistan (Excerpt), December 8, 1982 Message to Soviet Ambassadors on the Invasion of Afghanistan, Attachment to CPSU Politburo Decree #177, December 27, 1979 *Wildcard Resource* A Distant Plain: Counter-insurgency Afghanistan: Government, Coalition, Taliban and Warlords compete (2013) Play this board game developed by former guest and former World Board Game Champion, Volko Ruhnke, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 25 Jul 2023 - 732 - “Leader, Lecturer, Analyzer, Nerd” – with Jorhena Thomas
Summary Jorhena Thomas (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her career as an analyst and passion for intelligence education. Jorhena spent 8 years in the FBI as an Intelligence Analyst. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What makes a great analyst Her thoughts on the “Intelligence Cycle” The Robert Levinson case How the FBI adapted after 9/11 Reflections Teamwork and collaboration The importance of education Episode Notes Andrew is joined by Jorhena Thomas: educator, mentor, and analysis extraordinaire. It was a pleasure to have Jorhena in the studio to discuss to her career, which began at the Federal Bureau of Investigation where she served as an intelligence analyst for 8 years. She moved on to work at the Washington D.C. Fusion Center, the District of Columbia Deputy Mayor’s Office, and in private consulting. She currently lectures at both American University and Georgetown University, and serves as the Director of Mentorship and Professional Advancement at Girl Security. And… Women make up 59% (more than half!) of the FBI’s Intelligence Analysis workforce. This has come along way since the first female FBI special agents, Joanna Pierce Misko and Susan Roley Malone, were hired in 1972. However, the work is not done. SpyCast is proud to highlight Jorhena’s work with Girl Security, supporting, mentoring, and training the next generations of women in intelligence. Quotes of the Week “All my time with the FBI really gave me an appreciation for partnerships, and understanding everyone has a role to play. And if you respect what they do and they respect what you do, then you can really get some good work done. And I think sometimes people look down on others who don't do what they do. And my attitude is, if they did what you do, then you don't need to be here” – Jorhena Thomas Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) SPY CHIEFS: From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief – Ellen McCarthy’s Journey (Part 1 of 2) (2022) SPY CHIEFS: From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief – Ellen McCarthy’s Journey (Part 2 of 2) (2022) My Global Career as a Female FBI Agent with Kathy Stearman (2021) Special Operations, FBI, NSC, et al – Serial Collaborator Karen Schaefer (2021) *Beginner Resources* What is Intelligence Analysis and Why is It So Important?, National American University (2020) [Short article] FBI Field Intelligence Groups and Fusion Centers, Department of Homeland Security (n.d.) [Fact sheet] What is The Intelligence Cycle?, SOCRadar (2022) [Short article] DEEPER DIVE Books How Spies Think: Ten Lessons in Intelligence, D. Omand (Penguin, 2020) Psychology of Intelligence Analysis, R. J. Heuer (Echo Point, 2017) Reducing Uncertainty: Intelligence Analysis & National Security, T. Fingar (SUP, 2011) The FBI: A History, R. Jefferys-Jones (Yale, 2007) Articles How to Think Like an Intelligence Analyst, Z. T. Brown, Medium (2021) 9/11 and the Reinvention of the Us Intelligence Community, E. Kamarck, The Brooking Institution (2021) No body, no burial, no peace for Iran hostage Bob Levinson's family, J. G. Meek & C. Finnegan, ABC News (2021) Getting from Awareness to Action on Disinformation, J. Thomas, The Cipher Brief (2020) Tabletop Exercises to Combat Disinformation, J. Thomas, Medium (2020) How the FBI Reinvented Itself After 9/11, C. Nobel, Harvard Business School (2016) Video Adding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to National and Homeland Security, Education, Intelligence, and Fusion Centers (2023) Women FBI Agents: In Their Own Words, FBI (2012) Primary Sources FBI Washington Field Office Statement on the 16th Anniversary of the Abduction of Robert A. Levinson, FBI Washington (2023) The Internal Effects of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Reprioritization, Office of the Inspector General (2004) United States Patriot Act (2001) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 18 Jul 2023 - 731 - “The Kneeling Man” – with Leta McCollough Seletsky
Summary Leta McCollough Seletsky (Website; Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to share the story of her father, the famous “Kneeling Man” – The man knelt next to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at his assassination at the Lorraine Motel in 1968. Leta is a litigator turned essayist and memoirist. *Nominate SpyCast for a People’s Choice Podcast Award HERE!* What You’ll Learn Intelligence The life and times of Marrell “Mac” McCollough The CIA connection between father and daughter Black power and the counterintelligence program (or, COINTELPRO) The conspiracies surrounding Dr. King’s assassination Reflections Coming to terms with the past … and present Small but important steps of progress And much, much more … *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources SURFACE SKIM *Headline Resource* The Kneeling Man: My Father's Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Leta McCollough Seletsky (Counterpoint, 2023) *SpyCasts* The Counterintelligence Chief with Alan Kohler (2023) The Third Option – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson, Part 1 (2022) The Third Option – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson, Part 2 (2022) The Birth of American Propaganda with John Hamilton (2021) Juneteenth Special: African-American Spies (2021) *Beginner Resources* “I Am A Man” Dr. King and The Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike, M. Gailani, Tennessee State Museum (2020) [Short brief] Martin Luther King Jr., The Nobel Prize (n.d.) [Biography] COINTELPRO: United States Government Program, N. Frederique, Encyclopaedia Britannica (n.d.) [Short article] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr., P. E. Joseph (Basic Books, 2021) An Unseen Light: Black Struggles for Freedom in Memphis, Tennessee, A. Goudsouzian, C. W. McKinney, et al. (The University Press of Kentucky, 2018) The Heavens Might Crack: The Death and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., J. Sokol (Basic Books, 2018) The COINTELPRO Papers: Documents from the FBI's Secret Wars Against Dissent in the United States, W. Churchill & J. V. Wall (South End Press, 2001) Primary Sources The King v. Jowers Trial Findings, U.S. Department of Justice (1999) Final Report of the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, United States Senate (1976) Report from Vietnam, Walter Cronkite (1968) “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” Speech, Martin Luther King Jr., AFSCME (1968) "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" Speech, Martin Luther King Jr., American Rhetoric (1967) COINTELPRO Records Collection, FBI Records: The Vault (n.d) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 11 Jul 2023 - 730 - From the Vault: “Baseball & Espionage” –with World Series Champion Ryan Zimmerman & Marc Polymeropoulos (Part 1 of 2)
Summary Ryan Zimmerman (MLB Stats; Wikipedia) and Marc Polymeropoulos (Twitter; LinkedIn) join Andrew to discuss intelligence and America’s pastime. From the SpyCast Field of Dreams. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Sign-stealing and codebreaking Glue guys and teamwork Ethics in baseball and espionage Clutch and pinch hitters in espionage and baseball Reflections Daring to fail Stepping up to the plate of life And much, much more… Episode Notes Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack. Few things in the world compare to sitting back, putting your feet up, and cracking open a cold one while watching the World Series. For the 2021 World Series Marc joined us for a fantastic discussion on the links between baseball and espionage. How do we top that? A baseball fanatic ex-CIA officer? Why, how about getting a first-round draft pick, World Series Champion with over 6500 at-bats? Done! Enter Ryan Zimmerman, Mr. National! Ever wondered about signs-stealing, how to run a baseball counterintelligence operation, or what some of the many, many links are between baseball and espionage? You’ve come to the right place for a discussion that goes to the bottom of the ninth inning over a two-episode conversation. Ryan played for the Nationals from 2005, when he was a first-round draft pick, through to 2021, when his #11 jersey was retired. He is an ex- All-Star, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner, and 2019 World Series Champion. Marc is a highly decorated former CIA operations officer who specialized in counterterrorism, the Middle East, and South Asia. Prior to his retirement, he served at CIA headquarters in charge of clandestine operations in Europe and Eurasia. He is the author of the 2021 book, “Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA.” And… “Big Data” is upending many fields, not least baseball and espionage. Gaining a competitive edge is central to both activities, the big argument is about how much “soul” is lost along the way. The Houston Astros have been a lighting-rod team, whose “smart and modern” or “cold and cynical” approach has been discussed at Penn's Wharton School of Business and in the pages of the Harvard Business Review. Quotes of the Week "I think “Dare to Fail” is enormous. I would want you to put me up at the bases load in the bottom of the ninth. I'll take it every single time. Even if I feel like I have zero chance, I want to be there." - Ryan Zimmerman "You know, you have to have that mentality in these professions." - Marc Polymeropoulos Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* Moneyball, M. Lewis (W.W. Norton, 2004) Love it or hate it, this is the first port of call for any reckoning of baseball and analytics. *SpyCasts* “Baseball & Espionage” – with Marc Polymeropoulos (2021) *Beginner Resources* Spy Agencies Struggling in Age of Big Data, A. Zegart, Wired (2022) [article] Baseball Analytics for the Casual Fan, Simple Sabermetrics (2020) [7 min video] Beginners Guide to Baseball Analytics, N. Allen, Fansided (2018) [article] Best Baseball Analytics Resources, Simple Sabermetrics (2022) Books Spies, Lies and Algorithms, A. Zegart (PUP, 2022) The Catcher Was a Spy: Moe Berg, N. Dawidoff (Pantheon, 1994) Articles Baseball and Cybersecurity, S. Handler, Atlantic Council (2020) Baseball’s Rude Welcome to Age of Cyberespionage, N. Paine, 538 (2015) The Man Who Remade Basketball, M. McCluskey, Wired (2014) Baseball on Exhibit: Musuems in the SABR Era, Z. Jendro, SABR (2011) Video Lessons from the CIA’s Analytic Front-Lines, B. Pease, JHU (2022) Sabermetrics 101: Baseball Analytics, A. Andres, Talks at Google (2016) CIA’s Chief Information Officer - Advanced Analytics, D. Wolfe, O’Reilly (2015) Primary Sources The PC Goes to Bat (1984) *Wildcard Resource* Get “Analytics Certification” from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) - which is where the term “sabermetrics” comes from! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 04 Jul 2023 - 729 - "Venice’s Secret Service" – with Ioanna Iordanou
Summary Ioanna Iordanou (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Venice’s Secret Service. Her research on “centralized intelligence” during the Italian Renaissance has secured her two entries in Guiness World Records! What You’ll Learn Intelligence The origins of centralized intelligence “The Council of Ten” - Venice’s spy chiefs “The Inquisitors of the State” - Venice’s counterintelligence body Venetian power in the Eastern Mediterranean Reflections The rise and fall of empires The relationship between geography and power And much, much more … *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Quotes of the Week “Considering some of the most significant challenges we face right now, such as disease, we just got over a global pandemic or migration or trade or climate change or cybersecurity, all these issues do not stop at the borders like any early modern spies, they cross borders. So even reflecting on how people dealt with these things in the past might help us make better political, social, economic decisions.” – Ioanna Iordanou. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Headline Resource Venice’s Secret Service: Organizing Intelligence in the Renaissance, Ioanna Iordanou (Oxford University Press, 2014) *SpyCasts* Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023) The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) The Lion and the Fox – Civil War Spy vs. Spy with Alexander Rose (2023) Keeping Secrets/Disclosing Secrets with Spy Chief turned DG of Australia’s National Archives David Fricker (2022) *Beginner Resources* A Brief Overview of Renaissance History, Art in Context (2023) [Short article] Profile of a City: Venice, Renaissance Italy (2012) [Short article] Brief History of the Renaissance in 5 Minutes, 5 Minutes (2022) [YouTube video] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books Inventing the World: Venice and the Transformation of Western Civilization, M. F. Small (Pegasus Books, 2020) City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas, R. Crowley (Random House, 2013) A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance, W. Manchester (Little, Brown and Company, 1993) Primary Sources The Life and Letters of Sir Henry Wotton, Internet Archive (1907) The de’Barbari Map (View of Venice), Cartography Venice Project Center (1500) Letter of Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini to Lord Cardinal Firmanus, Carleton College (1453) The Shorter Annals of Venice, Carleton College (ca. 13th century) Primary Collections Venetian Diplomatic Agents in England, British History Online (1202-1509) *Wildcard Resource* Browse the art of Titian, an artist whose work was used as a form of payment for spies and intelligence gatherers in Venice. Not a bad paycheck! *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 27 Jun 2023 - 728 - "The North Korean Defector" – with Former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo
Summary This week on SpyCast, Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) is joined by former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo. This is the first time Dr. Kim has stepped out from the shadows to speak. *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* What You’ll Learn Intelligence The organizational structure of North Korean intelligence The journey of a defector The training and skills needed to be a DPRK agent North Korean intelligence priorities in the East Reflections Bravery and courage in the face of danger State conformity vs. Personal convictions And much, much more … Quote of the Week “When I envision reunification, I am envisioning reunified Korea under a liberal democratic system as opposed to say, unified Korea under a more North Korean system – That I oppose. My desire is that in a unified Korea, even North Korean populous or population living in northern parts of the Korean Peninsula will be guaranteed fundamental, standard rights as humans.” – Agent Kim, Hyun Woo. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023) The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) The Counterterrorism and Counter WMD Strategist with Dexter Ingram (2022) Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer with Janosh Neumann (2022) *Beginner Resources* The Current Situation in North Korea, United States Institute for Peace (2022) [Fact sheet] A Brief History of North Korea in 3 Minutes, G. Willson, New York Magazine (2017) [3 min. video] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer’s Insights, J. H. Pak (Ballantine Books, 2020) The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future, V. Cha (Ecco, 2018) In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom, Y. Park (Penguin Books, 2015) Korea’s Place in the Sun: A Modern History, B. Cumings (W.W. Norton, 2005) Primary Sources Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un Delivers Speech at Military Parade, KCNA Watch (2020) Key Issue Paper for Secretary of State-designate Madeleine Albright, Subject: Korean Peninsula Issues, National Security Archive (1994) China: Potential Response to Korean Contingencies, DIA Special Report, National Security Archive (1994) DPRK: Slow-Motion Succession: the Secretary’s Morning Intelligence Summary, National Security Archive (1994) Protocol for the Phased Withdrawal of Troops (First Draft), Wilson Center (1954) Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea, US Forces Korea (1953) Statement by President Syngman Rhee, Wilson Center (1953) Congratulatory Message [from Mao Zedong] to the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, Wilson Center (1953) Telegram from Stalin to Mao Zedong, Wilson Center (1952) Cable Nos. 408-410, Shtykov to Vyshinsky, Wilson Center (1950) Statement by the President, Truman on Korea, Wilson Center (1950) *Wildcard Resource* Inspired by Dr. Kim’s love for Sherlock Holmes: His Last Bow is the last chronological short story installment of the Sherlock Holmes series. In this story, Sherlock tracks down a German spy during the First World War! *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 20 Jun 2023 - 727 - “Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West” – with Calder Walton
Summary Calder Walton (Website, Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the 100-year intelligence war between the United States and Russia. Calder is the author of the new book, SPIES. *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* What You’ll Learn Intelligence The epic clash of intelligence systems Russia’s assassination program then and now The roots of Putinism China as “the Soviet Union on steroids” Reflections Cold War 2.0 Could it have been otherwise? And much, much more … Quotes of the Week My conclusion, unfortunately, Andrew, is that looking at this large sweep of history that we have, not so much a Putin problem today, but a Russia problem. And the Russia problem has been persistent over a hundred years, which is why it makes me very cautious about speculation … Unfortunately, it seems to me that the Putin and the people he surrounds himself with in the Kremlin are all cut from this very similar cloth as he is. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Headline Resource* SPIES: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West, Calder Walton (Simon & Schuster, 2023) *SpyCasts* Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023) Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023) Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer with Janosh Neumann (2022) The Spies Who Came in From the Cold with Chris Costa and John Quattrocki at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago (2022) Dealing with Russia with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022) CIA Legend Jack Devine on Countering Russian Aggression (2012) *Beginner Resources* Putin’s Revisionist History of Russia and Ukraine, I. Chotiner, New Yorker (2022) [Short article] Has Putin's war failed and what does Russia want?, P. Kirby, BBC (2023) [Short article] The Cold War Explained in 15 Minutes, YouTube (2021) [15 min. video] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books Russian Intelligence, K. Riehle (NIU, 2022) Putin’s People, C. Belton (William Collins, 2021) Between Two Fires, J. Yaffa (Duggan Books, 2020) The New Cold War, E. Lucas (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2014) Primary Sources The Putin Files, CBS (n.d.) Memorandum of Conversations (Rise of Putin) Clinton with Putin (2000) Clinton with Putin (2000) Clinton with Yeltsin (1999) Clinton with Yeltsin (1999) Clinton with Putin (1999) Madelaine Albright with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov (1999) Clinton with Putin (1999) Clinton with Yeltsin (1999) Oral Histories U.S. Ambassadors to Moscow John Huntsman (2017-2019) John F. Tefft (2014-2017) Michael McFaul (2012-2014) John Beryle (2008-2012) Alexander Vershbow (2001-2005) James F. Collins (1997-2001) Thomas R. Pickering (1993-1996) Jack F. Matlock (1987-1991) *Wildcard Resource* Putin Strikes: The Coming War for Eastern Europe A two-player board game where one commands the Kremlin’s forces and the other an international polyglot force. Trippy or what? *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 13 Jun 2023 - 726 - ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: “The D-Day Deception” – with National WWII Museum Curator Corey Graff
Summary Cory Graff (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter, LinkedIn) to discuss the D-Day deception operation to mask the landings at Normandy. Cory is a Curator at The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Deception tactics used by the Allies The core deception operations BODYGUARD and FORTITUDE The German secret agents who became British “double agents” The “Ghost Army” and General Patton’s fictitious First U.S. Army Group Intelligence in the World War II Museum Reflections Appearance and intention The essential unknowability of the world And much, much more … *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Quotes of the Week “During the evenings, French Resistance is taking over and blowing up train tracks and sort of funneling people this way. And that's another thing to talk about when we talk about D-Day is, intelligence was gained from French citizens beforehand. And the night of the 5th & 6th, we witnessed something like a thousand points of sabotage within the area directed at the Germans.” – Cory Graff on the French Resistance’s contribution to D-Day Resources SURFACE SKIM Andrew’s Recommendation The D-Day episode of the landmark documentary The World at War (“Morning: June-August 1944 (Ep. 17 of 26)”) *SpyCasts* St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023) Hitler’s Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023) Nazis on the Potomac with former National Park Service Chief Historian Bob Sutton (2022) The Nuclear Doomsday Machine – with Sean Maloney on Cold War Emergency Plans (2022) *Beginner Resources* Here’s what happened on D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion ever undertaken, CNN (2021) [1 min. video] When and How Did World War II End?, R. Wilde, ThoughtCo (2020 [Short article] The 10 Things You Need to Know about D-Day, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [10 quick facts] DEEPER DIVE *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Primary Sources General Eisenhower’s Order of the Day, National Archives (1944) In Case of Failure Message from Gen. Eisenhower, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1944) Overlord – Anvil Papers, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1944) Report of the 82nd Airborne Division, “Operation Neptune”, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1944) Neptune Monograph, The D-Day Story Museum (1944) *Wildcard Resource* The crossword panic of 1944! In the run up to D-Day important codenames such as “Omaha,” “Overlord,” “Mulberry,” and “Neptune,” appeared in the Daily Telegraph newspaper crossword puzzle. Was someone signaling the Allies plans to the Germans? We don’t think so...but one possible explanation involves loose-lipped soldiers, a WWI veteran schoolteacher, and some naughty schoolboys! *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 06 Jun 2023 - 725 - From the Vault: “El Chapo, the War on Drugs & Intelligence” – with Trial Reporter Noah Hurowitz
Summary Noah Hurowitz (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss infamous drug kingpin El Chapo. A weak link in his cybersecurity set-up would help bring him down. What You’ll Learn Intelligence El Chapo’s internal surveillance operation The cartel’s use of cryptography to keep communications covert How cybersecurity enabled then brought down El Chapo The role of the infamous DFS – a corrupt and now disbanded intelligence agency Reflections Technology – early adopters vs. counter responders The changing nature of crime enabled by emerging technologies – spyware, drones, etc. And much, much more… Episode Notes Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, aka El Chapo (shorty) because of his 5-foot 6-inch frame, was called by one of the agents chasing him, “the godfather of the drug world.” So, how did a low-level drug dealer from a provincial state rise to try and subvert the Mexican government to his will? What was the intelligence game that played out with regards to El Chapo? How did the cartels use spytech, tradecraft and cybersecurity to stay one step ahead of the law? How was he caught? To answer these questions and more, Andrew sat down with Noah Horowitz who covered the trial of El Chapo in Brooklyn for Rolling Stone magazine. Noah is also the author of the recent book El Chapo, and his work has appeared in the Village Voice, the Baffler and New York Magazine. And… In the El Chapo trial, question No.57 asked prospective jurors, “Are you familiar with Jesus Malverde?” If you are not familiar with this angel of the poor (el ángel de los pobres) as well as the Sinaloan narcos (el narcosantón), then you can find out why this question would be relevant here, here, here and here. Quote of the Week "So, in addition to encrypted communications…he was also installing spyware on Blackberry devices that El Chapo was giving out to his lieutenants and his girlfriends and his wives. And then EL Chapo was able to use this, the spyware program to see what was on their phones. He was able to see their text messages. He was able to see their locations. He was even able to remotely activate their mic and listen to them. And he loved that…it was like a toy to him almost. He became obsessed with it." – Noah Hurowitz Resources Headline Resource El Chapo, N. Hurowitz (S&S, 2021) *SpyCasts* Drug Cartels, Sleeper Cells, the Waco Siege & the Mob - Dennis Franks (2021) Books Dope: History of the Mexican Drug Trade, B. Smith (W.W. Norton, 2021) Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs & Cartels, I. Grillo (Bloomsbury, 2021) Articles Drugs, Crime and the Cartels, CFR (2021) The Tech that Took Down Pablo Escobar, Wired (2021) Mexican Cartels Cyber Surveillance, C. Schilis-Gallego, Forbidden Stories (2020) Spy vs. Spy, El Chapo Edition, E. Groll, FP (2019) The Spyware that Brought Down El Chapo, S. Fussell, The Atlantic (2019) Websites El Paso Intelligence Project (EPIC) Centro Nacional De Intelligencia (CNI) PBR (Projects, Briefs, Reports) Mexico: Evolution of the Merida Initiative, C. Seelke, CRS (2021) Mexico Organized Crime and Drug Traffickers, J. Beittel, CRS (2020) Primary Sources EDNY Press Release on El Chapo Trial (2019) Memo in Support of Pre-trial Detention, USA vs. Joaquín Guzmán Loera (2017) Trial Transcripts of El Chapo Text Messages with His Mistress (2012) Official Report on Mexico’s “Dirty War” (2006) Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (1999) Primary Source Collections The Mexican Intelligence Digital Archives (MIDAS) Inside The Cartel: Key Documents (LAT) *Wildcard Resource* “The Original Indigenous People of Sinaloa” To understand Joaquín Guzmán Loera, starting at the year of his birth, 1957, might be enough; but to understand “El Chapo” it might help to go deeper still… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 30 May 2023 - 724 - “70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special” - with Alexis Albion on 007 (Part 2 of 2)
Summary Curators Alexis (LinkedIn) and Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) use James Bond artifacts in SPY’s collection to discuss all things 007. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Ian Fleming novel, Casino Royale. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Bond vs. Real Life Spies The birth of James Bond Ian Fleming’s intelligence past Bond and MI6 Reflections What makes a character timeless? Pop culture mirroring real life And much, much more … *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, curators Andrew and Alexis join forces to put the past 70 years of Bond into historical perspective. To help frame their conversation, our collections team brought out a fantastic selection of Bond artifacts for Andrew and Alexis to interact with during the recording of this episode. Quotes of the Week “I think in general the spy genre always has to have one foot, often two, in the real world. It's part of what makes that genre appealing and not science fiction. It takes place in the real world. And whether that is, you know, some of the technology or real-world threats, it has to be relatable and recognizable in that sense.” – Alexis Albion. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCast’s* Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023) Secrets Revealed with Curators Alexis and Andrew on SPY’s Pop-Up Exhibit (2023) CIA Officers Turned Authors with David McCloskey and James Stejskal (2022) The Spy of the Century with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022) My Life Looking at Spies and the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022) *Beginner Resources* MI6 History & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica (2022) [Brief history of MI6] The Evolution of James Bond, Fandom Entertainment, YouTube (2021) [15 min. video] Ian Fleming, Famous Authors (n.d.) [Short biography] *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Primary Sources Primos Bionic Eye, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021) James Bond’s Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Watch, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021) 007 Fragrance Commercial, YouTube (1965) James Bond Action Pak Toy Commercial, American Character, YouTube (1964) Aston Martin DB5, Collection of the International Spy Museum (1964) The Zimmermann Telegram, National Archives (1917) *Wildcard Resource* Everyone has a favorite James Bond theme song. If you just can’t choose just one, check out The Ultimate James Bond Medley – A production from Alchemistic Records featuring all 25 Bond songs. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 23 May 2023 - 723 - “70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special” - with Alexis Albion on 007 (Part 1 of 2)
Summary Curators Alexis (LinkedIn) and Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) use James Bond artifacts in SPY’s collection to discuss all things 007. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Ian Fleming novel, Casino Royale. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Bond vs. Real Life Spies The birth of James Bond Ian Fleming’s intelligence past Bond and MI6 Reflections What makes a character timeless? Pop culture mirroring real life And much, much more … *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, curators Andrew and Alexis join forces to put the past 70 years of Bond into historical perspective. To help frame their conversation, our collections team brought out a fantastic selection of Bond artifacts for Andrew and Alexis to interact with during the recording of this episode. Quotes of the Week “I think in general the spy genre always has to have one foot, often two, in the real world. It's part of what makes that genre appealing and not science fiction. It takes place in the real world. And whether that is, you know, some of the technology or real-world threats, it has to be relatable and recognizable in that sense.” – Alexis Albion. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCast’s* Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan (2023) Secrets Revealed with Curators Alexis and Andrew on SPY’s Pop-Up Exhibit (2023) CIA Officers Turned Authors with David McCloskey and James Stejskal (2022) The Spy of the Century with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022) My Life Looking at Spies and the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022) *Beginner Resources* MI6 History & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica (2022) [Brief history of MI6] The Evolution of James Bond, Fandom Entertainment, YouTube (2021) [15 min. video] Ian Fleming, Famous Authors (n.d.) [Short biography] *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Primary Sources Primos Bionic Eye, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021) James Bond’s Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Watch, Collection of the International Spy Museum (2021) 007 Fragrance Commercial, YouTube (1965) James Bond Action Pak Toy Commercial, American Character, YouTube (1964) Aston Martin DB5, Collection of the International Spy Museum (1964) The Zimmermann Telegram, National Archives (1917) *Wildcard Resource* Everyone has a favorite James Bond theme song. If you just can’t choose just one, check out The Ultimate James Bond Medley – A production from Alchemistic Records featuring all 25 Bond songs. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 16 May 2023 - 722 - “St. Ermin’s Hotel, London” – The History of a Legendary Spy Site, with Stephen Duffy
Summary Stephen Duffy (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the spy stories of St. Ermin’s Hotel in London. It includes links to SOE, MI6, Ian Fleming, and the Cambridge 5. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The origins of the SOE MI6 and the SOE in the hotel during WWII (bad neighbors!) Incredible female spies of WWII St. Ermin’s Cambridge Five connection The history of the hotel Reflections The stories a hotel could tell if it could talk Proximity to power And much, much more … *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Episode Notes During World War II, the hotel was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill’s Special Operations Executive – a crucial element in his initiative to “set Europe ablaze.” Notorious spies Kim Philby and Donald Maclean were known to enjoy a drink at the hotel bar while sharing secrets with their Soviet handlers. And that’s not all – to learn the rest, you’ll have to listen to the episode. Quotes of the Week “That’s where Burgess, MacLean, and Philby at different times met their Russian handlers in plain sight and sat there and spoke normally. Didn't talk out the side of their mouths, didn't have red carnations and copies of the Financial Times under their arm. They just passed over their information, their paperwork or whatever, in plain sight to everybody.” – Stephen Duffy. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Hitler’s Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023) Nazis on the Potomac – with former National Park Service Chief Historian Bob Sutton (2022) SPY@20: The Spy of the Century – Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022) The Beverly Hills Spy – with The Hollywood Reporter’s Seth Abramovitch (2022) *Beginner Resources* MI6 History & Facts, Encyclopedia Britannica (2022) [Brief history of MI6] World War 2 Chronology, B. Johnson, Historic UK (n.d.) [Timeline of Britain in WWII] How Churchill Led Britain to Victory in the Second World War, J. Taylor, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article] The St. Ermin’s Autobiography, St. Ermin’s Hotel (n.d.) [Pamphlet] *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Primary Sources File Release: Cold War Cambridge spies Burgess and Maclean, UK National Archives (2015) Alexander Simitch Stevens Oral History, Imperial War Museum (1992) Basil Davison Oral History, Imperial War Museum (1988) My Silent War, K. Philby (1967) SOE Training Advice on Disguise, UK National Archives (n.d.) *Wildcard Resource* The cocktail menu at St. Ermin’s Caxton Bar features a number of spy-related references, including Bond’s signature drink. To learn more about this “shaken, not stirred” beverage, check out this article for a brief history of the Vesper Martini. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 09 May 2023 - 721 - Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler
Summary David Cattler (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss NATO’s intelligence response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. David currently serves as NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Intelligence & NATO NATO’s response to the war in Ukraine How NATO is adapting to evolving technologies NATO’s purpose and mission Reflections Support and trust between nations Global collaboration And much, much more … Episode Notes Last February, SpyCast brought you an episode featuring David Cattler, focused on his role as NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security. Only a few weeks after that episode was published, Russia invaded the Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, catalyzing the first war on European soil since World War II. Only three weeks ago, NATO gained their newest member of the alliance, Finland, with the hopes of ratifying Sweden’s membership soon. This week, we bring David back on to discuss how his position has evolved and changed alongside the war in Ukraine, and how NATO is responding to the ongoing crisis. What impact does the inclusion of Finland (and hopefully Sweden) make on the European continent? Tune in to find out more. And… With Finland’s recent membership, NATO is currently comprised of 31 independent nations. Out of these 30, only one member state doesn’t have a standing army – Can you guess which? Hint: It’s Iceland! Quotes of the Week "It's not just about Ukraine. It really is about what kind of world we all want to live in. There are rules and the rules really do establish that nations of people have rights to be free. To make decisions for themselves, to be sovereign, to be safe within their own borders. To be free from harm and certainly free from being threatened in the way that we've seen here." – David Cattler. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023) How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023) Dealing with Russia with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022) NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security with David Cattler (2022) *Beginner Resources* What is NATO and why is Finland joining?, BBC News (2023) [Short article] Russia-Ukraine Relations in 60 Seconds, CBC News (2022) [1 min. video] The Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact | History, YouTube (2017) [3 min. video] *FULL SHOW NOTES HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 02 May 2023 - 720 - Espionage and the Two Queens with Kent Tiernan
Summary R. Kent Tiernan joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the seven-year covert operation to execute Mary Queen of Scots. Kent is the author of The Walsingham Gambit. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The spy plot to trap Mary, Queen of Scots Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth’s spymaster 16th century intelligence tactics The importance of recruiting agents from your opponent’s camp The Denial and Deception Committee Reflections Religious conflict Temperament and statecraft And much, much more … *FULL SHOW NOTES HERE* Episode Notes Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn, survived no less than 9 elaborate plots against her life. In an era of religious conflict and constant power struggles, it was perhaps more important than ever to run an effective intelligence service. Guest Bio R. Kent Tiernan previously served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force, and an assistant professor of history at the United States Air Force Academy. Kent also served as the Vice Chairman and Staff Director of the Foreign Denial and Deception Committee before retiring in 2014 at the rank of Senior National Intelligence Service officer. Quotes of the Week Our analysts do a wonderful job, but it's very difficult for them because they're looking for continuity or congruity in the information, uh, in order to come up with an answer or a best evaluation of truth. Our job was looking for incongruities in the information. Uh, things that didn't make sense the other evidence was leaning one way, but then we'd get a bit of evidence, and it just didn't make sense to what we were seeing, uh, normally. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Featured Resource* The Walsingham Gambit: Deception, Entrapment, and Execution of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, R. Kent Tiernan (Lexington Books, 2022) *SpyCasts* The Denial and Deception Committee – with Bill Parquette The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence - with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy (2022) So, You Want to Be a Codebreaker? - with Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh (2021) The Spymaster’s Prism - with CIA Legend Jack Devine (2021) *Beginner Resources* A beginner’s guide to the Babington Plot, M. Mayhew, The History Press (n.d.) [article] Biography of Mary Queen of Scots, E. Castelow, Historic UK (n.d.) [article] Queen Elizabeth I, B. Johnson, Historic UK (n.d.) [article] Elizabeth I’s Problem with Religion, YouTube (2021) [5 min. video] *FULL SHOW NOTES HERE* Primary Sources Drawing of Mary, Queen of Scots’ Execution by Robert Beale, British Library (1587) Page of Ciphers Used by Mary Queen of Scots, UK National Archives (1586) Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots in Sheffield Castle to Elizabeth I, British Library (1582) Mary, Queen of Scots to Sir William Cecil, UK National Archives (1570) Letter from Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots, British Library (1568) Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots, UK National Archives (1567) *Wildcard Resource* Elizabeth I famously had a sweet tooth – A habit that would eventually cause her teeth to go black in an era of subpar dentistry. One of her favorite sugary treats was candied violets – A less popular snack nowadays, but just as tasty! *FULL SHOW NOTES HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 25 Apr 2023 - 719 - “Irregular Warfare & Intelligence” - with IWC Director Dennis Walters
Summary Dr. Dennis Walters (LinkedIn; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the Irregular Warfare Center and its ties to intelligence. Dennis is the current Acting Director of the IWC. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The need for an Irregular Warfare Center The Irregular Warfare Center’s mission What role intelligence plays in irregular war Creating unique solutions for unique situations How do intelligence and Special Operations blend together? Reflections Education as a strategic tool Creative problem solving And much, much more … Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, the IWC’s Acting Director Dr. Dennis Walters joins Andrew in a conversation about all thing's irregular warfare. What is irregular warfare, and how does it differ from conventional warfare? What is the mission of the IW Center, and what tools and tactics do they employ to accomplish this? Tune in to find out. And… Want to keep your enemies at bay, try an irregular approach – throw a “Scorpion Bomb” at them: yes, it is literally a glass jar filled with scorpions. The tactic was resurrected by ISIS. Guest Bio Dr. Dennis Walters is the acting Director of the Irregular Warfare Center. He served in the United States Army for 26 years, with time spent in the Army Intelligence Corps and in command of a Special Forces Operations Detachment in the Balkans. Upon his retirement from the Army, Dennis worked to build a network of irregular warfare experts that would culminate in the Department of Defense Regional Defense Fellowship Program. He has also instructed college courses on irregular warfare at the National Defense University and Regent University. He speaks fluent Russian. Quotes of the Week "It varies based on region, based on country, based on culture. And that's the part that we have not done well on the U.S. side, really factoring in all of those social implications of how you structure programs to make a country more stable, more resilient, more leaning towards the ideals that support a global community. That's the part that I think that we were missing in some cases." – Dr. Dennis Walters. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023) “The Third Option” – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson, Part 1 (2022) “The Third Option” – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson, Part 2 (2022) Al Qaeda, DOD & the 9/11 Commission with Bonnie Jenkins and Alexis Albion (2022) Afghanistan, the Mujahedeen, Al Qaeda – My Time at CIA and State with Diana Bolsinger (2021) *Beginner Resources* Lessons from the Ukraine Conflict on Conventional War, ABC News (2022) [4:24 video] What is Hybrid Warfare? GeoVane (2019) [3:57 video] Maximizing the Potential of American Irregular War, C. Cleveland et al.,The Hill (2023) [op-ed] Irregular Warfare, D.Safire, New York Times (2008) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 18 Apr 2023 - 718 - “Havana Syndrome” – A Panel featuring Nicky Woolf, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Mark Zaid
Summary This week’s episode is the result of a collaboration with The Sound, a recent limited series podcast exploring the so-called Havana Syndrome. The guests are host and investigative journalist Nicky Woolf (Twitter), former senior CIA operations officer and sufferer Marc Polymeropoulos (Twitter), and attorney and advocate Mark Zaid (Twitter). What You’ll Learn Intelligence What Havana Syndrome is Who it is affecting Theories to explain it The role of intelligence organizations Reflections The unending search for truth Humanity in the intelligence field Quotes of the Week "There’s a betrayal I felt when the CIA didn't give me the medical attention that I needed. You know, if you're not feeling well and an employee comes to you, send 'em to the doctor. And they weren't able to do that. And to me, that's just a leadership fail for the ages." – Marc Polymeropoulos. Resources *SpyCasts* The Past 75 Years: A History of the CIA with Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022) Dealing with Russia with Jim Olson (2022) One of the CIA’s Most Decorated Field Officers with Marc Polymeropoulos (2021) NatSec and the Law with Mark Zaid (2018) *Beginner Resources* Havana Syndrome: What We Know, B. Tau and W. P. Strobel, The Wall Street Journal (2023) [Short article] What is the “Havana Syndrome?”, Brut America, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video] What is Havana Syndrome?, B. Cuffari, News Medical (2022) Video Who or What is Behind Havana Syndrome?, Al Jazeera, YouTube (2022) Early Victims of ‘Havana Syndrome’ Speak Out About Ongoing Health Struggles, NBC News, YouTube (2021) Primary Sources Updated Assessment of Anomalous Health Incidents, National Intelligence Council (2023) Anomalous health Incidents: Analysis of Potential Causal Mechanisms, IC Experts Panel (2022) Senate Hearing on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, U.S. Senate (1978) Kissinger Telephone Conversation with Ambassador Dobrynin, National Security Archive (1975) Samuel Koslov Memorandum to the State Department, “Biomedical Phenomena,” National Security Archive (1965) *Wildcard Resource* Havana Syndrome is an example of a toponymic term in the medical field – A name that comes from a geographic place. For more on medical etymology, check out this article that shares the backstory of the name of 7 well-known conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 11 Apr 2023 - 717 - “Indian Intelligence & Cyber” – A Conversation with Sameer Patil, ORF Mumbai
Summary Sameer Patil (Twitter; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence and cybersecurity in the world’s most populous nation. He formerly worked in the NSC Secretariat in the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Cybersecurity in the world’s largest democracy The breakdown of India’s intelligence agencies Cybersecurity among the world’s second largest internet user base India’s relationships with China and Pakistan Reflections Imperial legacies Borders of the mind Guest Bio Sameer Patil is a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, where he is an expert on the intersection between cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and national security. Previously, he served as the Assistant Director of the National Security Council Secretariat at the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi. He has a PhD in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, and is the author of the 2022 book Securing India in the Cyber Era. Quote of the Week "So, it's a very unique relationship because if you see both the countries, uh, in a sense emerged as modern nation states at around the same time. India attended independence in 1947 the Chinese Communist party emerged victory years from a protracted civil war. In 1949 and. Initial periods of both the countries, as modern nation states were very cordial relationship, very friendly relationship in fact, we had a very populous slogan at that time, which is known as “Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai,” which means India, China, Brothers - Indians and Chinese are brothers together. But by the late 1950s, many of the issues started to unravel." – Sameer Patil. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* “Intelligence & the World’s Largest Democracy” - Indian Spy Chief Vikram Sood (2021) “Afghanistan, the Mujahedeen, Al Qaeda” – My Time at CIA & State with Diana Bolsinger (2021) Beginner Resources Cyber War: How Prepared is India? WION (2022) [Video] India’s Rise in Cybersecurity Incidents, The Print (2022) [Video] The Entire History of India in Under 10 Minutes, Made in History (2022) [Video] Cybersecurity in 7 Minutes, Simplilearn (2021) [Video] India Profile: Timeline, BBC (2019) [Article] The Indus Valley Civilization, J. Green, PBS (n.d.) [Video] DEEPER DIVE *Featured Resource* Securing India in the Cyber Era, S. Patil (Routledge, 2022) *Wildcard Resource(s)* “The James Bond of India” Real-life spy Ajit Doval who spent years undercover in Pakistan He is currently the National Security Advisor of India! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 04 Apr 2023 - 716 - “Secrets Revealed” – Curators Alexis and Andrew on SPY’s Pop-Up Exhibit
Summary Dr. Alexis Albion (LinkedIn, Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss amazing artifacts with amazing stories from SPY’s newest pop-up exhibit: “Secrets Revealed: Highlights from the Grant Verstandig Collection.” What You’ll Learn Intelligence Casablanca’s spy connection Lasting effects of the Rosenberg trial Women in Intelligence WWII covert operations Reflections What makes a story timeless? The human dimension of history And much, much more … Quote of the Week “To us, that might be the Rosenbergs – These sort of incredible historic figures from the Cold War Intelligence. But to Mike Meeropol, it's his mom and dad. So, I think it's a really human story as well. This letter makes recommendations about their sentencing, about life and death, and again, for me it evokes that really human dimension about whether or not this mother might have lived.” – Dr. Alexis Albion. Resources *SpyCasts* Hitler’s Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023) Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal & Love – with Henry Schlesinger (2022) Amazon to Darien, Atlantic to Pacific – Intelligence in Colombia with former Head of its Navy Admiral Hernando Wills (2022) My Life Looking at Spies &the Media with Paul Lashmar (2021) *Beginner Resources* Soviet Spy Scandal: Who Were the Rosenbergs?, L. Davidson, HistoryHit (2022) [Article] Casablanca in 2 Minutes, YouTube (2019) [Video] Who was the real Mata Hari?, N. Barber, BBC Culture (2017) [Article] How D-Day Was Fought From The Sea, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Article] *Artifacts Discussed* Mata Hari Pencil Sketch (ca. 1905) German Bombing Map, WWII (1941) Victor Lazlos Prop Passport (ca. 1942) The Neptune Monograph (ca. 1944) J. Edgar Hoover Letter, FBI (1951) *Primary Resources* Letter from Sophie Rosenberg to Mamie Eisenhower, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1953) Letter from Clyde Miller to Dwight Eisenhower Urging Clemency for the Rosenbergs, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1953) Response from Dwight Eisenhower to Clyde Miller, Eisenhower Presidential Library (1953) The Clydebank Blitz, National Records of Scotland (1941) *Wildcard Resource(s)* The classic quote from Casablanca, “Here’s looking at you, kid” is ranked #4 on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movie Quotes. In fact, four quotes from the movie made it onto the list – Can you guess what the others are? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 28 Mar 2023 - 715 - "Israeli Military Intelligence" – with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser
Summary Yossi Kuperwasser (Twitter; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the Israeli intelligence community. Yossi is the former head of the Research Division of IDF Military Intelligence. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* What You’ll Learn Intelligence The layout of Israeli intelligence The First and Second Intifadas Israel’s complicated position in the Middle East Relationship between Israeli and American ICs Reflections Intelligence as a learning process The importance and difficulty of trust And much, much more … *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Quote of the Week “That's the problem of intelligence - It's an ongoing learning process. And if you don't learn all the time to enable you to adjust to the developing situation, you are going to fail.” – Yossi Kuperwasser. Resources *SpyCasts* The Counterterrorism and Counter WMD Strategist with Dexter Ingram (2022) Son of Hamas, Spy for Israel with Mosab Hassan Yousef and Gonen Ben Yitzhak (2010) Israeli Intelligence and the Jonathan Pollard Spy Case with Ron Olive (2007) *Beginner Resources* History of Israel, Encyclopedia Britannica [encyclopedia entry] What you need to know about the 1987 Intifada, PBS (2019) [article] The Oslo Accords, 25 Years Later, Washington Post (2018) [video] 1967 War: Six Days that Changed the Middle East, J. Bowen, BBC (2017) [article] The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Brief, Simple History, Vox (2016) [video] *Wildcard Resource(s)* The Little Drummer Girl – A fictional novel about a double agent working for the Israelis, written by famed spy author John le Carré in 1983. *FULL SHOWNOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 21 Mar 2023 - 714 - "Hitler’s Trojan Horse” – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West
Summary Nigel West (Wikipedia) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Germany’s military intelligence service during WWII, the Abwehr. Nigel is known as the expert’s expert on spy history. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The rise and fall of the Abwehr The 20th of July plot to kill Hitler & Operation Valkyrie How effective German intelligence was during WWII How “Nazi” the Abwehr was Reflections The search for truth across generations The power of historical documents EXTENDED SHOW NOTES HERE! Quote of the Week “The Germans were ruthless. They had really good intelligence on all the bridges. They knew exactly what had to be captured in advance. The bridges would then be held, so as to allow the tanks over, and the tanks wouldn't wait to attack strong points. They would just go directly ahead in order to achieve their objectives.” – Nigel West. Glossary Abwehr: Germany’s military intelligence service from 1920-1945, serving both the Riechswehr and Wehrmacht. Translates to “defense.” Reichswehr: The name for German armed forces from 1919-1935, under the Weimar Republic and first two years of the Third Reich. Per the Treaty of Versailles, the Reichswehr was very limited in arms and personnel. Translates to “Reich Defence.” Wehrmacht: The name for German Armed Forces from 1935-1945 under Nazi Germany. The heavily militarized and manned Wehrmacht illustrated Hitler’s intentions to expand Germany. Translates to “Defense Force.” Sicherheitsdienst: The intelligence agency of the Schutzstaffel, or SS. Translates to “Security Service.” Gestapo: Nazi Germany’s political police force. Notorious for their brutality and representation of Nazi authoritarianism. Full name Geheime Staatspolizei, translating to “Secret State Police.” EXTENDED SHOW NOTES HERE! Resources SURFACE SKIM Featured Resource(s) Hitler’s Nest of Vipers: The Rise of the Abwehr, N. West (Frontline, 2022) Hitler's Trojan Horse: The Fall of the Abwehr, N. West (Frontline, 2023) *SpyCasts* Nazis on the Potomac – with former National Park Service Chief Historian Bob Sutton (2022) A Jewish Spy in Nazi Germany – 101-Year-Old Marthe Cohn’s Incredible True Story (2021) *Beginner Resources* July Plot, Britannica (2023) [encyclopedia entry) From War to War in Europe: 1919-1939, National WW11 Museum (2018) [Background on Interwar Period] The Treaty of Versailles, What Did the Big Three Want?, YouTube (2016) [3 min. video] German Chief Spy Admiral Canaris, P. Kross, Warfare History Network (2014) Abwehr, A. Lerner, Encyclopedia.com (n.d.) EXTENDED SHOW NOTES HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 14 Mar 2023 - 713 - “Espionage and the Metaverse” – with Cathy Hackl
Summary Cathy Hackl (Twitter, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the potential implications of the metaverse on intelligence. Cathy has been called the “Godmother of the Metaverse.” What You’ll Learn Intelligence What the metaverse is Security and counterintelligence in a virtual world Futurism within intelligence agencies Potential risks and consequences of the metaverse Reflections How virtual spaces can affect our physical world The necessity to evolve alongside technology And much, much more … Episode Notes The web will continue to evolve and change with time, but what’s coming next? And how will this evolution affect the ways that intelligence organizations around the world conduct their operations? This week on SpyCast, Cathy Hackl joins Andrew to explain what the metaverse is, what we can expect from living in this new virtual world, and how intelligence agencies can begin planning for the Web 3 future. Cathy Hackl has been dubbed the “Godmother of the Metaverse” Resources Featured Resource Into the Metaverse: The Essential Guide to the Business Opportunities of the Web3 Era, Cathy Hackl (Bloomsbury, 2023) Metaverse Marketing [Cathy’s podcast] *Beginner Resources* What Is the Metaverse, Exactly?, Wired (2022) [Article] Web 3.0 Explained In 5 Minutes, YouTube (2022) [5 min. Video] 12 new tech terms you need to understand the future, R. Gray, BBC (2018) *SpyCasts* How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game – with Mike Susong (2022) Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle with China -- with Aynne Kokas (2022) The FBI & Cyber – with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 1 of 2) The FBI & Cyber – with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 2 of 2) *Wildcard Resource* Watch the world’s first metaverse music video, Snoop Dogg’s “House I Built,” here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 07 Mar 2023 - 712 - Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year on – with Shane Harris
Summary Shane Harris (Twitter, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the role of intelligence in the Ukraine conflict one year after it began. Shane reports on intelligence for the Washington Post and is the author of two books. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Where we are with the war in Ukraine The role intelligence agencies are playing in the conflict The leadership of Zelensky and Putin What it’s like to report on spies Dealing with sources inside the intelligence agencies Reflections The tenacity of the Ukrainian people and army History as both repetitive and unpredictable Episode Notes This week on SpyCast, Shane Harris of The Washington Post joins Andrew to reflect on the previous year and discuss the role of intelligence within the war in Ukraine. He has been writing about these issues for more than two decades, including a period with the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of two books, The Watchers, on the rise of surveillance in the US, and @War, on the rise of the military-internet complex. He was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2021. Quote of the Week “At the outset, [I] believed that what we were looking at was probably a pretty swift Russian victory … They would come in, they would decapitate the central government in Kiev in the first 72 hours, and it would be bloody, and it would be violent, but that Russia would prevail because they were deemed to have the superior military in terms of technology experience numbers. Turns out, all those things were spectacularly wrong.” – Shane Harris. Resources *SpyCasts* How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023) Dealing with Russia A Conversation with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson (2022) Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer with Janosh Neumann (2022) The Information Battlespace: Foreign Denial and Deception with Bill Parquette (2022) *Beginner Resources* Has Putin's war failed and what does Russia want?, P. Kirby, BBC (2023) A Brief History of Modern Ukraine, BBC (2022) [YouTube video] Russia-Ukraine Relations in 60 Seconds, CBC News (2022) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 28 Feb 2023 - 711 - “The Espionage News Cycle” – A Conversation with SPY’s Aliza Bran
Summary Aliza Bran (LinkedIn, Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her role as Media Relations Manager at the International Spy Museum. Aliza is a D.C. native and graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The media and intelligence International Spy Museum Artifacts Espionage fact vs. fiction The history of The International Spy Museum Reflections Creativity & Ingenuity Growing up in the DMV And much, much more … Episode Notes Aliza Bran’s passion and excitement for the world of SPY is contagious. Around the office of the International Spy Museum, Aliza is known for her cheerful demeanor, quick wit, and intensely creative mind. She’s been working at SPY for six years now, four of those years as our Media Relations Manager. How does Aliza navigate the ever-changing media landscape and represent the International Spy Museum on this worldwide stage? What are Aliza’s favorite memories, artifacts, and exhibits from SPY? What makes her love this work so much, and what skills do you need to build a career in media relations? Tune in to find out. And… Aliza has been particularly busy these past few weeks covering the news surrounding the Chinese Spy Balloon. For a taste of Aliza’s work, find articles and video on the subject that she orchestrated here, here, here, and here. Quote of the Week “Part of it for me is knowing that we live in a very polarized world right now and I want to have a sense of our full audience, which is everyone. So I'm going to look at stories, places that aren't natural fits for where I tend to go. Because if people go there to read the news, I want to know what they're reading, I want to know what interests them. I want to know what people are excited about, worried about, looking at.” – Aliza Bran. Resources *SpyCasts* My Life Looking at Spies & the Media with Paul Lashmar (2021) *Beginner Resources* What is Media Relations?, Nancy Shenker, ClearVoice (2021) [Blog Post] Paid vs. Owned vs. Earned Media: What's the Difference?, Indeed (2021) [Article] Books The Good Assassin, S. Talty (Mariner, 2020) The Alice Network, K. Quinn (William Morrow, 2017) Articles Deadly Women, Dirty Laundry, and a Shootout With The IRA, Reaper Feed (2020) Video Former CIA Operative Explains How Spies Use Disguises, WIRED (2019) Meet a Former CIA Chief of Disguise, Atlas Obscura (2020) Alias, ABC (2001-2006) Artifacts from SPY’s Collection Scrotum Concealment Aston Martin DB5 Iron Concealment Device *Wildcard Resource* Check out the Refinery29 article that features Aliza’s SPY expertise applied to the collection and analysis of Taylor Swift-related intelligence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 21 Feb 2023 - 710 - “The Counterintelligence Chief” – with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler
Summary Alan Kohler joins Andrew to discuss the FBI’s counterintelligence division. He is a recipient of the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Counterintelligence Investigation. ***FULL SHOWNOTES AVAILABLE HERE*** What You’ll Learn Intelligence Counterintelligence vs. Counterespionage How the FBI recruit’s foreign agents Ideological motivations behind spying Effect of technology on counterintelligence Reflections Staying grounded under pressure The value of creativity Notes Alan Kohler (LinkedIn, Website) has been the FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence since 2020. Alan and Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) talk all things counterintelligence. ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE*** *SpyCasts* The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran, Part 1 (2022) The FBI & Cyber with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran, Part 2 (2022) My Global Career as a Female FBI Agent with Kathy Stearman (2021) The FBI Way with Counterintelligence Spy Chief Frank Figliuzzi (2021) ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE*** *Beginner Resources* What We Investigate, FBI (n.d.) [webpage] FAQ’S, FBI (n.d.) [webpage] US Opens Counterintelligence Investigation into China Every 12 Hours (Dir. Wray), MSNBC (2022) [video] What We Know About China’s Spy Agency, Bloomberg Originals (2019) [video] Hollow Nickel/Rudolf Abel, FBI (n.d.) [Article] NCSC Mission, Vision, and Goals, ODNI (n.d.) [Website] Glossary: Counterintelligence: Information gathered, and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, disrupt, or protect against espionage or other intelligence activities FBI Attaché: a special agent assigned to a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas to liaise with local law enforcement and intelligence agencies. They pursue terrorist, intelligence, and criminal threats with international dimensions. Occam’s Razor: a rule of thumb theory that states when you are faced with competing explanations for the same phenomenon, the simplest one is probably the correct one. Attributed to William of Ockham, a 14th century English theologian. ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE*** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 14 Feb 2023 - 709 - "How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game" – with Mike Susong
Summary Mike Susong joins Andrew to discuss the impact and potential of AI on the intelligence field. Mike is a former CIA case officer who now oversees global intelligence for a risk management company. ***FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE HERE!*** What You’ll Learn Intelligence What AI is and why it matters How the Intelligence Community is using AI The pros and cons of AI for case officers in the field Ukraine - intersections between AI and OSINT AI in Alan Turing’s Imitation Game Reflections Replicants, machines and robots Will humans become obsolete? Notes Mike Susong (Website, LinkedIn) is an expert in the growing field of artificial intelligence. He joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss. ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE!*** *SpyCasts* From the CIA to Strategic Cyber -- with Hans Holmer (2022) So, I Design Board Games for the CIA... - with Volko Ruhnke (2022) CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer – with Mike Susong (Part 1 of 2, 2022) CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer – with Mike Susong (Part 2 of 2, 2002) The Cyber Zeitgeist – with Cyberwire Host Dave Bittner (2021) ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE!*** *Beginner Resources* Machine Leaning: Explain it to me Like I’m 5 Years Old, Bob Deprizio, Medium (2020) What is AI (Artificial Intelligence)?, Youtube (2019) [2 min. video] Singularity: Explain it to me Like I’m 5 Years Old, Roey Tzezana, Futurism (2017) [Article] Alan Turing: The experiment that shaped artificial intelligence, N. Sharkey, BBC (2012) [Article] Glossary: AGI: Artificial General Intelligence. The unrestricted ability of software to learn, understand, & respond to any intellectual task that a human being is capable of. ANI: Artificial Narrow Intelligence. The restricted ability of software to perform a limited subset of intellectual tasks. Deep Learning: a machine learning technique that teaches computers to learn by example, something that comes naturally for human beings. Machine Learning: The field of study interested in building computational systems that can improve their own performance of some task. Natural Language Processing: A field of study that aims to analyze and understand human language communications both spoken and textual. Uncanny Divide: Where people feel a sense of unease or revulsion in response to humanoid robots that are highly realistic. ***FULL RESOURCES AVAILABLE HERE!*** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 07 Feb 2023 - 708 - "The Lion and the Fox – Civil War Spy vs. Spy" – with Alexander Rose
Summary Alexander Rose (Website; Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss a gripping spy-vs-spy true story from the U.S. Civil War. He wrote the book that was the inspiration behind the hit TV-series TURN. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The secret plot to build a Confederate Navy Why Liverpool was so important to both the North and the South How Civil War espionage played out in Great Britain The high-level spy the South had in the British Foreign Office Reflections The birth of the Atlantic World The malleability of public opinion And much, much more … Episode Notes Liverpool. The city of the Beatles. The home of Liverpool F.C., winner of six European Cups. Did you know that there – thousands of miles away from the bloody battlefields of Fredericksburg, Shiloh, and Gettysburg – the U.S. Civil War played out? In fact, it was a key part of the strategies of both the North and the South since at that time it produced more ships than every other dockyard in the world combined. The North wanted to choke off the South, with the help of spies; but the South wanted to build a navy, with the help of spies. Who would prevail? This is the story of spy-vs-spy, North vs South, and Thomas Dudley vs James Bulloch. And… If this spy story makes you hungry for more, check out Alex’s historical espionage newsletter, Spionage. Quotes of the Week “If Dudley hadn't stopped Bulloch, or if Dudley hadn't existed and Bulloch created this massive fleet of blockade runners and had built more commerce raiders … You would've had a many more sinkings of American merchant vessels. You would've had larger inflows of arms and weapons into the South. The biggest change of all would've been that having the sea lanes open like that would've allowed the South to fight on much longer than it actually did.” Resources SURFACE SKIM Andrew’s Recommendation You must watch Ken Burns landmark documentary The Civil War; but, you must also read more recent commentary and critique – there’s even a whole book related to it. Headline Resource The Lion and the Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy, A. Rose (Mariner, 2022) *Beginner Resources* Civil War: Evolution of Espionage in America, INTEL.gov (n.d.) [digital exhibition] The History of Liverpool, Historic UK (2018) [webpage] Liverpool and the American Civil War, National Museums Liverpool (n.d.) [short article] British Support During the U.S. Civil War, LDHI (n.d.) [digital exhibit] DEEP DIVE *SpyCasts* George Sharpe and the BMI – Peter Tsouras (2019) Intelligence in the Early Republic – Ken Diagler (2015) The Beginnings of U.S. Overhead Reconnaissance – Jim Green (2014) Intelligence and Espionage in the U.S. Civil War - William Feis (2012) Books The Civil War Abroad, J. Priestley (McFarland, 2022) Cotton, Liverpool and the American Civil War, J. Powell, (LUP, 2020) Lincoln’s Spies, D. Waller (S&S, 2019) Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, K. Abbott (Harper, 2015) The Union and Confederate Navies, J. McPherson (University of North Carolina, 2012) The Civil War at Sea, C. Symonds (Oxford, 2012) Articles Liverpool, site of last surrender in US Civil War, S. Abdelaziz, CNN (2020) CSS Alabama: Lost and Found, Naval History & Heritage Command (2020) Primary Sources The Secret Service of the Confederate States in Europe, J.D. Bulloch (1882) Letter from J.D. Bulloch to General McRae et al (1865) Dudley Introduces Lincoln to a Liverpudlian Union Sympathizer (1863) Dudley’s Concerns About Southern Secession (1860) *Wildcard Resource(s)* You know Liverpool as the city of the Beatles. Did you know that The Beatles’ first single “Love Me Do” and James Bond’s debut movie “Dr. No” were released within a month of each other in 1962? And while none of the Beatles went on to become spies themselves, Ringo married Bond girl Barbara Bach in 1980 and Paul was behind the first rock Bond theme song, “Live and Let Die,” in 1973. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 31 Jan 2023 - 707 - “Code Name Blue Wren: Cuban Spy Ana Montes” - with Jim Popkin
Summary Jim Popkin (Twitter, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss America’s most damaging female spy, Ana Montes. Jim is a four-time recipient of the national Emmy Award for outstanding journalism. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How Ana Montes was recruited Her espionage at the heart of the Department of Defense Cuban intelligence tactics The molehunt to capture Montes Reflections The “City of Spies” Washington D.C. Betrayal and familial loss And much, much more … Episode Notes She’s “the most famous spy no one’s ever heard of” – Why? Clouded by the tragedy of 9/11, Ana Montes was arrested on suspicion of espionage on September 21, 2001, as the Twin Towers smoldered. She had been spying for Cuba for almost two decades, sending secrets from the heart of American intelligence to Fidel Castro’s regime. This week, author and investigative journalist Jim Popkin joins Andrew to discuss Ana Montes’ story framed by his new book, Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy—and the Sister She Betrayed. Jim debriefs us on how Ana was recruited, how she gathered and sent secrets, and how she ultimately the net closed in on her. And… The timing couldn’t be better to discuss Ana Montes’ story. Ana was released from prison two weeks ago on January 6th after serving 21 of her 25-year prison sentence. Why has Ana been released while fellow spies who caused tremendous damage, Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames, remain incarcerated? Tune into this week’s episode to find out! Quotes of the Week “There's a haunting message that the FBI found on her laptop from the Cubans that said, ‘Thank you so much for revealing [Redacted.] We are waiting for him here with open arms.’ So, she revealed the real name of someone who was headed to Cuba, the Cubans were aware of it, and, and they were, ‘waiting for him with open arms.’” – Jim Popkin. Resources Headline Resource Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy—and the Sister She Betrayed, J. Popkin (Hanover, 2023) *SpyCasts* “SPY@20: Spy of the Century Kim Philby” - With Curators Alexis and Andrew (2022) America's Most Damaging Russian Spy: FBI Agent Robert Hanssen – with Lis Wiehl (2022) Leningrad, Molehunts, and Life After the CIA – with Christopher Burgess (2021) FBI Special Agent Pete Lapp (2019) *Beginner Resources* Ana Montes: Cuban Spy, FBI History (n.d.) [Short Article] A Timeline of US-Cuba Relations, I. Roman, HISTORY (2021) [Timeline] The Evolving Motives of American Spies, N. Hunt, Washingtonian (2013) [Article] Books Castro’s Nemesis: True Stories of a Master Spy-Catcher, C. Simmons (Independently Published, 2022) American Spies, M. Sulick (GUP, 2013) True Believer: Inside the Investigation and Capture of Ana Montes, S. Carmichael (Naval Institute, 2009) United States-Cuban Relations: A Critical History, E. M. Dominguez (Lexington, 2008) Articles ”Ana Montes released from prison” C. Yilek, CBS News (2023) “A DC Resident Spied for Cuba for Years. How Did She Get Away With It?” S. McNamara, Washingtonian (2023) “Ana Montes: How Cuban spy used incredible memory to betray US” C. Bailey, BBC (2023) “How Spy Agencies Use American Universities to Secretly Recruit Students” D. Golden, Town & Country (2017) Video Traitors Within - Spies Who Sold Out America, YouTube (2018) The Two Faces of Ana: Model Employee/Cuban Spy, YouTube (2017) Primary Sources The Ana Montes Press Reports (various) Prisoner of Conscience: Ana Belen Montes is free! (2023) Scholars or Spies? House of Representatives Hearing (2018) Inspector General Review of Ana Montes Investigation (2005) Ana Montes Statement During Trial (2001) FBI Arrests DIA Employee (2001) *Wildcard Resource* “Lasso of Truth!” Wonder Woman’s secret power has a connection to the polygraph... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 24 Jan 2023 - 706 - From the Vault: “The Birth of American Propaganda” – A Conversation on Manipulating the Masses with John Hamilton
Summary John Hamilton (LinkedIn, Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Woodrow Wilson and the birth of American propaganda during WWI. He is a Professor of Journalism at Louisiana State University. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Propaganda as a form of covert action The history of the Committee on Public Information Woodrow Wilson & Intelligence Deception and mental manipulation Reflections There is nothing new under the sun...or is there? Life chapters in very different settings And much, much more … Episode Notes When the Committee on Public Information was created in April of 1917, the United States was but one week into the first World War. In fact, the Selective Service Act would not come about for another month after the organization of the CPI. Why was Woodrow Wilson so quick to establish a system of control over public opinion, and how successful was this endeavor? To answer these questions and more, author John Hamilton joins Andrew in a conversation about how propaganda and manipulation were used as a covert tactic during WWI and beyond. As John notes, “everything that’s done today can be traced to the CPI.” And… While the CPI formally existed for only a year, its impact and imagery has endured for over 100 years. For proof, look no further than the story of the iconic “I Want You!” poster of Uncle Sam. Quotes of the Week “You may not like the enemy, but the enemy and you are doing the same thing to manipulate people’s attitudes. And while you may think you have a just cause, your means are quite often the same – Right down to lying, and manipulation and coercion.” – John Hamilton. Resources Surface Skim Headline Resource Manipulating the Masses: Woodrow Wilson and the Birth of American Propaganda, J. Hamilton (LSU, 2020) *SpyCasts* The Third Option: US Covert Action with Loch Johnson, Part 1 (2022) The Third Option: US Covert Action with Loch Johnson, Part 2 (2022) Crossfire Hurricane: Trump, Russia & the FBI with Josh Campbell (2021) Intelligence and the Presidency with John Hedley (2008) *Beginner Resources* How Does Propaganda Work? A. Cuncic, VeryWell Mind (2022) [Article] Selling the War, The National WWI Museum and Memorial (2020) [6 min. Video] Committee on Public Information, R. McNamara, ThoughtCo (2019) [Article] Deeper Dive Books The Imposter’s War, M. Arsenault (Pegasus, 2022) This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality, P. Pomerantsev (PublicAffairs, 2020) The Fake News Panic of a Century Ago, L. Huebner (Cognella, 2020) Articles Ukraine’s Garwa Media Fights for Truth in Kharkiv, B. Dooley, Human Rights First (2023) The Espionage Act’s consitutional legacy, S. Bomboy, National Constitution Center (2022) Modern Political Propaganda Posters & the Principles of Art, B. Krudwig, ArtsHelp (2020) Video World War I: Its History and Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art (2017) Crackdown on Dissent, PBS Learning Media (n.d.) Primary Sources World War I Posters (1914-1920) The Sedition Act (1918) The Espionage Act (1917) To the Four Minute Men, George Creel (1917) Letter From Creel to President Wilson (1917) *Wildcard Resource* Check out the Mussolini funded movie Scipione L’Africano (1937) - an attempt to use the story of a legendary Roman general to justify the fascist regime and its ambitions in North Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 17 Jan 2023 - 705 - From the Vault: "The IRA, The Troubles & Intelligence" – with Eleanor Williams and Thomas Leahy
Summary Thomas Leahy (Website; LinkedIn) and Eleanor Williams (Website; Twitter) join Andrew to discuss the intelligence war during “the Troubles.” Thomas lives in Cardiff and Eleanor lives in Belfast. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The Troubles through the lens of intelligence Some key intelligence players in the Northern Ireland conflict How the IRA and the British Army adapted organizationally The role intelligence played in the end of the conflict Reflections The fluid nature of motivations and intentions How historic narratives shape and constrain the here-and-now And much, much more… Episode Notes From the late 60’s to the late 90’s Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries, and the British and Irish states, were engaged in a period known as “the Troubles”: a struggle to define or redefine the future of the island of Ireland. This is an issue with deep and complex roots, but the intelligence dimension of the period known as the Troubles is fascinating and often overlooked. To help us get our head around it all, Andrew sat down with two specialists to discuss all things intelligence and the Troubles: from the role that MI5 and MI6 played, to the Force Research Unit and the RUC Special Branch, through to how the IRA played the counterintelligence game and the role that informers, agents and moles, such as the notorious “Stakeknife,” played. Thomas is the author of the Intelligence War Against the IRA, while Eleanor is a doctoral candidate comparing intelligence use during the Northern Irish and Colombian conflicts. And… The head of the Republic of Ireland’s police and security intelligence force, the Garda Síochána, is Drew Harris. Drew Harris was a career Royal Ulster Constabulary officer whose father, also a career RUC officer, was killed by the IRA in 1989. He was the first external appointee from outside the Garda. Quote of the Week "What's their [IRA] main role in this intelligence conflict?...one of the key points here…the IRA was quite highly regional regionalized. That's actually quite key to explain why British intelligence had some difficulties against them…Initially, it was set up similar to armed forces. It would have brigades, battalions and companies…the IRA operated this kind of army structure up to 1975…the IRA then switched to this new strategy…And part of this was to prevent mass infiltration, which had started to become a problem, particularly in Belfast pre-1975. So, what it adopted in Belfast and Derry was a cell structure." – Thomas Leahy Resources Books The Intelligence War Against the IRA, T. Leahy (CUP, 2020) Britain’s Secret War Against the IRA, A. Edwards (Merrion, 2021) Thatcher’s Spy, W. Carlin (Merrion, 2019) The Accidental Spy, S. O’Driscoll (Mirror, 2019) Snitch! S. Hewitt (Continuum, 2010) Infiltrating the IRA, R. Gilmour (LB&C, 1998) Fifty Dead Men Walking, M. McGartland (Blake, 1997) Best Books on the Troubles (Five Books) Articles The Murky World of Spying During the Troubles, J. Ware, Irish Times (2017) Alternative Ulster: How Punk Took on the Troubles, T. Heron, Irish Times (2016) Audio MI5 Chameleon Infiltrated New IRA Documentary Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History, BBC (2019) The Spy in the IRA, BBC (2017) Web Operation Kenova MI5 in Northern Ireland Primary Sources IRA-MI6 Intermediary: Interviews with Brendan Duddy (2009) Good Friday Agreement (1998) Downing Street Declaration (1993) Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985) Thatcher Speech at Airey Neave Memorial (1979) IRA Green Book (1977) PM Wilson & Thatcher discuss N. Ireland (1975) Secret Meetings Between Government and IRA (1972) Senator E. Kennedy, Ulster is Britain’s Vietnam (1971) IRA Reports on Intelligence Informants (1922) W.B. Yeats, “Easter: 1916” (1921) Oral Sources Duchas Oral History Archive (2014) Wildcard Resource “Murals of Northern Ireland” (4500+ Photographs) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 10 Jan 2023 - 704 - From the Vault: "Black Ops: The Life of a Legendary CIA Shadow Warrior" - with Ric Prado
Summary Enrique “Ric” Prado (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his new memoir “Black Ops.” One of the most renowned CIA officers of his generation tells his story. Book You can buy Ric’s book, Black Ops, and support the International Spy Museum’s mission here. What You’ll Learn Intelligence His time as CIA Counterterrorist Chief of Operations which included 9/11 His career battling communist insurgents and Islamic terrorists on multiple continents His experience living in “Contra” camps during the Nicaraguan Revolution His time as Dep. Chief of Station and co-founding member of the Bin Laden Task Force Reflections Conquering your emotions to stay focused in a crisis His journey fleeing the Cuban Revolution as a young boy to CIA via USAF Pararescue And much, much more… Episode Notes Ric Prado spent twenty-four-years in the CIA – and what a twenty-four years it was. His first 36 months were in the jungles of Central America as the first CIA officer to live among the “Contras,” including a period with the Miskito Native people; indeed, the photos he took ending up on the desk of CIA Director Bill Casey. So, what was it like at the pointy end of the Reagan Doctrine’s anti-communist spear, or as CIA Counterterrorist Center Chief of Ops during 9/11? To find out, and to hear more about Ric’s storied career, Andrew sat down with him for this week’s episode. One of the meanings of the noun “legend” is “a story coming down from the past.” Many people who were in the business at the CIA and elsewhere will have heard the stories that come down from the past re Enrique “Ric” Prado, but now we all have a chance to hear Ric set the record straight in his own words. And… If Ric’s communist uncle hadn’t alerted the family that his school intended to send him off to the Soviet Union as a promising student for further education…if he hadn’t taken an Oceanography class at Miami Dade College and met someone who led him to USAF Pararescue…if he hadn’t been tipped off that he was to be killed in a Contra camp during the night and extricated himself from the situation…as Bob Dylan said, summing up so much of the human condition, “one more time, for a simple twist of fate.” Quote of the Week "The wiring was there and the mentoring from my dad…then the trip to the orphanage. And then definitely when I got into pararescue…being one of our special operations forces, the training is very, very intense…And making it through SERE school, making it through mountain climbing school. There's a certain level of conquering your emotions that you have to do…But I think that the most important thing was that I believed in what I was doing." – Ric Prado Resources SpyCast Episodes In the CT Center on 9/11, C. Storer A Life in the CIA, Hank Crumpton Interview with Cofer Black CT, Nicholas Rasmussen CT Strategy: P. Bergen & C. Costa Rethinking CT: J. Blazakis Books The Reagan Doctrine, J. Scott (DUP, 1996) The Real Contra War, T. Brown (UOP, 2001) Insurgency to Stability, “The Philippines,” Rabasa et al., (RAND, 2011) Shining Path’s Politics of War, C. Degregori (UWP, 2012) Red Revolution: Philippine Guerillas, G. Jones (Routeledge, 2019) The Shining Path, Starn & Serna (Norton, 2019) US Relations with Latin America (Five Books) Articles “Shining Path Leader Dead,” BBC (2021) “Nicaragua Veers to Dictatorship,” J. Cordoba, WSJ (2021) Documentaries Nicaragua Was Our Home (L. Shapiro, 1985) Ballad of the Little Soldier (W. Herzog, 1985) Primary Sources President Carter to Somoza (Brown, 1979) Reagan Covert Ops. Nicaragua (NSA, 1981) US Aid to Nicaragua (1982) Reagan Covert Ops. Nicaragua (Brown, 1983) Goldwater to Casey, “I’m Pissed Off” (Brown, 1984) Reagan State Of The Union (APP, 1985) Reagan Address Nicaragua (ReaganLib, 1986) Contras Lost Congress (WaPo, 1986) 25 Years of the NPA (Hartford, 1994) Wildcard Resource The Clash, Sandanista (Album, 1980) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 03 Jan 2023 - 703 - “The Third Option” – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson (Part 2 of 2)
Summary Loch Johnson (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss covert action aka “The Third Option.” He is the author of over 30 books on intelligence. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What is covert action Four types of covert action Foreign policy options: “War Power,” “Treaty Power,” and “Spy Power.” Examples of CA: Guatemala (1954), Indochina (1965), Afghanistan (2001), Iran (2020) Reflections Accountability The value of learning from past mistakes And much, much more … Episode Notes There is perhaps no better guest to join Andrew in this week’s exploration of covert action than Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia Loch Johnson. Loch’s latest book, The Third Option: Covert Action and American Foreign Policy, examines the history of the complicated and sometimes controversial usage of covert action by the U.S. international affairs. Loch’s decades-long career in foreign policy and intelligence has brought him to the forefront of some of the most seminal moments within US intelligence reform: he served as special assistant to the chair of the Church Committee, staff director of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence Oversight, and worked directly with the chair of the Aspin-Brown Commission. In this two-part episode of SpyCast, Andrew and Loch unpack what makes a covert action operation successful, and how we can learn from intelligence failures and past mistakes. And… How many people have a society named after them? Loch does! Quote of the Week "History doesn't like to be shaped, it has a power all of its own, but we try to shape it at least at the margins, and we do that through covert action, sometimes called the third option…and it really comes in four packages. Package number one is propaganda… And then comes political covert actions…Thirdly is economic covert action…And then fourthly, and most dramatically, are paramilitary operations. These are war-like activities." – Loch Johnson. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Featured Resource* The Third Option, L. Johnson (Oxford, 2022) *Beginner Resources* Covert Action, E. Rosenbach & A. Peritz, Belfer Center (2009) [Background Memo] Looking back at the Church Committee, National Constitution Center (2019) [Blog Post] The Iran-Contra Affair, B. Craig, The Miller Center (2017) [Article] *SpyCasts* The Spymaster’s Prism: CIA Legend Jack Devine (2021) First Casualty: Inside the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 (2021) Author Debriefing: The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service (2012) DEEPER DIVE Books A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA and Poland, S. Jones (W.W. Norton, 2018) The Church Committee Confronts America's Spy Agencies, L. Johnson (UP of Kentucky, 2015) The Brilliant Disaster: JFK, Castro, and the Bay of Pigs, J. Rasenberger (Scribner, 2012) Executive Secrets: Covert Action and the Presidency, W. Daugherty (UP of Kentucky, 2006) Covert Action, G. Treverton (1987) Articles The Disturbing Story Of The Heart Attack Gun Invented By The CIA During The Cold War, M. Dunn, All That’s Interesting (2022) Video Iran-Contra: Reagan’s Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power, US National Archives (2015) ‘Covert Action’ By U.S. To Assist Ukraine Could Be In Play, MSNBC News (2022) Primary Sources Commission on the U.S. Intelligence Community (1994-1996) Senate Select Committee with Respect to Intelligence Activities (1976) “Huge C.I.A. Operation Reported in U.S. against Antiwar Forces," S. Hersh, NYT (1974) FBI Records: COINTELPRO (1956-1971) Note on U.S. Covert Actions *Wildcard Resource* A 90s cartoon, evil beings threaten humanity, only the Wild C.A.T.s can save them: i.e., Covert Action Teams! “Covert action” as a concept has become part of the entertainment industry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 27 Dec 2022 - 702 - “The Third Option” – US Covert Action with Loch Johnson (Part 1 of 2)
Summary Loch Johnson (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss covert action aka “The Third Option.” He is the author of over 30 books on intelligence. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What is covert action Four types of covert action Foreign policy options: “War Power,” “Treaty Power,” and “Spy Power.” Examples of CA: Guatemala (1954), Indochina (1965), Afghanistan (2001), Iran (2020) Reflections Accountability The value of learning from past mistakes And much, much more … Episode Notes There is perhaps no better guest to join Andrew in this week’s exploration of covert action than Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia Loch Johnson. Loch’s latest book, The Third Option: Covert Action and American Foreign Policy, examines the history of the complicated and sometimes controversial usage of covert action by the U.S. international affairs. Loch’s decades-long career in foreign policy and intelligence has brought him to the forefront of some of the most seminal moments within US intelligence reform: he served as special assistant to the chair of the Church Committee, staff director of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence Oversight, and worked directly with the chair of the Aspin-Brown Commission. In this two-part episode of SpyCast, Andrew and Loch unpack what makes a covert action operation successful, and how we can learn from intelligence failures and past mistakes. And… How many people have a society named after them? Loch does! Quote of the Week "History doesn't like to be shaped, it has a power all of its own, but we try to shape it at least at the margins, and we do that through covert action, sometimes called the third option…and it really comes in four packages. Package number one is propaganda… And then comes political covert actions…Thirdly is economic covert action…And then fourthly, and most dramatically, are paramilitary operations. These are war-like activities." – Loch Johnson. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Featured Resource* The Third Option, L. Johnson (Oxford, 2022) *Beginner Resources* Covert Action, E. Rosenbach & A. Peritz, Belfer Center (2009) [Background Memo] Looking back at the Church Committee, National Constitution Center (2019) [Blog Post] The Iran-Contra Affair, B. Craig, The Miller Center (2017) [Article] *SpyCasts* The Spymaster’s Prism: CIA Legend Jack Devine (2021) First Casualty: Inside the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 (2021) Author Debriefing: The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service (2012) DEEPER DIVE Books A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA and Poland, S. Jones (W.W. Norton, 2018) The Church Committee Confronts America's Spy Agencies, L. Johnson (UP of Kentucky, 2015) The Brilliant Disaster: JFK, Castro, and the Bay of Pigs, J. Rasenberger (Scribner, 2012) Executive Secrets: Covert Action and the Presidency, W. Daugherty (UP of Kentucky, 2006) Covert Action, G. Treverton (1987) Articles The Disturbing Story Of The Heart Attack Gun Invented By The CIA During The Cold War, M. Dunn, All That’s Interesting (2022) Video Iran-Contra: Reagan’s Scandal and the Unchecked Abuse of Presidential Power, US National Archives (2015) ‘Covert Action’ By U.S. To Assist Ukraine Could Be In Play, MSNBC News (2022) Primary Sources Commission on the U.S. Intelligence Community (1994-1996) Senate Select Committee with Respect to Intelligence Activities (1976) “Huge C.I.A. Operation Reported in U.S. against Antiwar Forces," S. Hersh, NYT (1974) FBI Records: COINTELPRO (1956-1971) Note on U.S. Covert Actions *Wildcard Resource* A 90s cartoon, evil beings threaten humanity, only the Wild C.A.T.s can save them: i.e., Covert Action Teams! “Covert action” as a concept has become part of the entertainment industry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 20 Dec 2022 - 701 - “Spying and Start-Ups” – with former Assistant Director of the CIA John Mullen
Summary John Mullen (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his life and career. He was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. What You’ll Learn Intelligence How John was recruited Life as an adrenaline addict in the CIA Case officers vs. entrepreneurs How China spies on corporate America Reflections Atlantic vs. Pacific outlook Quantum And much, much more… Episode Notes The Pacific Theater of WWII was imprinted on John Mullen as a young boy. He grew up in Seattle on the West Coast and had family members who remembered Boeing factories under camouflaged nets. He had two family members who were killed in that theater in the 1940s. John went on to have a stellar CIA career - but one that always had an eye to the East. He went on the become the Assistant Director for Asia and the Pacific, leading all clandestine activity across this huge region, and spent time as a CIA Station Chief in the Far East. He has since co-founded his own firm and is currently engaged in protecting innovation at Strider Technologies as an Executive Vice President. Ever wondered what it’d be like to join the CIA or to leave it to work in corporate America? I have a feeling John might be able to help… And… Business intelligence, competitive intelligence, product intelligence, workforce intelligence: in case you haven’t noticed – intel is everywhere these days! Quote of the Week Honestly, in my 30 years, at CIA, there were probably less than two handfuls of days. I woke up and wasn't excited about going to work. – John Mullen. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Andrew’s Recommendation* The Pacific War, WELT (2021) [documentary] *Beginner Resources* What We Know About China’s Spy Agency, Bloomberg (2019) [4 min video] Start Ups Backed by the CIA and Pentagon, CB Insights (2016) [short web article] Brian Cox Explains Quantum Mechanics in 60 secs, BBC, (2014) [60 sec video] DEEPER DIVE *SpyCasts* CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer with Mike Susong, Part 1 (2022) CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer with Mike Susong, Part 2 (2022) From the CIA to Strategic Cyber with Hans Holmer (2022) My Global Career as a Female FBI Agent with Kathy Stearman (2021) Books China Unbound: A New World Disorder, J. Chiu (House of Anansi Press, 2021) Quantum Computing for Everyone, C. Berhardt (MIT, 2020) Chinese Espionage Operations and Tactics, N. Eftimiades (Vitruvian Press, 2020) Spies for Nimitz: Joint Military Intelligence in the Pacific War, J. Moore (Naval Institute Press, 2004) In Search of Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality, J. Gribbin (Bantam Books, 1984) Articles Chinese intelligence officer sentenced to 20 years in prison in espionage case, R. Legare, CBS News (2022) The World-Changing Race to Develop the Quantum Computer, S. Witt, The New Yorker (2022) Paradigm Shift: China’s State Capitalism Is Not Colliding With Its Technological Ambitions, Strider (2021) Video Made in Beijing: The Plan for Global Market Domination, FBI (2022) China's New Quantum Computing Breakthrough Shocks American Scientists, YouTube (2022) Seattle’s Waterway to the World, YouTube (2017) Primary Sources Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States (2022) The Information War in the Pacific, 1945, J. Williams (2002) The Art of China Watching, G. Solin (1996) *Wildcard Resource* The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains 26 military cemeteries and memorials in 17 different foreign countries around the world that honor Americans that served in World War I and World War II. If you have a family member buried abroad, you can utilize ABMC’s Burial Search to locate their records. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 13 Dec 2022 - 700 - “Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal & Love” – with Henry Schlesinger
Summary Henry Schlesinger (Rare Bird Books) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss two of the most mysterious and alluring forces in human history: sex and spying. He is a journalist and author proudly based out of NYC. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The impact of sexpionage on history Debunking common “honey trap” myths Examples of weaponized seduction and leveraged love Cyber honey traps and digital sexpionage Reflections Psychological implications of love and lies The relationship between pop culture myths and historical truth And much, much more … Episode Notes Sex. Espionage. Sometimes they both overlap by accident...but sometimes it's entirely intentional. From Samson and Delilah in the Bible to the Profumo Affair that rocked British society in the 1960’s, they are a heady and dramatic combination. But how is sex used in modern espionage? How do the professionals combine them, if indeed they do? What myths surround the use of both? How have men and women used sex and seduction to spy? To answer these questions and more, Andrew sat down with Henry Schlesinger to discuss his newest book, Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal, and Weaponized Love, which explores the fascinating relationship between sex and spying. And… You know about Benjamin Franklin in Paris as a “bon vivant, wily diplomat and aging lion,” but read Henry’s article about him as the “Founding Forger” engaged in disinformation and fake news during the Revolution! Quote of the Week “The thing about espionage is that it encompasses the best in human beings and the worst and everything in between.” – Henry Schlesinger. Resources SURFACE SKIM *Andrew’s Recommendation* “Security Implications of Polygraph Derived Homesexual Fantasies” See how much social mores have changed since 1985 *Featured Resource* Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal, and Love, Henry R. Schlesinger (Rare Bird, 2022) *Beginner Resources* The Stasi Spies Who Traded Sex for Secrets, Oliver Moody, The Times (2022) [Article] Romeo Spies, CIA (2018) [Article] The Brilliant MI6 Spy Who Perfected the Art of the ‘Honey Trap’, Hadley Meares, Atlas Obscura (2017) [Article] The History of the Honey Trap, Philip Knightly, Foreign Policy (2010) [Article] DEEPER DIVE *SpyCasts* Mata Hari, The Spy with Dr. Julie Wheelwright (2019) Sexpionage with H. Keith Melton (2009) *Books* The Last Goodnight: A World War II Story of Espionage, & Betrayal, H. Blum (Harper, 2017) In the Garden of Beasts, E. Larson (Crown, 2011) Stalin's Romeo Spy, E. Draitser (Northwestern, 2010) Femme Fatale: Love, Lies, and Mata Hari, P. Shipman (Harper, 2008) *Articles* MEA staffer ‘honey trapped’: What’s the role of sex in spying?, A. Bhaskar, The Indian Express (2022) The making of an iconic image: Christine Keeler, 1963, Victoria and Albert Museum (n.d.) Christine Keeler obituary: the woman at the heart of the Profumo affair, P. Sanford, The Guardian (2017) The Honeytrap That Ensnared One Marine in a Sexpionage Case, C. Burgess, ClearanceJobs (2022) How to Use Sex Like a Russian Spy, P. Sullivan, Foreign Policy (2010) *Video* Spy History: King Goujian and the Boiled Seeds (2021) [Short Story] Spies & Spymasters Happy Hour | Soviet Romeo Spy Dmitri Bystrolyotov (2020) [SPY Program] The Spy Who Loved Me: When East German Spies Broke Hearts In The Cold War (2017) [Documentary] *Primary Sources* Delilah Betrays Samson, Judges 16, The Bible Sexpionage: Why We Can't Resist Those KGB Sirens, M. Dobbs, The Washington Post (1987) CIA Cover Exposed in Ghana, S. Meddis, USA Today (1985) Spying Casts Shadow Over Talks, R. Beeston & B. Gertz, The Washington Times (1987) Soviets Still Employed at Embassy in Moscow, B. Gertz, The Washington Times (1987) Testimony of George Karlin aka Yuri Krotkov (1969) *Wildcard Resource* From Russia With Love (1963) Bond: Honey Trapped or Honey Trapper? A little bit of both! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 06 Dec 2022 - 699 - “The FBI & Cyber” – with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 2 of 2)
Summary Bryan Vorndran (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss how the FBI has adapted to the digital age. As Bryan says, “We are not your grandparents FBI.” What You’ll Learn Intelligence The evolution of the FBI and cyber Weakening cyber adversaries Motivations behind creating and distributing malware How to keep your information safe from cyber attacks Reflections Adapting to change within the intelligence field The value of a passionate and committed team And much, much more… Episode Notes When Bryan Vorndran attended the FBI Academy in 2003, cyber was not on his personal radar, nor was it on Quantico’s vigorous training schedule. Now, almost 20 years later, Bryan serves as the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division. What changed in those 20 years to bring Bryan to the forefront of the cyber battlefield, and how have the tactics and strategies used in this used in this field evolved alongside the ever-changing face of cyber? Tune into this week’s SpyCast episode to find out! The FBI has historically been associated with law enforcement and criminal justice. How does cyber fit into this world, and what is the FBI’s strategy for defending the country against cyber adversaries? And… Check out the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted list. A look through the details on each of these wanted posters can give you a better idea of the vast array of cyber-crimes committed around the world. Quotes of the Week “We will not arrest our way out of the ransomware problem. We are not going to arrest our way out of the Russia China Nation state cyber vector problem. Right? It's just not going to happen. But again, national tool power is something we will always do, but there has to be a way to degrade the ecosystem to make their life more challenging.” – Bryan Vordran. Resources *SpyCasts* Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization – with Eric Escobar, Part 1 (2022) Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization – with Eric Escobar, Part 2 (2022) From the CIA to Strategic Cyber - with Hans Holmer (2022) CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer – with Mike Susong (2022) Cyberattacks, Espionage & Ransomware – Inside Microsoft’s MSTIC (2021) The Cyber Zeitgeist – Cyberwire Host Dave Bittner (2021) *Beginner Resources* What is cybersecurity?, IBM (n.d.) [Article] How does Malware Work?, Peter Baltazar, Malware Fox (2021) [Article] Director Wray on FBI Cyber Strategy, FBI (2020) Books Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War, Fred Kaplan (Simon & Schuster, 2017) Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime, Brian Krebs (Sourcebooks, 2015) DarkMarket: How Hackers Became the New Mafia, Misha Glenny (Vintage, 2012) The FBI: A History, Rhodri Jefferys-Jones (Yale, 2007) Articles FBI: Beware of Cyber-Threat from Russian Hacktivists, Phil Muncaster, Info Security (2022) Web shell attacks continue to rise, Microsoft Security (2021) Thingbots: The Future of Botnets in the Internet of Things, Paul Sabanal, Security Intelligence (2016) Video Inside the FBI: Decoding the Cyber Threat (2022) Made in Beijing: The Plan for Global Market Domination (2022) FBI Oregon Cyber Jobs: Cyber Special Agent (2022) Life on an FBI Cyber Squad (2020) The Evolving Attack Surface (2020) Primary Sources Oversight of the FBI Cyber Division (2022) Sodinokibi/REvil Ransomware Defendant Extradited to United States and Arraigned in Texas (2021) Bryan A. Vorndran Named Assistant Director of the FBI Cyber Division (2021) The FBI’s Role in Cyber Security (2014) *Wildcard Resource* Quiz: Test your knowledge of the FBI in pop culture! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 29 Nov 2022 - 698 - “The FBI & Cyber” – with Cyber Division Chief Bryan Vorndran (Part 1 of 2)
Summary Brian Vorndran (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss how the FBI has adapted to the digital age. As Brian says, “We are not your grandparents FBI.” What You’ll Learn Intelligence The evolution of the FBI and cyber Weakening cyber adversaries Motivations behind creating and distributing malware How to keep your information safe from cyber attacks Reflections Adapting to change within the intelligence field The value of a passionate and committed team And much, much more… Episode Notes When Brian Vorndran attended the FBI Academy in 2003, cyber was not on his personal radar, nor was it on Quantico’s vigorous training schedule. Now, almost 20 years later, Brian serves as the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Cyber Division. What changed in those 20 years to bring Brian to the forefront of the cyber battlefield, and how have the tactics and strategies used in this used in this field evolved alongside the ever-changing face of cyber? Tune into this week’s SpyCast episode to find out! The FBI has historically been associated with law enforcement and criminal justice. How does cyber fit into this world, and what is the FBI’s strategy for defending the country against cyber adversaries? And… Check out the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted list. A look through the details on each of these wanted posters can give you a better idea of the vast array of cyber-crimes committed around the world. Quotes of the Week “We will not arrest our way out of the ransomware problem. We are not going to arrest our way out of the Russia China Nation state cyber vector problem. Right? It's just not going to happen. But again, national tool power is something we will always do, but there has to be a way to degrade the ecosystem to make their life more challenging.” – Bryan Vordran. Resources *SpyCasts* Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization – with Eric Escobar, Part 1 (2022) Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization – with Eric Escobar, Part 2 (2022) From the CIA to Strategic Cyber - with Hans Holmer (2022) CIA Case Officer, Cyber Entrepreneur, Burning Man Volunteer – with Mike Susong (2022) Cyberattacks, Espionage & Ransomware – Inside Microsoft’s MSTIC (2021) The Cyber Zeitgeist – Cyberwire Host Dave Bittner (2021) *Beginner Resources* What is cybersecurity?, IBM (n.d.) [Article] How does Malware Work?, Peter Baltazar, Malware Fox (2021) [Article] Director Wray on FBI Cyber Strategy, FBI (2020) Books Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War, Fred Kaplan (Simon & Schuster, 2017) Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime, Brian Krebs (Sourcebooks, 2015) DarkMarket: How Hackers Became the New Mafia, Misha Glenny (Vintage, 2012) The FBI: A History, Rhodri Jefferys-Jones (Yale, 2007) Articles FBI: Beware of Cyber-Threat from Russian Hacktivists, Phil Muncaster, Info Security (2022) Web shell attacks continue to rise, Microsoft Security (2021) Thingbots: The Future of Botnets in the Internet of Things, Paul Sabanal, Security Intelligence (2016) Video Inside the FBI: Decoding the Cyber Threat (2022) Made in Beijing: The Plan for Global Market Domination (2022) FBI Oregon Cyber Jobs: Cyber Special Agent (2022) Life on an FBI Cyber Squad (2020) The Evolving Attack Surface (2020) Primary Sources Oversight of the FBI Cyber Division (2022) Sodinokibi/REvil Ransomware Defendant Extradited to United States and Arraigned in Texas (2021) Bryan A. Vorndran Named Assistant Director of the FBI Cyber Division (2021) The FBI’s Role in Cyber Security (2014) *Wildcard Resource* Quiz: Test your knowledge of the FBI in pop culture! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 22 Nov 2022 - 697 - "Trafficking Data: The Digital Struggle – with China" with Aynne Kokas
Summary Aynne Kokas (LinkedIn; Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her book "Trafficking Data: How China is Winning the Battle for Digital Sovereignty." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 15 Nov 2022 - 696 - “Nazis on the Potomac” – with former National Park Service Chief Historian Bob Sutton
Summary Bob Sutton (LinkedIn; Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the mysterious intelligence site P.O. Box 1142. High-value Nazis were interrogated here during WWII. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The interrogation of top Nazis for intelligence The analysis of literally tons of captured German documents Refining ways to escape and evade Nazis in German occupied Europe The importance of intelligence on the German Army’s Order of Battle Reflections The National Park Service & History Politicizing Interpretation And much, much more… Episode Notes This week’s guest is the former Chief Historian of the National Park Service, Bob Sutton, and what a wonderful conversation we had. His book, Nazis on the Potomac: The Top-Secret Intelligence Operation that Helped Win WWII, tells the story of military intelligence facility P.O. Box 1142 – present day Fort Hunt, around 15 miles south of Washington DC.It was here, between 1942-1945, that around three and a half thousand high level German prisoners were interrogated, captured documents analyzed, and ways to help Americans escape and evade Nazis in occupied Europe studied. This story is particularly incredible, because many of the interrogators were German born Jews. This story was almost lost to history, but thankfully because of the NPS and Bob Sutton, it never will be. [Conflict of interest disclosure, Andrew has an “America the Beautiful” Annual Pass]. And… John W. Kluge arrived in the United States from Germany not speaking a word of English in 1922. He was 8 years old. He would go on to be the head of the Military Intelligence Research Section (MIRS) at P.O. Box 1142. After the war, he would go on to become the richest man in the United States. He was so appreciative of America, that he provided funds to Columbia University and The Library Congress to provide opportunities to future students and scholars. Andrew is a former John W. Kluge Fellow at the Library of Congress and therefore a direct recipient of his philanthropy for which he is grateful. Quote of the Week "Doing what we did at Fort Hunt is actually fairly unusual, where we didn't know the story. We were able to locate people, we were able to get money, we could actually interview everybody that we found…That's relatively unusual." – Bob Sutton Resources SURFACE SKIM *Andrew’s Recommendation* Oral History Interview with John W. Kluge, NPS Some fascinating budgets on how his time in intelligence informed his business practices *Featured Resource* Nazis on the Potomac: The Top-Secret Intelligence Operation that Helped Win WWII, B. Sutton (Casemate, 2022) *Beginner Resources* POWs and Intel at Fort Hunt in WWII, NPS (n.d.) [web article] P.O. Box 1142, Top Secret Heroes, YouTube [3 min video] History Series (GS-0170) Federal Jobs, [career article] DEEPER DIVE *SpyCasts* “The Beverley Hills Spy” – with Seth Abramovich (2022) Books Richie Boy Secrets, B. Eddy (Stackpole, 2021) Escape and Evasion, P. Froom (Schiffer, 2015) The History of Camp Tracy, A. Corbin (Zeidon, 2009) Articles P.O. Box 1142, The Mysterious WWII Installation, SOF (2022) MIS-X: Escape and Evasion in WWII, N. Nix, Patch (2011) Moving Image Fort Hunt Up to WWII, R. Sutton, C-SPAN (2022) Richie Boys, 60 Minutes (2022) The New Americans: The Immigrants who Served, U.S. Holocaust Museum (2020) Primary Sources “Red Book”: Order of Battle of the German Army (1945) Oral Sources Oral History Interview with Rudolph Pins (2006) Oral History Interview with Silvio Bedini (2007) Oral History Interview with Paul Fairbrook (2008) Oral History Collections Fort Hunt Oral History Project, P.O. Box 1142 *Wildcard Resource* H. Res. 753 A Resolution on P.O. Box 1142 from the 110th Congress “Whereas” is utilized to great effect to tell the story with great aplomb! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 08 Nov 2022 - 695 - “Baseball & Espionage” –with World Series Champion Ryan Zimmerman & Marc Polymeropoulos (Part 2 of 2)
Summary Ryan Zimmerman (MLB Stats; Wikipedia) and Marc Polymeropoulos (Twitter; LinkedIn) join Andrew to discuss intelligence and America’s pastime. From the SpyCast Field of Dreams. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Sign-stealing and codebreaking Glue guys and teamwork Ethics in baseball and espionage Clutch and pinch hitters in espionage and baseball Reflections Daring to fail Stepping up to the plate of life And much, much more… Episode Notes Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack. Few things in the world compare to sitting back, putting your feet up, and cracking open a cold one while watching the World Series. For the 2021 World Series Marc joined us for a fantastic discussion on the links between baseball and espionage. How do we top that? A baseball fanatic ex-CIA officer? Why, how about getting a first-round draft pick, World Series Champion with over 6500 at-bats? Done! Enter Ryan Zimmerman, Mr. National! Ever wondered about signs-stealing, how to run a baseball counterintelligence operation, or what some of the many, many links are between baseball and espionage? You’ve come to the right place for a discussion that goes to the bottom of the ninth inning over a two-episode conversation. Ryan played for the Nationals from 2005, when he was a first-round draft pick, through to 2021, when his #11 jersey was retired. He is an ex- All-Star, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner, and 2019 World Series Champion. Marc is a highly decorated former CIA operations officer who specialized in counterterrorism, the Middle East, and South Asia. Prior to his retirement, he served at CIA headquarters in charge of clandestine operations in Europe and Eurasia. He is the author of the 2021 book, “Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA.” And… “Big Data” is upending many fields, not least baseball and espionage. Gaining a competitive edge is central to both activities, the big argument is about how much “soul” is lost along the way. The Houston Astros have been a lighting-rod team, whose “smart and modern” or “cold and cynical” approach has been discussed at Penn's Wharton School of Business and in the pages of the Harvard Business Review. Quotes of the Week "I think “Dare to Fail” is enormous. I would want you to put me up at the bases load in the bottom of the ninth. I'll take it every single time. Even if I feel like I have zero chance, I want to be there." - Ryan Zimmerman "You know, you have to have that mentality in these professions." - Marc Polymeropoulos Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* Moneyball, M. Lewis (W.W. Norton, 2004) Love it or hate it, this is the first port of call for any reckoning of baseball and analytics. *SpyCasts* “Baseball & Espionage” – with Marc Polymeropoulos (2021) *Beginner Resources* Spy Agencies Struggling in Age of Big Data, A. Zegart, Wired (2022) [article] Baseball Analytics for the Casual Fan, Simple Sabermetrics (2020) [7 min video] Beginners Guide to Baseball Analytics, N. Allen, Fansided (2018) [article] Best Baseball Analytics Resources, Simple Sabermetrics (2022) Books Spies, Lies and Algorithms, A. Zegart (PUP, 2022) The Catcher Was a Spy: Moe Berg, N. Dawidoff (Pantheon, 1994) Articles Baseball and Cybersecurity, S. Handler, Atlantic Council (2020) Baseball’s Rude Welcome to Age of Cyberespionage, N. Paine, 538 (2015) The Man Who Remade Basketball, M. McCluskey, Wired (2014) Baseball on Exhibit: Musuems in the SABR Era, Z. Jendro, SABR (2011) Video Lessons from the CIA’s Analytic Front-Lines, B. Pease, JHU (2022) Sabermetrics 101: Baseball Analytics, A. Andres, Talks at Google (2016) CIA’s Chief Information Officer - Advanced Analytics, D. Wolfe, O’Reilly (2015) Primary Sources The PC Goes to Bat (1984) *Wildcard Resource* Get “Analytics Certification” from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) - which is where the term “sabermetrics” comes from! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 01 Nov 2022 - 694 - “Baseball & Espionage” –with World Series Champion Ryan Zimmerman & Marc Polymeropoulos (Part 1 of 2)
Summary Ryan Zimmerman (MLB Stats; Wikipedia) and Marc Polymeropoulos (Twitter; LinkedIn) join Andrew to discuss intelligence and America’s pastime. From the SpyCast Field of Dreams. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Sign-stealing and codebreaking Glue guys and teamwork Ethics in baseball and espionage Clutch and pinch hitters in espionage and baseball Reflections Daring to fail Stepping up to the plate of life And much, much more… Episode Notes Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack. Few things in the world compare to sitting back, putting your feet up, and cracking open a cold one while watching the World Series. For the 2021 World Series Marc joined us for a fantastic discussion on the links between baseball and espionage. How do we top that? A baseball fanatic ex-CIA officer? Why, how about getting a first-round draft pick, World Series Champion with over 6500 at-bats? Done! Enter Ryan Zimmerman, Mr. National! Ever wondered about signs-stealing, how to run a baseball counterintelligence operation, or what some of the many, many links are between baseball and espionage? You’ve come to the right place for a discussion that goes to the bottom of the ninth inning over a two-episode conversation. Ryan played for the Nationals from 2005, when he was a first-round draft pick, through to 2021, when his #11 jersey was retired. He is an ex- All-Star, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner, and 2019 World Series Champion. Marc is a highly decorated former CIA operations officer who specialized in counterterrorism, the Middle East, and South Asia. Prior to his retirement, he served at CIA headquarters in charge of clandestine operations in Europe and Eurasia. He is the author of the 2021 book, “Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA.” And… “Big Data” is upending many fields, not least baseball and espionage. Gaining a competitive edge is central to both activities, the big argument is about how much “soul” is lost along the way. The Houston Astros have been a lighting-rod team, whose “smart and modern” or “cold and cynical” approach has been discussed at Penn's Wharton School of Business and in the pages of the Harvard Business Review. Quotes of the Week "I think “Dare to Fail” is enormous. I would want you to put me up at the bases load in the bottom of the ninth. I'll take it every single time. Even if I feel like I have zero chance, I want to be there." - Ryan Zimmerman "You know, you have to have that mentality in these professions." - Marc Polymeropoulos Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* Moneyball, M. Lewis (W.W. Norton, 2004) Love it or hate it, this is the first port of call for any reckoning of baseball and analytics. *SpyCasts* “Baseball & Espionage” – with Marc Polymeropoulos (2021) *Beginner Resources* Spy Agencies Struggling in Age of Big Data, A. Zegart, Wired (2022) [article] Baseball Analytics for the Casual Fan, Simple Sabermetrics (2020) [7 min video] Beginners Guide to Baseball Analytics, N. Allen, Fansided (2018) [article] Best Baseball Analytics Resources, Simple Sabermetrics (2022) Books Spies, Lies and Algorithms, A. Zegart (PUP, 2022) The Catcher Was a Spy: Moe Berg, N. Dawidoff (Pantheon, 1994) Articles Baseball and Cybersecurity, S. Handler, Atlantic Council (2020) Baseball’s Rude Welcome to Age of Cyberespionage, N. Paine, 538 (2015) The Man Who Remade Basketball, M. McCluskey, Wired (2014) Baseball on Exhibit: Musuems in the SABR Era, Z. Jendro, SABR (2011) Video Lessons from the CIA’s Analytic Front-Lines, B. Pease, JHU (2022) Sabermetrics 101: Baseball Analytics, A. Andres, Talks at Google (2016) CIA’s Chief Information Officer - Advanced Analytics, D. Wolfe, O’Reilly (2015) Primary Sources The PC Goes to Bat (1984) *Wildcard Resource* Get “Analytics Certification” from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) - which is where the term “sabermetrics” comes from! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 25 Oct 2022 - 693 - From the Vault: “On the Streets, Location Unknown” - CIA Operator Karen Schaefer (Part I)
Andrew Hammond shares an encore episode From the Vault. From counternarcotics to counterterrorism, from Latin America to the Middle East, and from the back streets of a warzone to the center of events in Washington DC – Karen Schaefer has had, how should we say, an “eventful” career as an intelligence officer. Charming, smart, thoughtful, and you haven’t even met Karen yet…but seriously, it was a pleasure to talk to this week’s guest who had all of those qualities, and more; so enjoyable it will be released as a double-header. This week, Part I focuses on her time as an operator; while Part II focuses on her time as a “serial collaborator” who worked with Special Operations, the FBI, and the NSC. Stay tuned… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 18 Oct 2022 - 692 - “Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization” – with Eric Escobar (Part 2 of 2)
Summary Eric Escobar (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss compromising networks and information security. He has a coveted DEFCON Black Badge. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What keeps Eric up at night Thinking like an ethical hacker (aka a “penetration tester) Protecting your information (i.e., “Hardening the attack surface”) Plain English explanations of key cyber concepts like “Kill Chains” and “Zero Days” Reflections Having a cool job The information revolution and life in the modern world And much, much more… Episode Notes Eric Escobar commits several thousand felonies on any given day, if he didn’t have permission to do what he was doing. A Principal Security Consultant with SecureWorks, Eric has compromised pretty much everything out there: from healthcare and banking to technology and critical infrastructure, through to amusement parks and next generation military aircraft. “From my perspective, it’s the coolest job in the entire world.” His team consecutively won first place in the Wireless CTF category at DEF CON 23, 24, and 25, snagging a Black Badge along the way. He has a BS and MS in Civil Engineering. And… The links between computing, hacking and the 60’s counterculture are FASCINATING. Learn more by dipping your toes here and here, or dive deeper with What the Dormouse Said (2005) by John Markoff and From Counterculture to Cyberculture (2006) by Fred Turner. Quote of the Week "Watching any critical infrastructure get compromised is really the thing that keeps me up at night because lives are in the balance…and we do a lot of testing for critical infrastructure, and I've seen computers and machines that have been online and not been taken offline, longer than I've been alive…So really interesting to see those types of things because they interact with really big, expensive hardware…there's a catch 22 that happens where you can't really take the machine offline to do maintenance on it because it's critical infrastructure. So then how do you test it to make sure that a hacker can't take it offline, or maintenance can't be done on it? " – Eric Escobar. Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* Word Notes From beginner thru advanced, you’ll find some helpful definitions of things like “Web 3.0,” “NFT’s” and “Digital Transformation” on this Cyberwire audio glossary. *SpyCasts* Inside Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) – with John Lambert and Cristin Goodwin (2021) The Cyber Zeitgeist – with Dave Bittner (2021) Securing Cyberspace – with Charlie Mitchell (2016) *Beginner Resources* What is Hacking? The Economic Times (n.d.) [web] Ethical Hacking in 8 Minutes, Simplilearn (2020) [8 min video] Cybersecurity in 7 minutes, Simplilearn (2020) [7 min video] Books The Cyberweapons Arms Race, N. Perloth (Bloomsbury, 2021) Cult of the Dead Cow, J. Menn (PublicAffairs, 2020) Breaking & Entering, J. Smith (Mariner Books, 2019) The Art of Invisibility, K. Mitnick (L, B & C, 2017) Ghost in the Wires, K. Mitnick (Back Bay Books, 2012) Kingpin, K. Poulson (Crown, 2012) The Cuckoo’s Egg, C. Stoll (Doubleday, 1989) Neuromancer, W. Gibson (Ace, 1984) Articles 2022 State of the Threat: A Year in Review, Secureworks (2022) The Anthropology of Hackers, The Atlantic (2010) Timeline Since 2006: Significant Cyber Incidents, CSIS (n.d.) Documentary DEFCON, The Documentary Network (2013) Resources Government Hacking Bibliography, S. Quinlan, New America Foundation (2016) *Wildcard Resource* “The Aurora Shard” Come to the International Spy Museum to see an ugly chunk of metal. Why? Well, it speaks to a revolution in the relationship between the material world and the non-material world. Broken down? 30 lines of code blew up a 27-ton generator. Zeros and ones can cause violent explosions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 11 Oct 2022 - 691 - “Sure, I Can Hack Your Organization” – with Eric Escobar (Part 1 of 2)
Summary Eric Escobar (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss compromising networks and information security. He has a coveted DEFCON Black Badge. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What keeps Eric up at night Thinking like an ethical hacker (aka a “penetration tester) Protecting your information (i.e., “Hardening the attack surface”) Plain English explanations of key cyber concepts like “Kill Chains” and “Zero Days” Reflections Having a cool job The information revolution and life in the modern world And much, much more… Episode Notes Eric Escobar commits several thousand felonies on any given day, if he didn’t have permission to do what he was doing. A Principal Security Consultant with SecureWorks, Eric has compromised pretty much everything out there: from healthcare and banking to technology and critical infrastructure, through to amusement parks and next generation military aircraft. “From my perspective, it’s the coolest job in the entire world.” His team consecutively won first place in the Wireless CTF category at DEF CON 23, 24, and 25, snagging a Black Badge along the way. He has a BS and MS in Civil Engineering. And… The links between computing, hacking and the 60’s counterculture are FASCINATING. Learn more by dipping your toes here and here, or dive deeper with What the Dormouse Said (2005) by John Markoff and From Counterculture to Cyberculture (2006) by Fred Turner. Quote of the Week "Watching any critical infrastructure get compromised is really the thing that keeps me up at night because lives are in the balance…and we do a lot of testing for critical infrastructure, and I've seen computers and machines that have been online and not been taken offline, longer than I've been alive…So really interesting to see those types of things because they interact with really big, expensive hardware…there's a catch 22 that happens where you can't really take the machine offline to do maintenance on it because it's critical infrastructure. So then how do you test it to make sure that a hacker can't take it offline, or maintenance can't be done on it? " – Eric Escobar. Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* Word Notes From beginner thru advanced, you’ll find some helpful definitions of things like “Web 3.0,” “NFT’s” and “Digital Transformation” on this Cyberwire audio glossary. *SpyCasts* Inside Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) – with John Lambert and Cristin Goodwin (2021) The Cyber Zeitgeist – with Dave Bittner (2021) Securing Cyberspace – with Charlie Mitchell (2016) *Beginner Resources* What is Hacking? The Economic Times (n.d.) [web] Ethical Hacking in 8 Minutes, Simplilearn (2020) [8 min video] Cybersecurity in 7 minutes, Simplilearn (2020) [7 min video] Books The Cyberweapons Arms Race, N. Perloth (Bloomsbury, 2021) Cult of the Dead Cow, J. Menn (PublicAffairs, 2020) Breaking & Entering, J. Smith (Mariner Books, 2019) The Art of Invisibility, K. Mitnick (L, B & C, 2017) Ghost in the Wires, K. Mitnick (Back Bay Books, 2012) Kingpin, K. Poulson (Crown, 2012) The Cuckoo’s Egg, C. Stoll (Doubleday, 1989) Neuromancer, W. Gibson (Ace, 1984) Articles 2022 State of the Threat: A Year in Review, Secureworks (2022) The Anthropology of Hackers, The Atlantic (2010) Timeline Since 2006: Significant Cyber Incidents, CSIS (n.d.) Documentary DEFCON, The Documentary Network (2013) Resources Government Hacking Bibliography, S. Quinlan, New America Foundation (2016) *Wildcard Resource* “The Aurora Shard” Come to the International Spy Museum to see an ugly chunk of metal. Why? Well, it speaks to a revolution in the relationship between the material world and the non-material world. Broken down? 30 lines of code blew up a 27-ton generator. Zeros and ones can cause violent explosions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wed, 05 Oct 2022 - 690 - “The Past 75 Years” – with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones
Summary Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (Website; Wikipedia) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his book. He has studied American intelligence for 50 years. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The CIA and the American presidents they served The founding of the CIA just as America became a global superpower Pearl Harbor, the USSR and covert action under Eisenhower Assassinations, controversy, the Church Committee, and 9/11 Reflections How much of the future can we predict Intention in history And much, much more… Episode Notes This week’s guest, Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones, is Emeritus Professor of American History at the University of Edinburgh. He has been studying American intelligence for half a century and has written a history of the CIA to coincide with its 75th anniversary, entitled: A Question of Standing. This episode with Rhodri is a counterpoint to last week’s episode with Robert Gates: a career historian and a career intelligence officer; a European and an American; a 70,000 feet view and a 30,000 feet one. Interestingly, they were born continents apart within almost a year of each other. Rhodri is the author of over a dozen books, has a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, and grew up in Harlech, Wales. And… Harlech, Wales, where Rhodri grew up, has the steepest street in the Northern Hemisphere. The steepest street in the Southern Hemisphere, and the world according to Guinness Records, is in Dunedin, New Zealand (Dunedin is Gaelic for Edinburgh). The steepest street in the continental United States is Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh (to celebrate its Welsh heritage the Steel City has a St. David’s Society). Espionage in Welsh is ysbïo. Quote of the Week "CIA can't afford to rest on its laurels and continue with systems it has. It has to change all the time." – Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* “Documents on Origins of CIA,” Truman Library [pdf] *SpyCasts* “The 75th Anniversary” – with Robert Gates (2022) *Beginner Resources* History of CIA, CIA (n.d.) [web] A Brief History of US-Iran Relations, ABC News (n.d.) [video] CIA Involvement in 1953 Iranian Coup, CNN (n.d.] [video] Iran & Guatemala, 1953-4, NYT (2003) [article] Books Covert Action & USFP, L. Johnson (OUP, 2022) A Brief History of the CIA, R. Immerman (Wiley, 2014) The [Dulles] Brothers, S. Kinzer (St. Martin’s, 2014) Mighty Wurlitzer: How CIA Played America, H. Wilford (HUP, 2009) Countercoup: Struggle for Iran, K. Roosevelt (McGraw-Hill, 1979) Articles 64 Years Later CIA Releases Details of Iranian Coup, B. Allen-Ebrahimian, FP (2017) Video “The Nazi Spy Ring in America,” R. Jeffreys-Jones, SPY (2021) “Secrecy, Democracy & the Birth of the CIA,” H. Wilford, Great Courses (n.d.) Photo “The 1953 Iranian Coup,” Radio Free Europe Archives (2013) Documentary The Spymasters, Showtime (2015) CIA: Secret Wars, Part 1, Roche (2003) CIA: Secret Wars, Part 2, Roche (2003) Curatorial Pocket History of CIA, CIA (2014) Primary Sources History Staff Analysis: CIA & Guatemala Assassination Proposals, 1952-4 (1995) Iran 1953: Transcript of Interview with MI6 Officer Norman Darbyshire (1985) DCI Dulles to President Eisenhower (1953) Telegram from CIA to Station in Iran (1953) Telegram from Station in Iran to CIA (1953) Monthly Report, Directorate of Plans, CIA (1953) Memo from Deputy Director for Plans (Wisner) to DCI Dulles (1953) National Security Act (1947) Website Intelligence Milestones During Eisenhower Administration, Eisenhower Library (n.d.] *Wildcard Resource* Tom Paine (Common Sense, 1776), Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America, 1835) and Mork from Ork (Mork & Mindy, 1978-82) are all outsiders, like Rhodri, looking in. What can each of them tell us about the United States? What can they tell us that people born within an ecosystem can’t? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 27 Sep 2022 - 689 - “The 75th Anniversary of the CIA” – with former Director Robert Gates
Summary Robert Gates (Website; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to reflect on the 75th Anniversary of the CIA. He served 8 U.S. presidents. What You’ll Learn Intelligence His reflections on the CIA at 75 How the CIA’s story intersected with his own His take on the organization’s strengths and weaknesses The complex intl. environment the CIA must now help America navigate Reflections Twists of fate Identity and institutions And much, much more… Episode Notes Robert M. Gates is the first career officer in the CIA’s history to rise from entry level employee to Director. He spent 27 years at CIA, nine of those at the NSC. More recently, he was the first Secretary of Defense to be asked to remain in office by a newly elected president. In all, he served 8 presidents. Wouldn’t you love to know his take on the CIA at 75? Well, we’ve made that happen for you! He was born in Wichita, Kansas, served in the U.S.A.F. and he received his undergraduate education at William & Mary, his masters from Indiana University, and his doctorate from Georgetown University. He was formerly the President of Texas A&M University and the current Chancellor of William & Mary. And… The academic institutions Dr. Gates has been associated with all have quite different capacities of football stadium: Georgetown University’s Cooper Field can hold 3,750; William & Mary’s Zable Stadium can hold 12,259; Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium can hold 52,626; and Texas A&M’s Kyle Stadium can hold a whopping 102,733. What could we infer about Dr. Gates, college sports, or the United States from this information? Well, that would be thinking like an intelligence analyst. Quote of the Week "I've led four very big, very different institutions and like all of them I always saw where places where CIA could be better. But I always loved the place, and I always was proud to work there and proud of the people that I knew…they were probably the smartest, most honest people I've ever met and worked with." – Robert Gates. Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* “Reorganization in the Intel. Community,” DCI Gates (1992) Watch this prescient clip on historical naivete, or if you’re hardcore, the entire congressional testimony *SpyCasts* “Dealing with Russia” – with Jim Olson (2022) “I was a Presidential Daily Briefer on 9/11” – with Mike Morell (2021) *Beginner Resources* History of CIA, CIA (n.d.) [website] CIA Director’s Portrait Gallery, CIA (n.d.) [online gallery] Impact of President G.H.W. Bush’s Foreign Policy, MSNBC (2018) [13 min. video] At 75, CIA Back Where it Started, Countering Kremlin, G. Myre, NPR (2022) [5 min. audio] Books Spymasters: CIA Directors, C. Whipple (S&S, 2020) Duty, R. Gates (Vintage, 2015) [Def. Sec. memoir] A World Transformed, Bush & Scowcroft (Knopf, 1998) From the Shadows, R. Gates (S&S, 1996) [CIA memoir] Power & Principle, Z. Brzezinski (FS&G, 1983) [Gates was Z.B.’s Special Asst. at the NSC during the Carter era] Articles A More Realistic Strategy for the Post-Cold War Era, R. Gates, WaPo (2022) Creation of the Central Intelligence Group, M. Warner, SII (1996) Video Legacy of the G.H.W.B. Administration, CFR (2016) Book Talk: From the Shadows, R. Gates, C-Span (1996) Documentary The Spymasters, Showtime (2015) Curatorial Pocket History of CIA, CIA (2014) Primary Sources Biden Speech on 75th Anniversary of the CIA (2022) Robert Gates on CIA and Openness (1992) Nomination of Gates to be DCI (1991) Adm. Roscoe, First CIA Director Dies (1982) CIA Review of the World Situation (1947) Lester to Truman re Centralized Intelligence (1947) National Security Act (1947) *Wildcard Resource* North by Northwest (Hitchcock, 1959) We hear the first explicit mention of “CIA” in a major movie “FBI. CIA. ONI. We’re all in the same alphabet soup.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 20 Sep 2022 - 688 - "CIA Reports Officer, Russian Yacht Watcher, Satirist” – with Alex Finley
Summary Alex Finley (Twitter; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss life as a CIA Reports Officer turned author. She lives in Barcelona. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Her take on CIA analysts vs. case officers Information and disinformation in fact and fiction Ukraine, the 2016 election and the Russian historical playbook The regularity even mundanity of much of daily intelligence life Reflections Being an American in Barcelona Viewing your own country from outside the goldfish bowl And much, much more… Episode Notes Alex Finley spent 6 years in the CIA as a Reports Officer - whom she describes as a bridge between the case officers and analysts. She is author of a trilogy of novels on the exploits of fictional CIA officer Victor Caro. Her most recent book, Victor in Trouble, completes the series (…or does it?) by looking at Russian influence operations and the contemporary intelligence landscape through a satirical lens. She now lives in Barcelona, Spain - and yes, apparently it’s as awesome as it sounds! – and she is the voice behind #YachtWatch, which tracks and exposes the activities of Russian oligarchs and their superyachts. And… Satire is often described as fitting into three categories: Horatian, which offers light comedy and social commentary (e.g., Pride & Prejudice, Parks & Rec, The Colbert Report); Juvenalian, a darker and more abrasive take that can often take the form of speaking truth to power (e.g., Animal Farm, American Psycho, South Park) and Menippean, which casts moral judgement on beliefs or generic character flaws (e.g., Alice in Wonderland, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Saturday Night Live). Which one does Alex use? Quote of the Week "There, there were points where I found myself in the middle of nowhere, West Africa. And there are these moments where…how did I end up here? This makes zero sense. And then there were the bureaucratic Catch-22s." – Alex Finley. Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* Who are the Russian Oligarchs? (2022) A great visulacapitalist.com infographic - but if you want to go understand how they can afford their superyachts, start here *SpyCasts* CIA Officers Turned Authors – David McCloskey & James Stejskal (2022) NSA, CIA, Author - Alma Katsu (2021) Victor in the Rubble – Alex Finley (2016) *Beginner Resources* A Brief History of Spy Fiction, Stella Rimington, Crime Reads, (2018) [short essay] An Introduction to Satire, Jackson School District (n.d.) [2-page guide] Russia’s Top Five Disinformation Narratives, State (2022) [webpage] Books Victor in Trouble, A. Finley (Smiling Hippo, 2022) The Revenge of Power, M. Naim (St. Martin’s, 2022) Active Measures, T. Rid (Picador, 2021) The Misinformation Age, C. O’Connor & J. Weatherall (YUP, 2020) Victor in The Jungle, A. Finley (Smiling Hippo, 2019) Victor in The Rubble, A. Finley (Smiling Hippo, 2016) Great Spy Stories from Fiction, A. Dulles (Harper, 1969) Articles The Russian Firehose of Falsehood, C. Paul & M. Matthews, RAND (2016) Yellow Journalism, PBS (n.d.) Videos The Spy Writers You Love to Read, SPY (2019) Russian Active Measures: Past, Present & Future, CSIS (2018) The Strategy Behind Russia’s Disinformation Campaigns, DW News (n.d.) Meet the KGB Spies Who Invented Fake News, NYT (n.d.) Reports Combatting Targeted Disinformation Campaigns, DHS (2019) Primary Sources Disinformation: Russian Active Measures, Senate Intelligence Committee (2017) KGB Active Measures in SW Asia in 1980-82, Wilson Center Primary Source Collections Rumor Control Project Documents, Library of Congress *Wildcard Resource* A Clockwork Orange (1962) [novel] A short, sharp satire that ruminates on the nature of society and free will – it will stay with you for a long time to come Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 13 Sep 2022 - 687 - "The Counterterrorism and Counter WMD Strategist" – with Dexter Ingram.
Summary Dexter Ingram (LinkedIn; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his varied career. He has a very cool private collection of spy gadgets. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What spy gadget he would save if his house were on fire How the hunt for a spy artifact “gets his blood pumping” Using intelligence to achieve concrete policy objectives His preference for Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) while working with international partners Reflections Vulnerability and trust Building and leveraging relationships And much, much more… Episode Notes Dexter Ingram is the Acting Director at the Office of the Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and in his spare time a passionate collector of intelligence artifacts and gadgets. He has performed a variety of roles at the Department of State – he was on a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan, he was a Counterterrorism Coordinator at Interpol in Lyon, France, and has a deep interest in counterterrorism, counterproliferation and WMD. He was formerly a Naval Flight Officer and White House Intern with the US Navy and has studied at Hampton University, University of Oklahoma, and the National Defense University. In part of our ongoing effort to look at consumers of intelligence as well as producers - i.e., who eats the sausages as well as who makes them - we touch on the various parts of Dexter’s career that intersect with intelligence. And… Hampton University, where Dexter studied for his undergrad, is one of over 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) in the United States. It sits near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay (incidentally on the same peninsula as “The Farm,” a covert training facility for CIA operations officers). Many leaders of the black community have attended HBCU’s, such as Booker T. Washington (Hampton), W.E.B. Du Bois (Fisk), Martin Luther King (Morehouse), Jesse Jackson (North Carolina A&T), and Kamala Harris (Howard). Quote of the Week "It's about real people. These are real gadgets better than the movies. It gets my blood pumping." – Dexter Ingram on collecting artifacts. Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* “Shall We All Commit Suicide?” (1924) One of Churchill’s most powerful and prophetic essays on the destructive powers unleashed by modern science *SpyCasts* Spy of the Century Kim Philby & Artifacts (2022) ISIS Leader Al Mawla – Part 1 (2022) ISIS Leader Al Mawla – Part II (2022) Intelligence and the WMD Fiasco (2008) *Beginner Resources* 100 Years of Intl. Police Cooperation, Interpol (2014) [video] Our History, Interpol (n.d.) [website] Nuclear Proliferation & Nonproliferation: What you Need to Know, CFR (2019) [video] Books The Terror Years: Al Qaeda to ISIS, L. Wright (Penguin, 2017) Black Flags: Rise of ISIS, J. Warrick (Doubleday, 2015) Policing the World: Interpol, M. Anderson (Clarendon, 1989) Articles “Islamic State’s Khorasan Vision in Asia,” L. Webber & R. Valle, The Diplomat, (2022) “Red Notices,” Interpol (n.d.) Video Deadly Evolution of Nuclear Weapons, Tech Insider, YouTube (2017) Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty: What you Need to Know, CFR (2015) [video] Sailing in the Sea of OSINT, S. Mercado, CSI (2004) Documentary Nuclear Tipping Point, NTI, YouTube (2010) Interactives A Guide to Open-Source Nuclear Detection Work, NTI (2020) Resource sites OSINT Techniques Primary Source Collections Historical Documents, Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) *Wildcard Resource* A BBC News Program and Nuclear War (2019) “Today” is Britain’s highest profile current affairs radio program, and it has been on air since 1958 - a few consecutive days without it and Britain could launch a nuclear counterstrike. Read more here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 06 Sep 2022 - 686 - “POW’s, Vietnam and Intelligence” – with Pritzker Curator James Brundage
Summary James Brundage (LinkedIn; Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss prisoners-of-war and intelligence. He is the Curator at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago. What You’ll Learn Intelligence The intelligence dynamics of “prisoners-of-war” Tap codes and other ways to covertly communicate Using POWs for propaganda Debriefing POWs after their release Reflections Comparing across time (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc.) Comparing within time (German/Japanese/American POW camps during WWII) And much, much more… Episode Notes What intelligence questions are generated when we discuss “prisoners of war”? The prisoner’s side asks: what happened? Are they alive? If so, where? What did they know? Can they compromise operations? Can we get them out? The other side asks: what do they know? Can they tell us anything we don’t know? Are they misleading us? The prisoner asks: where are we? Are there any friendlies? Can we share information to escape? To answer these questions, this week’s guest is James Brundage who curated the May 22-Apr 23 exhibit, “Life Behind the Wire: POW” which explores life in captivity. He is a public historian who has also worked at the Obama Presidential Library, the Chicago History Museum & the James Garfield Historic Site. And… Jeremiah Denton Jr. was shot down while leading an attack over North Vietnam in 1965 and the title of his memoir, When Hell Was in Session, gives you an idea of what he endured during his captivity. As part of a propaganda campaign, the North Vietnamese arranged for him to be interviewed by a Japanese reporter. Hi blinked T-O-R-T-U-R-E in Morse code. Needless to say, the intelligence community took great interest in the video footage. He passed away in 2014. Quote of the Week "So roughly 1% of the POW population perished in Europe at the hands of the Germans versus in Japan…the death rate was almost 40%. A lot of that was the conditions of the camp…in Vietnam, of the more than 700 American POWs, there were 73 who perished in POW camps in North Vietnam, which is roughly 10%." – James Brundage Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* The Railway Man: A POW’s Searing Account, E. Lomax (Norton, 2014) A powerful, powerful memoir. Lomax had nightmares about his WWII experience for over half a century. *SpyCasts* Operation Chaos – Matthew Sweet (2018) Eavesdropping in Vietnam – Tom Glenn (2012) Studies & Observations Group – Donald Blackburn (2012) Intelligence Lessons from Vietnam – Rufus Phillips (2009) *Beginner Resources* The Vietnam War Explained in 25 Minutes, The Life Guide (n.d.) ([video] Intelligence in the Vietnam War, Vietnam War 50th [posters] POW’s: What You Need to Know, ICRC (2022) [webpage] Books Spies on the Mekong, K. Conboy (Casemate, 2021) War of Numbers, S. Adams (Steerforth, 2020) Tap Code, C. Harris & S. Berry (Zondervan, 2019) Articles Meet the Hero: Douglas Hegdahl, Milliken Center (n.d.) OSS’s Role in Ho Chi Minh’s Rise, B. Bergin, SII 62/2 (2018) Intel. Support to Comms. with POWs in Vietnam, G. Peterson & D. Taylor, SII 60/1 (2016) Takes on Intelligence and the Vietnam War, C. Laurie, SII 55/2 (2011) Documentaries The Vietnam War, K. Burns & L. Novick (2017) The Fog of War, R. McNamara (2003) Hearts & Minds, P. Davis (1974) Oral Histories Veterans History Project Vietnam POW Interviews, U.S.N.I. Primary Sources POW/MIA Closed Briefing, DD CIA (1991) Report on US-Vietnamese Talks on POW/MIAs (1985) Causes, Origins & Lessons of the Vietnam War (1972) The POW Scandal in Korea (1954) *Wildcard Resource* Interestingly, philosophers Ludwig Wittgenstein, John Paul Sartre, Paul Riceour, Emmanuel Levinas and Louis Althusser were all POWs – now, the impact this had on their thinking would be one hell of a rabbit hole to go down! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 30 Aug 2022 - 685 - “The Beverly Hills Spy” – with The Hollywood Reporter’s Seth Abramovitch
Summary Seth Abramovitch (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the British war-hero who spied on behalf of the Japanese during Hollywood’s Golden Age. This is a story-and-a-half, by jingo! What You’ll Learn Intelligence How a British war-hero became a spy for the other side Japanese espionage in Tinseltown How the story involves Boris Karloff, Charlie Chaplin and Yoko Ono’s father The spy ring’s activities before and after Pearl Harbor Reflections Playing the game for yourself vs. for a country or a cause Hubris & Nemesis And much, much more… Episode Notes Sqn. Ldr. Frederick Rutland, AM, DSC and Bar, was the first person to fly a seaplane from a ship in history. He was also the first man to spot the German fleet from his seaplane, thereby precipitating the largest naval battle of the First World War, the Battle of Jutland. After leaving the military because of indiscretions with a fellow officer’s wife, he tries to live an ordinary vanilla life, but still craves his action-packed days of old…ultimately, he is approached by the Japanese to spy on their behalf, which leads him to relocate to LA during the Golden Age of Hollywood. To discuss this doozy of a story, I am joined by Seth Abramovitch from The Hollywood Reporter – i.e., the definitive interpretive voice of the entertainment industry – where he has worked for ten years. And… There are some incredible Hollywood movies from the interwar period, capturing some of the tension and suspicion of the era, as well as the faint drumbeat of approaching war. Hitchcock alone had, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), The 39 Steps (1935), Sabotage (1936), and Foreign Correspondent (1940). Major stars of the era such as Marlene Dietrich, Great Garbo, and Madelaine Carroll helped solidify the spy genre with movies such as Dishonored (1931), Mata Hari (1931), and I Was a Spy (1933). Don’t forget Fritz Lang’s Spione (1928), which has been called a, “marvel of narrative economy in montage.” Quote of the Week "At the very bottom of the list, it would be any kind of allegiance to any flag, because he's quick to offer to turn on Japan when push comes to shove at the very end of the whole story. I don't think he was doing it for any kind of nationalism or political, viewpoint. I think if anything he was apolitical." – Seth Abramovitch. Resources Headline Resources “Beverley Hills Spy” Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter (2022) Andrew’s Recommendation Reel vs. Real CIA – The Americans, Argo, Black Panther, and the Good Shepherd *SpyCasts* “Russia Upside Down” – with Creator of The Americans Joe Weisberg (2022) “The Courier” – the Director’s Take with Dominic Cooke (2021) “Hollywood Spies” – with Jonna Mendez (2020) “U.S. Naval Intelligence in WWII” – with Rear Admiral Donald Mac Showers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginner Resources Spy for Japan, T. Bradbeer, Historynet (2022) [webpage] The Pacific War, WELT (2021) [video] FBI Raid Japanese Spy Network in LA, Smithsonian Channel (2019) [video] Books Intelligence & the War Against Japan, R. Aldrich (CUP, 2000) The Emperor’s Codes, M. Smith (Bantam, 2000) Articles “Agent Shinkawa Revisited,” R. Drabkin & B. Hart, IJIC, 35/1 (2022) The 1924 Law That Slammed the Door on Immigrants, Smithsonian Magazine (2020) Washington Naval Conference, 1921-22, Historian, State Dept. (n.d.) Russo-Japanese War, 1904-5, Historian, State Dept. (n.d.) Primary Sources “Security Service Files, Frederick Rutland” – National Archives (U.K.): 1924-1933 1933-1935 1935-1936 1935-1937 1937-1941 1941 1941-1942 1942 1942-1943 1943-1944 *Wildcard Resource* Reel-vs-Reel How Hollywood compares to the real CIA The Americans Argo Black Panther The Good Shepherd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 23 Aug 2022 - 684 - “The Information Battlespace” – Foreign Denial and Deception with Bill Parquette
Summary Bill Parquette (LinkedIn; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Denial and Deception. They discuss examples such as D-Day, the Yom Kippur War, and the Persian Gulf War. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Denial and deception – what it is and why it matters Key examples of denial and deception Detecting denial and deception operations How to avoid seeing monsters everywhere Reflections How to counter denial and deception in everyday life (children, salespeople, etc.) Stumbling into new roles in new fields And much, much more… Episode Notes Sun Tzu said, “all warfare is based on deception” and so much of the natural world is also based on denial and deception: camouflage, feigning, mimicry, distraction. It is also a feature of our daily 21st century lives: spyware, trojan horses, catfishing, and spear phishing. With this week’s guest we look at the Denial and Deception Committee, which aimed to discover and mitigate foreign denial and deception operations against the U.S. by coordinating efforts throughout the IC. Bill Parquette was a former Chair of the Committee. He joined the Committee in 2002 and left in 2015. He was formerly a Lt. Col. In the U.S. Army, starting his career with 10 years in the 82nd Airborne, and is currently Professor of Practice at Penn State University. And… The episode looks at deceiving others but the human capacity for self-deception and denial is VAST – from head in the sand, plugging your ears, living in denial, willful ignorance, and cognitive dissonance through to doublethink. Quote of the Week "If I have an audience of one or 100, I ask does anyone have children? And the hands get raised. And then I said, okay, did you teach your child deception or denial? And of course not. Do they conduct denial or deception? And they all said yeah, it's throughout nature, it's throughout society…it's a natural thing to deny. I didn't mom I didn't take that cookie." – Bill Parquette Resources Headline Resources Bill Parquette’s list of of acronyms and sources “Countering Foreign Denial & Deception – Rise of Fall of a Discipline” – J. Bruce, Studies in Intelligence, 64/1 (2020) “Denial & Deception Issue,” American Intelligence, 32/2 (2015) Andrew’s Recommendation “D-Day Would be Nearly Impossible to Pull Off Today,” D. Lupton, WaPo (2019) *SpyCasts* “Deceiving the Iraqis in Operation Desert Storm” – with BGen Tom Draude (2013) “Agent Garbo” – with Stephan Talty (2012) “Identity, Espionage and Social Media” – with Thomas Ryan (2011) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginner Resources Deception at D-Day, Army Uni. Press (2022) [video] The True Story of the D-Day Spies, BBC (2014) [video] Operation Bodyguard Map, Eisenhower Foundation (n.d.) [map] Books History of the National Intelligence Council, Hutchings &. Treverton, eds. (OUP, 2019) Practice to Deceive, B. Whaley (NIP, 2016) The Watchman Fell Asleep, U. Bar-Joseph (SUNY, 2005) The Deceivers, T. Holt (Scribner, 2004) Deception 101, J. Caddell (Army War College, 2004) Strategic Denial and Deception, Godson & Wirtz eds. (Transaction, 2002) Deception in War, J. Latimer (Overlook, 2001) Videos The War in October, Al Jazeera (2013) Primary Sources US-PLO Contacts During War, Oct 26, 1973 Secretary’s Staff Meeting, Oct 23, 1973 Sadat - Speech Calling for Arab-Israeli Peace Conference, Oct 16, 1973 Arab-Israel Tensions – Quandt to Scowcroft, Oct 6, 1973 Ultra – Marshall to Eisenhower, Mar 15, 1944 Overall Deception Policy, Jan 22, 1944 Deception Operations Around England, Dec 18, 1943 Overlord Cover Operation, Nov 20, 1943 *Wildcard Resource* Movies to explore on deception include Deception (1946), The Sting (1973), The Usual Suspects (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), Female Agents (2008) and Operation Mincemeat (2021), Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 16 Aug 2022 - 683 - “CIA Officers Turned Authors” – with David McCloskey & James Stejskal
Summary David McCloskey (Twitter; Website) and James Stejskal (Twitter; LinkedIn) join Andrew to discuss writing about espionage. They are both former intelligence officers. What You’ll Learn Intelligence What it is like writing spy fiction as a former practitioner How fact informs fiction Writing as a former analyst compared to as a former operator (James) Reactions by the intelligence community to practitioners-turned-authors Reflections The heaven and hell of being an author The process of getting a process And much, much more… Episode Notes Hear two intelligence formers discuss life as current novelists. Where does fact end, and fiction begin when you are a former CIA officer writing fiction? What parts of your own story bleed into the novel? Are the characters composites of people you knew in your line of work or are they entirely fictional? To answer these questions and more, this week, I sat down with David McCloskey, former CIA analyst and author of Damascus Station, a book David Petraeus described as “the best spy novel I have ever read,” and James Stejskal, author of Appointment in Tehran, which has been called “a textbook clandestine operation involving…US Army Special Forces and a clandestine CIA Case Officer,” which James would know something about, since he was both. And… Spy fiction received quite the blow in the space of a 6-month period (Dec 2020-May 2021) which saw the passing of both John Le Carre and Jason Matthews, two formers who served in British and American intelligence. Le Carre was in MI5 and MI6 while Matthews had a long career in the CIA. David and James join a distinguished cast of formers who became novelists, including Ian Fleming, Graham Greene and Dame Stella Rimington. Quote of the Week "There are far more edits on, short articles I wrote that weren't even going to the president than on the book, so your writing is being critiqued at all levels. I I think when I did write for the PDB [Presidential Daily Brief], I don't think I'm making this up, I believe it was 9 or 10 layers of review. You could probably argue that sometimes that makes it worse, but you have to be able at all stages to roll with the punches and to write and to try to make things very clear." – David McCloskey. Resources Headline Resources Damascus Station, D. McCloskey (2021) Appointment in Tehran, J. Stejskal (2021) Andrew’s Recommendation The Looking Glass War, J. Le Carre (1965) Le Carre doubles down on disabusing the public’s romanticization of intelligence *SpyCasts* “Snake Eaters, Detachment A, CIA” – James Stejskal (2022) “American Spy” – Lauren Wilkinson (2021) “Red Widow” – Alma Katsu (2021) “American Traitor” – Brad Taylor (2021) “The Evolution of Spy Fiction” - Wesley Wark (2011) Beginner Resources 15 Best Espionage Novels, M. Warwick, Mal Warwick On Books (2022) [article] Novelists Who Became Spies, C. Cumming, Crime Reads (2019) [article] Best Spy Novels According to a Spy, A. Katsu, Crime Reads (2021) [article] Books Missions of the SOE and OSS in WWII, J. Stejskal (Casemate, 2021) Special Forces Berlin, J. Stejskal (Casemate, 2017) On Writing, S. King (Scribner, 2010) Spy Fiction, Spy Films & Real Intelligence, W. Wark (Routledge, 1991) Articles Nine Examples of Spy Fiction Books, Masterclass (2021) How to Write a Spy Thriller, Masterclass (2021) How End of Cold War Changed Spy Fiction, J. Ciabattari, BBC Culture (2014) Videos All the Old Knives, O. Steinhauer, SPY (2022) Spy Writing in the Real World, Hayden Center (2021) The Spy Writers You Love to Read, SPY (2020) Primary Sources American Observer, CIA (1970) Barry Farber Show, CIA (1970) *Wildcard Resource* The Riddle of the Sands, E. Childers (1903) An early spy novel that presaged the anti-German “spy fever” that struck allied countries before and during WWI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 09 Aug 2022 - 682 - “Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer” – with Janosh Neumann
Summary Janosh Neumann (LinkedIn; Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss life in the FSB. He was born in the Soviet Union to parents in the “business.” What You’ll Learn Intelligence Why Jan defected to the United States How you get recruited and trained as a Russian intelligence officer What it is like to recruit and run agents in Moscow His take on what he did for the Russian state Reflections Learn to connect with anybody Making a life-changing and potentially life-ending decision And much, much more… Episode Notes Have you ever wondered how a Russian intelligence officer is trained? Ever wondered what it would be like to be a defector? Ever wondered what it’d be like to be given three choices, shoot yourself, get shot, or go on the run? If so, you’ll enjoy this week’s episode with Jan Neumann, who was born Alexy Yurievich Artamonov in the former Soviet Union. Jan’s father was a KGB internal affairs officer, and he would go on to join one of its successors, the FSB, or Federal Security Service, in which his wife also served. He speaks about a number of projects he is involved in, here in the States, where he now resides. And… Jan is the Co-Founder of RealSpyComics, which will be the first independent comic publisher dedicated to telling true intelligence stories. The International Spy Museum is a partner on this venture, because if there is one thing, we have a lot of – its spy stories! Quote of the Week "I'm not a big fan of ballet, but one of my sources was a big ballet fan. So, I had to go to the Bolshoi Theater, watch this again, and again, and again, I had to do some learning to be able to talk to the guy. And same thing was happening with the art as well. so going to some galleries and talk to the people, be sure that they're using at least same terminology as they are, to be able in the future to support the conversation, be interesting to this person whom you're trying to approach." – Janosh Neumann Resources Headline Resources Russian Spy, American Defector: with Janosh Neumann, YouTube, 2020 “Almost American, 1-5,” Aftershock Comics (2021-22) Andrew’s Recommendation Russian Intelligence, K. Riehle (NIU, 2022) [download entire book here for free) *SpyCasts* “Dealing with Russia” – Jim Olson (2022) “KGB Spy & NCIS Agent” – Jack Barsky & Keith Mahoney “The Spymaster’s Prism” – Jack Devine (2021) “The Corrupted State” – Ilya Zaslavskiy (2016) Beginner Resources Introduction to the Three Main Arms of Russian Intelligence, Globe & Mail (n.d.) [video] Putin, Power & Poison: Russia’s Elite FSB Spy Club, BBC (2018) [article] From Spy to President: Rise of Putin, Vox (2017) [video] Federal Security Service (FSB), Britannica (n.d.) [article] Books Putin’s People, C. Belton (William Collins, 2021) Return of the Russian Leviathan, S. Medvedev (Polity, 2019) Near & Distant Neighbors, J. Haslam (FS&G, 2016) The New Nobility, A. Soldatov & I. Borogan (Public Affairs, 2010) Memoirs Spymaster: My 32 Years in Espionage Against the West O. Kalugin (Basic, 2009) Special Tasks: A Soviet Spymaster, P. and A. Sudoplatov (Little Brown, 1994) Articles How Two Russian Defectors Helped the FBI, B. Denson, Newsweek (2016) Russian Defectors in Oregon, C. McGreal, Guardian (2015) Videos Lubyanka Federation: How the FSB Determines the Politics and Economics of Russia, Atlantic Council (n.d.) Washington Station: My Life as a KGB Spy, Y. Shvets, C-Span (1995) Primary Source Collections [All Wilson Center] Intelligence Operations in the Cold War The Mitrokhin Archive The Vassiliev Notebooks *Wildcard Resource* KGB Members from Ahmed to Yuri, courtesy of Marvel Comics! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 02 Aug 2022 - 681 - “The Spies Who Came in From the Cold” – with Chris Costa and John Quattrocki at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago
Summary Chris Costa (LinkedIn; Website) and John Quattrocki (LinkedIn; Website) join Andrew to discuss coming in from the Cold War. They both had long illustrious careers in intelligence. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Two Cold War intelligence experiences Two perspectives on the U.S. intel. community in the 80’s & early 90’s Two reflections on the art and science of counterintelligence Two perspectives on serving on the National Security Council Reflections Career bookends “Inadequate war termination” And much, much more… Episode Notes The Windy City Episode. The Pritzker Military Museum and Library (PMML) in Chicago is well worth a visit. Located on Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan – there’s three additional attractions right there – you will not be disappointed. SPY teamed up with PMML to put on what would become this week’s episode. To discuss coming in from the Cold War intelligence landscape, Executive Director of SPY Chris Costa and AFIO board member John Quattrocki sat down for a panel discussion with Andrew. Chris, a former intelligence officer of 34 years with 25 of those in active duty in hot spots such as Panama, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, is also a past Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the NSC. John retired from the Senior Executive Service (SES - 4) as a Special Agent of the FBI with 19 years of operational experience against the Soviet Union/Russia, the Warsaw Pact, East Asia, Islamic extremist groups, and domestic terrorism. He also served on the NSC as the Director of Counterintelligence Programs. And… Pritzker Military Museum & Library’s mission is to “increase the public’s understanding of military history.” The International Spy Museum’s mission is to “educate the public about espionage and intelligence.” As you can see, then, in the military-intelligence-espionage national security continuum, we are pretty much as good a partnership as it gets. Quote of the Week "The government has seen the counterintelligence (CI) resources as a kind of a human capital escrow account to draw on for other elements to the government. And in, so doing, we have started to lend our CI bodies to the private sector. So, we are providing indirect cost support to the private sector for their CI responsibilities, rather than causing them to acquit all their own CI responsibilities." – John Quattrocki "I was not entirely satisfied with the idea of being between wars, because we were trained as infantry men. Our job was to prepare to go to war. And then I said, you know what? I wanna fight against our adversaries on a different plane, multilevel chess, if you will. And that's what brought me into the intelligence business." – Chris Costa Resources Headline Resource Video of the live event featuring Chris & John at PMML in Chicago, YouTube *SpyCasts* "The FBI Way" - Frank Figliuzzi (2021) “Army Intelligence” –Mary Legere (2016) “The CI Professional” – John Schindler (2016) Beginner Resources Cold War Overview, Khan Academy (n.d.) HUMINT vs. Counterintelligence, Clearance Jobs (2020) Books To Catch a Spy, J. Olson (GUP, 2019) U.S. Army CI Handbook (Dept. of Army, 2013) Double Cross, B. McIntyre (Crown, 2013) Articles The Best Books on Counterintelligence, J. Olson, Shepherd (n.d.) An Anatomy of Counterintelligence, A.C. Wasemiller, SII (1994) Terms & Definitions of CI, FAS (2014) Website Counterintelligence, FBI Primary Sources National CI Strategy, 2020-22 (2020) The Spy Who Loved Her (1994) A Review of US CI (1986) Church Committee Report (1976) Summary of the “CIA Family Jewels” (1975) *Wildcard Resource* “Gerontion,” T.S. Elliott (1920) This poem is the origin of the phrase often associated with CI: “the wilderness of mirrors.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 26 Jul 2022 - 680 - SPY@20 – “The Spy of the Century” – Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby
Summary Alexis Albion (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Kim Philby using some of his personal belongings as prompts. This episode on the Soviet mole inside MI6 coincides with SPY’s 20th Anniversary. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Why Philby has been called “The Spy of the Century” Philby the man, the ideologue, the spy, and the traitor Philby’s corrosive effect on Cold War British and American intelligence The cultural blind spot that allowed him to hide in plain sight then ride a storm of suspicion Reflections Psychological complexity and contradiction Social stratification And much, much more… Episode Notes The Cambridge Five are some of the most notable and notorious traitors in British history, and among them one man stands out in a way that has led some to call him, “The Spy of the Century,” MI6 officer Kim Philby. How did a quintessential Englishman who came from the “right” stock and went to the “right” schools become a Soviet mole? How did a genial chum come to haunt the corridors of British and American intelligence like a ghastly apparition? Dr. Alexis Albion is this week’s guest and the Curator of Special Projects at the International Spy Museum. She was formerly on the 9/11 Commission Report, the World Bank and the U.S. Department of State. In this is a first of a kind podcast, Alexis and Andrew sat down with some of Philby’s personal belongings drawn from our world-leading collection of artifacts on espionage and intelligence. And… Harold Adrian Russell Philby acquired the nickname “Kim” from the main character in Rudyard Kipling’s novel Kim, an orphan-boy-cum-spy in British India. Kim and Philby also have the Punjab in common, the novel begins in Lahore and Philby was born in Ambala, although the historic region was partitioned between Pakistan and India in 1947. The drive between Lahore and Ambala is roughly similar to that between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Quote of the Week "So why is he The Spy of the Century? Maybe the fact that he's not identified with any particular event or set of information [e.g., unlike Julius Rosenberg], but he's identified with this idea of betraying his Englishness is perhaps why he's been such a lasting figure because he almost is a touchpoint for the history of the 20th century and England. Great Britain's demise is a great power." Resources *Andrew’s Recommendation* My Five Cambridge Friends, Y. Modin (FS&G, 1994) A one-time KGB handler of the Cambridge 5 reflects on each of them as spies and as individuals *SpyCasts* Stalin’s Englishman: Guy Burgess – with Andrew Lownie (2016) The British the Joint Intelligence Committee – with Mike Goodman (2014) The Real History of MI6 – with Keith Jeffrey (2010) The Cambridge 5 – with Nigel West (2009) *Beginner Resources* Facts About Kim Philby, J. Hayes, Factinate (n.d.) Reading Material Culture [i.e., objects] (2020] India’s Partition in Pictures, BBC (n.d.) Books Spies & Traitors, M. Holzman (Pegasus, 2021) A Spy Among Friends, B. McIntyre (Crown, 2015) Kim, Rudyard Kipling (1901) Articles The Punjab Partition, S. Sultan, LSE (2018) Philby & Mistrust, M. Gladwell, New Yorker (2014) Documentary Why Was India Split into Two Countries, H. Roy, TED-Ed, YouTube (n.d.) MI6 Agent Turned Russian Spy, Philby, Timeline, YouTube (n.d.) Primary Sources Philby, I Spied for Russia from 1933 (1967) My Silent War, K. Philby (1967) The Disappearance of Kim Philby (1963) Kim Philby (Peach): File 1 (1951-52) Constituent Assembly of India (1946) Primary Source Collections Indian Independence & Partition, UK National Archives *Wildcard Resource* Surnames & Social Mobility in England, 1230-2012 So, you thought social mobility in England has changed significantly since the Norman Conquest almost 1000 years ago – well, yes, and NO! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 19 Jul 2022 - 679 - “Dealing with Russia” – A Conversation with Counterintelligence Legend Jim Olson
Summary Jim Olson (Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Putin and Russia. He had a 31-year career with the CIA including a tour in Moscow. What You’ll Learn Intelligence His views on Russia and its trajectory since the Cold War’s end His frank assessment of Putin and admiration for the Russian people His time in Moscow with 3 rotating KGB teams surveilling him His time as Chief of Station in the city of spies Vienna Reflections A “beautiful marriage” with American technology Passing the generational baton And much, much more… Episode Notes “James Olson is a legend in the clandestine service,” not my description of this week’s guest, but that of former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Jim spent 31 years in the CIA, including tours in Moscow, Vienna & Mexico City, and rose to become Chief of CIA Counterintelligence. He is the author of Fair Play and To Catch a Spy. He joined Andrew to speak about Russia. He speaks the language, spent time living and working in the country, where he was involved in one particularly daring operation that he shares with us in the episode, and he faced off against the organization that would go on to become the current SVR and FSB – the KGB. Jim has had Vladimir Putin on his radar for many a year, and he doesn’t pull any punches reflecting on his trajectory in this episode. And… Jim grew up in a small town in Iowa where, “we didn’t really follow international affairs, we joked among ourselves…if it didn’t affect the price of corn, we weren’t really interested.” My, how things changed for Jim. Quote of the Week "I have tremendous respect for the Russian people. They are long suffering. I've gotten to know many Russians. I've worked with a lot of Russians. I found them to be people who had a real soul. They had a human qualities that I could admire, but they were locked into a repressive regime that did not allow them to express any of those human sentiments that that they felt." – Jim Olson Resources Headline Resource To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence, J. Olson (GUP, 2019) Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying, J. Olson (Potomac, 2008) *SpyCasts* “The Spymaster’s Prism” – with Jack Devine (2021) “Russians Among Us: The Hunt for Putin’s Spies” – with Gordon Corera (2020) “The Corrupted State” – with Ilya Zaslavskiy (2016) “Putin’s End Game in Ukraine” – with KGB General (Retd.) Oleg Kalugin (2014) Beginner Resources To Catch A Spy with J. Olson, C-SPAN (2020) [9:44 minutes] The Best Books on Counterintelligence, J. Olson, Shepherd (n.d.) Putin’s Revisionist History of Russia and Ukraine, I. Chotiner, New Yorker (2022) Books Putin’s People, C. Belton (Picador, 2022) Operative in the Kremlin, F. Hill & C. Gaddy (Brookings, 2015) One Soldier’s War in Chechnya, A. Babchenko (Portobello, 2008) Articles Former CIA Leader Said LinkedIn is Like a Candy Store to China, C. Burgess, ClearanceJobs (2022) New Documentary Series Explores Pollard Affair, H. Brown, Jerusalem Post (2022) J. Olson First Recipient of “The Spirit of Aggieland – 41 Award,” J. Adams, KAGS (2022) Ex-CIA Chief on Accused Chinese Spymaster, P. Christian, WCPO (2021) Videos To Catch A Spy with J. Olson, Houston World Affairs Council (2020) Primary Sources James Collins Oral History, US Ambassador to Soviet Union, 1997-2001 (n.d.) Jack Matlock Oral History, US Ambassador to Soviet Union, 1987-1991, (n.d.) Ukraine: Memo. On Security Assurances (1994) Belovezha Accords, Eyewitness Account of Former Belarus Soviet Leader (1991) *Wildcard Resource* What Classic Russian Literature Can Teach us about Putin’s War on Ukraine Putin is a big fan of Dostoevsky – who underwent a mock execution & four years of hard labor in Siberia for belonging to a literary discussion group feared by the Tsarist autocracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 12 Jul 2022 - 678 - 4th of July Special: “The Wall of Spies Experience” – Espionage, Sabotage and Betrayal in America with John Gise
Summary John Gise joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the Wall of Spies Experience. It features over 200 stories of espionage and sabotage in America since 1776. What You’ll Learn Intelligence America’s first Spymaster The Founding Father of American Counterintelligence The New Yorker who adopted a Southern accent so she could spy on the Confederacy The escaped enslaved man who was described as a “walking order of battle chart” Reflections Educating a workforce on its past Dreaming about history And much, much more… Episode Notes The Wall of Spies Experience features over 200 stories of espionage, sabotage and betrayal from American history. The physical wall is a private museum on an intelligence community facility, but the second installment of the Digital Wall of Spies has recently been released. Thus far we have the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, with WWI coming up next. Whether you want to get a sense of the evolution of espionage in America, dork out on a particular historical period, or just have a browse – we are sure you will agree that this National Counterintelligence & Security Center (NCSC) sponsored exhibit is a welcome contribution to the public’s understanding of the history of intelligence and espionage. This week’s guest is John Gise, for whom the Wall of Spies was a labor of love. He has had a number of different roles across the US government, including a stint in Special Forces, but for now, spies from American history are with him while awake…and while asleep. And… If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t visit the Statue of Liberty’s torch, you need to listen to the teaser John provides at the end of this episode on the next installment of the Digital Wall of Spies (we’ll give you a clue…it’s the opposite of White Jerry). Quote of the Week "We've now posted online…the digital revolutionary war spies, the digital civil war spies…And we're talking in the revolutionary war about 30 continental army spies and British spies…for the civil war, it's about 25 Union spies and Confederate spies. And many of those spies are also Scouts, right? Collecting information, going behind enemy lines, conducting reconnaissance missions and collecting intelligence for their superiors." – John Gise. Resources Headline Resource The Wall of Spies Experience (Digital) *SpyCasts* “Birthplace of American Espionage” - Spy Sites of Philadelphia (2021) George Sharpe and the BMI: A Conversation with Peter Tsouras (2019) Washington’s Spies: An Interview with Alexander Rose (2015) Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War (2014) Intelligence and Espionage in the U.S. Civil War (2012) Books The Creation of American Military Intelligence in the Civil War, P. Tsouras (Casemate, 2018) Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War (GUP, 2014) The Secret War for the Union, E. Fishel (Houghton, 1996) Articles Audacious Confederate Spies, G. Brockell, WaPo (2022) The Wall of Spies, M. Rosenwald, WaPo (2019) Intelligence Agency Unveils New Weapon to Deter Spies – A Museum, J.J. Green, WTOP (2019) Primary Sources John McEntee to George H. Sharpe [Charley Wright’s intel on location of Lee's army] 1863) Lincoln and the Baltimore Plot – Pinkerton Papers [Kate Warne] (1861) The Federalist Papers: No:64 (John Jay, 1788) Minutes of the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies (1778-1781) Benedict Arnold Letter to John André (1780) John André Letter to Joseph Stansbury [for Benedict Arnold] (1779) Letter, George Washington to Benjamin Tallmadge (1779) *Wildcard Resource* Fraunces Tavern, New York City If you want to connect to Revolutionary War espionage, grab an ale, a seat by the fire, and muse (they also have a museum!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 05 Jul 2022 - 677 - “Intelligence & the World’s Largest Democracy” – Former Indian Intelligence Director Vikram Sood [from the vault]
Summary Vikram Sood (Twitter, Blog) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss intelligence in the world’s largest democracy. He was the chief of India’s Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW). What You’ll Learn Intelligence The intelligence landscape in India China, Pakistan, and the intelligence challenges in the region The founding and evolution of the Research and Analysis Wing The pressure involved in the top job and being responsible to the Prime Minister Reflections The power of narratives Spies can be sensitive souls too And much, much more… Episode Notes This is the final installment of our month long special on SPY CHIEFS, featuring Vikram Sood. former Director of India’s foreign intelligence agency, the Research & Analysis Wing (RA&W). This episode from the vault was recorded during the darkest days of the pandemic when the International Spy Museum was closed, infections and deaths were sky high, and Andrew was at home in his living room with Vikram at his in New Delhi. So, is the R&AW similar to the CIA or MI6 or both? Does it have a covert action capability? How focused is it on China and Pakistan? Who does the Director report to? To hear the answers tune in to listen to an Indian Spy Chief who was in office in the critical years 2000-2003. Vikram was in the intelligence business for more than thirty years, since leaving as the professional head of India’s foreign intelligence agency he went on to have a successful second career at the think-tank, Observer Research Foundation, which is based in New Delhi. He is the author of two books (see below). And… Depending on the source, India has more, a little less, or roughly the same number of Muslims as Pakistan. An incredible fact when you consider that Pakistan is generally in the top five for having the largest population in the world. In fact, India has a larger population than the United States, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil and Nigeria combined. Quote of the Week "There is immense tension in the job because anything can go wrong any day and you will be held responsible if there is another bomb blast somewhere else. But if the leadership is supportive and it's understanding, and also contributes to helping you decide things, takes decisions for you that need politically clearances. That helps a lot that takes away the anxieties, it keeps the blood pressure down." – Vikram Sood Resources Headline Resource The Ultimate Goal: R&AW Chief Deconstructs how Nations Construct Narratives (Harper India, 2020) The Unending Game: A Former R&AW Chief’s Insights into Espionage (Penguin, 2018) Beginner Resources [Video] How Was R&AW Started: Story of India’s External Intelligence Agency, WION (2022) [Article] RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations, Yatish Yadav, New Indian Express (2020) Books The War that Made R&AW, A. Nandakumar (Westland, 2021) JFK’s Forgotten Crisis: Tibet, the CIA and the Sino-Indian War, B. Riedel (BIP, 2015) Intelligence Elsewhere, P. Davies & K. Gustafson (GUP, 2013) The Kaoboys & R&AW, B Raman (Lancer, 2012) India’s External Intelligence, V.K. Singh (ManasPub, 2007) Articles History of RAW, Sachidananda Mohanty, Frontline (2022) A Peek Into India’s IB and RAW, Amjed Jaaved, Pakistan Today (2022) Inside R&AW, Rahul Bedi, The Wire: India (2020) Quiet Americans in India, P. McGarr, Diplomatic History, 38(5), 2014 (1046-1082) Videos Ex-Israel Spy Chief Talks Intelligence Cooperation with India, The Quint, YouTube (n.d.) Ex R&AW Chief Vikram Sood Gives a Glimpse of the World of Spies, The Quint, YouTube (n.d.) *Wildcard Resource* “The James Bond of India” Real-life spy Ajit Doval who spent years undercover in Pakistan He is currently the National Security Advisor of India! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 28 Jun 2022 - 676 - SPY CHIEFS: “From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief” – Ellen McCarthy’s Journey (Part 2 of 2)
Summary Ellen McCarthy (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her career and time as head of the State Department’s intelligence agency. INR is one of the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Her start as a Soviet submarine analyst in the Office of Naval Intelligence Bringing the U.S. Coast Guard intel. program into the Intelligence Community (IC) Working for DoD and Geospatial-Intelligence Why she admires the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) Reflections Government/for-profit/non-profit life Managing complexity and change And much, much more… Episode Notes Imagine seeing a pyramid from different angles and different heights instead of from one vantage point? You get a better sense of what it truly looks like, its dimensions, colors, idiosyncrasies, and the shadows it casts, right? Ellen McCarthy has seen more of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) pyramid than most: she started as a junior analyst for the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence and ended up as the head of the State Dept.’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR). Along the way, she was with the U.S. Coast Guard, in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, and at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Quite the journey, I am sure you will agree… And… INR has been called the “biggest little intelligence shop in town” and its morning intelligence summary, “Better than Wheaties.” The NYT called it the “least wrong” intelligence agency on Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and it has been credited for a more accurate assessment of Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia than its peers. “They get paid attention to because they’re good and they tend to be contrarian,” notes a former chair of the National Intelligence Council. How do they manage this? Well, big question, but the deep, deep expertise of their staff – who are on average on their regional or functional area for over a decade – as well as an “intolerance for mediocrity” would be good places to start. Quote of the Week "The Geographer of the United States sits in INR. I don't think a lot of people know that. So, when there's a boundary dispute or you've got countries trying to build islands, it's INR that's actually working what the legal boundaries are. The other thing that INR does that a lot of folks don't know about is polling. Polling in the intelligence community is conducted at INR…And I will tell you that the polling capability at INR is the best I've ever seen." – Ellen McCarthy Resources *SpyCasts* “State Department Intelligence: Inside the INR” – INR Leadership (2020) Beginner Resources Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Wikipedia [webpage] Learn About the Smallest Organization in the IC, YouTube (n.d.) [1:45 minute] Geographer of the United States, YouTube, (2011) [13:24 minute] Books “Intelligence Informs Policymaking at DoS: INR,” T. King in T. Juneau, ed. Strategic Analysis in Support of Policymaking, R&L (2017), pp. 95-110. Reducing Uncertainty: Intelligence Analysis & National Security, T. Fingar, SUP (2011) INR, Intelligence & Research at State, U.S. DoS (1973) Article The U.S. Intelligence Community Needs a ‘Wild Bill’ Moment, E. McCarthy & M. Scott, Cipher Brief (2021) Video SPYCHAT: Ellen McCarthy & Chris Costa, YouTube (2021) The New IC: Ellen McCarthy Keynote, YouTube (2019) FedMentor: NGA’s Ellen McCarthy, YouTube (2014) Primary Sources INR: 2025 Strategic Plan (2022) Oral History with Teresita Schaeffer (1998) Oral History with Thomas F. Conlon (1992) Oral History with Frank Burnet, (1990) Oral History with Daniel Zachary (1989) *Wildcard Resource* The Ralph J. Bunche Library State Dept. Library named after OSS intelligence analyst, diplomat & Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Bunche Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 21 Jun 2022 - 675 - SPY CHIEFS: “From Navy Analyst to State Dept. Intelligence Chief” – Ellen McCarthy’s Journey (Part 1 of 2)
Summary Ellen McCarthy (Twitter; LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss her career and time as head of the State Department’s intelligence agency. INR is one of the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. What You’ll Learn Intelligence Her start as a Soviet submarine analyst in the Office of Naval Intelligence Bringing the U.S. Coast Guard intel. program into the Intelligence Community (IC) Working for DoD and Geospatial-Intelligence Why she admires the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) Reflections Government/for-profit/non-profit life Managing complexity and change And much, much more… Episode Notes Imagine seeing a pyramid from different angles and different heights instead of from one vantage point? You get a better sense of what it truly looks like, its dimensions, colors, idiosyncrasies, and the shadows it casts, right? Ellen McCarthy has seen more of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) pyramid than most: she started as a junior analyst for the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intelligence and ended up as the head of the State Dept.’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR). Along the way, she was with the U.S. Coast Guard, in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, and at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Quite the journey, I am sure you will agree… And… INR has been called the “biggest little intelligence shop in town” and its morning intelligence summary, “Better than Wheaties.” The NYT called it the “least wrong” intelligence agency on Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and it has been credited for a more accurate assessment of Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia than its peers. “They get paid attention to because they’re good and they tend to be contrarian,” notes a former chair of the National Intelligence Council. How do they manage this? Well, big question, but the deep, deep expertise of their staff – who are on average on their regional or functional area for over a decade – as well as an “intolerance for mediocrity” would be good places to start. Quote of the Week "The Geographer of the United States sits in INR. I don't think a lot of people know that. So, when there's a boundary dispute or you've got countries trying to build islands, it's INR that's actually working what the legal boundaries are. The other thing that INR does that a lot of folks don't know about is polling. Polling in the intelligence community is conducted at INR…And I will tell you that the polling capability at INR is the best I've ever seen." – Ellen McCarthy Resources *SpyCasts* “State Department Intelligence: Inside the INR” – INR Leadership (2020) Beginner Resources Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Wikipedia [webpage] Learn About the Smallest Organization in the IC, YouTube (n.d.) [1:45 minute] Geographer of the United States, YouTube, (2011) [13:24 minute] Books “Intelligence Informs Policymaking at DoS: INR,” T. King in T. Juneau, ed. Strategic Analysis in Support of Policymaking, R&L (2017), pp. 95-110. Reducing Uncertainty: Intelligence Analysis & National Security, T. Fingar, SUP (2011) INR, Intelligence & Research at State, U.S. DoS (1973) Article The U.S. Intelligence Community Needs a ‘Wild Bill’ Moment, E. McCarthy & M. Scott, Cipher Brief (2021) Video SPYCHAT: Ellen McCarthy & Chris Costa, YouTube (2021) The New IC: Ellen McCarthy Keynote, YouTube (2019) FedMentor: NGA’s Ellen McCarthy, YouTube (2014) Primary Sources INR: 2025 Strategic Plan (2022) Oral History with Teresita Schaeffer (1998) Oral History with Thomas F. Conlon (1992) Oral History with Frank Burnet, (1990) Oral History with Daniel Zachary (1989) *Wildcard Resource* The Ralph J. Bunche Library State Dept. Library named after OSS intelligence analyst, diplomat & Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Bunche Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tue, 14 Jun 2022
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