SpyCast

Summary

Diane Foley (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the legacy of her son, James Foley. James was held hostage and murdered by ISIS in 2014. 

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

• The enduring legacy of James’ murder
• James’ time in captivity in Libya 
• A mother’s experience communicating with her son’s captors
• How hostage recovery efforts have evolved since 2014

Reflections

• Grief turned into action
• Forgiveness, empathy, and resilience 

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week

“[Jim] could have been teaching or doing so many things, writing … but he just felt those stories were essential. And it really made me realize and recognize the courage of our current journalists going into Ukraine or Gaza. We wouldn't have any idea what's happening in that part of the world without those folks who dare to be there and dare to find ways to tell that story and bring it back to us.” – Diane Foley.

Resources 

SURFACE SKIM

*Spotlight Resource*

• American Mother, Colum McCann and Diane Foley (Etruscan Press, 2024)

*SpyCasts*

• CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
• Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023)
• My Life Looking at Spies & the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022) 
• ISIS Leader al-Mawla: Caliph. Scholar. Canary. Snitch. with Daniel Milton, West Point CTC Director (Part 1 of 2) (2022)
• ISIS Leader al-Mawla: Caliph. Scholar. Canary. Snitch. with Daniel Milton, West Point CTC Director (Part 2 of 2) (2022)

*Beginner Resources*

• Syria: Seven Years of War Explained, BBC News, YouTube (2018) [5 min. video]
• FACT SHEET: U.S. Government Hostage Policy, Office of the Press Secretary (2015) [Short brief]
• Jim’s Story, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation (n.d.) [Background on James Foley]

DEEPER DIVE

Books

• The Isis Hostage, P. Damsgard (Pegasus Books, 2017)
• Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS, J. Warrick (Anchor, 2016)
• Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, C. Voss & T. Raz (Harper Business, 2016)

Primary Sources 

• A Proclamation on U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day (2024)
• Executive Order on Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home (2022) 
• FBI Hostage Rescue Team Policy Guide (2019) 
• Report on U.S. Hostage Policy (2015)
• Murder of James Foley Press Statement (2014)
• Hostage Negotiation: A Matter of Life and Death (1983) 
• Current Status of the Hostage Crisis and the Implications of US Policy Options (1980) 

*Wildcard Resource*

• “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn (1973)
• This song was a #1 hit when it was originally released in 1973. Six years later, the song resurged and gained even more popularity during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The song became an unofficial hostage recovery anthem, as the lyrics poignantly hint to welcoming a loved one home from captivity. 

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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. 

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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.  

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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 …  

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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!

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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. 

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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! 

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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. 

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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. 

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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...

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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? 

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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? 

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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. 

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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 

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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*

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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! 

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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. 

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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! 

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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***

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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)

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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! 

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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. 

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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

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• How the FBI’s Art Crime Team (ACT) was formed
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• The intelligence angle when investigating provenance
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• Living and working undercover abroad
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• Museums & Intelligence
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Reflections

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• The importance of cultural property
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• Questions of ownership and belonging
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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*

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• Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures, R. Wittman (Crown Publishing, 2011)
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*SpyCasts*

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• The Gambling Capital of the World: Intelligence, Las Vegas Style! with James Lockhart and Keith Michaels (2023)
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• Venice’s Secret Service with Ioanna Iordanou (2023)
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• 70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007 (2023)
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• How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023)
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*Beginner Resources*

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• Why art gets stolen time and again, R. Pryor, The Art Newspaper (2020) [Short article] 
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• FBI Art Theft Program, FBI, YouTube (2013) [6 min. video]
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• What is cultural property?, Information and Heritage Inspectorate (n.d.) [Short article] 
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DEEPER DIVE

Primary Sources 

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• Crystal Sphere, Collection of the University of Pennsylvania Museum
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• Mask of the Man with the Broken Nose, Collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art 
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• Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
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• The Concert, Collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
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• The Rosenberg Diary, Collection of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 
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• Museums and the theft of works of art (1973) 
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*Wildcard Resource*

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• Can you identify famous pieces and artists like an art detective?
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• Take this Google Arts & Culture quiz to see if you’re cut out for the job! 
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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. 

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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. 

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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

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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)

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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! 

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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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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*

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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.)

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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)

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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) 

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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!

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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.

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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*

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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***

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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***

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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)