AFIO Weekly Intelligence Notes #07-17 dated 14 February 2017

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CONTENTS

Section I - INTELLIGENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Section II - CONTEXT & PRECEDENCE

Section III - COMMENTARY

Section IV - Obituaries

Obituaries

Section V - Events

Upcoming AFIO Events

Other Upcoming Events

For Additional AFIO and other Events two+ months or more... Calendar of Events 

WIN CREDITS FOR THIS ISSUE: The WIN editors thank the following special contributors:  pjk, mh, gh, mk, rd, fm, kc, jm, mr, jg, th and fwr. They have contributed one or more stories used in this issue.

The WIN editors attempt to include a wide range of articles and commentary in the Weekly Notes to inform and educate our readers. However, the views expressed in the articles are purely those of the authors, and in no way reflect support or endorsement from the WIN editors or the AFIO officers and staff. We welcome comments from the WIN readers on any and all articles and commentary.
CAVEATS: IMPORTANT: AFIO does not "vet" or endorse research inquiries, career announcements, or job offers. Reasonable-sounding inquiries and career offerings are published as a service to our members, and for researchers, educators, and subscribers. You are urged to exercise your usual caution and good judgment when responding, and should verify the source independently before supplying any resume, career data, or personal information.]
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Great gift for colleagues and self. Stock up for upcoming birthdays, retirements, anniversaries.
Order here.

     

Friday, 24 February 2017 - Tysons Corner, VA
AFIO's Luncheon has few spaces left.
Nearly at capacity. Register Now.


Unusual tradecraft and devices used in covert operations
will be part of the presentation by agency experts
who just published
Spy Sites of Washington, DC

and

Enhanced Interrogation: Inside the Minds and Motives
of Islamic TerroristsTrying to Destroy America
The controversial topic that needed to be parsed by realistic counterterrorism experts as they faced an enemy ready to die before revealing terrorist schemes to harm innocent lives.

REGISTER.

Afternoon presentation include display and discussion of tradecraft devices used at the various spy sites featured in the Wallace/Melton/Schlesinger book.

Afternoon Speakers...

Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton, authors of what will be the just-released Spy Sites of Washington, DC: A Guide to the Capital Region's Secret History. A mesmerizing tour of traitors and tradecraft revealing the wheres and whys of Washington's second-oldest profession. Robert Wallace is the former director of CIA's Office of Technical Service. He and Melton have co-authored four books. Keith Melton is an intelligence historian and owns one of the largest collections of spy paraphernalia in the world.

Morning Speaker...

A controversial topic as America'and the intelligence community 'rushed to respond to Islamic Jihadist attacks that killed thousands of Americans. A threat that continues to this day.

Dr. James E. Mitchell was a civilian contractor who spent years training US military members to resist interrogation should they be captured. Aware of the urgent need to prevent impending catastrophic terrorist attacks, he worked with the CIA to implement "enhanced interrogation techniques"'which included waterboarding. Despite the media hysteria that followed, he tells us why EIT remains valuable. Mitchell's co-author, Bill Harlow, will be present but not a presenter.

"Emotions are high and accusations are being thrown about, but facts matter. Before anyone rushes to judgment, they should read this book and take in what happened through the eyes of a key player in the CIA's interrogation program." - General Michael Hayden, USAF, Ret., Former CIA Director

"The authentic account of head-to-head hardball with fanatical Islamic killers by a professional who not only won big for America, but did it while fending off powerful critics. The lessons learned needed to be told - and well-told they are. The war on us by radical Islamists is far from over - read and learn!"
- Hon. Porter J. Goss, Former Chairman of House Intelligence Committee and CIA Director

Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel Mezzanine, 1960 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons Corner, VA 22102. Hotel: 703 893-2100. Driving directions here or use this link: http://tinyurl.com/boey9vf  For security reason, reservations on day of event are not allowed.

The hotel is located within easy walking distance from two Silver Line Metro Stops - Greensboro or Tysons Corner - for attendees who prefer to use public transportation.
http://silverlinemetro.com/tysons-corner/
http://silverlinemetro.com/greensboro/

REGISTER NOW.

Special university student-only (under 28) registrations here.


Book of the Week:

Hollywood Enlists!: Propaganda Films of World War II
by Ralph Donald
(Roman & Littlefield, March 2017)

Preorder here.

[Active Measures by Hollywood...back in the day when Hollywood was not smirking at patriotism, and sought to protect the country, not champion illegal invaders flooding our borders or being invited in (at taxpayer expense) by Lady Bountiful filmstars for the "refugee industrial complex."]

Frequently referred to as "the Greatest Generation," Americans of the World War II era were influenced by Hollywood's depictions of their nation, its role in world affairs, and the virtue of its involvement in the war. Stories of the bravery and heroism of the American military–as well as the moral and political threat posed by the enemy–filled movie screens across the country to garner passionate support for wartime policies. In Hollywood Enlists! Propaganda Films of World War II, Ralph Donald explores how the studios supported the war effort and helped shape the attitudes of an entire generation. Through films the studios appealed to the public's sense of nationalism, demonized the enemy, and stressed that wartime sacrifices would result in triumph. The author contends that American films of the period used sophisticated, but often overlooked, strategies of propaganda to ideologically unite the country. While these strategies have long been associated with political speeches and writings during the war, little in-depth consideration has been given to their use in the era's cinema. By examining major motion pictures–including Casablanca, The Flying Tigers, Mrs. Miniver, Sergeant York, They Were Expendable, and many others–Donald illustrates how various propaganda techniques aligned the nation's entertainment with government aims. Hollywood Enlists! will appeal to readers with interests in war films and motion picture history, as well as politics and social history.

The book may be preordered here.


Complex Russian Ciphers, Snowden, Turf Battles, Lies, Coverups, and Secrecy

NCMF_March_ProgramWednesday, 29 March 2017, 10am - 1pm
- Annapolis Junction, MD -

Please join National Cryptologic Museum Foundation friends and colleagues welcoming Stephen Budiansky acclaimed author, journalist, and historian of cryptology, speaking on
"A New Perspective on NSA's Covert Activities."
[To immediately register, click on image above]
A book signing of Mr. Budiansky's book Code Warriors: NSA's Codebreakers and the Secret Intelligence War Against the Soviet Union follows his presentation and lunch follows that at noon.
Mr. Budiansky will speak about his latest book (noted above) that draws on an array of recently declassified documents to explore the NSA's long SIGINT struggle against the Soviets, and traces the historical forces behind the intelligence controversies making headlines today. Mr. Budiansky is the author of numerous books of military and intelligence history, science and biography including Battle of Wits: The Complete Story of Codebreaking in World War II and Blackett's War. He is the former foreign editor and deputy editor of US News & World Report, and former Washington editor of the scientific journal Nature, and a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal's book review pages. You will not want to miss this program that draws on an array of recently declassified documents to explore the NSA's long SIGINT struggle against the Soviets and to trace the historical forces behind the intelligence controversies making headlines today.
Where: CACI, Inc. located at 2720 Technology Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701, Tel 301-575-3200. Directions and Map here. Click "directions" to get driving guidance.
RSVP NOW: register online here or mail registration fee of $20 (members) or $50 (guests, includes one-year membership) to NCMF, PO Box 1682, Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-9998. Please register prior to 23 March to ensure space available.


Section I - INTELLIGENCE HIGHLIGHTS

French Intelligence Agency Braces for Russian Bots to Back Le Pen.  France's spy agency believes Russia intends to try to influence France's upcoming elections in favor of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.

On Wednesday, Le Canard Encha'n' said that France's Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) believes that Russia will help Le Pen by way of bots that will flood the internet with millions of positive posts about Le Pen - and by publishing her opponents' confidential emails. The level of threat is so high that the next defense meeting at the 'lys'e, France's presidential palace, will be on this subject, the paper said.

France has clearly already been bracing for outside interference. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian already said France wants "to learn lessons from the future" following American allegations of Russian influence in their elections. WikiLeaks, believed by US Democrats to have worked with Russia in the past presidential election, already promoted documents from its archives tied to center-right candidate Fran'ois Fillon and center-left candidate Emmanuel Macron. Russian state-sponsored media already suggested Macron is a US agent who is lobbying on behalf of banks and that he has a secret gay lover, a wholly unsubstantiated claim made by Kremlin-backed propaganda pusher Dmitry Kiselyov. Macron, surging in the polls, is perhaps the candidate most likely to take on Le Pen in the second round of presidential voting this May, which polls, for what they're worth, say he would win.

What is new is the extent to which the French government itself seems to be trying to deal with this perceived threat to its election, now just over two months away.  [Read More:  Tamkin/foreignpolicy/8February2017]

Bin Nayef Receives CIA Award for 'Counter-Terrorism'.  The heir to Saudi Arabia's throne has been awarded a medal by the new director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, who honoured his contributions to "counter-terrorism" work.

Mike Pompeo, making his first overseas tour since being confirmed as CIA chief in late January, made the presentation to Crown Prince Muhammed bin Nayef at a weekend ceremony, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Bin Nayef, 57, has been interior minister since 2012 and has years of experience in intelligence work.

He oversaw a crackdown on al-Qaeda, a group that killed security officers and foreigners in the kingdom between 2003 and 2007.  [Read More:  aljazeera/February2017]

Russia Considers Returning Snowden to US to 'Curry Favor' With Trump: Official.  US intelligence has collected information that Russia is considering turning over Edward Snowden as a "gift" to President Donald Trump - who has called the NSA leaker a "spy" and a "traitor" who deserves to be executed.

That's according to a senior US official who has analyzed a series of highly sensitive intelligence reports detailing Russian deliberations and who says a Snowden handover is one of various ploys to "curry favor" with Trump. A second source in the intelligence community confirms the intelligence about the Russian conversations and notes it has been gathered since the inauguration.

Snowden's ACLU lawyer, Ben Wizner, told NBC News they are unaware of any plans that would send him back to the United States.

"Team Snowden has received no such signals and has no new reason for concern," Wizner said.  [Read More:  McFadden/Arkin/nbcnews/11February2017]

India to Post Customs Intel Officer in Nepal to Check Trade Frauds, Black Money.  India will post customs intelligence officers in four countries including Nepal to check trade-related frauds and black money transactions, the Press Trust of India reported today.

India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has decided to post officers at Indian missions in New York (US), Singapore and Brussels (Belgium), and Consulate General of India in Birgunj (Nepal).

The Customs Overseas Intelligence Network (COIN) posts, however, are yet to be filled. The DRI has sought nominations from eligible officers of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), according to the PTI.

The selection would have to get a final approval from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the official correspondence to the host countries before the COIN officers are deputed to the Indian missions.  [Read More:  thehimalayantimes/13February2017]

Estonian Intelligence Service Says Armed Conflict Between NATO, Russia Unlikely.  Estonia's Information Board, an intelligence service under the country's Defense Ministry, believes that Russia is unlikely to attack NATO countries, head of the Board Mikk Marran said while presenting a report dubbed "Estonia in the international security environment in 2017."

We say clearly that Russia is unlikely to attack NATO in 2017. It is not a zero possibility but it is quite low," he noted.

The report is almost completely dedicated to Russia. It particularly says that Russia is the only state capable of threatening Estonia's independence and territorial integrity. According to Marran, Russia has been carrying out an information campaign against the West which is affecting the Baltic state. "This is not just propaganda but a combination of various methods aimed at raising tensions in society and damaging the credibility of the western countries, including Estonia," the head of the intelligence service said.

In 2016, Estonia's Information Board published a report for the first time in more than 20 years, assessing challenges the countries had been facing. The report claimed that Russia possibly was "the only power which could threaten Estonia's constitutional order in the near future.".  [Read More:  tass/8February2017]

Kosovo Intelligence Chief's Indictment Suddenly Withdrawn.  An indictment for abuse of office against the new chief of the Kosovo intelligence agency was withdrawn only days before he was appointed to head the agency, BIRN heas learned.

BIRN has learned that an indictment for misuse of office against Driton Gashi was withdrawn only days before he was appointed to head the intelligence agency by President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa on Wednesday .

On February 3, the Pristina Basic Court dismissed an indictment filed in May 2016 against Gashi, then the General Secretary at the Interior Ministry.

The indictment charged Gashi with exceeding his official competences by transferring a civil service employee to another position in presumed contradiction to the Law on State Administration. [Read More:  balkaninsight/8February2017]

NSA Contractor Indicted Over Mammoth Theft of Classified Data.  A former National Security Agency contractor was indicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges he willfully retained national defense information, in what US officials have said may have been the largest heist of classified government information in history.

The indictment alleges that Harold Thomas Martin, 52, spent up to 20 years stealing highly sensitive government material from the US intelligence community related to national defense, collecting a trove of secrets he hoarded at his home in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

The government has not said what, if anything, Martin did with the stolen data.

Martin faces 20 criminal counts, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison, the Justice Department said.  [Read More:  Volz/reuters/8February2017]


Section II - CONTEXT & PRECEDENCE

Acting Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division: Who Is Mary McCord?  Mary B. McCord was appointed principal deputy assistant attorney general of the National Security Division (NSD) of the US Department of Justice on October 21, 2014, and took over as acting assistant attorney general on October 15, 2016.

McCord graduated from Georgetown University Law School, and subsequently served as a law clerk for Judge Thomas Hogan of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

McCord then joined the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, where she worked for nearly 20 years. She initially served as a deputy chief in the Appellate Division, overseeing and arguing cases in the US and District of Columbia Courts of Appeals. She held that position for more than five years, and then worked her way up to being the US Attorney Office's criminal division chief. In that post, she oversaw all criminal prosecutions in federal district court.

Joining NSD put McCord in charge of the division's 400 employees who collectively are tasked with carrying out the counterterrorism, counterespionage and counterintelligence functions of the Justice Department. In her post, McCord has interacted with the 94 US Attorney offices across the country.  [Read More:  Biederman/allgov/11February2017]

Self-Developed Intelligence Program Strengthens Coalition Fight Against ISIL.  As the air war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant expands, so does the amount of data and information collected: swathes of terrain, patterns of life, historical data and real-time discovery.

Adapting to the speed of war - it's the objective placed upon the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division at the Combined Air Operations Center here. They enable the air war against ISIL.

 ISRD provides a common threat and targeting picture key to planning and executing theater-wide aerospace operations to meet Combined Forces Air Component Commander's objectives. They are also the means by which the effects of air and space operations are measured.

"The 609th Air Operations Center (ISRD) is the CFACC's lead intelligence team to discover and develop target networks critical to ISIL's ability to project power," said Lt. Col. Abraham Jackson, the ISRD deputy chief. "As such, ISRD is the operational command and control lead for the CFACC's ISR enterprise. ISRD's command and control includes all aspects of ISR planning, analysis, and target development working with experts operating 24/7, 365 days per year from around the world. Our expertise and intelligence tradecraft from across the CFACC's ISR enterprise is truly second to none."  [Read More:  Rivezzo/af/11February2017]

Intelligence Veteran to Speak Feb. 18.  Mary Margaret Graham, a veteran senior executive at the CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), will discuss "The impact of modern terrorism on American intelligence strategy" at the Saturday, Feb. 18 meeting of our AFIO Maine Chapter.

Her talk is expected to include a look at the historical and current posture of federal, international and domestic threat detection and counterterrorism efforts; the new role of state, local and tribal partners; and the challenges of collaboration versus competition in the intelligence community.

She has earned several prestigious medals for her service: the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal in 2008, the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal in 2008, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service in 2008, the Intelligence Medal of Merit in 2005, the Donovan Award in 2001, and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement in 1996.

Graham served 27 years at the CIA, including as the Associate Deputy Director of Operations for Counterintelligence. From 2005 to 2008, she was appointed the first Deputy DNI for Collection, coordinating the collection efforts of all 15 US intelligence agencies. Earlier in her career, she served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency. Following her retirement, Graham was named a Visiting Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.  [Read More:  seacoastonline/8February2017]

Rockingham Man's Passion Leads to Art and Calendar Spotlighting CIA Secret Ops.  Vivid images filled Erik Kirzinger's mind as CIA Director George Tenet described how covert operatives had sacrificed their lives for the country.

At that ceremony in 2000, those heroes would have their memorial stars unveiled, or names revealed in the Book of Honor, at the intelligence agency's headquarters in northern Virginia.

Years before, Kirzinger had embarked on a personal quest to learn what happened to his uncle, a CIA contract pilot killed during a 1952 mission.

It led to the Rockingham County man's own private mission: to ensure that families of CIA Cold War contractors killed in action received recognition and closure for their lost loved one.  [Read More:  DeCwikiel-Kane/godanriver/12February2017]

Presiding Judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court: Who Is Rosemary Collyer?  Rosemary Mayers Collyer, a senior US district judge for the District of Columbia, was appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts to a seven-year term on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). Her service on the secretive judicial body commenced on March 8, 2013.

Collyer was born in Port Chester, New York, on November 19, 1945. She attended Trinity College, earning her B.A. degree in 1968. The following year she was hired as a reporter for the Canadian Register in Toronto, Canada, and in 1971 she became director of public relations of the Manlius Pebble Hill School in Manlius, New York. In 1972 she joined Pennington & Richard Associates as its creative director, then moved the next year to Personnel Predictions & Research as an instructor. After that, it was back to school, attending the University of Denver College of Law, where she earned a J.D. in 1977.

That year, Collyer joined the Denver, Colorado, law firm of Sherman & Howard as a labor attorney. She was also a precinct committeewoman for the Republican Party. She left private practice in 1981 when President Ronald Reagan appointed her to serve as chairman of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, a post she held until 1984.  She next joined the National Labor Relations Board as their general counsel, where she stayed for five years. In 1989, she returned to private law practice as a partner at the Washington firm of Crowell & Moring.

On August 1, 2002, Collyer was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the US District Court for the District of Columbia, and was confirmed by the US Senate on November 14, 2002.  [Read More:  Biederman/allgov/9February2017]

Did James Bond Eat Cheese Curds? Spy-Themed Safehouse to Open Soon.  SafeHouse, a spy-themed restaurant replete with trap doors, secret passageways, and plenty of other tricks, is about to blow its cover Downtown.

The River North outpost of the beloved Milwaukee restaurant could open by the end of the month inside the AC Hotel at Rush and Ontario streets, local managers say.

The SafeHouse coming to 60 E. Ontario St. is bringing many of the vintage charms of the Milwaukee restaurant, which first opened in 1966. But managers here say the new bar is definitely more "modernized."

"If Milwaukee is Sean Connery James Bond, we're like Daniel Craig," said Gabriel Ayala aka Agent Wander-ful, Safehouse's general manager.  [Read More:  Mathews/dnainfo/12February2017]

Biography Tells Interesting Story of Espionage.  The life of people in espionage is often romanticized, notably in the popular James Bond films. The life of the real people who trade in secrets and lies is very different, a fact "Adolfo Kaminsky" gives testament to.

The eponymous "Adolfo Kaminsky" is the story of the man who became a specialist in forging documents to aid the French Resistance during the World War II. As a child, Adolfo's Jewish family had been arrested by the Nazis. They spent more than a month in Drancy, a Jewish prison ghetto, and, through exploiting a miscommunication, escaped mere hours before the window of opportunity closed forever, which would have seen them carted off to a death camp.

During this time, Adolfo became very interested in chemistry and apprenticed himself to a dyer. It was the combination of these two things that led him to conduct experiments in his free time on how to erase indelible inks and recreate unique papers. By chance his talents caught the eye of a French Resistance agent who was helping his family and Adolfo began his underground work.

He forged his first document at the age of seventeen and continued for the next thirty years. After the Nazis were defeated, Adolfo lent his talents to the Algerian independence movement and from then on was doing work for a multitude of liberation fronts.  [Read More:  Pauls/themercury/12February2017]

Take a Peek Inside Spy-to-Writer Frederick Forsyth's Fortress.  It is nearly 50 years since Frederick Forsyth was last called upon to do a few "favours" for MI6, yet he still peppers his conversation with the language of espionage. Ask him to extol the merits of his plush Buckinghamshire estate, for example, and he sounds as if he is describing a safe house.

"It is at the end of a long drive, off a lane, off a main road," he says, standing in the hall next to a statue of an inscrutable Japanese monk. "That means I have space but I also have privacy. That is very important to me."

The idea of old adversaries finding Forsyth, now 78, behind the high hedges of this prosperous slice of the commuter belt may seem far-fetched. However, in the context of his life story it would be downright unremarkable.
 
This is, after all, a man who has escaped the wrath of an arms dealer in Hamburg, been strafed by an MiG fighter during the Nigerian civil war and who landed during a bloody coup in Guinea-'Bissau. The Stasi arrested him, the Israelis regaled him and an attractive Czech secret police agent was considerably more welcoming.  [Read More:  Redwood/telegraph/12February2017]

"Three Minutes to Doomsday: An Agent, a Traitor, and the Worst Espionage Breach in US History".  This edge-of-your-seat memoir from former FBI agent Joe Navarro reveals the shocking, inside details of how he spearheaded a 1980s investigation into a colossal espionage breach that would have left the US defenseless in a Soviet attack.

In 1988 FBI Agent Joe Navarro divides his time among SWAT assignments, flying air reconnaissance, and working counterintelligence. A body-language expert with an uncanny ability to "read" the suspects he interrogates, Joe dreams of snaring an assignment that will get him noticed by headquarters. Then he interviews Rod Ramsay.

Ramsay is a former American soldier who is linked to a soldier-turned-traitor, Clyde Conrad. When Navarro notices Ramsay's hand twitch at the mention of Conrad's name, Joe thinks he smells a liar. He insists to his bosses that they launch an investigation. What follows is unique in the annals of espionage detection - a cat-and-mouse game played at the highest level. Navarro is the FBI agent who can't overtly tip to his target that he suspects him of wrongdoing lest he clam up, and Rod Ramsey is the suspected traitor - an evil genius with the second highest IQ ever recorded by the US Army - who enjoys sparring with his inquisitor. Navarro must pre-choreograph every interview, becoming a chess master plotting twenty moves in advance.

And the backdrop to this battle of wits is the crumbling of the Soviet Union and the very real possibility that Russian leaders may launch all-out war. If they do, they will have Ramsay to thank, because as Navarro learns over the course of nearly fifty mind-bending interviews, Ramsay has handed the Soviets the ability to utterly destroy the US. Three Minutes to Doomsday puts it all into exciting focus, from the shocking revelations of what Ramsay and other American soldiers leaked to the human factors that even today expose our most critical secrets to thievery.  [Read More:  target/February2017]


Section III - COMMENTARY

Milwaukee Biz Blog: The Right Way to Gather Intelligence.  Are you familiar with Sun Tzu's the Art of War? Written in the 5th Century BCE, his advice on war is still fresh.

In the book, Tzu said that "he who does not understand himself or his enemy is doomed to fail."

This principal is the core to intelligence collection and analysis in business as well as in the military. You often fail when you get the answers you want rather than answers that address reality.

Dick Cheney decimated the Pentagon's Near East & South Asia Section shortly after becoming vice president. He forced into retirement, transferred or fired skilled staff and replaced them with those who would give him the answers he wished. This tainted intelligence resulted in an unneeded war, in my opinion.  [Read More:  Chernow/biztimes/10February2017]

How the Iranians Fed Us Our Lines.  As a career intelligence officer I understand that the world around us in often seen in shifting shades of gray partially obscured by a fog of uncertainty and ambiguity. I also know that sometimes that fog lifts, and all is revealed in the crystal clear light of day. Such was the moment, late last month, when we learned that two agents of influence working on behalf of the Iranian regime, Seyed Mousavian and Trita Parsi, had visited the White House no fewer than thirty-three times during the critical period when the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was being negotiated.

Mr. Mousavian is a former Iranian diplomat and head of Iran's national security council. He served as Iran's spokesman during negotiations with the international community on the Iran deal. Mr. Mousavian was also Iran's ambassador to Germany during the 1990's at a time when a series of high-profile assassinations of Iranian dissidents were carried out by Iranian intelligence all across Europe. Mousavian visited the White House at least three times and according to the White House visitor logs, assisted in helping the White House craft its pro-Iran messaging and talking points in favor of the JCPOA.  [Read More:  Faddis/sofrep/12February2017]

Bershidsky: Spy Agencies Should Kick the Contractor Habit.  Are government cyberoperations safe when they involve people from the private sector? That's the question raised by the indictment of former National Security Agency contractor Harold Martin on 20 counts of obtaining and keeping national defense information.

While Martin held various security clearances–including "top secret" - between 1993 and his arrest in August 2016, he worked for seven different private companies that did contract work for the government. Meanwhile, he was hoarding government documents, lots of them. At some point, he allegedly stole three-quarters of the hacking tools used by the NSA's elite Tailored Access Operations unit. The indictment doesn't say Martin sold or handed the stolen data to anyone, but a group called Shadow Brokers recently offered some of the NSA's top-secret tools for sale - and then "went dark," claiming it hadn't found a buyer.

Bringing talented civilians into cyberintelligence work is tempting, but dangerous. Sure, it avoids some of the rigors of hiring government staffers - in 2014, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey lamented that his agency couldn't find enough hackers to hire because many of them "want to smoke weed on the way to the interview." It also lowers overhead costs, and allows for more budget flexibility through project-based employment.

But the convergence between the private sector and intelligence services has too often led to costly security breaches, from Edward Snowden to Martin - at least, according to the indictment.  [Read More:  Bershidsky/milforddailynews/12February2017]


Section IV - Obituaries, Research Request

Obituaries

Leonard Perroots, General Who Defused Nuclear Crisis With Soviets, Dies at 83. In early November 1983, after President Ronald Reagan denounced the Soviet Union as the "evil empire" and unveiled his so-called Star Wars missile defense strategy, Kremlin leaders were growing convinced that war games planned by the United States and NATO in Western Europe were, in fact, a disguised prelude to a nuclear first strike on Russia.

Their fear was almost palpable. On Sept. 27, a Soviet early warning station had received signals that five incoming Minuteman intercontinental missiles had been launched from American bases. The duty officer, Col. Stanislav Petrov, made a split-second gut decision that proved correct: He concluded that a satellite glitch had triggered a false alarm.

Six weeks later, as the war games began with realistic precision, fully armed Soviet fighters were placed on alert at Polish and East German bases for the first and only time in the Cold War. Soviet helicopters began ferrying nuclear weapons from storage sites to launching pads. Civilian aircraft in Warsaw Pact nations were grounded while the Soviets launched three dozen spy-plane flights over Western Europe to assess whether the mobilization presaged a sneak attack.

At Ramstein Air Base in West Germany, where the United States Air Force had its European headquarters, Lt. Gen. Leonard H. Perroots, the deputy chief of staff for intelligence there, faced, like Colonel Petrov, a quandary - one with profound potential consequences.  [Read More:  Roberts/nytimes/10February2017]

Larry Sulc, 89, former CIA and former AFIO Board Member, founder Nathan Hale Foundation, has died.

Lawrence Bradley Sulc, 89, a former CIA Operations Officer, died 1 February 2017 in Beaufort, SC, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Larry's family moved to the Canal Zone, Panama, and he graduated from Balboa High School, in the Zone, in 1944. With his mother's permission, he graduated early so he could enlist (F1c) in the US Navy and join the "Greatest Generation" fighting WWII. He served on the USS Olmsted - one of its last missions was to transport the 10th Marines, an artillery outfit that had fought on Okinawa, home from the atomic bomb aftermath of Nagasaki. Larry earned his A.B. in Economics from Stanford University, Class of '51 and was a member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKL) fraternity. Upon graduation, the Korean War called and he joined CIA where he served as an operations officer (including special operations and CI) in what is now called the Directorate of Operations (recently renamed from the Clandestine Service), for more than 23 years (from early 50s to mid-70s) primarily in Latin America (fluent in Spanish), Far East and Europe. An early posting to a small island off the coast of China focused on diversionary "raids" on the coast, harassing shipping, and infiltrating intelligence agents. His boss there was Major Bob Barrow, USMC, fresh from service in Korea, notably Inchon. Major Barrow rose to Commandant, USMC and was honored with re-naming a USMCRD - Parris Island - headquarters building to "Barrow Hall," a ceremony at which Larry last saw "one of the best bosses" he ever had. Most-feared warning from Major Barrow, "Fool around, you guys....!" The exploits of this band of "pirates" are chronicled in Raiders of the China Coast - CIA Covert Operations During the Korean War by Frank Holober (Naval Institute Press, 1999). In the mid-70s, sensing a need to dispel the negative cloud of publicity on the CIA, cast by the House's "Church Committee," Larry retired from the agency, founded and served as president of the Nathan Hale Institute, a non-profit organization advocating a strong US intelligence capability. He appeared on several radio and television programs educating the public and policy makers on the strategic need for intelligence and produced numerous articles, publications on counter intelligence and terrorism. Larry later served in the US House of Representatives as a Minority Staffer (Republican), representing the Foreign Affairs Committee's Ranking Minority Member, Cong. Ed Derwinski (R-IL) - Subcommittee on Human Rights & International Organizations. Larry later directed the House Republican Study Committee (RSC), the conservative policy group, under Cong. Phil Crane (R-IL). The RSC was subsequently chaired by Cong. Mike Pence (R-IN). In 1984, President Ronald Reagan appointed Larry Deputy Assistant Secretary for Inter-Departmental Affairs, Bureau of Intelligence and Research. After leaving as a Senior Executive Service member, he worked as a consultant on risk assessment, corporate security, counterintelligence and counterterrorism. A TV documentary and a Time-Life book series on intelligence and on-the-ground security intelligence assessments for NBC, covering the 1988 Summer Olympics, Seoul, Korea, were some of his activities. He distilled his operations' experiences by addressing a "gap," at that time, as author of Law Enforcement Counter-Intelligence (Varro Press 1996). He served as a member of the Board of Directors of AFIO. He was also a member of Central Intelligence Retirees Association (CIRA), the Reagan Alumni Association, and Stanford Alumni. In retirement, he and his wife, Jean Luena Mestres Sulc, moved to St. Helena Island, SC where he engaged in many volunteer opportunities. Survivors, in addition to his wife, Jean, include three sons and a daughter, and other family.

[Members wishing to express appreciation for any of the exceptional individuals listed in AFIO death notices may do so at this link: memorial donations.]


Section V - Events

AFIO EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN COMING TWO MONTHS....

Saturday, 18 February 2016, 2 pm - Kennebunk, ME - Mary Margaret Graham, a veteran senior executive at the CIA and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), discusses at this AFIO Maine Chapter meeting: "The Impact of Modern Terrorism on American Intelligence Strategy."

Mary Margaret Graham, former ADDO/CIA and Deputy DNI, will discuss the "The Impact of Modern Terrorism on American Intelligence Strategy." Graham served 27 years at the CIA, including as the Associate Deputy Director of Operations for Counterintelligence. From 2005 to 2008, she was appointed the first Deputy DNI for Collection, coordinating the collection efforts of all 15 US intelligence agencies. Earlier in her career, she served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency. Following her retirement, Graham was named a Visiting Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Her talk is expected to include a look at the historical and current posture of federal, international and domestic threat detection and counterterrorism efforts; the new role of state, local and tribal partners; and the challenges of collaboration versus competition in the intelligence community. She has earned several prestigious medals for her service: the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal in 2008, the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal in 2008, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service in 2008, the Intelligence Medal of Merit in 2005, the Donovan Award in 2001, and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement in 1996. The latest in a series of public affairs discussions, the AFIO meeting is open to the public, and will begin at 2 p.m. at the Program Center of the Brick Store Museum, 4 Dane St., Kennebunk. A question period will follow the presentation. No registration is required. There is no cost to attend.

24 February 2017 - Tysons Corner, VA - AFIO National Kick-off Luncheon for 2017 - Enhanced Interrogation: Inside the Minds and Motives of the Islamic Terrorists Trying To Destroy America, and Spy Sites of Washington

AFIO National's first luncheon of 2017 features Dr. James E. Mitchell discussing Enhanced Interrogation: Inside the Minds and Motives of the Islamic Terrorists Trying To Destroy America. Mitchell was a civilian contractor who spent years training US military members to resist interrogation should they be captured. Aware of the urgent need to prevent impending catastrophic terrorist attacks, he worked with the CIA to implement "enhanced interrogation techniques"'which included waterboarding. Despite the media hysteria that followed, he tells us why EIT remains valuable. Mitchell's co-author, Bill Harlow, will be present but not a presenter.

"Emotions are high and accusations are being thrown about, but facts matter. Before anyone rushes to judgment, they should read this book and take in what happened through the eyes of a key player in the CIA's interrogation program." - General Michael Hayden, USAF, Ret., Former CIA Director

"The authentic account of head-to-head hardball with fanatical Islamic killers by a professional who not only won big for America, but did it while fending off powerful critics. The lessons learned needed to be told - and well-told they are. The war on us by radical Islamists is far from over - read and learn!"
- Hon. Porter J. Goss, Former Chairman of House Intelligence Committee and CIA Director

In the afternoon, we hear from Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton, authors of what will be the just-released Spy Sites of Washington, DC: A Guide to the Capital Region's Secret History. A mesmerizing tour of traitors and tradecraft revealing the wheres and whys of Washington's second-oldest profession. Robert Wallace is the former director of CIA's Office of Technical Service. He and Melton have co-authored four books. Keith Melton is an intelligence historian and owns one of the largest collections of spy paraphernalia in the world.

Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel Mezzanine, 1960 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons Corner, VA 22102. Hotel: 703 893-2100. Driving directions here or use this link: http://tinyurl.com/boey9vf  For security reason, reservations on day of event are not allowed. REGISTER NOW.

Thursday, 30 March 2017 - Los Angeles, CA - AFIO LA Chapter hosts Phil Pressel on "The Hexagon KH-9 Spy Satellite Program."

AFIO LA hosts guest speaker Phil Pressel will be speaking on the subject of the Hexagon KH-9 spy satellite program. Phil worked for 30 years for the Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Connecticut and was responsible for the design of the Hexagon's stereo cameras. It was the last film based spy satellite. The Hexagon satellite was acknowledged to have been an invaluable asset providing intelligence information for security agencies and the military. It was responsible for President Nixon signing the SALT treaty and allowed President Reagan to say, "trust but verify" what the Russians were doing. The program was declassified by the NRO in 2011.
To RSVP and for exact time and location, email Vince at AFIO_LA@yahoo.com.

5 April 2017 (Wednesday), 11:30 am - San Francisco, CA - The AFIO San Francisco Chapter hosts Brigadier General Roderick Macdonald on "The Falklands Conflict 35 Years On."

Brig Gen Roderick "Rod" Macdonald discusses the "The Falklands Conflict 35 years On." at this April meeting of the AFIO "Andre LeGallo" San Francisco Chapter. The Falklands War from 2April to 14 June 1982 was the largest air sea battle since World War II. British forces launched the longest amphibious operation in history, sailing 8,000 miles to retake the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, invaded and occupied illegally by over 10,000 Argentine soldiers and Marines. Retired British Army Brigadier General Roderick Macdonald will give a personal overview of the campaign.
WHERE: Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080. 11:30AM no host cocktail; meeting and luncheon at noon.
RSVP: Eventbrite registration link will be posted shortly. Reservation and pre-payment is required before 26 March 2017. The venue cannot accommodate walk-ins. Contact Mariko Kawaguchi, Board Secretary at afiosf@aol.com or Mariko Kawaguchi, c/o AFIO, PO Box 117578, Burlingame, CA 94011 with your questions.


Other Upcoming Events

Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 6 p.m. - Washington, DC - SEX(PIONAGE): Spies, Lies, and Naked Thighs - The Valentine Edition at the International Spy Museum

If you think your love life is hot, wait 'til you hear these sultry tales of sex and spies. If you have access to secrets or influential VIPs, you might just find yourself the victim of one of the oldest tricks of the trade: sexpionage. From ancient intrigues to Anna Chapman, spies, counterspies, and terrorists often conduct these covert activities under the covers! International Spy Museum Board Member and intelligence historian H. Keith Melton will reveal how seduction is used a tool to attract and manipulate assets, to coerce and compromise targets, and to control spies in both reality and fiction. Featuring authentic sexual entrapment videos, and technical details of the infamous Russian "honey traps," Melton will tell all about the spies who stop at nothing to get their man - or woman!

Tickets: $35, includes cocktail and sweet treats. Must be 18 or older to attend. Register at www.spymuseum.org

Thursday, 16 February 2017 (6-8pm) - Alexandria, VA - Naval Intelligence Professionals Lessons in Intelligence Leadership Speaker Series for February features Capt William Bray on "The Role of Naval Intelligence."

Who: CAPT William Bray, USN (Ret), Managing Director, Ankura Consulting Group, serves as the research director for Ankura's geopolitical advisory practice where he brings more than 25 years of experience in geopolitical threat analysis and national security. Prior to joining Ankura, Mr. Bray served as a distinguished career as a Navy Intelligence Officer. In December 2016, he authored the article, 'Intelligence Is Not Warfare!" in Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine which offered that "Decoupling naval intelligence from the information warfare community is key to ensuring the Navy maintains maritime superiority". Mr. Bray earned a Masters in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University (Distinguished Graduate), a Masters in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University (Distinguished Graduate), and was commissioned in 1988 from the United States Naval Academy.
Where: Sonoma Cellar 207 King Street, Alexandria VA 22314
Times: 6 PM (Private Room Upstairs) - Remarks by our Speaker 6:30-8 PM Social hour continues. Cash bar with an exceptional Wine, Beer, and Food menu. Open to All members and non-members. No RSVP Required. Dress: Smart Casual

Sunday, 19 February 2017, 1 - 4 pm - Washington, DC - Claudia Friddell: George Washington's Spies - at the International Spy Museum

Think you know everything about Washington? Think again. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington (AKA Agent 711) was the leader of a ring of spies. The group called the Culper Ring used secret names, codes, invisible ink, and more to spy on the British and pass along information. Nobody knew about it at the time (and few do so today), but those sneaky heroes risked their lives to help win the American Revolution. Join us at the International Spy Museum for an in-store book signing of "Totally True Adventures! George Washington Spies" by Claudia Friddell, an educator and researcher with a passion for nonfiction. In researching this book, she visited many of the sites where the Culper Ring lived and conducted their spy activities. Illustrated throughout in black and white, with an appendix that includes photographs, bonus content, and links to primary source materials, this Totally True Adventures series book is ideal for supporting the Common Core State Standards and today's renewed interest in nonfiction. It's a thrilling read made even better because it really happened. Event is free. Visit www.spymuseum.org.

21 February 2017, 1130am - 2pm - McLean, VA - The Defense Intelligence Forum hosts Joseph Mazzafro on "What to Expect from an IC Reset."

Defense Intelligence Alumni Association luncheon features Joseph Mazzafro who has over four decades of IC experience. Since 2011, he has used his in-depth knowledge of the Intelligence Community to enable CSRA (formed through the combination of the North American Public Sector business of CSC and SRA International) to grow. He has worked at Oracle's National Security Group and also led business development/IC alliances for EMC. At Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory where he was Scientific and Technical Officer, he guided the labs' relationship with the IC in its key role in the development of: IED defenses, the Area Air Defense Commander system, the Global Net Centric Surveillance and Targeting System, various ballistic missile defense programs, and concept of operations for numerous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Before entering the private sector he served in the US Navy for 27 years and retired with rank of Captain.
Event location: Pulcinella Restaurant, 6852 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA
Fee: Pay at the door with a check for $29 payable to DIAA, Inc. Registration starts at 1130 AM, lunch at noon.
RSVP by 21 February 2017 by email to diforum@diaalumni.org. Include names, telephone numbers, and email addresses for each attendee and choose among Chicken Parmesan, Trout Lemone, Grilled Sausage with Sweet Peppers, Lasagna, Manicotti with Spinach and Ricotta, Cannelloni alla Bolognese, or Fettuccini with Portobello. Please provide your luncheon selection with your reservation to reduce the wait time for your food. If you wish to pay at the door, do so with a check for $29 per person, payable to DIAA, Inc

Wednesday 22 February 2017, 7:30 - 8:45 PM - McLean, VA - "How the Internet Developed the Global Jihadi Movement" - Yigal Carmon at the Westminster Institute

"How the Internet Developed the Global Jihadi Movement" is the topic of Yigal Carmon's presentation at this Westminster Institute's free evening presentation.
Yigal Carmon is President and founder of MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute. He combines four different areas of expertise - intelligence, counter-terrorism, diplomacy, and research. Carmon is a colonel (ret) in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) intelligence corps. He was counter-terrorism advisor to two Israeli prime ministers heading governments from both Likud and Labor, overseeing the national deployment against terrorism. He participated in the 1991-1992 peace talks in Madrid and Washington as deputy head of the Israeli delegation negotiating with Syria. Founded in 1998, MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East and South Asia, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu-Pashtu, Dari, and Turkish media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends. "As an institute of research," said Carmon, "we want MEMRI to present translations to people who wish to be informed on the ideas circulating in the Middle East. We aim to reflect reality." MEMRI research is particularly sought out by intelligence agencies in Europe and North America. Carmon is frequently relied upon by leading media sources and government officials as an authority on current developments in the Arab and Muslim world. He has briefed governments worldwide on issues ranging from jihad and terrorism to reform in the Arab world. In the United States, Carmon has given testimony on Capitol Hill and conducted briefings before Congress as well as at the State Department, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, Justice Department, Library of Congress, FBI, National Security Council, and NYPD counterterrorism division, and is frequently interviewed on a variety of Western channels, as well as on Arab TV.
WHERE: Westminster Institute, 6729 Curran St, McLean, VA 22101
REGISTER here.

22-25 February 2017 - Baltimore, MD - The International Studies Association (ISA) 58th Annual Convention: "Understanding Change in World Politics."

The International Studies Association (ISA) 58th Annual Convention: "Understanding Change in World Politics"is a major annual academic conference which has a section of special interest to professors and students studying intelligence: the Intelligence Studies Section (ISS) which hosts many panels and presentations at the conference. Headquarters Hotel: Hilton Baltimore, Baltimore, MD.
A tentative list of the ISS panels at this ISA may be viewed here.

ISA has a new online program (requires login) that lets ISA members or event registrants to search by person, title, sponsor, and keywords. You can use this to build a personalized schedule that you can download as a PDF to have handy when you're at the convention.

For much more information visit this link.

24 February 2017, 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Washington, DC - The Changing Role of Intelligence in a Changing World - Gene Poteat presentation at The Institute of World Politics

American intelligence services, constrained by law and with oversight from the executive and both branches of Congress, are thus liable for their actions, but are not immune from politics. Rather than going along with our changing culture and politics, the problems facing our intelligence are avoided by strict vigilance and adherence to the highest professional judgements and ethics - without political considerations. This event is the fourth Brian Kelley Memorial Lecture and is sponsored by the IWP Alumni Association. About the speaker S. Eugene (Gene) Poteat is a retired senior CIA Scientific Intelligence Officer, and has served as President of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO). He was educated as an electrical engineer and physicist. He holds a Masters in Statecraft and National Security Affairs from IWP. His career in intelligence included work with U-2 and SR-71 class of aircraft and various space and naval reconnaissance systems. He also managed the CIA's worldwide network of monitoring sites. He holds patents on covert communications techniques. His CIA assignments included the Directorate of Science and Technology, the National Reconnaissance Office, Technical Director of the Navy's Special Programs Office and Executive Director of the Intelligence Research and Development Council. He served abroad in London, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia. He received the CIA's Medal of Merit and the National Reconnaissance Office's Meritorious Civilian Award for his technological innovations.
Location: The Institute of World Politics 1521 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
REGISTER HERE.

Monday, 6 March 2017, 6:30 pm - Washington, DC - Brian Regan: The Spy Who Couldn't Spell at the International Spy Museum

Before Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, the largest theft of government secrets was committed by an awkward, unassuming American Intelligence agent: Brian Patrick Regan. Join award-winning writer Yudhijit Bhattacharjee as he takes a probing look at how a learning disability, a lifetime of ridicule, and a serious cash shortage shaped Brian Regan's decision to betray his country. Bhattacharjee's research for his new book The Spy Who Couldn't Spell: A Dyslexic Traitor, an Unbreakable Code, and the FBI's Hunt for America's Stolen Secrets reveals how Regan engineered a meticulous strategy to download, copy, and bury thousands of pages of classified documents from the National Reconnaissance Office that he planned to sell; how he deployed a brilliant multi-layered encryption system to mask his communication with foreign governments; and the old-fashioned detective work that finally led to Regan's capture.

Tickets: $10. Register at www.spymuseum.org

Wednesday, 8 March 2017, noon - Washington, DC - The Spies of Palestine: Love, Betrayal, and the Heroic Life of Sarah Aaronsohn

Sarah Aaronsohn was born as part of the first wave of Jewish immigrants who fled the pogroms of Russia and Eastern Europe in the 1880s, settling in the province of Syria-Palestine. By the outbreak of WWI, her family was one of the area's most prominent. Join author James Srodes as he discusses his newest book which describes how the Aaronsohns came to side with the Allied forces and form the NILI espionage organization to spy against the Turkish Army. Late in the war, Sarah assumed command of the spy network as their penetration of the Turkish Army reached a critical juncture. The intelligence gathered by NILI was crucial for the British in liberating Palestine, the first dramatic Allied victory; and Sarah's tragic end would prove important in holding the Allied victors to their promises of a new Jewish state.

Free. No registration required.

Wednesday, 29 March 2017, 10am - 1pm - Annapolis Junction, MD - Stephen Budiansky discusses A New Perspective on NSA's Covert Activities at this NCMF spring program

Please join National Cryptologic Museum Foundation friends and colleagues welcoming Stephen Budiansky acclaimed author, journalist, and historian of cryptology, speaking on "A New Perspective on NSA's Covert Activities."
A book signing of Mr. Budiansky's book Code Warriors: NSA's Codebreakers and the Secret Intelligence War Against the Soviet Union follows his presentation and lunch follows that at noon.
Mr. Budiansky will speak about his latest book (noted above) that draws on an array of recently declassified documents to explore the NSA's long SIGINT struggle against the Soviets, and traces the historical forces behind the intelligence controversies making headlines today. Mr. Budiansky is the author of numerous books of military and intelligence history, science and biography including Battle of Wits: The Complete Story of Codebreaking in World War II and Blackett's War. He is the former foreign editor and deputy editor of US News & World Report, and former Washington editor of the scientific journal Nature, and a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal's book review pages. You will not want to miss this program that draws on an array of recently declassified documents to explore the NSA's long SIGINT struggle against the Soviets and to trace the historical forces behind the intelligence controversies making headlines today.
Where: CACI, Inc. located at 2720 Technology Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701, Tel 301-575-3200. Directions and Map here. Click "directions" to get driving guidance.
RSVP NOW: register online here or mail registration fee of $20 (members) or $50 (guests, includes one-year membership) to NCMF, PO Box 1682, Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-9998. Please register prior to 23 March to ensure space available.

Thursday, 30 March 2017, 6:30 p.m. - Washington, DC - The Mysterious Disappearance of Jim Thompson, "The Silk King of Thailand" - at the Textile Museum

When Jim Thompson vanished 50 years ago, he was the best-known American in Thailand. Rumors still swirl around his disappearance. Thompson had set up the Bangkok OSS office and later served as a CIA asset in Thailand, but it was his beautiful Thai silk that made him famous. He revitalized the industry, amassed a huge art collection, and built a magnificent house from traditional Thai homes to showcase his precious objects. So what could have happened in March of 1967, when he went for a short walk in the high jungles of Malaysia? Why were the CIA, DOS, US Army, and FBI involved in the massive search? Join Dr. Llewellyn Toulmin, the co-founder of Missing Aircraft Search Team, as he analyzes the case from a scientific search and rescue point of view, discusses Thompson's CIA connections, and suggests a solution to this 50-year-old famous mystery.

Tickets: $10. Contact Shana Oltmans at soltmans@spymuseum.org for tickets.

30 March - 1 April 2017 - Washington, DC - Joint Conference on "Creating and Challenging the Transatlantic Intelligence Community"

The Woodrow Wilson Center, the German Historical Institute, and the Intenational Intelligence History Association are delighted to invite you to the jointly organized conference on "Creating and Challenging the Transatlantic Intelligence Community".

Please register for the conference by email to the IIHA Executive Director at exec_director@intelligence-history.org before 23 March 2017.
The conference fee is 150 EUR / 165 US-Dollar, 110 EUR / 120 US-Dollar for IIHA members and 75 EUR / 80 US-Dollar for students.
This includes dinners on Thursday and Friday as well as coffee breaks during the conference and a snack lunch on Saturday.
Full list of Speakers and Tentative Schedule here.


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