International Spy Museum SpyCast

Author Debriefing: Spying in America: Espionage from the Revolutionary War to the Dawn of the Cold War

Spy Museum — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Can you keep a secret? Maybe you can, but the United States government can’t. Since the birth of our country, nations from Russia and China to Ghana and Ecuador, have stolen some of our country’s most precious secrets. Michael Sulick, former director of the CIA's National Clandestine Service, discusses his book, Spying in America, which presents a history of more than thirty espionage cases inside the United States. This event took place on January 15, 2013.

Author Debriefing: The Rice Paddy Navy: U.S. Sailors Undercover in China

Spy Museum — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

After the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US Navy knew it would need vital information from the Pacific. Captain Milton ‘Mary’ Miles journeyed to China to set up weather stations and monitor the Chinese coastline—and to spy on the Japanese. After a handshake agreement with Chiang Kai-shek's spymaster, General Dai Li, the Sino-American Cooperative Organization (SACO) was born. This top-secret network worked hand in hand with the Nationalist Chinese to fight the Japanese invasion of China while erecting crucial weather stations, providing critical information to the US military, intercepting Japanese communications, blowing up enemy supply depots, laying mines, destroying bridges, and training Chinese peasants in guerrilla warfare. Join author Linda Kush as she reveals the story of one of the most successful covert operation efforts of World War II. This event took place on March 5, 2013.

The United States Military Liaison Mission in East Germany

Spy Museum — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Major General Michael Ennis was one of the rare Marine officers admitted to the Foreign Area Officer program where he became a specialist on the Soviet Union. This led to an assignment as a translator on the Washington-Moscow Hotline at the White House and then got him a license to spy in communist East Germany in the 1980s as part of the US Military Liaison Mission. Hear him tell SPY Historian Mark Stout what it’s like to penetrate a Soviet command bunker at night or be chased by a Soviet tank, and learn the intelligence value of a hunk of concrete.

For more on the US Military Liaison Mission, check out our 2011 Spycast with Brigadier General Roland Lajoie.

American Communism and Soviet Espionage: A Look Back with John Earl Haynes

Spy Museum — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

In the 1970s, historian John Earl Haynes was researching the American labor movement when he discovered interesting connections to the Communist party. Fast forward 20 years to the 1990s, when that ongoing research on the Communist party led him into the murky world of Soviet espionage. SPY Historian Mark Stout sits down with this groundbreaking historian to look back on his career and learn how he became a leading and unlikely expert on Soviet espionage in the America. Follow along on this fascinating journey from Minnesota, to the halls of power in Washington DC, to dusty archives in Moscow.

Born Under an Assumed Name

Spy Museum — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Looking back on her childhood, Sarah Taber remembers that “my identity was problematic because of moving from country to country and the overall atmosphere of growing up in the CIA.” As an adult she wrote about what it was like to be raised in a culture of “secrecy, stoicism and silence” in her book Born Under an Assumed Name: The Memoir of a Cold War Spy’s Daughter. Feel the stresses and learn the secrets of a CIA family in this heart-to-heart talk between Sarah and Peter, himself a CIA father.

Intelligence in Support of UN Peacekeeping in Bosnia during the 1990s

Spy Museum — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The United Nations thinks “intelligence” is a dirty word but it still needs intelligence to conduct peacekeeping operations. The result is a euphemism: “military information.” SPY Historian Mark Stout talks with Tom Quiggin, a former Canadian intelligence officer who worked alongside Americans, Swedes, Jordanians, Russians, and others in the Military Information Office supporting UN peacekeeping operations in Bosnia during the 1990s. Hear what it’s like to pass through a checkpoint manned by drunken teenage soldiers or to know that your warnings of an upcoming massacre in Srebrenica are being ignored.

From Nazi Germany to the OSS to the CIA (Part 2)

Spy Museum — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

In this Spycast Peter finishes his conversation with Peter Sichel. Listen to this insider talking about CIA operations in Germany after World War II, the futile support for anti-communist guerrillas in Ukraine and China during the 1940s and 1950s, the strains of leading an undercover life and his friendship with legendary CIA counterintelligence chief James Jesus Angleton.

Canada’s Security Intelligence Service in the Post-Cold War World

Spy Museum — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Canada’s Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) operates on a very different model from the American CIA, being neither strictly a foreign intelligence agency nor a domestic intelligence agency. Today SPY Historian Mark Stout discusses CSIS with Ray Boisvert, who was one of the founding members of the Service in 1984 and rose to become its Assistant Director, Intelligence, a position from which he retired in 2012. Hear them talk about the concept of “security intelligence” in a democratic society and explore the dilemmas which the Service faces in an era of terrorism emanating from groups such as al Qaeda and foreign covert influence from nation states.

Author Debriefing: The Zimmermann Telegram: Intelligence, Diplomacy, and America's Entry into World War I

Spy Museum — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

In January 1917, British naval intelligence intercepted what became the most important telegram in all of American history. It was a daring proposition from Germany's foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmermann, offering German support to Mexico for regaining Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in exchange for a Mexican attack on America. Five weeks later, America entered World War I. Former SPY Historian Dr. Thomas Boghardt who is now at the US Army’s Center of Military History talks about his new account of the Zimmerman Telegram. This event took place on, November 27, 2012.

From Nazi Germany to the OSS to the CIA (Part 1)

Spy Museum — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Today Peter begins a conversation with the remarkable Peter Sichel, OSS veteran, senior CIA official of the 1950s, and onetime head of Blue Nun wines. After fleeing Nazi Germany with his family in the 1930s and eventually finding himself in the United States, Sichel joined the OSS and in 1944 he went back to Europe where he recruited German prisoners of war to spy for the US 7th Army. Hear him talk about his operations in Europe and his friendship with future Director of the CIA, Richard Helms.

The Evolution of Spy Fiction: Bond and His Brethren

Spy Museum — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The modern spy novel was born in early twentieth century Britain with writers such as Erskine Childers and William LeQueux whose one-dimensional heroes were English gentlemen holding back the barbarians. How did we get from there to the gray and morally ambiguous world of John Le Carré? And how does all this relate to James Bond and even George Orwell’s 1984? Listen to SPY Historian Mark Stout discuss the development and importance of spy fiction with intelligence historian Wesley Wark.

Author Debriefing: The Twilight War: The Secret History of America’s Thirty-Year Conflict with Iran

Spy Museum — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The United States and Iran have been at daggers drawn for more than thirty years. While this rivalry has never erupted into open war, it has been an enduring “twilight war” in which spies and terrorists often play the lead role. US Government historian David Crist will discuss his groundbreaking book which pulls back the curtain on many of the deepest secrets of this lethal struggle. Among other fascinating revelations, hear about the massive spy network that the CIA developed in Iran with German help in the 1980s, how these spies communicated with their handlers using invisible ink, and how their discovery led to the deaths of more than two dozen people. This event took place on August 1, 2012.

Author Debriefing: Castro's Secrets: The CIA and Cuba's Intelligence Machine

Spy Museum — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0500

In Castro’s Secrets, Brian Latell, former National Intelligence Officer for Latin America and long-time Cuba analyst, offers a strikingly original image of Fidel Castro as Cuba's supreme spymaster. Latell exposes many long-buried secrets of Castro's lengthy reign, including the extent of Cuba’s double agent operations against the United States. In writing this book, Latell spoke with many high-level defectors from Cuba’s powerful intelligence and security services; some had never told their stories on the record before. He also probed dispassionately into the CIA's plots against Cuba, including previously obscure schemes to assassinate Castro and presents dramatic new conclusions about what Castro actually knew of Lee Harvey Oswald prior to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. This event took place on October 10 2012.

Blind Over Cuba

Spy Museum — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0400

As we mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, listen to Professor David Barrett discuss his new book Blind over Cuba: The Photo Gap and the Missile Crisis which he has written with Max Holland. He describes to SPY Historian Mark Stout how the Kennedy Administration impeded reconnaissance flights over Cuba in the weeks before the crisis and how the Administration successfully covered up that fact…until now.

Author Debriefing: The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA's Clandestine Service

Spy Museum — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0400

In the days after 9/11, the CIA directed Henry Crumpton to organize and lead its covert action campaign in Afghanistan. In less than 90 days Al Qaeda and the Taliban were routed. The Art of Intelligence draws from the full arc of Crumpton’s espionage and covert action exploits to explain what America’s spies do and why their service is more valuable than ever. This event took place 12 June 2012.

The Red Cell: Fact and Fiction

Spy Museum — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:30:00 -0400

The surprise of September 11 2001 was, in part, a failure of imagination and CIA Director George Tenet did not want that to happen again. On September 13 he created the Red Cell and staffed it with “people who were willing to take their analysis to a whole new zip code.” CIA analyst Mark Henshaw’s first novel, Red Cell, is about the adventures of two analysts assigned to that team during a military crisis with China. The story is fiction, but it draws on Henshaw’s three years in the Red Cell. Join him and SPY Historian Mark Stout as they discuss what goes on in Room 2G31 at CIA Headquarters.

Author Debriefing: Agent Garbo: How a Brilliant & Eccentric Double Agent Tricked the Nazis & Saved D-Day

Spy Museum — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Juan Pujol was the Walter Mitty of World War II, a nobody who at one doomed venture after another while dreaming of doing something interesting with his life -- saving Western civilization, if possible.Journalist Stephan Talty, whose work has appeared widely, including in the New York Times Magazine and GQ, has told the remarkable story of how against all the odds, Pujol did just that by becoming agent GARBO, the most important double agent of World War II.Hear Talty discuss his new book with SPY Historian Mark Stout in this author debriefing which took place on 12 July 2012.

Our Man in the Middle East (Part 3)

Spy Museum — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:30:00 -0400

Peter concludes his conversation with longtime CIA officer George Cave with a brief discussion of some of the funny and unusual events that took place in the course of his career in the Clandestine Service.

Author Debriefing: Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars

Spy Museum — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400

The history of Israel's intelligence community-led by the feared and famous Mossad-includes stunning successes and embarrassing failures with important implications for war and peace today. CBS journalist Dan Raviv co-author with Israeli journalist Yossi Melman, of Spies Against Armageddon, traces this history from the country's independence in 1948 right up to the crises of today.

Author Debriefing: Spies and Commissars: The Early Years of the Russian Revolution

Spy Museum — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Russia was a chaotic hotspot after the Revolution of 1917 and an extraordinary collection of spies, adventurers, and opportunists poured into the roiling Russian political scene. Outsized characters like Sidney "Ace of Spies" Reilly, communist activist John Reed, and author/spy Somerset Maugham all played their parts…under the watchful eye of Feliks Dzerzhinsky, the head of the ruthless Cheka, the first of the Soviet state security organizations. Listen to renown British historian Robert Service discuss his thrilling new book about this turning point of twentieth century history.

Our Man in the Middle East (Part 2)

Spy Museum — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:00:00 -0400

Peter continues his discussion with career CIA officer George Cave. They cover Cave's time in Saudi Arabia-from which he was expelled when a candid cable he wrote about Saudi politics leaked to the press-and back in Washington where he became embroiled in the Iran-Contra Affair. Hear his account of a clandestine trip with Robert McFarlane and Oliver North for talks with Ayatollah Khomeini's government and other inside details of this scandal.

Our Man in the Middle East (Part 1)

Spy Museum — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:00:00 -0400

George Cave is a legend in the CIA's Clandestine Service. He was recruited into the CIA in 1956 as a fluent Farsi speaker and was pulled out of his entry training and sent to Afghanistan to deal with an urgent operation there.He never looked back. Join Peter and George as they relive the assassination attempts in Iran against the US Ambassador and George himself in the early 1970s and discuss CIA's operations in the Middle East over three decades.

Dick Holm: the Perils and Rewards of a Life in the CIA, Part 2

Spy Museum — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:00:00 -0400

Peter continues his discussion with legendary case officer Dick Holm, the author of The Craft We Chose: My Life in the CIA. Holm discusses several highlights and low points of his career.Learn about his work with Belgian intelligence in thwarting a Belgian Air Force officer who was spying for Russia and his role in the embarrassing "spy flap" when he was the CIA chief in Paris.

Author Debriefing: Alger Hiss: Why He Chose Treason

Spy Museum — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:00:00 -0400

In 1948, when Whittaker Chambers accused Ivy League-educated senior diplomat Alger Hiss of spying for the Soviets, few Americans were willing to believe him.In fact, Hiss went to his grave protesting his innocence, but now it seems clear that he was guilty, given the evidence available since the end of the Cold War.Retired counterintelligence officer Christina Shelton has written a new biography of Hiss.She highlights the many missed opportunities and poor judgments in the Hiss case, and discusses them in the context of wide-scale Soviet infiltration and espionage.Join Shelton and SPY historian Mark Stout for a discussion of this provocative new book about one of America's most controversial icons.

The Hunt for KSM: Inside the Pursuit and Takedown of the Real 9/11 Mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed

Spy Museum — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:48:00 -0400

Josh Meyer, co-author with Terry McDermott of The Hunt for KSM, visits the International Spy Museum to talk about the decade-long FBI and CIA effort to capture Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.Meyer discusses the repeated failed attempts to find the evil genius who had plotted to kill the Pope and President Clinton and explode a dozen planes over the Pacific Ocean, all before masterminding the 9/11 attacks.Finally, hear how the US finally grabbed KSM as a result of the interrogation of another terrorist, Abu Zubaydah.

Dick Holm: the Perils and Rewards of a Life in the CIA, Part 1

Spy Museum — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:23:00 -0400

Today Peter starts a conversation with Dick Holm, a legendary CIA operations officer, who has served all over the world.Dick, the author of The Craft We Chose: My Life in the CIA, talks about the importance of intelligence and reveals the terrible price that he paid for serving his country as a young officer in the Congo in the 1960s.

Leak: Why Mark Felt Became Deep Throat

Spy Museum — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:24:00 -0400

Intelligence officers and investigative journalists both depend on clandestine sources to divulge secrets.But why do people betray a trust?Peter interviews veteran journalist Max Holland about his new book, Leak, which probes the mind and motivations of one of the most famous clandestine sources in American history: Deep Throat. Hear why Mark Felt, the Deputy Director of the FBI, betrayed President Nixon by leaking to the Washington Post and Time about Watergate.Were Felt's motives patriotic or self-serving…or both?

Author Debriefing: Shadow Commander: The Epic Story of Donald D. Blackburn-Guerrilla Leader and Special Forces Hero

Spy Museum — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:30:00 -0400

During the Vietnam War, perhaps the US Army's most secretive unit was the Studies and Observations Group (SOG). This unit conducted reconnaissance missions, captured enemy prisoners for interrogation and rescued American POWs. It also ran teams of clandestine agents, and conducted psychological operations. The leader of this group in the mid-1960s was a legendary Army officer, Donald Blackburn. Listen to author Mike Guardia describe Blackburn's colorful life in this event which took place on 16 February 2012.

Eavesdropping in Vietnam: One Man's Experience

Spy Museum — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

SPY Historian Mark Stout explores the importance of signals intelligence (SIGINT) to the Vietnam War with retired National Security Agency cryptanalyst Tom Glenn.Glenn served more time in country than any other civilian of the NSA.Hear about the sixth sense that good SIGINTers need to have, the difficulties of working in foreign languages, and how Glenn and his colleagues were able to predict every major Communist offensive.Learn also why American commanders did not always believe them.Finally, hear the wrenching story of Glenn's last days in Saigon in 1975 as the city was falling to the North Vietnamese Army.

The Power of Open Source Intelligence

Spy Museum — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:00:00 -0400

With the ever increasing global connectivity, more and more information is available merely for the asking.This has led to a flourishing of the discipline of open source intelligence collection.SPY Historian Mark Stout has a probing discussion with one of the world's leading practitioners of this art: Arno Reuser of the Dutch military intelligence service.With the growth of open source, can we stop stealing secrets?

Author Debriefing: Smersh: Stalin's Secret Weapon: Soviet Military Counterintelligence in WWII

Spy Museum — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:00:00 -0500

In the early James Bond novels, the hero battled the villainous forces of Smersh, a shadowy Soviet intelligence organization. Bond was fictional, but Smersh really existed. Drawing its name from smert shpionam Russian for

Investigating Historical Spies

Spy Museum — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:13:00 -0500

Researching spy history is a difficult business. Spies carefully cover their tracks and intelligence agencies classify everything and release their records only after many years, if at all. Given these difficulties how do historians reconstruct espionage history? SPY Historian Mark Stout explores this issue with Dr. R. Bruce Craig, the author of Treasonable Doubt: The Harry Dexter White Spy Case. Hear Craig describe how a receipt for $1.25 allowed him to discover the real identity of the mysterious "Agent Zero" who spied for the Soviets before World War II. Also listen as Craig tells of his forthcoming book about Alger Hiss and how he has brought lawsuits that forced the government to open up sealed grand jury records for Hiss and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

The Intelligence War Against Terrorism

Spy Museum — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:00:00 -0500

Since 9/11, the United States Intelligence Community has expanded into an $80 billion behemoth and taken on many new tasks, for instance spying on terrorists in cyberspace and even becoming a combat organization in its own right.Are we getting value for our money?To what extent did the invasion of Iraq divert important intelligence resources from Afghanistan?And why is the FBI flying reconnaissance flights over northwest D.C.?Intelligence historian, Matthew Aid, the author of the new book Intel Wars: The Secret History of the Fight Against Terror, grapples with these and other questions in a discussion with SPY Historian Mark Stout.

Intelligence and Espionage in the U.S. Civil War

Spy Museum — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:00 -0500

Spies, cavalry, and telescopes were the traditional intelligence tools available during the Civil War, but there was also cutting edge high tech: the telegraph and the observation balloon.How did Civil War generals combine these to help make strategic decisions?As we observe the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, SPY Historian Mark Stout discusses this question with Professor William Feis of Buena Vista University, the author of Grant's Secret Service: The Intelligence War from Belmont to Appomattox.

Author Debriefing: MH/CHAOS: The CIA's Campaign against the Radical New Left and the Black Panthers

Spy Museum — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:00 -0500

Operation MHCHAOS was the code name for a secret domestic spying program conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency in the late 1960s and early 1970s charged with unmasking any foreign influences on left wing protestors. CIA counterintelligence officer Frank Rafalko was a part of that operation. When The New York Times revealed MHCHAOS in 1974 and Congress investigated, MHCHAOS took its place in the pantheon of intelligence abuses.However, in his new book Rafalko says that the operation was justified and that the CIA was the logical agency to conduct it. Listen as he defends his perspective with dramatic intelligence collected on the New Left and black radicals. This event took place on 26 October 2011.

The Silent Listener: British Eavesdropping in the Falklands War

Spy Museum — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

D. J. Thorp, a signals intelligence officer in the British Army, spent many years eavesdropping on the hot spots of the Cold War in Europe and the Middle East. In 1982 he found himself on board a Royal Navy ship intercepting signals from the Argentinean military as it fought the British in the Falklands War.Listen in as Major Thorp describes to SPY Historian Mark Stout how signals intelligence influenced the course of that war, how his team uncovered an Argentinean plan for a counterattack that could have turned the tide of the war, and even how a signals intercept led British naval personnel to shave off their beards!

J. Edgar Hoover: Fact vs. Fiction

Spy Museum — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:00:00 -0500

Clint Eastwood's movie, J. Edgar, gives a Hollywood take on the controversial Director of the FBI.However, many people have criticized the movie for whitewashing Hoover's abuses while others have criticized it for its implication that Hoover may have been gay.Peter addresses these issues in discussion with Ray Batvinis, a former FBI special agent, a former Executive Director of the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation, and the author of the book, The Origins of FBI Counterintelligence.

Author Debriefing: Uncompromised: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of an Arab American Patriot in the CIA

Spy Museum — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:00:00 -0500

After a childhood in war-torn Lebanon with an abusive father, Nada Prouty jumped at the chance to forge her own path in America, a path that led to undercover work in the FBI, then the CIA. Her work earned her great respect from her colleagues but her promising career came to an end when federal investigators charged Prouty with passing intelligence to Hezbollah. Lacking sufficient evidence to make their case in court, prosecutors went to the media, suggesting that she had committed treason. Though the CIA and a federal judge eventually exonerated Prouty, she was dismissed from the Agency and stripped of her citizenship. In Uncompromised, Prouty tells her story in a bid to restore her name and reputation. This event took place on November 15 2011.

The Saddam Tapes: Secrets of a Dictator

Spy Museum — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:00:00 -0400

When American forces captured Baghdad in 2003 they found an enormous collection of audio and video tapes of Saddam Hussein meeting with his cronies, along with voluminous written records from Saddam's military and intelligence services.What do these materials reveal about Saddam, one of the great dictators of the modern era?What use did he make of his secret services and how well did he understand the world around him?How he react when he learned that the United States had sold weapons to Iran as part of the Iran-Contra Affair?Kevin Woods and David Palkki know the answers and discuss them with SPY Historian Mark Stout on the occasion of the release of the book that the three of them co-edited: The Saddam Tapes: The Inner Workings of a Tyrant's Regime, 1978-2001.

Identity, Espionage, and Social Media

Spy Museum — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:00:00 -0400

Who are your friends on Facebook?Are you sure?Thomas Ryan, co-founder of Provide Security, knows that you can't always be certain. Why? Because he created the fictional Robin Sage, a cyber femme fatale, who quickly wormed her way into the confidence of national security professionals who should have known better.He conceived the experiment to expose weaknesses in the nation's defense and intelligence communities, but even he was surprised by its success. Robin Sage is just one of the fascinating and disturbing tricks of the online espionage trade that Ryan shared with SPY Historian Mark Stout.You may never friend anyone again…

Interrogating a High Value Detainee: A Morality Tale

Spy Museum — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:27:00 -0400

What would you do if you were told to do whatever was necessary to get a prisoner to talk? This is the situation that career CIA officer Glenn Carle found himself in when he was made the lead interrogator for a detainee who was said to be a member of Al Qaeda's top echelon. Carle, the author of the recently published book, The Interrogator: An Education, tells Peter what it was like to be in this position. And, he describes how he got on the wrong side of CIA Headquarters (HQ) when he objected to the treatment of the detainee, who he came to believe was not who CIA HQ said he was. Listen in on a discussion that raises profound questions about American values and the struggle against terrorism.

In the Counterterrorism Center on 9/11: One Analyst's Story

Spy Museum — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:23:00 -0400

The war with Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda did not begin on September 11th. CIA analyst Cynthia Storer was there from the beginning in the early 1990s, a member of a small band of mostly female analysts who worked on Al Qaeda long before September 11.They faced a frustrating uphill battle convincing others about this new threat and were subjected to ridicule for their supposedly excessive passion right up until September 11th.Hear Cynthia discuss with SPY Historian Mark Stout what it was like to be in the building on that day and the amazing combination of emotion, professionalism, and commitment that characterized the following days.

Author Debriefing: The Triple Agent: The al-Qaeda Mole Who Infiltrated the CIA

Spy Museum — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:30:00 -0400

In 2009, the CIA’s partners in the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate had a source named Humam Khalil al-Balawi working inside Al Qaeda and he knew where Ayman al-Zawahiri, the number two man in al Qaeda was…or so they thought. In fact, Al Qaeda was running a deception. In December 2009 al-Balawi came to a CIA base in Khost, Afghanistan and detonated bomb strapped to his chest, killing seven CIA officers and one Jordanian intelligence officer. It was the CIA’s greatest loss of life in decades. Join Pulitzer Prize winning author Joby Warrick for this gripping true story of miscalculation, deception, and revenge, and learn how Al Qaeda fooled the world’s greatest intelligence service. This event took place on 20 July 2011.

The Aftermath of Bin Laden's Death: The Lessons of Strategic Manhunting

Spy Museum — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:00:00 -0400

The 13-year search for Osama Bin Laden may have seemed unprecedented, but actually such events have not been uncommon in American history. Since the days of Geronimo, the United States has embarked on at least eleven such "strategic manhunts." Benjamin Runkle, the author of the new book Wanted Dead or Alive: Manhunts from Geronimo to Bin Laden, sits down with SPY Historian Mark Stout to discuss what we can learn from the history of these manhunts. Find out what kind of intelligence it takes to track down an evasive enemy leader and learn what the strategic pay-off can be from a successful manhunt. Part three of a series

Author Debriefing: Mastermind: The Many Faces of the 9/11 Architect, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed

Spy Museum — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:00:00 -0400

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was behind many of the most heinous terrorist plots of the past twenty years, including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Millenium Plots, and 9/11 itself.He even claims to have personally beheaded Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.Investigative journalist Richard Miniter brings to life the remarkable story of "KSM," including his time living in the United States.Based on interviews with government officials, generals, diplomats and spies from around the world, Miniter reveals never before reported Al Qaeda plots and remarkable new details about the 9/11 attacks.He also lets us into the ultimately successful clandestine operations of American and Pakistani intelligence officers to capture this notorious killer.This event took place on 19 May 2011.

Author Debriefing: “Wild Bill” Donovan

Spy Museum — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:01:00 -0400

“Wild Bill” Donovan was a World War I hero with a Medal of Honor to prove it, a millionaire Wall Street lawyer, and a prominent Republican. Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt chose this brilliant yet disorganized visionary to be his spymaster, head of the World War II Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Veteran journalist Douglas Waller has written a compelling biography of William Donovan. He describes Donovan’s reckless nature: how he needlessly risked his life on foreign battlefields and engaged in extramarital affairs that emboldened his enemies in Washington. Waller also recounts the OSS’s daring operations overseas and the vicious political battles that Donovan had to fight with Winston Churchill, J. Edgar Hoover, and the Pentagon. Donovan’s plans to continue the OSS after the war were defeated, yet the CIA rose like a phoenix from the OSS’ ashes. This event took place 17 February 2011.

Modern Intelligence Analysis: From Art to Science?

Spy Museum — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:00:00 -0400

A great deal of public attention goes to the CIA's case officers who recruit and run agents and steal secrets. However, few people pay attention to the fact that those secrets are stolen so that they can be put on desks of intelligence analysts. Analysts, then, must put together information from both secret sources and open sources to produce insightful assessments to inform the nation's leaders. Randy Pherson, a former senior official at the CIA and the President of Pherson Associates, teaches advanced analytic techniques to the US Intelligence Community. Join him as he discusses with SPY Historian Mark Stout his efforts to move the vital field of intelligence analysis toward greater rigor.

The Aftermath of Bin Laden's Death: Inside al Qaeda's Hard Drives

Spy Museum — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:03:00 -0400

After killing Osama bin Laden, the SEALs reportedly took hundreds of drives, disks, and computers from the house in Abbottabad, Pakistan.What challenges will American intelligence agencies face in exploiting bin Laden's computers and what can be learned from the computer of a terrorist mastermind?SPY Historian Mark Stout discusses the complexities of digital dumpster diving with Wall Street Journal reporter Alan Cullison, who in 2001 purchased and exploited a computer used by Ayman al-Zawahiri, now the heir apparent to lead al Qaeda. Part two of a series.

The Aftermath of bin Laden's Death: Winning the War While Staying in the Right

Spy Museum — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:40:00 -0400

What are the implications of Osama bin Laden's death for the al Qaeda movement? What role did waterboarding and "enhanced interrogation techniques" play in tracking down Bin Laden and should we reassess our views of torture? Peter explores these provocative questions with naval intelligence veteran and counterterrorism expert Malcolm Nance, the author of An End to al Qaeda: Destroying bin Laden's Jihad and Restoring America's Honor. As a SERE instructor, Nance has been waterboarded and has conducted waterboardings. He has even given expert testimony on the issue before Congress. Part one of a series.

Spy versus Spy in East Germany

Spy Museum — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:52:00 -0400

The East German security service, the Stasi, was infamous for surveilling and oppressing the East German population.However, it also hunted Western spies and there were many to be found; the CIA, the West German BND, and Britain's MI-6 were all very active. In fact, from 1955 to 1989 the Stasi uncovered more than 1300 foreign spies operating in East Germany. Join SPY Historian Mark Stout as he discusses Stasi counterespionage with Professor Paul Maddrell who has been working in the Stasi archives. Learn about Western espionage in East Germany and find out the grim fate of the spies who were uncovered.

Stalking Terrorists Online

Spy Museum — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:30:00 -0400

Dropping Spies from the Sky during the Korean War

Spy Museum — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:00:00 -0400

Social Media: Tools of Liberation or Repression?

Spy Museum — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:00:00 -0500

Social media-Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others-are held up as powerful tools for peoples trying to overthrow police states. Iran's "Twitter Revolution" electrified the world and the Egyptian government shut off Internet access as demonstrations swept that country. However, Evgeny Morozov of Stanford University, one of the leading thinkers about the political impact of new media, explains to SPY Historian, Mark Stout that they are less powerful than we normally think; worse, "the KGB wants you to join Facebook."Social media-Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others-are held up as powerful tools for peoples trying to overthrow police states. Iran's "Twitter Revolution" electrified the world and the Egyptian government shut off Internet access as demonstrations swept that country. However, Evgeny Morozov of Stanford University, one of the leading thinkers about the political impact of new media, explains to SPY Historian, Mark Stout that they are less powerful than we normally think; worse, "the KGB wants you to join Facebook."

Intelligence and Analysis in the National Football League

Spy Museum — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:00:00 -0500

In 2007, the New England Patriots were caught videotaping the New York Jet's sideline defensive signals. That was illegal, but it's remarkable what is allowed, even routine. From surveillance films, to secure communications, to briefing books, and deception operations, the intelligence activity conducted for the gridiron warriors is as intense as that conducted for the US military.T. J. Waters joins Peter Earnest and Dan Treado of the International Spy Museum to discuss his new ebook, Prior to the Snap: How the NFL's Hyperperformance Strategy Safeguards the World's Most Successful Team Sport.You'll never look at football the same way again.

SPYING ON THE SOVIET ARMY IN EAST GERMANY

Spy Museum — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:03:00 -0500

During the Cold War, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France each had a "military liaison mission" authorized to roam East Germany. While the fiction was that they existed to coordinate military affairs with the Soviets in Germany, the reality was that they collected intelligence on the Soviet military. Join Spy Museum Historian Mark Stout as he talks with Brigadier General Roland Lajoie, a former chief of the US Military Liaison Mission, about the accomplishments, adventures, and tragedies of these little known spies in uniform.

A Young Woman on the Front Lines of the Cold War

Spy Museum — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:37:00 -0500

Shirley Perry was recruited to join the CIA in 1951, a time when applications were handed out "under the counter" at the university job office, and when the CIA lived in rodent-infested temporary buildings on the National Mall. What was it like to be a young woman in the Agency at that time, and to be sent to Vienna-the front line of the Cold War-to support intelligence operations? Shirley Perry, former CIA case officer, reminisces with Peter about those early days and talks about her new memoir, After Many Years.

David Kahn on Codebreaking from Ancient Times to the Internet Era

Spy Museum — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:42:00 -0500

David Kahn is the author of the classic book The Codebreakers.When it was first published in 1967, the National Security Agency was concerned that the book might reveal sensitive secrets.Over the years, however, NSA changed from perceiving Kahn as "an enemy of the people" to depending on him as a popularizer of codebreaking.Join Peter and David Kahn as they discuss Kahn's career, some of the greatest triumphs of American signals intelligence history, and the challenges facing today's codebreakers.

The Real History of MI6

Spy Museum — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:50:00 -0400

Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6, is James Bond's home agency and one of the world's most secretive organizations. The British government did not even admit that it existed until the 1990s. Yet, in connection with its centennial year, the service has commissioned an outside scholar to write an official history of its first forty years. Peter chats with Professor Keith Jeffery, the only outsider who has ever seen the MI6 archives and given their penchant for secrecy perhaps the only one who ever will in our lifetimes. Drawing on his new book, The Secret History of MI6, 1909-1949, Professor Jeffery shares "how it actually was and how it's actually done.

Escape from Tehran, 1979: Part II

Spy Museum — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:52:00 -0400

American diplomats Mark and Cora Lijek were hiding at the home of a Canadian diplomat as the Iranian Revolution swirled around them. Peter continues his discussion with the Lijeks and also welcomes Tony Mendez, the CIA officer who led the daring operation to bring them home. Hear how they escaped the country posing as Hollywood filmmakers and the joy they felt as they finally left Iranian airspace.

Escape from Tehran, 1979: Part I

Spy Museum — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:00:00 -0400

When Iranian militants stormed the US Embassy in Tehran, Mark and Cora Lijek and four other American diplomats slipped out a side exit and found themselves on the run in a hostile country. Before long, Canadian diplomats gave them shelter but now they had to avoid discovery while Washington hatched an audacious plan to rescue them. The Lijeks discuss with Peter their ordeal and how they prepared to escape.

Peering Over the Iron Curtain: Overhead Photography and the Cold War

Spy Museum — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:13:00 -0400

Today Peter converses with Dino Brugioni, a pioneer of the art of photo interpretation and a living legend of the US Intelligence Community. Dino shares his personal experiences briefing Presidents and describes the role that he and overhead photography played in such seminal Cold War events as the "missile gap" and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dino Brugioni has looked inside the most secret places on earth…from above..

A Spy in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard

Spy Museum — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:16:00 -0400

A young student in the US when the Iranian Revolution happened in 1979, Reza Kahlili rejoiced and hurried back to his native country, but he soon found that "every promise that Khomeini had made was vividly a lie." In the early 1980s, he made contact with the CIA, agreeing to risk his life and his family's wellbeing as a spy within Iran. He discusses with Peter how he burrowed inside the regime's elite Revolutionary Guard to report what he found, balancing his constant fear against his Persian patriotism.

An Army of Illegals: Assessing the Russian Spy Case

Spy Museum — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:18:00 -0400

Two weeks ago on 27 June, the FBI arrested a network of 10 Russian "deep cover" spies.Peter sits down with former KGB Major General Oleg Kalugin to discuss this remarkable case and the historicspy swap which took place last Friday.Kalugin, who once ran agents in the United States, is forthright in expressing his views about what this case says about the state of Russian intelligence today.

Son of Hamas, Spy for Israel

Spy Museum — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 22:21:00 -0400

Mosab Hassan Yousef was the nearest thing to royalty in the terrorist group Hamas: the son of one of its founding members.He was also a spy for Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, which dubbed him the "Green Prince."Today Mosab and his Shin Bet handler sit down with Peter to discuss their dangerous game and his book Son of Hamas.

Caught by the KGB

Spy Museum — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:25:00 -0400

Martha Peterson, a 32 year CIA veteran, was the first female case officer assigned to Moscow. Today she talks with Peter about her sudden capture by the Soviet KGB while executing a covert operation in Moscow.

Military Intelligence from the Cold War to Cyber War

Spy Museum — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:28:00 -0400

In 1973 Captain Gail Harris became the first woman to hold a combat intelligence job in the U.S. Navy. Her 28 year career included hands-on leadership in the intelligence community during every major conflict from the Cold War to Desert Storm to Kosovo. Today, she discusses with Peter her unique experience providing intelligence support to military operations and the challenges of developing policies for defense against cyber warfare.

Evolution of Government Surveillance Programs

Spy Museum — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:31:00 -0400

Shane Harris is a staff correspondent for National Journal and the former technology editor of Government Executive magazine.In his new book, The Watchers, he chronicles the government's efforts to create a computer system capable of analyzing data and identifying terrorist activity. Harris contends that while pinpointing threats remains difficult, the governments can now spy on U.S. citizens with ease. He joins Peter today to discuss the evolution of surveillance, America's changing views on privacy, and the human element behind computerized data collecting.

Tales from the OSS, part II

Spy Museum — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:35:00 -0500

Elizabeth Macintosh continues to offer her insights into OSS. This time, she talks about the many fascinating and colorful people she met at OSS, including Director William "Wild Bill" Donovan and Virginia Hall.

Cyber Security and Covert Action

Spy Museum — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:38:00 -0500

Dr. Herbert Lin is chief scientist at the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, National Research Council of the National Academies. An expert on cyber security, Herb discusses various aspects of cyber attacks, including ways in which cyber weapons can be used for covert action. To view his co-edited report on this subject, visit: http://www.anagram.com/berson/nrcoiw.pdf

Intelligence in a War Zone

Spy Museum — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:40:00 -0500

Melissa Mahle served from 1988-2002 at the CIA, much of the time as a case officer dealing with terrorist issues in the Middle East, running agents and gathering intelligence. Today, she discusses with Peter her perspective on the recent suicide bombing of a CIA base in Afghanistan, the perils of collecting intelligence in a war zone, as well as the terrorist challenge.

The Terrorist Challenge

Spy Museum — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:41:00 -0500

The U.S. authorities' failure to prevent a Nigerian suicide bomber from boarding a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day, and the suicide bombing at a CIA base in Afghanistan have roiled the intelligence community. International Spy Museum historian Dr. Thomas Boghardt discusses with SpyCast host and CIA veteran Peter Earnest how these incidents unfolded and their implications for intelligence reform.

Tales from the OSS, Part I

Spy Museum — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:43:00 -0500

Elizabeth Macintosh served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. Today, she discusses her personal experience working for OSS, the role of women in it, as well as some of the agency's most exciting operations.

The MI5 Centenary

Spy Museum — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:46:00 -0500

This year, Britain's domestic security service, MI5, celebrates its 100th anniversary. Cambridge University professor Christopher Andrew, the author of MI5's official history, Defend the Realm, reveals the agency's strengths and weaknesses, and relates some of the most intriguing stories involving Britain's spy catchers.

Woman in Disguise

Spy Museum — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:30:00 -0500

Jonna Hiestand Mendez began her CIA career as a secretary and ended it as head of the agency's Office of Technical Services, overseeing the development of gadgets, disguises, and high-tech devices in support of espionage missions. Today, she discusses with Peter some of the operations she was involved in as well as opportunities for women in the intelligence community.

Cyber Threats: Challenges and Solutions

Spy Museum — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:49:00 -0500

Melissa Hathaway served as acting senior director for cyberspace for the National Security Council, heading a 60-Day Cyberspace Policy Review for President Obama that resulted in a comprehensive report with recommendations for action. Today, she discusses the massive and growing challenges of cyberspace-such as identity theft, cyber espionage, and cyber wars-and what needs to be done to deal with this threat.

The Changing Face of Al Qaeda

Spy Museum — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:52:00 -0400

How has the sustained U.S. effort to destroy Al Qaeda affected the terrorist organization, and how important is the current struggle against the Taliban in Afghanistan for the future of Al Qaeda? A former Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism, Juan C. Zarate discusses America's struggle with Al Qaeda and comments on the organization's current state.

Intelligence and 9/11

Spy Museum — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:55:00 -0400

Could intelligence have prevented the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and has the Intelligence Community been sufficiently reformed to deal with current and future threats? These are the questions that Amy Zegart discusses on the eighth anniversary of 9/11. An intelligence scholar, Amy has worked on President Clinton's National Security Council and is currently teaching intelligence and national security at UCLA.

Sexpionage

Spy Museum — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:56:00 -0400

Since biblical times, spies and intelligence services have used sexual entrapment and emotional blackmail to recruit agents and gather secret information. International Spy Museum advisory board member and espionage author H. Keith Melton discusses the means, methods, and effectiveness of "sexpionage," and elaborates on specific examples, such as the Russian honeytrap and the East German Romeo agent.

The Cambridge Five

Spy Museum — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In the 1930s, five young Cambridge University students were recruited by Soviet intelligence to penetrate the British intelligence community. In the course of their decade-long espionage career, the Five did enormous damage to Western security. British intelligence author Nigel West examines their motivations and activities, and reveals new evidence he has unearthed in Soviet intelligence archives. click here

Cold War Radio

Spy Museum — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:01:00 -0400

Richard H. Cummings served for fifteen years as Director of Security for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). He reviews the propaganda activities of RFE/RL during the Cold War and describes Soviet bloc operations against the stations, including the 1978 murder of RFE scriptwriter Georgi Markov in London, and the 1981 bombing of RFE/RL headquarters in Munich by the terrorist Carlos the Jackal.

Intelligence on Pakistan

Spy Museum — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:05:00 -0400

"Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world today," asserts Bruce Riedel, a 30-year CIA veteran and currently a senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. Bruce discusses the various threats emanating from Pakistan, including the rise of the Taliban, the security of the country's nuclear weapons, the murky role of its Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI), and the precarious relationship with neighboring India.

Intelligence in Cyberspace

Spy Museum — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:07:00 -0400

Cyber threats, information warfare, and internet espionage are growing challenges for business companies, private individuals, and the intelligence community alike. A former CIA operations officer and current president of the cyber intelligence company Cyveillance, Dr. Terry Gudaitis discusses specific examples of cyber threats as well as techniques to counter them.

Inside the National Security Agency

Spy Museum — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:10:00 -0400

The National Security Agency (NSA), America's premier cryptanalytic organization, is the largest and most secretive member of the American intelligence community. Discussing NSA's mission, capabilities, and past exploits, former NSA Chief of Information Policy Mike Levin reveals some of the mysterious agency's secrets.

U.S. Military Intelligence-Past and Present

Spy Museum — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:12:00 -0400

A West Point graduate, Brian G. Shellum was U.S. Army attaché in Germany, served in the armed forces during the first Gulf War, and worked for over a decade as historian for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Today, Brian discusses the history and purpose of American military intelligence, describing the DIA and the role of the military attachés posted abroad.

U.S. Naval Intelligence in World War II

Spy Museum — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:14:00 -0400

Rear-Admiral Donald Mac Showers joined the U.S. Navy's codebreakers at Pearl Harbor in 1942 and went on to serve three decades in the American intelligence community. Today, he talks about the contribution of codebreaking to the defeat of Japanese naval forces at Midway in 1942, and he reveals how cryptanalysts helped U.S. forces locate and kill Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the mastermind of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Intelligence and Conspiracy Theories II

Spy Museum — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:16:00 -0400

During the Cold War, Soviet intelligence used disinformation to malign the United States, for example, by spreading the rumor that AIDS resulted from U.S. Army bacteriological warfare experiments. U.S. State Department Counter-Misinformation officer Todd Leventhal discusses some of the most notorious Soviet-inspired conspiracy theories and explains how the United States sought to counter them.

Intelligence and Conspiracy Theories I

Spy Museum — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:20:00 -0500

What makes conspiracy theories so appealing, and why have they become so prevalent in this day and age? Do some of them contain a grain of truth? And who stands to gain from spreading these ideas? To answer these questions, Peter interviews Professor Robert Alan Goldberg, author of Enemies Within, and a leading authority on conspiracy thinking.

Intelligence Lessons from Vietnam

Spy Museum — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:21:00 -0500

Working for the Saigon Military Mission and the CIA, Rufus Phillips spent ten years in South East Asia during the Vietnam War. Drawing on this experience, Rufus talks about psychological warfare and counter-insurgency tactics in Vietnam, and lessons for America's present engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Robert De Niro on Intelligence

Spy Museum — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:24:00 -0500

Today, Peter chats with actor and film producer Robert De Niro. De Niro talks about his long-standing interest in the world of intelligence and discusses his latest espionage movie The Good Shepherd about the early history of the CIA. He also provides an insider look at the making of the humorous polygraph scene in Meet the Parents.

U.S. Intelligence in Decline?

Spy Museum — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:26:00 -0500

A senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, Melvin A. Goodman served many years as an analyst at the CIA and the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. A critical observer of the intelligence community, he elaborates on his thesis about the decline of U.S. intelligence, specifically its militarization, privatization, and deteriorating analysis capacities.

The CIA and the End of the Cold War

Spy Museum — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:28:00 -0500

As CIA station chief in Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, and Germany in the 1980s and early ‘90s, Milt Bearden observed-and influenced-the end of the Cold War from a unique vantage point. Today, he talks with Peter about U.S. support of Afghani mujahideen against the Soviet invaders, intelligence community reforms, and his work as a consultant on spycraft in Hollywood.

Intelligence and the Presidential Elections II

Spy Museum — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:32:00 -0400

Judge William H. Webster, the only person who directed both the FBI (1978-87) and the CIA (1987-91), taps into his vast expertise to discuss with Peter the guidance he would offer to the next U.S. president.In addition, he provides insight on the ever-present tension between civil liberties and national security, and issues of intelligence oversight.

Inspecting the CIA

Spy Museum — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:34:00 -0400

Peter's guest today is Frederick Hitz, the CIA's first inspector general subject to U.S. Senate Confirmation (1990-98) and now a lecturer on intelligence at the University of Virginia. In a wide-ranging discussion, Fred talks about intelligence oversight, leadership issues, and terrorism. He also discusses career options in intelligence for young people.

Intelligence and the Presidential Elections I

Spy Museum — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:36:00 -0400

A former station chief in Moscow and head of the CIA's Soviet/East Europe division, Burton Gerber now lectures on intelligence and national security at Georgetown University. Today, Peter interviews him about the post 9/11 reforms of the intelligence community and what guidance he would offer to the next occupant of the White House.

The Iranian Hostage Crisis

Spy Museum — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:39:00 -0400

In November 1979, radical Iranian students overran the U.S. embassy in Tehran, capturing most of the embassy staff-except for six diplomats who found refuge with the Canadian embassy. Today, Peter talks with retired CIA officer Tony Mendez who, in an elaborate deception and disguise operation, managed to exfiltrate the six Americans from Tehran before the Iranians were able to track them down.

Intelligence and the Presidency

Spy Museum — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:41:00 -0400

How is information from the intelligence community (IC) conveyed to the president, and how have different administrations incorporated intelligence in the political decision-making process? John Hedley, former CIA officer and editor of the President's Daily Brief (PDB), reviews the relationship between the IC and presidents since World War II, in the course revealing fascinating episodes from his personal experience in dealing with several administrations.

Gizmos and Gadgets-the World of Spycraft

Spy Museum — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:43:00 -0400

Peter interviews Robert Wallace, director of the CIA's Office of Technical Services (OTS, the department in charge of "gadgetry") from 1998 to 2002. Bob explains some of his favorite devices, such as the T-100 subminiature camera, and compares OTS' performance to that of its adversaries. He also reviews the role of OTS in some high-profile spy cases and discusses the capabilities and limitations of technical support in intelligence operations.

Predicting Terrorism

Spy Museum — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:45:00 -0400

Peter's guest today is Malcolm W. Nance. A 20 year veteran of the US intelligence community, Malcolm has participated in numerous counter-terrorism operations in the Balkans, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. The author of The Terrorist Recognition Handbook and The Terrorists of Iraq, Malcolm discusses with Peter the role of Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda operations in Iraq, and the threat of domestic terrorism in the United States. He also talks about means and methods of effective anti-terrorist operations and cautions against overreactions.

Congressional Perspectives on U.S. Intelligence

Spy Museum — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:47:00 -0400

Peter’s guest today is former Democratic Congressman Louis Stokes from Ohio, who chaired the House Intelligence Committee in the 1980s and the House Select Committee on Assassinations in the 1970s. Congressman Stokes discusses Congress’ role in overseeing the intelligence community and the value of intelligence to national security, and his committee’s investigation of the deaths of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Comrade J and Russian Espionage in the U.S.

Spy Museum — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:50:00 -0400

Today, Peter interviews espionage writer Pete Earley about one of the most senior Russian intelligence defectors ever, Col. Sergei Tretyakov or "Comrade J." Pete reveals some of the secrets Tretyakov covertly betrayed to the FBI/CIA while serving as SVR (Russian foreign intelligence) deputy resident in New York in the late 1990s. He also sheds light on Tretyakov's complex motivations for defecting.

Intelligence and the WMD Fiasco - Part II

Spy Museum — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:52:00 -0500

Looking further into the U.S. intelligence community's faulty assessment of Iraq's WMD program, Peter interviews Bob Drogin, author of Curveball: Spies, Lies and the Conman Who Caused a War. Bob reveals how fabricated information about Saddam's WMD program from the Iraqi defector "Curveball" could make it all the way to the White House and consequently became one of the primary rationales for war against Iraq.

Intelligence and the WMD Fiasco

Spy Museum — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:54:00 -0500

Today, Peter interviews Tyler Drumheller, the former chief of CIA covert operations in Europe. In the run-up to the Iraq war, Tyler consistently questioned affirmative intelligence on the existence of Saddam's WMD program. He recounts his often frustrating efforts to prevent questionable information, such as that provided by the Iraqi defector "Curveball," from distorting intelligence assessments on Iraq.

Valerie Plame Speaks

Spy Museum — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:56:00 -0500

Peter's guest today is Valerie Plame, a covert CIA officer who recently left the Agency after her name was leaked to the press. Valerie discusses her time at the CIA, the controversy surrounding her case, and the administration's drive to war against Iraq. She also reveals how suddenly becoming a focus of public attention affected her marriage and family.

On Assignment to Congo

Spy Museum — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 23:58:00 -0500

Today, Peter chats with Larry Devlin, the CIA's legendary station chief in Congo during the 1960s. Larry reflects on his reasons for joining the CIA, the political situation in Congo at the time, and the face-off with the Soviets in the Third World. He also discusses his response to the controversial directive from headquarters to have Congo's Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba killed.

Intelligence and the Middle East

Spy Museum — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:01:00 -0400

Peter's guest today is Robert Baer who served for many years as a CIA operative in the Middle East. Among other things, Bob talks about his tour of duty in Lebanon, the psychology of suicide bombers, and the emerging threat of Iran. He also discusses the movie Syriana, which is based on his book, See No Evil.

The Polygraph - Science or Art?

Spy Museum — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:04:00 -0400

Peter interviews John Sullivan, the CIA's longest serving polygrapher. The lie detector has supporters and detractors, and John confronts the controversy surrounding it head-on. He frankly discusses the role of the polygraph in the Agency's security process and offers his candid opinion on the possibilities and limitations of this device.

Leon Trotsky - Murder in Mexico

Spy Museum — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:07:00 -0400

Peter's guest today is H. Keith Melton, renowned intelligence historian and owner of the largest collection of espionage artifacts. Keith sheds new light on one of the most notorious intelligence operations of all time-the assassination of exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky in Mexico in 1940. Keith reconstructs the operation in all its phases, including material from his own original research.

Cuban Intelligence and the Ana Montes Spy Case

Spy Museum — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:09:00 -0400

Peter’s guest this month is Scott Carmichael of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). As the DIA’s senior counterintelligence investigator, Scott identified one of the most damaging spies in recent U.S. history, the Agency’s own chief Cuba analyst, Ana Belen Montes. Scott discusses Montes’ motivations, the damage she did, and the continuing threat of Cuban intelligence to the United States.

From the Secret Files of the CIA

Spy Museum — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:11:00 -0400

Peter interviews Tom Blanton of the National Security Archive about a recently declassified set of documents regarding illegal CIA activities in the early Cold War. Putting these "Family Jewels" in historical perspective, Tom and Peter discuss the CIA's participation in domestic wiretapping, assassination attempts at Fidel Castro, and the popular notion of the Agency as a "rogue elephant."

British Intelligence-Past and Present

Spy Museum — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:13:00 -0400

Peter interviews Dame Stella Rimington, former Director-General of MI5, the British domestic security service. Dame Stella compares American and British approaches to intelligence and offers her view on the terrorist threat and the Litvinenko murder. She also discusses the authenticity of spy fiction and reveals her favorite espionage writer.

Counterterrorism, Intelligence, and the Iraq War

Spy Museum — Tue, 01 May 2007 00:16:00 -0400

After responding to inquiries from listeners, Peter interviews Melissa Mahle who served for over a decade in the CIA's clandestine service in the Middle East. Melissa provides a unique intelligence perspective on 9/11, terrorist threats, and America's continuing engagement in Iraq. She also discusses career opportunities in the intelligence community and the changing role of women in the CIA.

FBI Counterintelligence and the Robert Hanssen Spy Case

Spy Museum — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:18:00 -0400

Peter discusses the Robert Hanssen spy case with retired Senior FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Major who knew Hanssen for over 20 years and was one of his supervisors. Dave shares his thoughts on Hanssen's personality and reasons for spying for the Russians. Last not least, Dave offers his perspective on how the movie Breach captures and misses aspects of the Hanssen espionage case.

The Movie Breach and Hollywood's Take on Espionage

Spy Museum — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:20:00 -0500

Peter interviews Eric O'Neill, the FBI investigator who went undercover as Robert Hanssen's clerk during the final months before Hanssen was arrested for espionage.O'Neill is the model for Ryan Phillippe's character in the current movie Breach.O'Neill talks about the ways the film mirrors-and diverges-from his real experiences with one of America's most damaging spies.

Israeli Intelligence and the Jonathan Pollard Spy Case

Spy Museum — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:22:00 -0500

Peter sits down with Ron Olive, former special agent in charge of counterintelligence for the Naval Investigative Service, to discuss Olive's role in the capture of Jonathan Pollard, one of the most controversial spies in history.Ron talks about investigating and interrogating Pollard, explores Pollard's motivations and significance, and reveals the real significance of gift cacti.

Reviewing Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd

Spy Museum — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:24:00 -0500

Peter discusses the film The Good Shepherd with former CIA officer Jack Platt and AFIO (Association for Intelligence Officers) Director Elizabeth Bancroft, comparing fact and fiction in the OSS and CIA.Enjoy a bonus spoiler in which the three debate the meaning of the ending-and the best way to destroy secret information.

The Litvinenko Murder and Other Riddles from Moscow

Spy Museum — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 00:26:00 -0500

Peter sits down with former CIA officer Bob Rayle and Oleg Kalugin to talk Russia past and present. The three discuss their perspectives on the recent poisoning of former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko.Then, they turn to 1967 and Bob's role in the extraordinary defection of Svetlana Alliluyeva, daughter of Josef Stalin.

The Secret History of Disguises

Spy Museum — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:28:00 -0500

Peter talks with Tony Mendez, former Chief of Disguise for the CIA. Peter and Tony discuss the intricacies of developing disguises for use in hostile environments, the advantages of selective aging, and the secret history of facial recognition technology.

Russian Intelligence-Past and Present

Spy Museum — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 00:30:00 -0400

Peter interviews Oleg Kalugin, former Major General of the Soviet KGB. Peter and Oleg discuss the current espionage conflict between Russia and Georgia, reminisce about the Cuban Missile Crisis, and bring an old question to light: Was Isaac Stone a Russian spy?

Spy Museum — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 -0500