Intelligence - Blogs of War (Page 3)

Intelligence

A collection of 122 posts

Intelligence Analysis: Feedback, Bias, and Other Challenges

Intelligence Analysis: Feedback, Bias, and Other Challenges

In this episode we discuss bias and how it can impact both the production and consumption of intelligence products.

Counterintelligence in the Trump Era

Counterintelligence in the Trump Era

William J. Tucker, regular contributor on counterintelligence topics for Blogs of War and Covert Contact, joins me to discuss the unprecedented challenge the Trump presidency poses to both U.S. counterintelligence and the intelligence community as whole.

Russia, Trump, and Hillary: What a Debate

Russia, Trump, and Hillary: What a Debate

In episode 62 I look at what may have been the most bizarre presidential debate in U.S. history. Covert Contact regular William J. Tucker joins me later in the show to discuss the U.S. government’s formal acknowledgement that Russia is meddling in the U.S. election. You

Inside the President’s Daily Brief with David Priess

Inside the President’s Daily Brief with David Priess

Dr. David Priess delivered the Presidents Daily Brief during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations and has produced the definitive history on the subject with The President’s Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America’s Presidents from Kennedy to Obama [https://www.amazon.

The Nice, France Attack: How Can Counterterrorism Evolve with the Threat

The Nice, France Attack: How Can Counterterrorism Evolve with the Threat

In episode 54 I’m joined again by Patrick Skinner, Director of Special Projects for The Soufan Group [http://soufangroup.com/]. Patrick is a former CIA case officer, with a background in federal law enforcement, who specializes in counterterrorism issues. His background, and current work, allow him to look at

Building an Intel Shop from the Ground Up

Building an Intel Shop from the Ground Up

In episode 53 of the Covert Contact podcast Dean Baratta, Chief of the Analysis Bureau at New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, joins me to discuss how he and his leadership rebuilt their intelligence operation from the ground up. Their radical restructuring touched every facet of their

The Orlando Shooting and Our Struggle to Make Sense of the Senseless

The Orlando Shooting and Our Struggle to Make Sense of the Senseless

In episode 51 I’m joined once again by Patrick Skinner, Director of Special Projects for The Soufan Group [http://soufangroup.com/]. Patrick is a former CIA Case Officer, with a background in federal law enforcement, who specializes in counterterrorism issues. You can follow Patrick on Twitter @SkinnerPM [https://twitter.

Victor in The Rubble: Tackling Intelligence Community Bureaucracy Through Satire

Victor in The Rubble: Tackling Intelligence Community Bureaucracy Through Satire

Former CIA Reports Officer Alex Finley joins me in episode 50 to discuss her first novel and the business of intelligence. Victor in the Rubble [http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Finley/e/B01E1SZ506] is a satirical look at the CIA and the War on Terror. The book is insanely funny, and

Developing and Leveraging Strategic Foresight

Developing and Leveraging Strategic Foresight

I was recently in Washington D.C. and one of the highlights of the trip was meeting Dr. Mathew Burrows [http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/about/experts/list/mathew-j-burrows#fullbio]. Dr. Burrows is the Director of the Strategic Foresight Initiative [http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/brent-scowcroft-center/strategic-foresight] in the Atlantic Council’

Intelligence at the State and Local Level

Intelligence at the State and Local Level

I attended a domestic terrorism conference hosted by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness in May and came away very impressed with how they’re approaching the business of intelligence. They have built a great team of analysts and are aggressively pushing high-quality unclassified products directly to

Cutting Through the Hybrid Warfare Hype

Cutting Through the Hybrid Warfare Hype

The conflict in Ukraine sparked a huge surge in interest in hybrid warfare. Phil Walter joins me in this episode to look at the less helpful aspects of that surge, discuss why the concept still matters, and to propose actions that could put us on better footing to deal with

How Will ISIS Evolve and How Will Our Response Evolve with Them?

How Will ISIS Evolve and How Will Our Response Evolve with Them?

In episode 45 I’m joined again by Patrick Skinner, Director of Special Projects for The Soufan Group [http://soufangroup.com/]. Patrick is a former CIA Case Officer, with a background in federal law enforcement, who specializes in counterterrorism issues. In this episode we discuss the danger of an Islamic

Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin: Identity, Espionage, and Counterintelligence

Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin: Identity, Espionage, and Counterintelligence

Regular Blogs of War and Covert Contact contributor William J. Tucker joins me to discuss the Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin espionage case. While little is known about the case, and Edward Lin has yet to be convicted, all signs point to a very damaging affair. Lin was born in Taiwan,

Are Ungoverned Spaces Inherently Dangerous?

Are Ungoverned Spaces Inherently Dangerous?

In episode 40 of the Covert Contact podcast Phil Walter joins me to discuss some of the concepts laid out in his recent post on Blogs of War [https://blogsofwar.com/ungoverned-spaces-what-threat-do-they-pose/] about ungoverned spaces and how they’re viewed from a national security perspective. Phil challenges some of the

Understanding the Limits of Intelligence and Counterterrorism

Understanding the Limits of Intelligence and Counterterrorism

In episode 31 of the Covert Contact podcast I’m joined by Patrick Skinner. Patrick is a former CIA case officer who specializes in counter-terrorism issues. Patrick’s background in both law enforcement (US Air Marshals and the US Capitol Police) and intelligence has positioned him to understand the full

Discussing Espionage with Former Double Agent Naveed Jamali

Discussing Espionage with Former Double Agent Naveed Jamali

In episode 25 of the Covert Contact podcast I’m talking to Naveed Jamali, former double agent, and co-author of How to Catch a Russian Spy: The True Story of an American Civilian Turned Double Agent [http://www.amazon.com/How-Catch-Russian-Spy-American/dp/1476788820/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

Discussing The Paris Attacks and Europe’s Security Challenges with William J. Tucker

Discussing The Paris Attacks and Europe’s Security Challenges with William J. Tucker

William J. Tucker joins me again for a high level look at the Paris attacks and the impact that instability, chiefly in Syria, will have on the region. Failing states and the mass migration of refugees will continue to put immense pressure on dozens of governments. There is no framework,

The Damascus Cover and the Psychology of Spies with Howard Kaplan

The Damascus Cover and the Psychology of Spies with Howard Kaplan

Howard Kaplan wrote his debut espionage novel, The Damascus Cover [http://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Cover-Jerusalem-Spy-Book/dp/0990526305/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446524012&sr=8-1&keywords=the+damascus+cover] , nearly forty years ago. He joins me to discuss the book, the recently completed the film

Matthias Pfau: Tutanota and the Battle Against Mass Surviellance

Matthias Pfau: Tutanota and the Battle Against Mass Surviellance

Matthias Pfau [https://twitter.com/matthiaspfau] is co-founder and developer of the encrypted email service Tutanota [https://tutanota.com/]. Tutanota is part of what can be considered a post-Snowden development movement that aims to short-circuit government mass surveillance capabilities. I spoke to Matthias to discuss his project and where he

Government Email Problems, Wikileaks, Russia, Drone Leaks, NASA Security and Other Counterintelligence Nightmares

Government Email Problems, Wikileaks, Russia, Drone Leaks, NASA Security and Other Counterintelligence Nightmares

The Covert Contact podcast kicks off again with an admittedly rambling, but hopefully entertaining, start as I review a number of high profile security issues with counterintelligence pro William J. Tucker. We look at the hack of DCIA John Brennan’s AOL account [http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/

Encrypted Communication Has Never Been Easier - Security Never More Challenging

Encrypted Communication Has Never Been Easier - Security Never More Challenging

Just over two years ago I decided to spend some time digging into an emerging class of encryption tools that were making a solid run at simplifying the notoriously cumbersome use of PGP.

William M. Nolte: Counterintelligence after Snowden

Counterintelligence

William M. Nolte: Counterintelligence after Snowden

On February 7, 2014, William M. Nolte, Former Director of Education and Training at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, discussed "Counterintelligence after Snowden" at The Institute of World Politics.

Espionage Among Allies

Espionage Among Allies

William J. Tucker serves as a senior security representative to a major government contractor where he acts as the Counterintelligence Officer, advises on counterterrorism issues, and prepares personnel for overseas travel. His additional duties include advising his superiors in matters concerning emergency management and business continuity planning. Mr. Tucker regularly

Encryption vs. Mass Surveillance with Former FBI Agent David Gomez

Encryption vs. Mass Surveillance with Former FBI Agent David Gomez

Former FBI Agent David Gomez joins John W. Little on the Covert Contact national security podcast.

Hillary Clinton's Email Server: Dissecting the Risks with William J. Tucker

Hillary Clinton's Email Server: Dissecting the Risks with William J. Tucker

William J. Tucker joins me again to discuss Hillary Clinton’s decision to manage her own email services while Secretary of State. While this decision has angered political opponents and government transparency advocates (not to mention a few historians) we are bypassing the political and legal issues to zero in