A Russian former senior intelligence officer, who reportedly defected to the United States after helping the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrest 10 Russian spies in 2010, is believed to have died. The arrests, which revealed the so-called “Russian illegals program” in the US, were part of a counterintelligence operation codenamed GHOST STORIES by the FBI….
Category: Spycraft
Cold War Files: Codename – Chilbom
Shortly after 9:30 on the morning of September 21, 1976, a light blue Chevy Chevelle carrying three passengers moved along Washington, D.C.’s Embassy Row, merging into the flow of commuter traffic around Sheridan Circle. The man in the driver’s seat was Orlando Letelier, an economist and fellow at a left-leaning think tank, the Institute of…
Espionage Files: The Most Dangerous Spy You’ve Never Heard Of
Programming note: Explore untold stories of American spies: CNN Original Series “Declassified” airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT only on CNN. (CNN)She put American combat troops in harm’s way, betrayed her own people and handed over so many secrets that experts say the U.S. may never know the full extent of the damage. Ana Montes…
Espionage Files: 6 Spies Who Risked It All For Fame, Money, Sex, Drugs and Diamonds
These modern-day spies didn’t have strong ideological allegiances, except perhaps to the high life. Spies. Subterfuge. Clandestine operations. Nothing gets people going like a thrilling tale of espionage — it’s no wonder that movie franchises like the Bonds and the Bournes have seen so much commercial success. These real-life spies, however, aren’t nearly as badass…
Espionage Books Worth A Damn: The New Spymasters
The New Spymasters: inside espionage from the Cold War to global terror, by Stephen Grey Despite the continuing value of intelligence methods like telecommunication interception and satellite imagery, when operating against a shadowy terrorist group—especially one hiding within a civilian population—one of the best sources an intelligence organisation can have is a trusted insider who’s…
Espionage Files: Spy ‘Wearables’
Secret agents typically use tracking devices to monitor foreign adversaries, but now, U.S. spies will assess their own capabilities by outfitting (willing) intelligence personnel with body sensors. Yes, spies have plans to spy on themselves with wearables. “Selecting and evaluating a workforce that is well-suited for the psychological and cognitive demands of the diverse positions…
Espionage Files: More on Russian “Harrassment” of American Diplomats
Yesterday I posted a story from Intel News about Russian “harassment” of American Diplomats in Russia. This story tells about one incident which was definitely NOT harassment but outright assault. It remains unclear however the exact details of this case and if the American was truly a “diplomat” or a Spy. -SF In the early…
Espionage Files: The Russian “Gray War” of Diplomatic Harrassment
A notable increase in incidents of harassment of American diplomats stationed in Europe by Russian intelligence personnel appears to be part of what some officials describe as an escalating “gray war” between the US and Russia. For over a year now, American State Department personnel stationed in Europe have been complaining of a systematic campaign…
Espionage Files: Our Man in Syria?
Russia Is Recruiting The U.S.’s Rebel Allies In Syria ANTAKYA, Turkey — The rebel commander was nervous. He had changed phone numbers and been difficult to reach before finally agreeing to meet in Antakya, a city near the border with war-torn Syria that has long swarmed with rebels, refugees, and spies. On the road to an…
Espionage Files: Surveillance For Hire In Africa
In July 2012, one year after the Arab Spring shook Arab regimes around the world, an email appeared in the inbox of Mamfakinch, a Moroccan online publication critical of the government. Under the subject line “dénonciation” — French for “denunciation” — was a single sentence. “Please don’t use my name or anything else, I don’t want any trouble.” And…