4 Things on which Snowden was wrong Former NSA Official: Here Are 4 Things Edward Snowden Gets Wildly Wrong About American Spying. As a former ‘research scientist at the National Security Agency, I feel compelled to respond to James Bamfords exclusive interview with Edward Snowden that appeared in the September issue of Wired magazine. (Unlike Mr. Snowden, I had to get this piece reviewed by the NSA prior to publishing, in order to make sure it doesnt jeopardize any classified information. ) Many of the factual assertions about the NSA and intelligence community that were included in Bamfords article, and previous Snowden disclosures, are highly questionable from the perspective of someone whos actually been there. Here are the top four, although to be fair there were so many it was hard to choose: [Read more: A Note From an Intelligence Insider: Speaking Truth to Power. President Obamas now infamous assertion that the US intelligence community underestimated the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) brought to mind the adage attributed to Sherman Kent, a former professor at Yale recruited into the Office of Strategic Services and widely regarded as the father of CIAs Directorate of Intelligence, that the purpose of intelligence is to raise the tenor of debate. Much has been debated since the president spoke, in the press, on the Hill and the in the halls of government, regarding the adequacy of the intelligence communitys warning, the potential consequences of the rise of ISIL for a strife-torn region and the wider implications for the United States. President Obama clearly felt himself ill-served, and, as a former CIA officer, I can readily imagine the muttering in the halls of Langley and elsewhere about having been thrown under the bus yet again. So, did we miss the boat or not? Did we or didnt we warn appropriately? Did we or didnt we fully appreciate the strengths and prospects of this particular homicidal Sunni militant group and the limited capacity of neighboring states to respond effectively? The short answer is I dont know. I worked on Iraq for the better part of ten years, and I have deep familiarity with the analytic story line on that unhappy land, but since retiring from the Agency some months ago, Ive had no access to the finished intelligence provided daily to the White House. Could it be that the analysts at Langley and elsewhere didnt see what was afoot? Im deeply skeptical, but maybe. Could it be that political leaders are aiming to deflect criticism of flawed policymaking? Maybe. It certainly wouldnt be the first time. That said, its actually the wrong question to ask. [Read more: Kilbourn/WarOnTheRocks/23October2014] Counterterrorism Messaging Needs to Move From State to CIA. The State Department is trying hard to counter online propaganda from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The information battleground includes Twitter and video messages, terrain that ISIL knows well. In addition to having too little money and too few people, the department is forced to conform to federal rules requiring that its work be identified as coming from the US government. That seriously downgrades its effectiveness, and instead fuels anti-American hatred among ISIS supporters. Consider the effect on credibility if even the most graphic anti-ISIL video concludes with the US State Department seal. ISILs online videos are filled with lies. They rely on a blasphemous interpretation of Islam to lure young fighters into combat against fellow Muslims, and they promise a quick trip to paradise for martyrs who throw away their lives. To an outsider, the flimsiness of the ISIL case is apparent, but the online recruiting is done skillfully, combining high-production values with great psychological insight, preying on disaffected young men and women who yearn for more meaningful lives. A much more effective approach to combat their message would be a bare-knuckles operation: no disclaimers and a product that matches up better against the videos coming from Al Hayat, ISILs video production arm (the name stolen from the pan-Arab new US Representative Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, will discuss the growing threats of ISIS/ISIL, Cyberwar, China, Iran, North Korea, and other challenges to the nation as he leaves this important national security post and ends his 14-year career in Washington. Outgoing President Gene Poteat will speak on the just released revision of George OTooles Honorable Treachery: A History of US Intelligence, Espionage, and Covert Action from the American Revolution to the CIA [GroveAtlantic 2014] for which he wrote a new foreword, and of his more unusual and amusing CIA experiences, as he departs AFIO after 15 years as our president; and James R. Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, will stop in to say some special words at this 2014 EOY AFIO Luncheon. Includes cake-cutting and special ceremony for the retirement of AFIOs president of 15 years, S. Eugene Poteat. Timing: Check-in for badge pickup at 10:30 a.m.; Gene Poteat begins presentation at 11 a.m.; Cake-Cutting, Tributes, and Comments for Poteat at 11:45 to noon. Lunch served at noon; DNI James Clapper arrives to make special remarks to Poteat, Rogers, and members; HPSCI Chairman Rogers begins his presentation at 1:05 pm. Event closes at 2 p.m. Morning and Afternoon programs are On The Record The latest intelligence books, and many others, on display and for sale throughout event. EVENT LOCATION: The Crowne Plaza, 1960 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons Corner, VA Driving directions here or use this link: tinyurl/boey9vf Register while space available. Register HERE Researchers - Writers - Speakers NSA Call for Papers for 2015 Cryptologic History Symposium The Center for Cryptologic History invites proposals for papers to be delivered at the Center’s biennial Symposium on Cryptologic History which will take place 22-23 October 2015. The Symposium will be held at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratorys Kossiakoff Center in Laurel, Maryland. Following the Symposium, on Saturday, October 24, participants will be given an opportunity to tour the National Cryptologic Museum and participate in a workshop on sources for research in cryptologic history. Details are available in this PDF. Friday, 30 January 2015 - Tysons Corner, VA - AFIO Nationals first luncheon of 2015 starts the new year with a new Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) -- Robert T. Cardillo -- on the expanded mission of NGA from Ebola relief activities to providing tools, advanced tech, sophisticated techniques, and specialized expertise to policymakers, warfighters, intelligence analysts, and first responders. Robert Cardillo, NGA Director Morning speaker TBA. Timing: Check-in for badge pickup at 10:30 a.m.; TBA begins presentation at 11 a.m.; Lunch served at noon; NGA Director Cardillo begins his presentation at 1:05 pm. Event closes at 2 p.m. Morning and Afternoon programs are On The Record The latest intelligence books, and many others, on display and for sale throughout event. EVENT LOCATION: The Crowne Plaza, 1960 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons Corner, VA Driving directions here or use this link: tinyurl/boey9vf Early registrations accepted HERE
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 06:46:54 +0000
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