The International Spy Museum SpyCast™

July 1, 2008: Gizmos and Gadgets—the World of Spycraft

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Jul 2008 00:01:00 EST

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.

June 1, 2008: Predicting Terrorism

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Jun 2008 00:01:00 EST

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.

May 1, 2008: Congressional Perspectives on U.S. Intelligence

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 May 2008 00:01:00 EST

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.

April 1, 2008: Comrade J and Russian Espionage in the U.S.

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Apr 2008 00:01:00 EST

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.

March 5, 2008: Intelligence and the WMD Fiasco - Part II

spycast@spymuseum.org — 5 Mar 2008 00:01:00 EST

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.

February 1, 2008: Intelligence and the WMD Fiasco

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Feb 2008 00:01:00 EST

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.

January 1, 2008: Valerie Plame Speaks

spycast@spymuseum.org — 2 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST

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.

December 1, 2007: On Assignment to Congo

spycast@spymuseum.org — 3 Dec 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

November 1, 2007: Intelligence and the Middle East

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Nov 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

October 1, 2007: The Polygraph — Science or Art?

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Oct 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

September 1, 2007: Leon Trotsky — Murder in Mexico

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Sep 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

August 1, 2007: Cuban Intelligence and the Ana Montes Spy Case

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Aug 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

July 1, 2007: From the Secret Files of the CIA

spycast@spymuseum.org — 2 Jul 2007 00:01:00 EST

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."

June 1, 2007: British Intelligence—Past and Present

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Jun 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

May 1, 2007: Counterterrorism, Intelligence, and the Iraq War

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 May 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

April 2, 2007: FBI Counterintelligence and the Robert Hanssen Spy Case

spycast@spymuseum.org — 2 Apr 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

March 1, 2007: The Movie Breach and Hollywood’s Take on Espionage

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Mar 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

February 1, 2007: Israeli Intelligence and the Jonathan Pollard Spy Case

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Feb 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

January 5, 2007: Reviewing Robert De Niro’s The Good Shepherd

spycast@spymuseum.org — 6 Jan 2007 00:01:00 EST

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.

December 4, 2006: The Litvinenko Murder and Other Riddles from Moscow

spycast@spymuseum.org — 4 Dec 2006 00:01:00 EST

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.

November 1, 2006: The Secret History of Disguises

spycast@spymuseum.org — 1 Nov 2006 00:01:00 EST

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.

October 6, 2006: Russian Intelligence—Past and Present

spycast@spymuseum.org — 6 Oct 2006 00:01:00 EST

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?