Intelligence Topics

A fascinating and insightful discussion on the motivation of spies and the techniques used to catch them. Learn how reality compares to fiction in this unique peek into the realm of espionage and counterintelligence.   A revealing insiders look into contemporary US spies.  Includes unclassified but little known information.  Available in a single or 2-part expanded version

The impact of signals intelligence during WWII was extraordinary. This discussion is about the code war and includes recently declassified information. Topics include Enigma, ULTRA, MAGIC, Bletchley Park, and Arlington Hall.  This is a riveting presentations about one of the best kept secrets of the 20th century.

Interrogations and Polygraphs     Discussion and demonstration of interrogation and interview techniques. This is an interesting and timely glimpse into the the real world of interrogation rarely seen outside the law enforcement and intelligence community.

Jim Nicholson is the highest ranking CIA officer even convicted of espionage.  While serving 24 years in prison he recruited his son to resume his spying.   This is a fascinating story of double betrayal.  We will examine the treasonous actions and motives of both father and son, including what they did and how they were caught. We will also compare it to another father and son spy duo - John and Michael Walker convicted in 1985.

In 2010 the FBI arrested 10 long-term Russian spies.  They had posed as Americans for years developing intelligence sources.  They attended US universities, had children, homes, and jobs.  One was the "glamorous" Anna Chapman.  Within days, they pled guilty and were swapped for Western assets held in Russian prisons.  We will examine, what they did, how they were caught, and the "prisoner" exchange.  Most Americans read the headlines, we will discuss the fascinating details.

Pollard, a US intelligence analyst, was arrested while spying for Israel.  Israel refused him asylum; then denied knowledge of his spying.  For years, they have sought his release.  Despite a life sentence, he was paroled in Nov 2015.  We will address the facts behind this highly debated and political case.  Was he motivated by love for Israel and its security or was his aim more sinister - greed.  Also did he spy only for Israel.  We will also discuss other Mossad operations (Eichmann, the "Hangman of Riga", assassinations) and Israeli intelligence organizations.  

One of the most successful spies of all time, he may have become the Syrian Deputy Defense Minister if  he had not been caught and executed.  He provided intelligence crucial in the Six Day War.  Other Mossad operations (including  Adolph Eichmann and US spy Jonathan Pollard) and comparisons of major intelligence organizations will also be discussed.

Britain has a long and storied history of intelligence.  Sidney Reilly was one of their most successful spies.  His exploits spawned articles, books, and a popular TV miniseries.   Reilly, the origin of James Bond, and the structure and history of British Intelligence will be discussed (and compared to the US Intelligence Community).  

A discussion of the three worst spies in US history - what they did, why, and how they were caught.  Their betrayals harmed the country, put us at risk, and cost lives.  

Few subjects evoke more emotion.  2-part detailed and frank discussion separating fact from hype - defining the issues and providing fact-based analysis.  Led by someone who conducted and taught law enforcement and counterintelligence interrogations for almost 3 decades.  Topics include:  what it is and is not; how it differs from FBI interrogations; confessions vs intelligence; is it torture; waterboarding; was it necessary and effective;  how and where was it used; who was it used on; GTMO; legality; Geneva Conventions; UN and Senate reports  "torture" memos; war vs crime; laws of war; terrorist motivation; "war crimes"; DOJ investigations

An analysis of the US Intelligence Community.  Topics: agencies and their missions; strengths and weaknesses;  myths; intelligence estimates; President's Daily Brief ; intelligence sources; HUMINT; SIGINT; classification; "Black " projects; intelligence value and confidence levels; recommendations for improvement.  

Review of cold war intelligence; especially the seizure of the US spy ship Pueblo in 1968 by N Korea.  The DPRK leader is an irrational despot who controls a huge standing army and uses his nuclear arsenal to bully the world.  He cannot deliver his weapons to the US mainland today, but he provokes the US (as his grandfather did).  1 Pueblo crewman was killed and 82 were imprisoned and tortured for 11 months.  Topics:  Kim Dynasty; Pueblo mission and attack; US response; "research" vessels; Russian trawlers; Pueblo officers; EC-121 Shoot down; aftermath and implications for today.  

Review and analysis of the strategies and tactics necessary to combat international terrorism - specifically ISIS.  Topics:  role of politicians,  FBI military, and intelligence experts; realistic goals;  tools of war vs criminal law enforcement;  cyber warfare;  aims and methods of ISIS and other Islamic terror groups;  coalitions;  air and ground combat;  ISIS ideology and recruitment;   neutralizing terror cells and radicalization sites;  domestic and international intelligence;  specific recommendations.

In 15 years drones have evolved from a surveillance tool into a widely used and lethal weapon in the war on terror.  We will discuss the technology (past, current, and future) - along with the tactics, politics, and controversy.   Topics: early unmanned aircraft;  the Predator and Reaper;  drone capacity and armaments;  military/intelligence operations; surveillance and offensive capacity;  targeting;  books and movies;  do drones attacks encourage more terrorism.

Analysis of 2 hot topics in the war on terror - watch lists and gun control.  How the government accumulates, maintains, and uses terror watch lists.   We will explore the issues from a security rather than political perspective.  Topics: role of the Counter Terrorism Center, National Counterterrorism Center, and the FBI's National Security Branch;  terrorist watch lists;  No Fly List;  Selectee List; gun control; assault weapons bans;  large capacity magazine bans;  banning suspected terrorists from owning guns.

3 hot topics in the war on terror - refugee and immigration policy (especially Syria and Muslim) and closing the detention facility at Guantanamo.  You have heard the political arguments.  We will explore the security implications.  Topics:  ISIS infiltration of refugee groups; can refugees  be vetted;  what intelligence expert's think;  the role of neighboring Muslim countries;  immigrant vetting;  limiting Muslim immigration;  Hijrah;  lessons from Europe; is GTMO a terrorist recruitment tool;  international opinion;  what happens to the detainees if GTMO closes;  ISIS ideology.    

An in-depth analysis of air and travel security and the effectiveness and policies of TSA.  Topics include:  TSA employees (TSOs, Air Marshals ...) are you safe; are privacy invasions necessary; profiling; TSA scandals;  El Al;  No-Fly lists;  TSA unionization;  screening technology;  recommendations. 

Discussion and demonstration of interrogation and interview techniques. This is an interesting and timely glimpse into the the real world of interrogation rarely seen outside the law enforcement and intelligence community.

An examination and comparison of law enforcement and intelligence interrogation.  Topics will include legality, goals, and tactics.

One of the most respected and honored military leaders in history.   An 1886 graduate of West Point, he had a distinguished military career spanning over 4 decades.  Among his career highlights:  commanding Black troops during the Indian wars and at the Battle of San Juan Hill - hence the nickname;  promotion from Captain to Brigadier General by President Teddy Roosevelt, with whom he fought in Cuba;  combatting terrorism in the Philippines and Mexico; commanding AEF; promotion to General of the Armies.  Topics:  life and career; mentoring - Patton, Marshall, Eisenhower, MacArthur, and Wild Bill Donovan; 10th Calvary; 6th Calvary; family tragedy. 

For almost 2 centuries Comanches controlled a territory of over 250K square miles centered in the TX Panhandle.  They were the most powerful tribe in America, and one of the most effective fighting forces in history.  Often likened to the Spartans of Ancient Greece, they defeated other tribes, settlers, and armies.   Originally a peaceful tribe, they evolved into expert horsemen and skilled warriors.  They were free a decade after most Native tribes surrendered to US dominance.  Topics:  raids; massacres; wars; captives; disease; leaders; US Army campaigns; Texas Rangers; Code Talkers.  

The use of force by police is an important and incendiary subject.  Politics and the media influence perception - expect a provocative but revealing presentation from someone with related experience.  We will address deadly force, police bias, and stop and frisk.  Topics:  use of force continuum; police shootings; BLM; police racism and brutality; the "war on police"; community policing; reform.

Many Westerners have spied for Russia.  Ideology and idealism motivated most Atomic spies.  More recently avarice has been the main catalyst.  This presentation will explore Western defectors to Russia - what they did, why, and what they discovered.  Topics:  NSA spies William Martin and Bernon Mitchell; Kim Philby and the Cambridge Five; CIA spy Edward Lee Howard;  assassin Lee Harvey Oswald; Edward Snowden.

During the Cold War the US had several assets who provided information essential to US national security. They prevented potential military conflict.  Espionage has always played a role in world events.  The importance of WWII codebreaking and counterintelligence is well documented.  As is the damage done by US spies like Walker, Ames, and Hanssen.  This presentation will examine a few Western assets and a counterintelligence operations impacting the Cold War. Topics:  Oleg Penkosvsky; Greville Wynn; Ryszard Kuklinski; Oleg Gordievsky; Adolf Tolkachev; VENONA; CIA handlers.

During WWII and the Cold War Soviet spies and operatives infiltrated the WH, Treasury, State, DOJ, WAR, DoD...  They also penetrated our most guarded program - the Manhattan Project.  Fortunately, the US Army had a top secret counterintelligence project to decode Soviet Intelligence messages.  Most of the cryptanalysis were women at Arlington Hall, VA.  VENONA was instrumental in identifying American spies.  Many were committed communists who were highly placed.  We will address the program and its impact.  Topics:  Signals Intelligence Service; Army Security Agency; NSA; FBI; VENONA; codebreakers; Atomic spies; Rosenbergs; Cambridge Five; Judy Coplon; Elizabeth Bentley; McCarthyism; Alger Hiss; Harry Dexter White; Silvermaster spies.

426,000 POWs were held in 700 camps throughout the US.  Most worked and interacted openly with local American citizens.  We will discuss camp conditions and locations.  We will also address little known aspects such as secret detention and interrogation camps, escapes, and baseball. Topics: prisoners; the first POWs; Allied assistance; Geneva Conventions; pay; sin; Camps Aliceville, Tonkawa, Tracy, Peary, Ruston, Hale, McCoy, Atterbury; Fort Hunt; internment and relocation of Japanese-Americans; Dale Maple; The Richie Boys; Florida camps.

              While the US and UK abided by the Geneva Conventions, the Nazis and Japanese did not.   We will discuss camp conditions and the treatment of POWs, focusing of Nazi camps.  Topics:  types of camps, camp conditions, food, daily routines, death rates, war crimes, massacres, atrocities, military tribunals, US and Japanese POW camps.  Concentration and death camps will be discussed, but the emphasis will be on POW camps.