Author Archives: L

On This Day — Mandela Is Released From Prison (February 11 1990)

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013) February 11 2022 — … Continue reading

Posted in Nelson Mandela | Tagged | 1 Comment

60 Years Ago — U2 Pilot Francis Gary Powers Exchanged in Spy Swap for KGB Rudolf Ivanovich Abel (February 10 1962)

“Francis Gary Powers performed his duty in a very dangerous mission and he performed it well, and I think I know more about that than some of his detractors and critics know, and I am glad to say that to … Continue reading

Posted in Cold War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

BELGIUM : €10bn Missing From Gaddafi Frozen Accounts [UPDATE : Did Gaddafi’s money save the Belgian State?]

“Nobody is preoccupied with the question of where the funds have gone and who benefitted from them. What is surprising is that nobody wanted to see what was going on and everyone is shutting their eyes at a political level … Continue reading

Posted in Belgium, Gaddafi, Libya | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Random Thoughts — Reading Behind the Black Bars [ODNI Redacted Summary on Havana Syndrome]

“When the government touts the release of such heavily redacted documents as an act of transparency, leaving us to guess what we might be missing, the question inevitably comes up: Are there ways we can peer behind the black bars? … Continue reading

Posted in Random Thoughts | Tagged , | 2 Comments

On This Day — IRA Launches Mortar shells at 10 Downing Street (February 7 1991)

“It was a remarkably good aim if you consider that the bomb was fired 250 yards [across Whitehall] with no direct line of sight. Technically, it was quite brilliant and I’m sure that many army crews, if given a similar task, … Continue reading

Posted in IRA | Tagged | Leave a comment

Two Years Ago — KRYPTOS Sculpture — Jim Sanborn : “This is the third and to be sure final clue.” [UPDATE : And then came a 4th clue!]

“I really do want Kryptos to remain secret – the plain text, the final section of Kryptos, I would prefer for it to remain secret indefinitely. (…) I would think that every artist would aspire to making an artwork that … Continue reading

Posted in KRYPTOS | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Three Years Ago — CIA Molly Hale Goes Digital (February 4 2019) [The story of the 11th Female Star]

“Dear Molly, Could you tell us how many stars on the Memorial Wall are known to represent women? Regards, Intel Today” Intel Today — Question to Molly Hale (February 4 2019) February 4 2022 — On February 4 2019, CIA … Continue reading

Posted in #AskMollyHale, CIA, CIA Memorial Wall | Tagged , | Leave a comment

On This Day — Madeleine Albright Discovers Her Jewish Roots (February 4 1997) [UPDATE — FBI investigated President Clinton for Marc Rich’s pardon]

“So many Americans and other nationals died in that terrible, terrible [Lockerbie] accident.” U. S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (Aug. 2009) February 4 2022 — On February 4 1997,  U. S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said she had … Continue reading

Posted in Madeleine Albright | Tagged | Leave a comment

On This Day — The Cavalese Cable Car Disaster (February 3 1998)

“Many believe one of the reasons the Italian judges went after the CIA RDI [Rendition, Detention, Interrogation]  and [former CIA Officer] Sabrina De Sousa in the Abu Omar case was the USMC and USG accountability failures and arrogance.” Mark Fallon — International Security … Continue reading

Posted in Italy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Havana Syndrome — CIA Report : “No Worldwide Campaign by Foreign Adversary” [UPDATE — Intelligence Community Experts Panel : “Incidents plausibly caused by pulsed electromagnetic energy”]

“We assess it is unlikely that a foreign actor, including Russia, is conducting a sustained, worldwide campaign harming U.S. personnel with a weapon or mechanism.” CIA Report (January 2022) January 20 2022 —  According to a new CIA report, most cases … Continue reading

Posted in Havana Syndrome | Leave a comment