50 Years Ago — On the Origin of “GLOMAR Response” [March 18 1975]

Posted on March 18, 2025 by L

“We can neither confirm nor deny the existence of the information requested but, hypothetically, if such data were to exist, the subject matter would be classified, and could not be disclosed.”

CIA — March 18 1975

March 18 2025 — American spies don’t just talk American English. They have their own spy lingo. Did you ever wonder what a “GLOMAR” answer is? On March 18, 1975, one of CIA’s greatest intelligence coups, Project AZORIAN, was fully exposed through a nationally broadcast syndicated report. Jack Anderson’s syndicated television report revealed the truth about the Glomar Explorer and its connection to a secret intelligence operation. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — CIA William Francis Buckley is Kidnapped in Beirut (March 16 1984)

Posted on March 17, 2025 by L

“Less than a month after Buckley’s kidnapping, then-US president Ronald Reagan signed an order that put in motion what would become known as the Iran Contra Affair. Justified as a program to barter the release of American hostages held by Iranian-linked Hezbollah, the program saw the United States sell Iran missiles through Israel in exchange for the release of kidnapped Americans in Lebanon. By the time the first such sale was made in August 1985, however, Buckley was already dead.”

MICHAEL OMER-MAN
Jerusalem Post
(March 11 2012)

 

March 17 2025 — In the early morning of March 16, 1984, William Francis Buckley, political officer/station chief for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) at the United States embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, was kidnapped outside his residence. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — The Dugway Sheep Incident (March 13 1968) [Porton Down 1953, Skull Valley 1968, Salisbury 2018, Wuhan 2019]

Posted on March 13, 2025 by L

“There had been three open-air nerve agent events on March 13 (1968), one of which was a test involving an F-4 fighter airplane operating two TMU-28B spray tanks, each holding 160 gallons of VX — a persistent nerve agent.”

Who Killed the Dugway Sheep? Why It Matters Fifty Years Later

Al Mauroni 
Modern War Institute
March 13 2018

March 13 2019 — The Dugway sheep incident, also known as the Skull Valley sheep kill, was a 1968 sheep kill that has been connected to United States Army chemical and biological warfare programs at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Remembering CIA Jacqueline K. Van Landingham (1962 – March 8 1995) [Why was Gary Durrell not honored with a Star?] UPDATE : NETFLIX “American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders”

Posted on March 8, 2025 by L

“An attack in Karachi, Pakistan, during which another NSA employee Gary C. Durrell was shot in March 1995  is believed to be related to Crypto AG.”

MINERVA FILES
[Released Feb. 11 2020]

The Memorial Wall is a memorial at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia. It honors CIA employees who died in the line of service. Today, there are 140 stars carved into the white Alabama marble wall. At least eleven represent women.

March 8 2025 — Jacqueline K. Van Landingham joined the CIA in July 1985 as a clerk-typist, working in the Directorate of Operations (now the National Clandestine Service), Near East (NE) Division, Logistics Branch. She was gunned down on March 8, 1995 in Karachi, Pakistan. On May 22, 2012, her name was added to the Book of Honour.

According to Time Magazine of March 20, 1995, CIA employee Gary Durrell was the primary target of the attack.Time Magazine reporters believe that Van Landingham only died because she was sitting beside Durrell and came in the line of fire. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today

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On This Day — Soviet Union Launches SPUTNIK (October 4 1957) [UPDATE : Edward Mills Purcell (August 30, 1912 – March 7, 1997)]

Posted on March 7, 2025 by L

“On 4 October 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched the Sputnik-1 earth satellite into space—an achievement that stunned the American public and press, but not the U.S. policy and intelligence communities. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reported the advancements that led to this landmark launch to President Eisenhower, providing him with the strategic advantage to guide the U.S. response.”

CIA Website

(October 4 2017)

October 4 2024 — On October 4 1957, the Soviet Union launched SPUTNIK-1 into an elliptical low Earth orbit. It was a 58 cm (23 in) diameter polished metal sphere, with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses.

Its radio signal was easily detectable even by amateurs, and the 65° inclination and duration of its orbit made its flight path cover virtually the entire inhabited Earth. This surprise success precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race, a key part of the Cold War. The launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Havana Syndrome : The Haiku Master, the Cicadas and the CIA [UPDATE : DNI Statement on the Intelligence Community Assessment (March 1, 2023)]

Posted on March 1, 2025 by L

“One is reminded of Montaigne’s acerbic comment: ‘Men under stress are fools, and fool themselves.’ ”

Michael Crichton
The Andromeda Strain

March 1st 2024 — On March 1st 2023, the Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines announced that US Intelligence Community had concluded that it was ‘very unlikely’ a foreign adversary was responsible for the Havana Syndrome epidemics. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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Just Ask Molly Hale — The Differences Between the FBI and the CIA? [Joke]

Posted on February 26, 2025 by L

“The competing messages, according to officials in attendance, also reflect cultural differences between the FBI and the CIA. The bureau, true to its law enforcement roots, wants facts and tangible evidence to prove something beyond all reasonable doubt. The CIA is more comfortable drawing inferences from behavior.”

The Washington Post
(December 10, 2016)

February 10, 2019 — On February 4 2019, CIA Molly Hale went digital. A few days later, she answered a first question: What are the differences between the FBI and the CIA? Molly’s answer is fine but I thought a joke would explain a bit better the cultural differences between these two agencies! Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Remembering Swissair Flight 330 (February 21 1970) [UPDATE — The Lockerbie Connection: A very suspicious VISA]

Posted on February 21, 2025 by L

“The secret deal was ‘immoral’ and in breach of legal principles, but it was justified for strategic reasons. This might be absolutely shocking, but the reward was that there were no more attacks.”

Pr. Jean Ziegler

swiss330
Wreckage from the Swissair plane that crashed in a forest in Würenlingen

February 21 2025 — On February 21 1970 — a cold and wet Saturday — Swissair Flight 330, bound for Tel Aviv, crashed shortly after take-off from Zürich. Thirty eight passengers and nine crew died in the tragedy. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Former CIA Director Leon Panetta : “President Trump Must Build ‘Loyalty’ With Intel Community.” [UPDATE : From Lockerbie to Havana Syndrome]

Posted on February 20, 2025 by L

“Obviously, it’s not a good situation. Because there is a lack of trust between the president and the intelligence community, and between the intelligence community and the president. And, you know, every time he demeans the intelligence community or accuses it of leaks or accuses it of doing things that it’s not doing, that obviously impacts on the morale of that institution.”

Former C.I.A. Director Leon Panetta

Leon Panetta
Former C.I.A. Director Leon Panetta

February 20, 2017 — Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that intelligence officers were withholding sensitive information from the President out of concerns that it could be compromised.  Former C.I.A. Director Leon Panetta discusses the news and the ‘leaks’. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today

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On This Day — USMC Col. William R. Higgins Is Abducted in Lebanon (February 17 1988) [UPDATE — The Lockerbie X FILE & The Story of US Major Charles – Chuck – Dennis McKee]

Posted on February 17, 2025 by L

“It clearly looked to me like the body was in what we call mummification, or early stages of mummification, which essentially means drying. Because of the drying certain areas become sunken like the eyes are sunken. If you look at the Higgins pictures, they certainly look that way. … I’m inclined to think he was dead before he was hanged.”

Dr. Werner Spitz
Professor of forensic pathology
Wayne State University

February 17 2025 — William Richard Higgins (January 15, 1945 – Unknown but declared dead on July 6, 1990) was a colonel in the United States Marine Corps who was captured on February 17 1988 while serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was held hostage, tortured and eventually murdered by his captors. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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