“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
“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
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
“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
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
“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
“The families have waited far too long. They deserve transparency, truth and answers.”
Professor Peter Watson
February 16, 2025 — On December 21 1988, N739PA — the Boeing 747 aircraft operating the transatlantic leg of Pan Am Flight 103 — broke up in flight over Scotland. All 243 passengers and 16 crew died as well as 11 residents of Lockerbie. This horrific crime has been called the world’s biggest unsolved murder.
Professor Peter Watson, a lawyer who represented British victims of the Lockerbie bombing, has called on Donald Trump to release files held by U.S. agencies on the atrocity, insisting the families “deserve transparency, truth, and answers.” Professor Watson is due to speak about the Pan Am 103 tragedy during a visit to Nova Southeastern University in Florida on Monday February 17, 2025. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
“The Dresden atrocity, tremendously expensive and meticulously planned, was so meaningless, finally, that only one person on the entire planet got any benefit from it. I am that person. I wrote this book, which earned a lot of money for me and made my reputation, such as it is… One way or another, I got two or three dollars for every person killed. Some business I’m in.”
Kurt Vonnegut About Dresden and his famous novel Slaughterhouse-Five
February 13, 2025 — From February 13 to February 15 1945, during the final months of World War II (1939-45), Allied forces bombed the historic city of Dresden, located in Eastern Germany. I regard the bombing of Dresden as a war crime. I understand that one may disagree with me on this issue. Anyone is entitled to his own opinion. However, I expect everyone to acknowledge the facts because no one is entitled to his own facts. Former CIA Director John McLaughlin should not be allowed to ignore History and to make his own “In-facts”. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY
“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 2025 — On February 11 1990 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela walked out of prison and embarked on a decade of historic endeavor. If you think that the COVID lockdown is too hard, you may want to consider this. Mandela spent almost 30 years in jail just for being a decent man. President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, Mandela nevertheless remained on the US terror watch list until 2008. This is hardly surprising. Like MI6, the CIA was among the “enemies of democracy in South Africa.” Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY
“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 him tonight.” CIA Director Allen Dulles (March 1964)
Glienicke Bridge prisoner exchange depicted in the Bridge of Spies movie, where Soviet spy Rudolf Abel was exchanged for American pilot Francis Gary Powers
February 10 2025 — At 8:52 am on February 10 1962, American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was exchanged in a spy swap for Rudolf Ivanovich Abel, a senior KGB spy at the now famous Glienicke Bridge. American student Frederic Pryor was also released at the same time. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
“Billy Jack Johnson was a talented instructor, and he became known throughout the Agency for his skill and expertise in unique specialties, such as sabotage, escape and evasion, fingerprint analysis, and lock picking.”
CIA Website
February 1, 2025 — Billy Jack Johnson was a CIA expert specializing in paramilitary and maritime operations. On February 1, 1968, he was killed when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by an enemy mortar. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
“You will see we are not in any particular animosity with the Americans. [The Islamic Republic of Iran] will be a humanitarian one, which will benefit the cause of peace and tranquility for all mankind. (…) It is advisable that you recommend to the army not to follow [Shah’s prime minister Shapour] Bakhtiar.”
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Letter to US President Jimmy Carter (January 29 1979)
February 1 2025 — On January 17 1979, the Shah left the country, never to return. Two weeks later, on Thursday February 1st 1979, Khomeini returned in triumph to Iran, welcomed by a joyous crowd estimated to be of up to five million people. The communications between Khomeini and the president Jimmy Carter’s administration during the last two weeks of January 1979 remain largely classified and highly controversial.
PS — Whenever you learn new facts, you must re-think what you thought you knew. In this case, you may want to reconsider the following events: the release of the hostages on January 20 1981, 20 minutes after Reagan concluded his inaugural address, as well as the Iran-Contra scandal, the summer massacre and the fall of Ayatollah Montazeri. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
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