Remembering Irish Human Rights Lawyer Patrick Finucane (March 21 1949 – February 12 1989)

Posted on February 12, 2019 by L

“After a seven-month legal battle the prime minister has finally been forced to publish her secret order but we are a long way from having transparency. The public and parliament are still being denied the guidance that says when British spies can commit criminal offences and how far they can go. Authorised criminality is the most intrusive power a state can wield. Theresa May must publish this guidance without delay.”

Maya Foa — Director of the human rights group Reprieve (May 2018)

“If you report a crime that happened within the organisation, then the whistle-blower is the one accountable and not the person who committed the crime.”

Annie Machon — Former MI5 Officer

Patrick Finucane (March 21 1949 – February 12 1989) was an Irish human rights lawyer killed by loyalist paramilitaries acting in collusion with the British government intelligence service MI5.  Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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Ten Years Ago — Intel Today : “Lockerbie Witnesses Were Paid”

Posted on February 11, 2019 by L

‘”I can assure you that no witnesses were ever offered any money by anyone–including the CIA. This issue came up at trial and I spoke with the defense lawyers about it in Edinburgh in 1999 — before trial. No one was promised or even told that they could get money for saying anything. Every FBI agent was under specific orders not to mention money to any potential witness.”

Richard Marquise — FBI agent who led the Lockerbie investigation (Communication to the author)

“The Myth surrounding Libya and Megrahi now quietly slides into history. Political Expedience rules over Truth.”

Richard C. Fuisz M.D. (Former CIA Agent) — Email to Intel Today (December 21 2018)

Mandela visiting Megrahi — aka the ‘Lockerbie bomber’ — in prison. Many thanks to my friend John Ashston who took the picture. “The same country should not be complainer, prosecutor and judge in this particular matter.” — Nelson Mandela

February 11 2019 — Professor Robert Black — the architect of the Lockerbie trial — just reminded me that on this day, ten years ago, I pointed out that key witnesses had been paid. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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One Year Ago — US Secretary of Defense James Mattis: “No Evidence Assad Used Poison Gas on His People”

Posted on February 11, 2019 by L

“I have personally reviewed the intelligence and there is no doubt the Syrian regime is responsible for the decision to attack and for the attack itself.”

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis (April 2017)

“We have other reports from the battlefield from people who claim it’s been used. We do not have evidence of it. We are looking for evidence of it ”

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis (February 2018)

“While in no way detracting from the horror of what took place against innocent civilians in Syria, it is time for America to stop shooting first and asking questions later.”

Ian Wilkie — International lawyer, U.S. Army veteran and former intelligence community contractor

A man collects samples from the site of the attack in Khan Sheikhun. Photograph: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images

February 11 2018 — The U.S. has no evidence to confirm reports from aid groups and others that the Syrian government has used the deadly chemical sarin on its citizens, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on February 2 2018. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today Continue reading →

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Two Years Ago — Saudi Crown Prince Awarded the CIA George Tenet Medal of Honor

Posted on February 11, 2019 by L

“Our relationship with the United States is historic and strategic. Any attempts to undermine that will falter.”

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef

pompeosa

January 11 2017 — On Friday (February 10 2017), CIA Director Mike Pompeo honoured the Saudi Crown Prince with the CIA ‘George Tenet’ Medal during a meeting in Riyadh. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today Continue reading →

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Dag Hammarskjold — Belgian Intel Agency Fabricated Mercenary Alibi

Posted on February 11, 2019 by L

“Risseghem left Lint (his home address) on September 16 1961, saying he would go to Katanga ‘to resume the fight’.” 

 VSSE report (September 20 1961)

Belgian mercenary Jan van Risseghem

On January 12 2019, The Guardian confirmed that Belgian mercenary Jan van Risseghem was indeed the person responsible for the death of Dag Hammarskjold and his crew, as previously reported by Intel Today. But some people quickly objected that Risseghem had an alibi. Really? Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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On This day — Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution (February 11 1979)

Posted on February 11, 2019 by L

“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 tranquillity 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)

40 Years Ago — On February 11 1979, the Pahlavi dynasty officially ended officially. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, had entered Tehran on February 1 1979 and led an uprising throughout in Iran that resulted in victory after 10 days, known as the Ten Days of Dawn. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today Continue reading →

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Two Years Ago — Former CIA Director John McLaughlin Tells a Whopper: “We don’t blow up civilian airliners…”

Posted on February 10, 2019 by L

“We don’t blow up civilian airliners up in the air…”

Former CIA Director John McLaughlin

“The number, 655, is a flight number: Iran Air 655. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re far from alone. But you should know the story if you want to better understand why the United States and Iran so badly distrust one another.”

Washington Post

“The shoot-down of Iran Air flight 655 was an accident, but that is not how it was seen in Tehran. The Iranian government assumed that the attack had been purposeful. … Tehran convinced itself that Washington was trying to signal that the United States had decided to openly enter the war on Iraq’s side.”

Former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollack

newsweekir655

Pictured here, Newsweek covers for 12 September 1983 (left) and 18 July 1988 (right) that illustrate KAL and Iran Air incidents respectively. A full-page photo of the airplane with “Murder in the Air” leaves little doubt in reader’s mind of who the culprits were, while “Why it Happened” with no graphic presentation of the airplane is accompanied by questioning and soul-searching

February 9 2017 — Former CIA Director John McLaughlin seems to suffer from ‘bad memory’. Let us kindly help this old chap to recollect some real facts. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today Continue reading →

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On This Day — U2 Pilot Francis Gary Powers Exchanged in Spy Swap for KGB Rudolf Ivanovich Abel (February 10 1962) [2019]

Posted on February 10, 2019 by L

“He [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

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. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today Continue reading →

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

Posted on February 10, 2019 by L

“Meet Molly Hale. She’s been the CIA’s public voice since 2002, responding to faxes, phone calls, emails, and snail mail sent to the Agency. Now she’s going digital.”

CIA Website (February 4 2019)

“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

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 Continue reading →

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City of Spies — EEAS : “Hundreds of Chinese Spies in Brussels”

Posted on February 9, 2019 by L

Perhaps, the most puzzling part of the [Belgian Intelligence Services] report is what it does not mention. Although most countries are extremely concerned about China investments in their Telecom infrastructure, the Belgian report is silent on this issue. Why, on earth, why?”

Intel Today – December 3 2018

“Brussels has now overtaken Vienna when it comes to the density of so-called intelligence services from outside the EU.”

Peter Gridling — Head of Austria’s domestic intelligence agency (June 2018)

The internal security service of the European External Action Service warns of spies in Brussels. In particular, Russian and Chinese intelligence services are increasingly active.
Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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