Trump to Nominate Daniel Hoffman to President’s Intelligence Advisory Board

Posted on February 9, 2019 by L

“Overall I have not seen any evidence of anyone actually colluding with the Russians.  [I have not seen any evidence ] of Russian intelligence colluding with a campaign to cause harm to another.”

Daniel Hoffman — Former CIA Chief of Station in Moscow (August 2017)

“A number of outspoken analysts bitterly criticized [Charles E.] Allen for bending his views to political expediency during the Iran initiative. Allen, they said, took advantage of his access to Casey to promote a political line – that an opening could be made to Iranian moderates-that could not be supported by the information they had gathered on Iran’s internal politics. Allen played the White House game, these critics claimed, by using contrived information provided by CIA consultant George Cave to support the Iran program. Charlie Allen briefed the NSC on the basis of Cave’s disinformation.”

Mark Perry — The Last Days of the CIA

On February 4 2019, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board: Daniel Hoffman of Massachusetts, Charles E. Allen of North Carolina, and John K. Hurley of California. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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TODAY — Chancellor Angela Merkel Inaugurates New BND Headquarters (February 8 2019)

Posted on February 8, 2019 by L

“A healthy distrust is helpful, but being overly suspicious is a hindrance.”

Chancellor Angela Merkel (February 8 2019)

“The Bundesnachrichtendienst is the sole foreign intelligence service of the Federal Republic of Germany. As such it reports directly to the Federal Chancellery.

The mission of the Bundesnachrichtendienst is to provide the Federal Government with fast and comprehensive information. Since nothing goes out-of-date quite as fast as up-to-date information, the security policy parameters within which the Bundesnachrichtendienst operates are constantly changing. We live in a multipolar world. Globalization intensifies mutual dependencies worldwide.

Present-day crises and conflicts are often highly dyna­mic and require rapid action from policymakers. New conflict types and conflict scenarios dominate the international arena.”

Scope of Work — BND Official website (2017)

On Friday February 8 2019, Chancellor Angela Merkel inaugurated the new, fortress-like Berlin headquarters of the BND, Germany’s foreign intelligence service. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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Havana Syndrome — Canadian Diplomats sue Ottawa

Posted on February 8, 2019 by L

“Throughout the crisis, Canada downplayed the seriousness of the situation, hoarded and concealed critical health and safety information, and gave false, misleading and incomplete information to diplomatic staff.”

Group of Canadian diplomats

“I am not going to comment on the specifics, but I do want to reiterate that I have met with some of these diplomats and, as I said to them, their health and safety needs to be our priority.”

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland

A group of Canadian diplomats says the government left them in danger after mysterious health problems struck embassies in Cuba.  Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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5G — Will European Countries Ban Huawei? [UPDATE — Italy to ban Huawei from its 5G plans]

Posted on February 7, 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 (November 30 2018)

“The UK needs to take decision on the extent to which we are going to be comfortable with Chinese ownership of these technologies.”

MI6 chief Alex Younger (December 3 2018)

“Given the massive cybersecurity and national security risks, the only responsible decision is for Berlin to follow the Australian, New Zealand, and U.S. lead and ban Chinese providers from the German 5G network. In doing so, Europe’s strongest economy would send a crucial signal to the rest of the European Union members that are grappling with the same decision.”

Thorsten Benner — Director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin (December 9 2018)

“Huawei shares with the Chinese state intimate and extensive knowledge of the foreign telecommunications systems it is involved with.”

General Michael Hayden — Former head of the U.S. National Security Agency

“If China would resort to putting Canadians to death to defend its corporate national champion, what might it do if the Chinese Communist Party had unfettered access to Canada’s vital communications networks?”

Richard Fadden — Head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service spy agency from 2009 to 2013 (January 20 2019)

December 5 2018 — The United States, Australia and New Zealand have already blocked Huawei from building their new 5G networks on security grounds. On Wednesday (Dec. 5), Britain’s BT Group said it would rip Huawei equipment from its core telecom network. Canada is also likely to ban Huawei.

On Friday (Dec. 7), it was reported that Japan is expected to ban government use of products made by Huawei and ZTE over cybersecurity concerns.

So, why on earth has Europe been silent on this critical issue for so long? What are they waiting for? I am afraid that it will all depend on Germany’s decision. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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Two Years Ago — Former Acting CIA Director Mike Morell : “Trump Has Some Special Bond With Putin”

Posted on February 7, 2019 by L

“President Donald Trump’s statements on Russia have been very bizarre and it suggests that he doesn’t have a good understanding of what Putin has done over a very long period of time.”

Former CIA Director Michael Morell

morell2

February 7 2017 — Former Acting CIA Director Michael Morell has suggested that Trump’s affection for Putin may be to blame on Russia having compromising material on Trump. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today Continue reading →

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

Posted on February 7, 2019 by L

“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, would be very pleased to drop a bomb that close. You’ve got to park the launch vehicle in an area which is guarded by armed men and you’ve got less than a minute to do it. I was very, very surprised at how good it was. If the angle of fire had been moved about five or ten degrees, then those bombs would actually have impacted on Number Ten.”

Peter Gurney — Head of the Explosives Section of the Anti-Terrorist Branch

The Downing Street mortar attack was carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) on February 7 1991. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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Havana Syndrome — U.S. State Department Turns to National Academies for Answers [TIMELINE]

Posted on February 6, 2019 by L

“Yet some diplomats and their doctors now tell NBC News they have growing concerns that the U.S. is trying to downplay whatever happened — at least in China.”

NBC News — October 29 2018

“I think in this case, the State Department going to the National Academy of Sciences is a good idea, and a good move. In part because the independent authority of the academy on scientific matters is often very helpful to policymakers when they need to run with a conclusion, but are reluctant to base it entirely on information coming from within the scientific capacity in government itself.”

John Holdren — Science adviser to President Barack Obama

February 6 2019 — Better late than never! A standing committee at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will be aimed at “understanding the current cases of potential acoustic trauma, and develop a better understanding of possible causes of these cases and approaches for future incidents, whether of an apparent acoustic nature or a different environmental or clinical presentation,” says a “statement of task” sent to prospective members. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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One Year Ago — Dutch Intel Agency Witnessed 2016 DNC Attack by Russian Hackers — Q&A with Dutch Intel Expert Dr Peter Koop

Posted on February 5, 2019 by L

“We’d never expected that the Russians would do this, attacking our vital infrastructure and undermining our democracy.”

Chris Painter — Former cyber official at the U.S. State Department

aivd_zoetermeer

AIVD Headquarters — Zoetermeer

February 5 2018 — A Dutch Intelligence Agency directly witnessed the Russian involvement in the hacking of the Democratic Party, according to six (anonymous) American and Dutch sources. The story certainly sounds too good to be true but a Dutch expert told Intel Today that the narrative is entirely credible. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today Continue reading →

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Two Years Ago — MOSSAD Chief’s Secret Visit to Washington

Posted on February 5, 2019 by L

“As the president has expressed many times, he hopes to achieve peace throughout the Middle East region. The Trump administration has not taken an official position on settlement activity and looks forward to continuing discussions, including with Prime Minister Netanyahu when he visits with President Trump later this month.”

Press secretary Sean Spicer

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Acting National Security Adviser Yaakov Negel (L), Mossad Director Yossi Cohen (C) and former Mossad director Tamir Pardo (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on January 10, 2016 (Alex Kolomoisky/Pool)

January 5 2017 — Top Israeli Intelligence officials met with Trump’s National Security team in Washington recently. Here is what has been confirmed about the second such meeting since Trump’s election. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today Continue reading →

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Russia Deploys New Blinding Weapons

Posted on February 5, 2019 by L

“Filin 5P-42, a non-lethal visual-optical inference device, has been deployed aboard Russian navy frigates Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Kasatonov.”

Russia  state-run RIA Novosti

A Russian Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate. (Russian Defense Ministry)

Russia is deploying a new kind of weapons aboard its warships, Russian state media reported. The weapon emits an oscillating beam of high-intensity light designed to cause temporary blindness, disorientation, and even nausea. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY Continue reading →

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