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, 2024 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 — A History
[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 2024 — 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 the necessary evil of secrecy

Posted on March 5, 2024 by L

“The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings.”

President John F. Kennedy
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
New York City
April 27, 1961

March 5 2024 — Kennedy, like many other leaders before him, recognized the need for certain levels of confidentiality in matters of national security. Yet, the tension between the imperatives of national security and the principles of transparency remains a complex aspect of governance. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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007 Years Ago — Suspicious Aviation Tragedies : Don’t Forget the Past. Learn from It! [UPDATE : US and UK accused of obstructing Hammarskjöld inquiry]

Posted on March 2, 2024 by L

“Governments lie. They do it all the time. And, much as we’d like to believe otherwise, the US government is no exception.”

Ted Koppel
“The USS Vincennes:
Public War, Secret War.”
ABC News
July 1, 1992

October 31 2023 — Time really flies when you are having fun… On this day seven years ago, I announced that I would start a rather long series regarding Suspicious Aviation Tragedies. I will take this opportunity to look back and reflect on what we have learned during these years. I will also speculate on what we may hope to find out in the near future. Finally, I will provide a few words of advice regarding the matters that still need additional work. Remember: Truth never dies. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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One Year Ago — 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, 2024 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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On This Day — Remembering Swissair Flight 330 (February 21 1970) [UPDATE — The Lockerbie Connection: A very suspicious VISA]

Posted on February 21, 2024 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 2024 — On February 21 1970 — a cold and wet Saturday — Swissair Flight 330, bound for Tel Aviv, crashed shortly after take-off from Zürich. 38 passengers and nine crew died in the tragedy. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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CIA Memorial Wall — The powerful ending of “13 HOURS” [‘Powerful end scene’ is DEAD WRONG]

Posted on February 20, 2024 by L

“Also being twice in that great building, I was drawn to the Memorial Wall both times. On Friday, I realized that the last two stars were Tyrone and Glen. I would like to end the film with a wide shot of the wall, including the flags on either side, and then cut on a close up of the last two stars, and fade out.”

Michael Bay
Email to the CIA
(March 2015)

February 20 2024 — 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (also known simply as 13 Hours) is a 2016 American biographical action-thriller film directed and produced by Michael Bay and written by Chuck Hogan. The script is based on Mitchell Zuckoff’s 2014 book of the same name. The film’s historical accuracy has been disputed. Today, I will not weigh on this issue, but I can ensure you that the ‘powerful end scene’ is DEAD WRONG. 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, 2024 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 2024 — 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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On This day – U.S. Air Force Carpet Bombs Dresden (February 13-15 1945)

Posted on February 13, 2024 by L

“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 2024 — 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

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

Posted on February 10, 2024 by L

“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 2024 — 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

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The CIA Memorial Wall — A quick note about the anonymous stars

Posted on February 4, 2024 by L

“Dr. Evans’s death would not be reflected on CIA’s Memorial Wall until May 23, 2023, when during CIA’s annual Memorial Day function, CIA Director Burns made public the names of five previous inductees to the Hall of Honor and introduced one new one, Dr. Jon Evans.”

Tracy E. Rich
(September 2023)

The Memorial Wall honors CIA employees who died in the line of service.

February 4 2024 — I was reading a very interesting piece about the last CIA officer honored by a star on the Memorial Wall, when I came across a surprising footnote. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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