40 Years Ago — The Beirut Barracks Bombings (October 23, 1983) [Hezbollah or Islamic Jihad?]

Posted on October 23, 2023 by L

“Though he never said so explicitly, President Ronald Reagan ended America’s military commitment to a strategic mistake that was peripheral to America’s interests. Three-and-a-half months after the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. military personnel — and after repeatedly pledging not to do so — Reagan ordered the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Lebanon.”

Foreign Policy

October 23 2023 — The Beirut barracks bombings were terrorist attacks that occurred on October 23, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon, during the Lebanese Civil War when two truck bombs struck separate buildings housing United States and French military forces — members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF) — killing 241 U.S. and 58 French servicemen, six civilians, and the two suicide bombers. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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CIA Honors its Fallen in Annual Memorial Ceremony — May 22 2017 [UPDATE]

Posted on October 22, 2023 by L

“There are now 125 stars on our Memorial Wall, each representing a life that is dear to us, and will be for all time. We remain forever devoted to them, as they were to us. And we will strive to make them proud of us, as we are of them.”

CIA Director
Mike Pompeo
May 22 2017

The CIA Memorial wall with 117 Stars

May 26 2017 — This year marks the 30th annual memorial ceremony. The ceremony began in 1987 and is attended each year by hundreds of employees, retirees, and family members of those who died in service with the CIA.  Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Pablo Neruda Awarded Literature Nobel Prize (October 21 1971) — Was Neruda a KGB Agent? [UPDATE : Forensic probe confirms Neruda was poisoned]

Posted on October 21, 2023 by L

“And you’ll ask: why doesn’t his poetry
speak of dreams and leaves
and the great volcanoes of his native land?
Come and see the blood in the streets.”

I explain a few things
Pablo Neruda

October 21 2023 — Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (12 July 1904 – 23 September 1973), better known by his pen name and, later, legal name Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician. On October 21 2018, The Spy Museum tweeted: “Today in – The Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to former KGB agent and Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, 1971.” Really? Where is the evidence that Neruda was a KGB agent? Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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The CIA Book of Honor — Star 121 : Mark S. Rausenberger (November 7, 1967 – May 23, 2016) [UPDATE : CIA Team Alpha’s iconic photo]

Posted on October 19, 2023 by L

“There are now 125 stars on our Memorial Wall, each representing a life that is dear to us, and will be for all time. We remain forever devoted to them, as they were to us. And we will strive to make them proud of us, as we are of them.”

CIA Director Mike Pompeo
May 22 2017

February 25 2020 — On May 22 2017, the Central Intelligence Agency held its 30th annual memorial ceremony. The ceremony began in 1987 and is attended each year by hundreds of employees, retirees, and family members of those who died in service with the CIA. Eight stars were added to the Memorial Wall in 2017, bringing — at the time — to total number to 125.  Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Richard Sorge “The spy who changed the world” is arrested in Tokyo (October 18, 1941) [UPDATE : A Fresh Look at a Legendary Spy (New Japanese Translation of Richard Sorge’s Reports from Tokyo)]

Posted on October 18, 2023 by L

“Richard Sorge’s brilliant espionage work saved Stalin and the Soviet Union from defeat in the fall of 1941, probably prevented a Nazi victory in World War II and thereby assured the dimensions of the world we live in today.”

American writer Larry Collins

October 18 2023 — On October 18 1941, Richard Sorge was arrested in Tokyo. He was hanged on November 7 1944, at 10:20 Tokyo time in Sugamo Prison. A number of famous personalities — from General Douglas MacArthur to James Bond’s father and former MI6 Ian Fleming — considered him one of the most accomplished spies. Chief Prosecutor Mitsusada Yoshikawa — the Japanese who led the prosecution and obtained Sorge’s death sentence — wrote that he never met a greater man. Richard Sorge is proof that one spy can alter the History of our world. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On this Day — Mata Hari Is Executed (October 15 1917) [Was she really guilty?]

Posted on October 15, 2023 by L

“A harlot? Yes, but a traitor, never!”

Mata Hari (during the trial)

Margaretha Zelle alias Mata Hari

October 15 2023 — Margaretha Geertruida “Margreet” MacLeod (Born Zelle; August 7 1876 – October 15 1917), better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan. She was put on trial on July 24 1917. The following day, she was convicted of being a spy for Germany. On October 15 1917, she was executed by firing squad in France. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Che Guevara Is Executed (October 9 1967)

Posted on October 9, 2023 by L

“The only passion that guides me is for the truth… I look at everything from this point of view.”

Che Guevara
June 14 1928 – October 9 1967

 

A 1960 photo taken by Alberto Korda of Guevara in a beret became iconic and has since appeared on countless posters and T-shirts.

October 9 2023 — On this day in 1967, socialist revolutionary and guerrilla leader Che Guevara was executed by the Bolivian army. He was 39. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Who Killed Pierre Goldman? And Why? (June 22, 1944 – Assassinated September 20, 1979) [UPDATE — New Movie : The Goldman Case]

Posted on October 9, 2023 by L

“Marseille boys members of GAL killed him [Pierre Goldman] with Maïone, who also talked about a commandant, a former member of the SDECE [French Secret Service], without revealing to me his identity.”

Libération (April 2006)

Pierre Goldman (June 22, 1944 – Assassinated September 20, 1979)

September 20 2023 — Who killed Goldman? Of course, I am not talking about the French singer — Jean-Jacques — who is one of the most loved personalities in France. I am talking about his brother Pierre, a French left-wing intellectual who was convicted of several robberies and mysteriously assassinated on September 20 1979. The case has never been solved.

By the way, although Jean-Jacques never spoke about his brother, many believe that the song “Puisque tu pars” is about Pierre. I left a couple of messages for JJ Goldman knowing full well that he would not reply. I hope that he will speak about his brother one day… “But not too late.” Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Gaddafi Target of U.S. Disinformation (October 2 1986 — Bob Woodward) [Disinformation Goes Mainstream]

Posted on October 3, 2023 by L

“There is a wonderful book that you might read… And the title of it is from a quote from Winston Churchill: ‘In time of war, the truth is so precious, it must be attended by a bodyguard of lies.'”

Secretary of State George P. Shultz
(October 3 1986)

libya_bombing_reagan_meeting_14_march_1986
14 March 1986 — Reagan Strikes on Tripoli and Benghazi

October 3 2022 — On October 2 1986, the Washington Post published an extraordinary story written by legendary journalist Bob Woodward: “Gadhafi Target of Secret U.S. Deception Plan”. Under orders from the White House, the US Intelligence Community was planting false information in the US media. As a result of this scandal, the use of the word ‘disinformation’ became mainstream in the English language. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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Remembering CIA Rachel A. Dean (April 10 1981 – September 30 2006)

Posted on September 30, 2023 by L

“Rachel was a warm and compassionate young woman, and an officer of unbounded potential. We miss her still and will remember her always. She is our 87th star.”

CIA Director General Michael V. Hayden
May 21 2007

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. There are 140 stars carved into the white Alabama marble wall. At least eleven represent women.

September 30 2023 — Rachel Alexandra Dean was a support officer who joined CIA in January 2005. She died on September 30 2006 in a car accident while on temporary duty in Kazakhstan. She was 25. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today

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