One Year Ago — New York Times Hiring Moscow Correspondent [UPDATE — Who got this wonderful job?]

Posted on November 22, 2021 by L

“Nobody reading this could have any doubt about what the editors of the New York Times expect of candidates for this post. Objective, balanced coverage of Russian realities is clearly not a priority. The chosen correspondent is to look at Russia in negative terms, as on the one hand a powerful and dangerous threat, and as on the other hand (somewhat paradoxically) a weak and decaying nation, undermined by a collapsing economy and corrupt government. This is the current ‘story’, and the lucky person who gets the job will be expected to follow it.”

Professor Paul Robinson — University of Ottawa

November 22 2020 — The New York Times has an opening for a new Russia correspondent as Andy Higgins becomes their new Eastern Europe Bureau Chief. The job description makes it very clear what is expected from the successful candidate. Fluency in Russian is not necessary. Negativity is all that is required. The New York Times’s advertisement makes that absolutely clear. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today

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On This Day — Annalen der Physik publishes Albert Einstein’s Famous Equation : “E = m c²”. Really? (November 21 1905) [UPDATE : Einstein handwritten letter with “E = m c²” equation auctioned]

Posted on November 21, 2021 by L

“If a body gives off the energy L in the form of radiation, its mass diminishes by L/c2. The fact that the energy withdrawn from the body becomes energy of radiation evidently makes no difference, so that we are led to the more general conclusion that the mass of a body is a measure of its energy-content; if the energy changes by L, the mass changes in the same sense by L / 9 × 10^20, the energy being measured in ergs, and the mass in grammes. It is not impossible that with bodies whose energy content is variable to a high degree (e.g. with radium salts) the theory may be successfully put to the test.”

Albert Einstein –“Ist die Trägheit eines Körpers von seinem Energieinhalt abhängig?”

(Manuscript received on September 27 1905)

November 21 2020 — On this day in 1905, the physics journal Annalen der Physik published Albert Einstein’s paper “Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?” Contrary to popular belief, the equation E = m c² does not appear in this paper. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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Four Years Ago — Former Double Agent George Blake : “Self-destruction of humankind has been put back on the agenda” [UPDATE : In Conversation with Dr. Henry A. Kissinger]

Posted on November 20, 2021 by L

“I believe that you will serve our common cause selflessly and courageously. I believe in the final victory over the treacherous enemy. This belief has given me strength. [The men and women of the SVR] must save the world in a situation when the danger of nuclear war and the resulting self-destruction of humankind again have been put on the agenda by irresponsible politicians.”

George Blake — Former KGB Double Agent

November 18 2017 — On the eve of his 95th birthday, former KGB double agent George Blake said that officers of the SVR — the Russian foreign intelligence service — have “the difficult and critical mission” of saving the world. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — James Bond “Die Another Day” Premiere in London (November 18 2002) [How Jamaica inspired James Bond]

Posted on November 19, 2021 by L

“Die Another Day is the wrong film at the wrong time.”

South Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism

In 1943, Ian Fleming flew to Jamaica to track down rumors of a secret submarine base near Nassau. It was there that he picked up a book on birds — written by one James Bond. Ten years later, when Fleming decided to channel his time in intelligence into fiction, he pilfered the name “James Bond” for his new hero in “Casino Royale.”

November 18 2021 — Die Another Day is a 2002 British-American spy film, the twentieth film in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, as well as the fourth and final film to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film follows Bond as he leads a mission to North Korea, during which he is betrayed and, after seemingly killing a rogue North Korean colonel, is captured and imprisoned. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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30 Years Ago — Terry Waite Released by Islamic Jihad (November 18 1991)

Posted on November 19, 2021 by L

“Logic and political analysis always affect interpretations of raw intelligence data. It helps determine how you reconfigure the pieces of the puzzle.”

November 18 2021 — On November 18 1991, Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland were released by the Islamic Jihad organization.  The timing of their release was very suspicious and many experts have argued that this was part of a deal with Iran to switch the blame for the Lockerbie bombing from Iranian surrogates to Libya. INTEL TODAY does not subscribe to this point of view. Still, there is strong evidence that a deal did really occur. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On this Day — At Long Last, FBI Admits No Evidence of Foul Play in 1996 TWA 800 Crash (November 18 1997)

Posted on November 18, 2021 by L

“The FBI didn’t want to hear about anything but a missile or a bomb, because otherwise there was no FBI case. Their conduct was disturbing from the very beginning.”

Chuck Grassley — Chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on administrative oversight –Washington Post (May 9 1999)

November 18 2020 — Trans World Airlines Flight 800 (TWA 800) was a Boeing 747-100 which exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996. On November 17 1997, the FBI formally ended its 16-month investigation into the crash of TWA flight 800. FBI agents concluded there was no evidence it was a criminal act. Despite clear scientific evidence, many people still believe to this day that the plane was brought down by a terrorist bombing or a missile strike. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_Today

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Bob Woodward : “Role Of Steele Dossier In Russia Probe Needs To Be Investigated” [UPDATE — How Did So Much of the Media Get the Steele Dossier So Wrong?]

Posted on November 17, 2021 by L

“All of this underscores that the great scandal of 2016 wasn’t Russian collusion. It was the unleashing of America’s premier law enforcement agency against a presidential campaign based on Russian disinformation midwifed and financed by the Clinton campaign. The public is finally getting the truth about the FBI’s malfeasance, and Messrs. Barr and Durham deserve credit for exposing it.”

Wall Street Journal (September 26 2020)

April 26 2019 — “Watergate” journalist Bob Woodward told this week’s edition of “Fox News Sunday” that the role the Steele dossier played in the origin of the Trump-Russia investigation is “highly questionable” and “needs to be investigated.” Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On this Day — US President Richard Nixon : “I am Not a Crook” (November 17 1973) [UPDATE : 50 Years of Deep Throat]

Posted on November 17, 2021 by L

“And in all of my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice. And I think, too, that I could say that in my years of public life, that I welcome this kind of examination, because people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I am not a crook. I have earned everything I have got.”

US President Richard Nixon  (November 17 1973)

“I answered questions from special counsel Robert Mueller very easily.” — US President Donald Trump (November 17 2018)

November 17 2020 — On this day, US President Richard Nixon famously stated that “people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.” The rest is History. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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On This Day — Thatcher Names Blunt as “The Fourth Man” (November 16 1979) [2021]

Posted on November 16, 2021 by L

“I believe Thatcher did it because she didn’t see why the system should cover things up. This was early in her prime ministership. I think she wanted to tell the civil service that the politicians decide policy, not the system. She wanted them to know who was the boss.”

Sir Bernard Ingham — Thatcher’s press secretary

November 16 2020 — On November 16 1979, Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher named Sir Anthony Blunt — a former security service officer and personal adviser on art to the Queen —  as the “fourth man” in the Cambridge spy ring. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

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Two Years Ago — Former Norway Border Inspector Frode Berg Is Released In Spy Swap [November 15 2019]

Posted on November 15, 2021 by L

“The time spent in prison has been a large burden for Frode Berg and his family. We are happy that he can now be reunited with his family.” 

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg

November 15 2021 — On November 15 2019, Russia released Frode Berg and two Lithuanians convicted of espionage in a swap that also saw Lithuania free two Russians jailed for spying. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today

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