Lint Center for National Security Studies - Latest Blog Entries

Victory in Europe: A Day Remembered

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:36:00 -0400

“Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in blood of his followers and sacrifices of his friends.”

Standing on the balcony of London’s Guildhall and accepting the London Sword, then General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, stood at the precipice of human sacrifice and dignity, as he orated a speech that he had written himself and memorized for the occasion.[i]

With Europe in ruins, and the rues of the Holocaust cemented in the inroads of world memory, Eisenhower who led the Allied to the defeat of Nazism, “accepted the tribute, acknowledging that he was but a symbol of the great human forces that had ‘labored arduously and successfully for a righteous cause’”.[ii]

On May 8th, both the United States and Britain celebrate Victory in Europe Day. This day commemorates the day, in 1945, that the Nazi force, fraught with casualties, laid down their arms in a final cease-fire.[iii] With only pockets of fire the next day, the Germans surrendered comprehensively on May 9th, the day that Russians officially celebrate VE Day.[iv] Stalin himself, uncharacteristically because of his thick Georgian accent, broadcasted a salute over the radio: “Your courage has defeated the Nazis. The war is over.”

Please try to take a moment today to commemorate those Americans who served on the front during WWII and those who continue that great tradition of service today. The service to the country stops not with those formally serving but extends to the parents, wives, husbands, and children who support(ed) their warriors and country.

To learn more about VE Day and World War II visit HERE:

References:

[i] http://www.military-quotes.com/forum/eisenhower-quote-parliament-after-v-t19485.html

[ii] http://www.military-quotes.com/forum/eisenhower-quote-parliament-after-v-t19485.html

[iii] http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain

[iv] http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/v-e-day-is-celebrated-in-american-and-britain

Jarrett Kolthoff, President/CEO of SpearTip, Joins Lint Center Mentoring Team

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:03:00 -0400

Mr. Jarrett Kolthoff is a former Special Agent, U.S. Army Counterintelligence and is the President/CEO of SpearTip LLC, a corporate and cyberespionage advisory firm.

Mr. Kolthoff's expertise rests in cyber investigations, Counterintelligence (CI), threat and fusion cell analysis.

SpearTip LLC provides unbiased advice to board level and executive leadership in a unique service that combines technical and Human Intelligence along with real world experience. Mr. Kolthoff's business savvy, investigative, and analytical experience are invaluable additions to the Lint Center's gamut of skill-sets on its Mentor team.

Thank you for offering your Mentor services, Mr. Kolthoff, and we look forward to connecting you with a scholarship winner-mentee in the near future!

To see Mr. Kolthoff's full bio please visit: HERE, to visit the SpearTip LLC website please click here: HERE.

For more information about the Lint Center's mentoring team, please visit the Lint Center Mentor page: HERE.

Lint Center Volunteer Spotlight: Jeni Domingue

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:24:00 -0400

As an all-volunteer force, the Lint Center for National Security Studies is completely dependent upon the dedication and hard work of amazing volunteers. It is because of these individuals and the time as well as countless talents they offer that the Center continues to thrive and grow.

This week, the Lint Center is pleased to spotlight and recognize the tremendous contribution of one of our great volunteers - Jeni Domingue!

More than six months ago, Jeni, came on board to assist and facilitate the Center's volunteer and internship program. As a rising star and a committed team player, Jeni tackled the challenge and made strides to transform the Lint Center's volunteer program.

After countless follow-ups with volunteers, Jeni crafted and implemented an online volunteer tracking system to assist the Center's effort. Her diligent efforts and her consistency were quickly recognized, as she was promoted to Lead Volunteer Coordinator.

In her continuing quest to enhance volunteer and internship recruitment, placement, and retention efforts, Jeni began to examine Web-based application forms to expedite the recruitment process. Her efforts and progress continue to be a huge help to the Center for which the Center is most appreciative.

She has also made an application form for scholarships online which can move the Center to new heights. This was an especially important contribution that she initiated, due to the geographically dispersed scholarship committee.

As Jeni continues to leave an indelible mark on volunteering efforts and Center-wide initiatives, we wanted to take a moment to express our thanks to her for all the hard work she does.

Additionally and perhaps most importantly, we wish to congratulate Jeni on her recent promotion from Lead Volunteer Coordinator to Volunteer Engagement Manager!

Congratulations on a job well done, Jeni. Keep up the great work!

JRL

Jim Lint, Chairman

Special Agent (Retired)

Lint Center
for National Security Studies, Inc

IRS Approved 501 (c) (3) Charity

James Webb Joins Lint Center Mentoring Team

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 19:46:00 -0400

Mr. James Webb served in the United States Marine Corps for 26 years, where he spent 10 years as an Intelligence Analyst/Chief and 16 years as a Counterintelligence specialist.

Mr. Webb has expertise in Counterintelligence (CI), Human Intelligence (HUMINT) collection and prevention, J2X operations, intelligence analysis and production, and counter-threat finance at tactical, operational, and strategic levels.

Having spent a good deal of his career overseas, including deployments to forward areas such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Djibouti, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Korea, Mr. Webb will bring a career life experience of nearly three decades of strategic and operational experience to the Center’s mentoring team.

We are most appreciative of Mr. Webb’s support and are eager to set him up with a Lint Center mentee.

To see Mr. Webb’s full bio, please check out his page HERE.

For more information about the Lint Center’s mentoring team, please visit the MENTOR PAGE.

Lint Center Welcomes New Mentor - Steve Yarbrough

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:54:00 -0400

The Lint Center is pleased to welcome Mr. Steve A. Yarbrough as the newest edition to the Center’s mentoring team!

Currently, he is assigned to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Mr. Yarbrough brings over 30 years of Military, Government, and Private sector International policy experience with a primary focus on Latin American security to the Center’s mentoring team.

We thank Steve for joining our team and we look forward to pairing him with a Lint Center scholarship winner in the near future.

For more information about Mr. Yarbrough and other Lint Center mentors, please visit our MENTOR PAGE.

Lint Center Welcomes Two New Mentors - Brigadier General Hall and COL Hall

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:46:00 -0400

The Lint Center is pleased to announce the addition of two new Mentors to our team-- Brigadier General Wayne M. “Mike” Hall and COL Sandra K. Hall.

We are grateful to the General and to the Colonel for their support and willingness to mentor new Lint Center scholarship recipients.

We encourage everyone to check out his and her bios HERE.

Women in Intelligence: Sapp Selected to Steer Satellite Spy Organization

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:30:00 -0400

The list of women in high-powered positions in the Intelligence Community continues to grow with the appointment of Ms. Betty Sapp to head the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Sapp joins the ranks of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Director, Letitia Long, and other top echelon women at the NSA, DIA, and CIA according to a CNN “Politics” feature.

Sapp started her government career as an Air Force officer and held a variety of assigned positions in the NRO after joining the CIA in 1997, with her latest high level appointment being as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for “Portfolio, Programs, and Resources,” Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

Another agency that flies under the proverbial radar, the National Reconnaissance Office provides holistic reconnaissance support to the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD). The official NRO website proclaims that, “when the United States needs eyes and ears in critical places where no human can reach - be it over the most rugged terrain or through the most hostile territory - it turns to the National Reconnaissance Office...the agency in charge of designing, building, launching, and maintaining America’s intelligence satellites.”

We encourage you to learn more about the NRO and its new chief, Ms. Betty Sapp.

***NOTICE: The information included in this post is from open-source media outlets and documents. It is intended for informational purposes and to encourage individuals to learn more about exciting employment opportunities within the U.S. Government.*

News and Happenings: University of Delaware - Spies, Lies & Sneaky Guys

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:37:00 -0400

The University of Delaware has published a series of free video lectures online entitled “Spies, Lies & Sneaky Guys: Espionage and Intelligence in the Digital Age.”

The lecture compilation “explores new challenges and opportunities in the field of international intelligence” from the front-lines, by former directors and chiefs, and by renowned espionage and intelligence observers.

Among the lectures:

Robert Grenier, a veteran of nearly 30 years in the CIA and former head of the Agency’s Counterterrorism Center, discussed “HUMan INTelligence in the Digital Age.”

Rounding out the series, on May 2, Matthew Aid, a leading intelligence historian and expert on the National Security Agency, will be giving a talk on “The Future of Intelligence and Espionage.”

The lecture series is a perfect venue for aspiring intelligence or government professionals to hear first-hand account of the current and future challenges facing the Intelligence Community at large.

To view the compiled series, please visit the “Spies, Lies & Sneaky Guys” PROGRAM schedule.

Article: Chinese Cyber Information Profusion: Anti-Access, Area Denial in Summative Context

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:01:00 -0400

The Lint Center is pleased to announce that International Policy Digest published a recent article by members of the Lint Center's Communications Team.

Here is the lead paragraph:

"A recent report by Northrop Grumman entitled, “Occupying the Information High Ground: Chinese Capabilities for Computer Network Operations and Cyber Espionage” presented to the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) falls short of acknowledging that China’s increasingly modernized cyber capabilities are a product and part of its “anti-interventionism” doctrine that, at once, brings together its military, civilian, and economic spheres and creates a buffer and defense projection that affects China’s regional and global power."

We encourage you to check out the full article from IPD HERE:

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the Lint Center Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of the Lint Center for National Security Studies, Inc. or any employee thereof. The Lint Center for National Security Studies, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the Lint Center Bloggers.

References:

Image Source:http://www.internationalpolicydigest.org/

Image Source: http://www.internationalpolicydigest.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/China.jpg

Former Israeli Spy Chief Weighs in on Attacking Iran

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:15:00 -0400

Opinions abound on whether the US/Israel/tandem force should or should not strike Iran to prevent them from acquiring the means to develop nuclear weapons. However, in an unprecedented interview with 60 minutes, Mr. Dagan, former Director of Israel’s central intelligence agency, the Mossad, offers a refreshingly prudent perspective regarding the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and a pre-emptive Israeli attack against the obstinate regime (Stahl).

“An attack on Iran before you explore all other approaches is not the right way to do it...” asserts Mr. Dagan.

Dagan develops a nuanced argument that sets aside the polar alarmist and cautious arguments of should or shouldn’t the attack be done. The Israeli spy chief, known for aggressive tactics against his enemies, instead, highlights a few caveats that drive the assertion that not only shouldthe attack not be done now, it should be pursued by the Americans if done at all.

And Prudence Indeed Will Dictate

“I never said there’s a lot of time [to explore other options], but there is moretime.” The interview reports that Dagan’s Mossad spent over a decade dispatching spies and sabotaging Iran’s nuclear efforts with faulty equipment and computer viruses. Dagan, however, an experienced politician with a wry smile, asserts that he will not address or confirm any of these reports.

In a back to International Relations 101, Mr. Dagan also reminds viewers of the nature of leadership and the instincts of leaders to want to stay in power by making rational decisions. The caveat that rational judgment is subjective to a Western vs. non-Western-style of thinking, while referenced by Mr. Dagan, does not change the nature of his argument: Ahmadinejad and company are rational actors. This assertion comes from arguably the most knowledgable source on the nature of Iranian leadership, someone who has the incentive, capability, and expanse of sensitive dossiers on the subject.

“No doubt are they considering all the implications of their direction. They will have to pay dearly and all the consequences of it, and I think the Iranians, in this point in time, are going very carefully in the project. They are not running into it.”

It’s Not Really a MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD World Anymore

The next question posed by the interviewer addresses a discomfiting point. If the Iranian regime is so rational, then why can’t they be allowed to have nuclear weapons?

The question is not illogical in itself, but speaks to a greater and dangerous misunderstanding of current nuclear weapons and non-proliferation theory, derived from what’s left from a generation groomed on the Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) Doctrine.

Mutually Assured Destruction, the doctrine that assumes that two actors will not engage in nuclear weapon’s decisions that will result in the destruction of both of their respective countries, was very applicable to the Cold War and a bi-polar geo-political context. However, it is not a pliable doctrine. It is no longer applicable in the traditional sense. The interviewer’s line of questioning is concerned and educated and not wrong, but rather, working within an outdated frame of reference.

The frame of reference, now, is much more complex. It includes the basic applications of the MAD Doctrine but in an experience derived and layered global context. Meaning, between two countries of equal nuclear power, MAD Doctrine still contributes, not drives, their non-use. However, many other factors also contribute and more heavily weigh in any particular country’s non-use or being a non-receiver of a nuclear attack. These factors include: sitting under the nuclear umbrella of a more powerful official or unofficial nuclear weapons state, perceptiveness to the regional and economic implications of attacking another country, limitations, whether technological or practical on their ability to procure a “successful” attack, and seemingly most delicately, the unwritten taboo of nuclear weapons’ use.

Simply, beginning at the first use of the atomic bomb on Japan and further solidified with the development of global initiatives and treaties against the use and proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapon technologies, like the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), nuclear weapons have become a taboo solution to inter-country disagreements.

If one country were to wage a non-nuclear attack on another, whether unprovoked or not, and the second country were to respond in a nuclear fashion, that second country would undoubtedly run a very high risk of being alienated by the international community. This country would become an instant pariah. Among other consequences, the nuclear country would likely incur sanctions that would immediately stifle their economy. Further, they would also likely draw the military ire of an ally or other countries friendly to the country they attacked. This situation is easily played out in a number of inter-country relationships, from Pakistan and India to the United States and North Korea. The situation would be unambiguous. Any provocation short of a nuclear attack cannot be returned with one, not because the two countries would destroy each other but because the nuclear-use country would not be able to exist in a post-attack world.

Status Quo Stability

An understanding of chess-board geo-politics is necessary to truly piece together the mass of the nuclear game (Stahl). Each country is a piece in play, some more powerful, strategic, tactical, and some, who are simply just pawns. Looking at an Iranian working nuclear weapons program through a tactical lens, one that disregards the up ending of every geo-political web, as an antiquated frame of reference does, simplifies an Iranian chess-move on a strategic board. Most clearly, back to Stahl’s question, if nuclear weapons are taboo and Iran knows that it would draw the ire of the entire world if it had them, they stillcan’t have them because it changes the leverages of the game. It gives an M-16 to a country used to handling a .22.

Dagan muses, broaching the subject of sanctions and oil prices, “Do you think that an Iranian regime will bring stability to the region?”

Stability is the sticking point. The status quo, with the “Nuclear Weapon States” (NWS) of the United States, France, China, Britain and Russia, and the nuclear states who have defied part of the established non-proliferation taboo (India, North Korea, Pakistan, and unofficially, Israel), have created a checker-board geo-political stability. Overturning this stability willoccur if Iran is allowed a nuclear weapons capability. An Iranian nuclear capability is a proxy capability to create a new status quo. Not only would it be the impetus for other countries in the region to develop their own nuclear programs, but it gives Iran an important new choke-point on world oil prices--the Iranian primary industry and source of income.

Whether the claims that an Iran can and will ignite a tinderbox Middle East are overblown, the point that remains is irrefutable. The instability and acquired Iranian geo-political power brings the current context of US, Israeli, and Iranian argumentation into the international fold. Even if MAD doctrine, the nuclear use taboo, and Dagan say that Iran’s leadership is rational, Iran cannot possibly be allowed to have nuclear weapons because it will upset the balance as is.

Go Tel (Aviv) It on the Mountain, Mr. Spymaster

Dagan goes on to say that an attack on Iran will not even destroy its nuclear program. To what effect, then, is any of this information actionable, if nothing can be done at the end? What sort of morassic situation have we come to?

Dagan asserts, almost lethargically, that, “If I would prefer that somebody would do it (attack Iran), I would prefer that the Americans to do it.” Israel has perhaps the greatest stake in stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons to an Iranian regime; however, again, the greater political context of chess-board politics comes back in to play here, too. Additionally, the complexity of a successful attack is not lost on the former spy chief. En masse, the Iranian nuclear complex is much different than was the Iraqi reactor destroyed by the Israeli “Operation Babylon” or the Syrian nuclear reactor that the Israelis destroyed in a surprise attack in 2007.

The Iranian nuclear developments are fortified, geographically distant, and numerous, and any attack on these complexes, will draw a response different in nature than the Israeli’s attack. Underlying logic says, a unilateral attack by Israel will not destroy the 12 plus sites, and it will draw a “reign of missiles” (possibly 50,000, according to Dagan) upon the small but populated country. Iran’s nuclear complex would be damaged, but Israel would be destroyed.

An attack by the United States has a much higher chance of success with a seemingly fewer impactful responses by Iran. Meaning, the United States has a greater capability to take out not only Iran’s nuclear complex, but the second response capabilities that Iran would be likely to employ. The leap from a directed attack on Iran’s facilities to a full-scale war with Iran derives from their response. Iran will not go quietly into the night, and Dagan, tacitly, understands the dirty work that must be done that the Israelis cannot do alone.

Because, Because, Because, Because. Because (Of the Wonderful Things He Does)

What seems to be the overlooked factor, here, is less the nuts and bolts of do the Iranians, will the Iranians, won’t the Iranians, but the dynamic domestic political context in the United States and Israel and between and between the United States and Israel. The pressures of the geo-political web that the two anchors is only arguably as important as what each country canactually pursue given its domestic political situation and inter-country politics.

The relationship between Israel and the United States is deeply embedded in the US domestic political character. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), America’s pro-Israel Lobby, is one of the most influential groups, en bloc, in the United States. The amount of money and weight behind an AIPAC endorsement in, let’s say, a presidential race, is well-known and well-rooted in reality. President Obama is in a precarious position, as is any president in an election year in his first term. What can he possibly do from now to November? And what can he do (or not do) and still get reelected? Domestic pressure to act aside, the tensions between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu are well documented.

So, we approach the all-important question of timeliness-in-intelligence and political action. Here, both Dagan and Obama’s assertions that there is more time yet to discuss military action on Iran and the timetable of Iran’s increasingly aggressive diction is important.

In a report to the Senate Intelligence Committee, DNI Clapper indicated that though Iran has the capacity to eventually produce nuclear-grade materials, it would take years after this capacity is reached to have a fully developed weapon. While the fact that the capability to enrich Uranium to a certain percentage underlies the capability to “go all the way” is lost on many, the idea that the nuclear, able to bomb Israel, Iran, is years away, puts the aggressive rhetoric regarding a pre-emptive strike on Iran in clearer context, especially given Dagan’s assertions that Israel should wait.

The Shadow of a Burning Bush

The summative significance here is not an enlightening one, but a logical one. The domestic political context of the US would not, at this time, allow for a military strike on Iran. It is an election year, and though AIPAC is a hugely influential voting bloc, President Obama is haunted by the specters of the past decade. Trillions of dollars, two wars, two steps back and one forward in a seemingly life-less economy would not allow for it. Dagan, Israeli’s former spy chief, whether to dirty Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s agenda, or in candor, defers action to the United States, citing the inefficacy of an Israeli attack and rational nature of the Iranian regime. Changing the status quo of a region, and the geo-political standing of a country is one issue, but igniting a tinderbox, prematurely, and with every domestic-political reason not to, speaks to a game that’s only in the seventh inning stretch.

About the Authors:

Brittany Minder received her BA in International Relations from Stanford University and she serves as the Lint Center for National Security Studies Public & External Affairs Associate.

Timothy W. Coleman serves as the Director of Communications at the Lint Center for National Security Studies.

References:

Stahl, Lesley, Interviewer. "The Spymaster: Meir Dagan on Iran's Threat." 60 Minutes. CBS: 11 March 2012. Television. <http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7401688n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBo&xgt;.

"Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What at a Glance." Arms Control Association. Arms Control Association, n.d. Web. 12 Apr 2012. <http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Nuclearweaponswhohaswhat>.

Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Ahmadi_nejad_2012_pakistan.jpg

Facebook Espionage: Why “What’s on Your Mind?” Isn’t Innocuous

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:54:00 -0400

“Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders.” -Ronald Reagan

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Pinterest, LinkedIn. The personal information available to the public about the general public is one thing, however, information available about those in national security positions---military personnel, government officials, other high-ranking persons with access, is a completely different situation and concern.

Twenty or thirty years ago building a comprehensive profile of someone of interest, their likes, age, name, address, contact information, was a job for Human Intelligence personnel (HUMINT) and investigative experts. In an age when twenty-three of twenty-four major federal agencies are on Facebook (Marks, Nextgov) and nearly 700 million computer users and 250 million active smartphone Facebook users exist (howmanyarethere), public profiles become less social networking and more cyber espionage databanks.

State-Sponsored and Suspicious Security

Collating information mined from social networking sites is a profitable business for data brokers. Brokers create social communication databanks that paint a nuanced picture of a person’s personal and social profile to net coveted advertising dollars. In the same vein, state-sponsored spies and hackers can create virtual profiles of important figures with access, figures whose statuses, network of friends, pictures, and comments could supplement a standard intelligence or economic espionage dossier.

Facebook Statuses, Twitter updates, or any number of other seemingly innocuous musings, that relay either the timing, location, or the nature of a certain user are extremely revealing and continue to bear greater scrutiny by security and privacy experts. Often, devices with geo-location capabilities signal the area or city of a user on tagged posts or statuses. This operational security hole has become so prevalent that the US Army has released guides on how to protect against this sort of breach.

The operational security breaches are further intensified with Facebook’s “Timeline” option, where the actions of each user are organized down to the month that the action occurred. To this end, state-sponsored espionage efforts may result in clear pictures of organizational structures within businesses, associates of national security personnel, and ways to infiltrate or blackmail important users or networks.

The so-what point of the ability to develop profiles via social networks is layered within the context of other telling personal information that a state sponsored entity, general malefactor, or busy-body, may already know. For example, certain career or job fairs, require a stated level of security clearance to be out in the open, readily visible for those in attendance. Being able to connect a security clearance, regardless of the level, with other identifying personal information derived easily from social networks and network applications, from hobbies to network connections, to place of residence, puts that individual, their family and friends, their organization, contacts within that organization, and the entire affiliated mission at a level of risk. There is not a 100% probability of getting approached by hostile HUMINT operatives if the information is out, but this increases the possibility.

Security Not Applicable

The controversy surrounding Facebook’s privacy is not new, and Facebook has implemented numerous privacy measures to combat those weaknesses. However, the wave of for-pay and free applications that users send each other opens up new security holes for both Facebook users and their web of friends. These applications often ask for detailed information that would make for a telling personal profile of the user. Further, these applications not only ask for the requested users information, but also after allowed into that users network, are able to mine information from their friends’ profiles and friends of friends. While Facebook has many technical implementations in place to prevent direct information mining, these applications also allow a backdoor route for data gathering companies, like Google, to collect a user’s information.

Cyber Awareness

The dangers of social networking are ever-present for those who have information to secure. Social networking casts a large shadow and a wide net, one that can haunt irreparably, and now, has seemingly endless breaches: from the known fissures in smartphone security to third-party applications as hidden data-mines to the nature and location of statuses double-crossing their users.

Net security is being aware of what you put on the web. If you are the senior dispatcher for city waste management, you probably are not at a high risk of your data being hunted. However, if you are the calendar scheduler of the President of the United States, you are probably at a high risk of hostile HUMINT operatives attempting to get your information. The game is probability and possibility. We are all targets, the scope is different based on our jobs, actions, and risk.

About the Authors:

Brittany Minder received her BA in International Relations from Stanford University and she serves as the Lint Center’s Public & External Affairs Associate.

Tim Coleman serves as the Center’s Director of Communications.

References:

Marks, Joseph. “All major federal agencies now using Twitter and Youtube.”
HowManyAreThere?
image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Social-network.png
Image Source: Wikimedia, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Blackhat.png

Why the Titanic was Found: A US Navy Covert Mission

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:45:00 -0400

The ship God himself could not sink found tinged in a Cold War tale (Titanic)

Soon a century will have passed since the April 15th, 1912, sinking of the greatest boat to scarcely float, the RMS Titanic. With a rerelease of the 1997 blockbuster, Titanic100th anniversary postage stamps, memorial cruises (imagine the irony in that), and exhibitions, the legend of the Titanic continues to grow (Brewin). The latest postscript to the tale, however, lays its roots in a supposed covert US Naval Intelligence mission during the Cold War.

All But a Sub-par Search For Titanic

A new National Geographic documentary set to premiere on April 9th, uncovers an alternate mission and larger purpose behind the discovery of the Titanic’s 73-year-old ocean resting place. After four previous attempts to uncover the ship’s remains off the coast of Canada, the ocean’s own Indiana Jones, veteran of more than 125 sea expeditions, Dr. Robert Ballard,set sail (West).

The professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island says, though, that this expedition, was not to uncover the Titanic, but to find the reactors and weapons from two sunken US nuclear submarines, the USS Scorpion and Thresher, who have interesting histories in themselves as the only nuclear submarines the US Navy has ever lost (West).

Scorpion, Stung by Soviets

The USS Scorpion specialized in the development of submarine warfare tactics, participating in exercises that cast her in varying roles, from hunter to the hunted, to intelligence-driven missions (Wikipedia). After 3 months of deployment and what has been unofficially recounted as a mission to spy on a Soviet submarine, the Scorpion was set to arrive at homeport at 1pm on May 29th, but something had gone amiss. A week before, unofficial reports suggest that the USS Scorpion had failed to respond to encrypted messages from headquarters regarding it’s home-coming, the impetus to a the seaboard-wide search-mission redirection of all Navy vessels still unverified by official Navy records (Offley).

Officially, the failure to break radio silence in the early morning of the day of arrival had sent the Atlantic Submarine Force headquarters into a bustling panic. At 3:15, event SUBMISS at 271915Z for USS Scorpion ETA NORVA had been executed (Offley). The USS Scorpion was officially missing.

Official reports never concluded what ended in the deaths of the 99 sailors aboard and a submarine buried in mystique and poignancy. Unofficial reports and interviews with former Soviet and US sailors paint a tale of a Cold War confrontation concealed in an attempt to avoid an escalation and to persist a status quo (Offley). Unofficial reports suggest that the Navy had known all along where the USS Scorpion lay, “officially” being hauled back to harbor five months after it had missed its Norfolk arrival (ibid).

With the 100th anniversary of the Titanic approaching and Dr. Ballard’s claims of a covert mission to uncover the nuclear remnants of the USS Scorpion, the tale of the Titanic and the US Navy’s interweaving mission only becomes more mythical with the story behind the second nuclear submarine, the USS Thresher.

Dasvidanya, USS Thresher Drowns in Atlantic Depths

“Experiencing minor problems...positive up angle...attempting to blow up...” were the last words of a revolutionary “hunter-killer” submarine designed to quietly hunt enemy (Soviet) submarines and dispatch of them at the Empire State building depths (Polner).

The USS Thresher was a nuclear-powered attack submarine, known for its well-trained sailors and revolutionary ability. It sunk during Test Depth exercises off the eastern seaboard in 1963 (Polner). Officially, the cause of the accident is believed to have been a pipe malfunction that led to an electrical malfunction, which quickly turned into a literal crushing of the hull of the nuclear sub as it plunged below maximum safety depth of 1,900 feet (ibid). Though officially reported to be an accident, rumors abounded regarding a second crater near the wreck site, possible evidence, many believed to be of the existence of a previously sunken Soviet submarine that collided with the US war-machine (ibid).

Because the submarine had been off the Atlantic coastal shelf (drawing a maximum depth of 600 feet), it sunk to the sea floor, over 8,000 feet below (Polner). Official reports have the USS Thresher’s remains being found by a deep sea sonar and diving submarine and dredging hooks, with findings that the submarine was not carrying nuclear weapons nor had the nuclear reactor broken up as it fell to the bottom of the ocean (Aerospace).

A Titanic Cover-Up

Of course the official findings, rumors, and now the claims made by Dr. Ballard all point to the discovery of the Titanic in Atlantic coastal waters to be shrouded in the history of the Cold War. The most grandiose vessel of the time laid at the bottom of the ocean, hidden from the world for over seven decades, while two equally grandiose military vessels, met their fates, either by accident or as casualties to the Cold War.

Dr. Ballard’s mission, still during the Cold War, in 1985, may have been much more.

According to Dr. Ballard his “mission was to find those reactors and find those weapons. But we didn’t want the Soviets to know that we were doing that or they’d put a satellite on us and we’d lead them to our submarines...so we needed a cover, and I suggested, naturally, the Titanic, because I wanted to find the Titanic. And so we then went out and did our covert operations and then went and did the Titanic” (West).

About the Authors:

Brittany Minder received her BA in International Relations from Stanford University and she serves as the Lint Center’s Public & External Affairs Associate.

Tim Coleman serves as the Center’s Director of Communications.

References

Titanic. 1997. Movie.
Brewin, Kester. 5 April, 2012. 100th Anniversary of the Sinking of Titanic, 15 April: A grand Vision and Enduring Tragedy. TES. http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6204415&s_cid=tesmagazinehome
West, Erik. 5 April, 2012. New Documentary Claims Mission to Find Titanic ‘was covert US Navy Operation.’ The Australian Eye. http://www.theaustralianeye.com/news/new-documentary-claims-mission-to-find-titanic-was-covert-us-navy-operation-aoi35826650.html
ibid
5 April 2012. USS Scorpion (SSN-589). Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Scorpion_(SSN-589)
Offley, Ed. 26 August, 2009. Retrieved 5 April, 2012. The USS Scorpion Buried at Sea. http://www.historynet.com/the-uss-scorpion-buried-at-sea.htm
ibid
ibid
ibid
Retrieved on 5 April, 2012. “The Death of the USS Thresher: 129 Men Perished in the 1962 Submarine’s Sinking-Norman Polmar-The Death of the USS Thresher. Epinions.com.
ibid
ibid
ibid
Retrieved on 5 April, 2012. Aerospaceweb.org Ask Us-Broken Arrow Nuclear Weapon Accidents. Aerospaceweb.org.
ibid
West, Erik. 5 April, 2012. New Documentary Claims Mission to Find Titanic ‘was covert US Navy Operation.’ The Australian Eye. http://www.theaustralianeye.com/news/new-documentary-claims-mission-to-find-titanic-was-covert-us-navy-operation-aoi35826650.html

University of Texas at El Paso Covers Lint Center Scholarship Winner

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:00 -0400

Grad Student in UTEP’s Intelligence and National Security Studies Program Wins Intel Scholarship

The University of Texas at El Paso posted a story on Miguel Ibarra, the Winner of the 2012 US Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, Staff SGT. Richard Eaton JR. Memorial Scholarship

We encourage you to check out the full article after the jump: http://newsuc.utep.edu/index.php/news-latest/280-grad-student-wins-intel-scholarship.

Congrats, Miguel!

PSYOP WWII – Propagating Carrot Propaganda

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:12:00 -0400

“Carrots are divine... You get a dozen for a dime, It's maaaa-gic!” – Bugs Bunny

In classic Bugs Bunny form, moms and dads, and even the British government have touted the advantages of eating carrots. Beta-carotene, the substance in carrots that helps to provide its orange color, does indeed have healthy benefits. The night seeing claims, however, are (unfortunately) inaccurate.

The urban legend of carrots generating super-human sight dates back to the British propaganda machine and an age-old intelligence tradecraft tactic of disinformation to deceive Nazi Germany.

Following Italian air force theorist, General Giulio Douhet’s model of bombing “vital centers,” rather than strategic infrastructure or wartime elements like factories and supply depots, the Germans focused bombing runs on civilian population centers. In the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, carried out incessant nighttime bombing raids intended to break the will of the British populace.

Even under intense and logistical bombardment, the British Royal Air Force was not deterred and kept sending up fighter aircraft to intercept German bombers. RAF pilots were highly trained and skilled professionals, and eventually, with great success, were able to inflict great damage on the Luftwaffe.

The explanation for the almost sudden change in British dogfighting success was attributed to RAF pilots’ superior skill. While RAF pilots were experts at their craft, the explanation of suddenly overwhelming dogfighting skills mismatched the events taking place.

The RAF, in fact, had a tactical advantage which allowed RAF pilots to determine where inbound German aircraft were using a secrete defensive countermeasure – the Airborne Interception Radar.

This technological advancement was so sensitive that British Intelligence created a cover story to parlay German suspicion of a new radar system being deployed. In turn, British Intelligence decided to create a cover story and put out a disinformation campaign.

In one newspaper article, John “Cat's Eyes” Cunningham, Royal Air Force Officer, cited his love of carrots as the reason he was able to be so successful against the Germans. In fact, Cunningham claimed that eating carrots allowed him to see at night. New stories started to appear about RAF pilots and their carrot eating habits. The disinformation campaign and heroics of carrot-eating RAF pilots worked so well that ordinary Brits began to gobble up carrots.

And thus the legacy of carrots and its superhuman imparting qualities began.

To read more about the role of carrots in WWII, please visit the World Carrot Museum: http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/history4.html.

About the Authors:

Tim Coleman received his BA from Georgetown, MBA from Barry University, and Master of Public and International Affairs, Security and Intelligence Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, and serves as the Center’s Director of Communications.

Brittany Minder received her BA in International Relations from Stanford University and she serves as the Lint Center’s Public & External Affairs Associate.

End Notes:

Photo Source: http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/dig4victory.html
Snopes.com, Carrots, Accessed on April 3, 2012, http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/carrots.asp
Wikipedia, John Cunningham, Accessed on April 3, 2012, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cunningham_(RAF_officer)

Lint Center In the News

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:32:00 -0400

The Public and External Affairs team at the Lint Center had another good week with regards to one of its most recent scholarship announcements.

We congratulate Miguel on his scholarship award and for helping to generate outstanding saturation as well as coverage!

We encourage you to explore the links and let us know if you saw something we missed.

Here is a quick rundown on where the scholarship announcement was picked up and reposted:

Lint Center Announces the Winner of the 2012 Lee & Byun International Relations & Cultural Awareness Scholarship

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Lint Center for National Security Studies Awards Scholarship to University of Notre Dame Alumnus and Tufts University Fletcher School Graduate Student, Zach Przystup

WASHINGTON, D.C.,March 27, 2012 – The Lint Center, a non-profit charity, focused on supporting the educational pursuits of the next generation of America’s Counterintelligence and National Security Workers, today formally announced Zach Przystup was awarded the Lee and Byun Scholarship. This scholarship award aims to support undergraduate and post-graduate educational pursuits of scholars interested in National Security.

Lint Center scholarship winners are chosen on various grounds but are all well-rounded individuals whom the scholarship namesake would be or would have been proud to be represented by. They must have soaring letters of recommendation, a good transcript, a pointed essay on Counterintelligence or National Security, and a personal essay that introduces the applicant-winner to the Scholarship Board. Most of all, the scholarship winners must possess a presence of being that undoubtedly epitomizes one of a future National Security professional: a potential for leadership, integrity of character, and clear determination.

“I am honored to receive the Lee and Byun scholarship,” said Zach Przystup, a future Graduate Student at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. “I know how hard the Lint Center works to develop future leaders in national security and diplomacy and that its affiliates will be great resources for my future as I explore the links between foreign policy, diplomacy, and national security at the Fletcher School and beyond.”

“The Lint Center is delighted to award the 2012 Lee and Byun Scholarship to Mr. Przystup,” said Mr. James Lint, Chairman and CEO of the Lint Center. “The Center and the Scholarship Review Committee found Mr. Przystup’s application and experiences dedicated to the development of Asian-American relations to be a manifestation of the nature of the Lee and Byun Scholarship. Mr. Przystup’s understanding of the importance and meaning behind every gesture and unspoken word for international diplomacy is noteworthy. We are proud to have a budding academic and scholar in him, and look forward to pairing him with a mentor who can advise him and help him in his pursuits.”

Due to the generosity and continued support of the world’s leading private intelligence company, Strategic Forecasting, Inc., Mr. Przystup will also receive a one-year subscription to Stratfor’s Subscription Service which includes industry leading intelligence reports providing situational awareness, geopolitical analysis, and analytically rigorous forecasting.

About Stratfor:

Stratfor provides individuals and corporations with breaking intelligence, in-depth analysis, assessments and forecasts on global political, economic, security, and public policy issues. Through its unrivaled blend of strategic and tactical expertise, Stratfor helps clients protect their assets, diminish risk, and increase opportunities to compete in the global market. Stratfor’s services include free intelligence reports, subscription-based access, and confidential consulting. For more information, please visit www.stratfor.com.

About the Lee and Byun 2012 Scholarship:

The Lee and Byun Scholarship is established in the name of two people who lived through the trials of the Korean War, through that, gained an understanding and appreciation for freedom and acts of kindness from other cultures.

Mr. Lint describes the essence of the scholarship by citing Mrs. Byun’s personal story. “Mrs. Byun, a 12-year-old during the Korean War, was evacuated by US Marines. Her story is a reminder of the cyclical flow that seemingly small efforts have on individuals even decades later-an instrumental experience in the great generosity the family has showed the Lint Center.”

The following is a link for a more detailed description of the Lee and Byun scholarship: http://www.lintcenter.org/2009/byun.htm.

About Zach Przystup:

Zach is the U.S. Program Manager for Atlas Corps, where he manages the Atlas Corps Fellowship, a one-year training program for nonprofit leaders from around the world. Before joining Atlas Corps, Zach lived and worked in Japan with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), where he taught high school English in Hiroshima prefecture. Upon his return to the U.S., Zach delivered the keynote address at the Embassy of Japan’s reception for returned JET participants, and later acted as a consultant for the JET Program. Zach has also worked as a research assistant at the National Defense University’s Center for Technology and National Security Policy, where he contributed to a publication on military burden-sharing between the US and EU. Zach obtained his B.A. with distinction from the University of Notre Dame in Political Science and Spanish, and will be attending the Fletcher School at Tufts University in fall 2012 to study foreign policy and human security.

To read his full biography and winning essay please visit: http://www.lintcenter.org/Winners/Jan12/PR-Zach-p.htm

About the Lint Center:

The Lint Center for National Security Studies, Inc., founded in 2007, is a non-profit IRS 501 (c) (3) organization created to award merit-based scholarships for Counterintelligence and National Security Workers, their children and scholars, and to advance the study of National Security, cross-cultural studies, and global understanding. The Center, an IRS approved charity, is Veteran and minority operated and managed. For more information and to view details regarding semi-annual scholarship opportunities, please visit www.LintCenter.org.

Lint Center Announces the Winner of the 2012 US Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, Staff SGT. Richard Eaton JR. Memorial Scholarship

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Lint Center for National Security Studies Awards Scholarship to Intelligence and National Security Studies Graduate Student and University of Texas at El Paso “Students in Intelligence and National Security Group” Co-founder, Miguel Ibarra

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 26, 2012 – The Lint Center, a non-profit charity, focused on supporting the educational pursuits of the next generation of America’s Counterintelligence and National Security Workers, today formally announced Miguel Ibarra was awarded the Special Agent/SSG Richard S. Eaton Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship award aims to support undergraduate and post-graduate educational pursuits of scholars interested in National Security.

“I am greatly honored the Lint Center found me to be a deserving recipient of this prestigious award,” said Miguel Ibarra, a University of Texas at El Paso graduate student. “The scholarship will further enable me to continue my studies in the field of Intelligence studies. It will also help me to build a strong relationship with an experienced mentor. I look forward to one day following in the footsteps of heroes, like U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., who performed an exceptional service to our nation.”

Sharon Noble Eaton, Staff Sgt. Richard Eaton Jr.’s mother, stated, “Rick was a well-loved soldier and son. His brothers and sisters in arms still describe him as a consummate counterintelligence professional. My hope has always been that his mission of service lives on in this Lint Center scholarship. I find Mr. Ibarra to be a candidate that Rick would have been proud to know. His scholastic achievements — a double major in Aerospace Engineering and Government, and current graduate study, an MS in Intelligence and National Security Studies — and dedication indicate that he will make impressive contributions to the future security of our country.”

“The Lint Center is delighted to award the 2012 Richard S. Eaton Jr. Memorial Scholarship to Mr. Ibarra,” said Mr. James Lint, Chairman and CEO of the Lint Center. “The Center and the Scholarship Review Committee found Mr. Ibarra’s application and dedication to the betterment of Intelligence studies to be directly related to the mission and spirit of the Lint Center. Mr. Ibarra’s passion and willingness to personally invest in both himself and in this nation is apparent and laudable. The Lint Center looks forward to working with Mr. Ibarra and helping him to advance his knowledge and career in the area of Intelligence.”

Due to the generosity and continued support of the world’s leading private intelligence company, Strategic Forecasting, Inc., Mr. Ibarra will also receive a one-year subscription to Stratfor’s Subscription Service which includes industry leading intelligence reports providing situational awareness, geopolitical analysis, and analytically rigorous forecasting.

About Stratfor:

About the Richard S. Eaton Jr. 2012 Memorial Scholarship:

The Richard S. Eaton Jr. Scholarship was established in honor of Staff Sgt. Richard Eaton, a United States Army Counterintelligence Special Agent and Bronze Star recipient who died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on August 12, 2003.

Mr. Lint, describes Special Agent Eaton as, “a Counterintelligence Agent whose exemplary achievements during his career act as a testament to the character, conviction, and courage of those who continue to serve this nation. He lived all the life he had. The Lint Center is committed to ensuring Rick’s deeds, personal example, and noble heroism are both honored and memorialized.”

The following is a link for a more detailed description of the Counterintelligence Special Agent Richard S. Eaton Memorial Jr. scholarship: http://www.lintcenter.org/2009/Eaton.htm.

About Miguel Ibarra:

Miguel Angel Ibarra is a native of El Paso, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, a Bachelor of Arts in Government, and an Undergraduate Certificate in Business Foundations at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). While at UT, he was named the Ronald E. McNair Scholar, an award for underrepresented minorities with academic potential in Graduate studies.

Currently, Ibarra is pursuing a Master of Science in Intelligence and National Security Studies with a concentration in Geographic Information Systems at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). He is one of the founding members and the current Vice President of the Students in Intelligence and National Security organization at UTEP.

In addition to the Lint Center scholarship award, Mr. Ibarra was recently awarded the National Military Intelligence Foundation Scholarship from the National Military Intelligence Association. He has also earned the distinction of being named an Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence Scholar.

Ibarra works as a Research Assistant at the International Association for Intelligence Education and has been selected for an internship at the Department of Homeland Security.

To read his full biography and winning essay, please visit: http://www.lintcenter.org/Winners/Jan12/PR-ibarra.htm

About the Lint Center:

Lint Center In the News

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:52:00 -0400

The Public and External Affairs team at the Lint Center had a pretty good week with regards to the most recent scholarship announcement.

We congratulate Greg on his scholarship award and for helping to generate outstanding saturation as well as coverage!

We encourage you to explore the links and let us know if you saw something we missed.

Here is a quick rundown on where the scholarship announcement was picked up and reposted:

University of New Orleans Highlights Scholarship Winner - Greg Williamson

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:07:00 -0400

The University of New Orleans covered yesterday's Lint Center annoucment that Greg Williamson was awareded the 2012 Jack McCoy Scholarship.

We encourage you to check out the posting:

Incoming UNO Student Wins National Security Scholarship

Congratulations, Greg!

Lint Center Announces the Winner of the 2012 Jack McCoy Scholarship

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:42:00 -0400

Lint Center for National Security Studies Awards Scholarship to Electrical Engineering graduate student and former Air Force National Guard, Greg Williamson

The Lint Center, a non-profit charity, focused on supporting the educational pursuits of the next generation of America’s Counterintelligence and National Security Workers, today formally announced Greg Williamson was awarded the Mr. Jack McCoy Scholarship. This scholarship award aims to support undergraduate and post-graduate educational pursuits of scholars interested in National Security.

“I couldn’t be more excited [to receive the McCoy scholarship]. I can’t wait to discover more about the opportunities ahead to serve my country and use my talents to make changes and protect our nation’s core values,” said Greg Williamson, an Electrical Engineering student at the University of New Orleans. “The award and the Lint Center’s vast mentor base will be a great asset as I seek to complete my Engineering Degree and pursue post-graduate opportunities.”

“The Lint Center is delighted to award the 2012 Mr. Jack McCoy Scholarship to Mr. Williamson,” said Mr. James Lint, Chairman and CEO of the Lint Center. “The Center and the Scholarship Review Committee were extremely impressed with the sum of Mr. Williamson’s scholarship application. Aside from the personal qualities that Mr. Williamson holds, the Lint Center found Mr. Williamson’s essay on the importance of personal ambassadorship in international relations to be a particularly pointed match with the nature of the McCoy scholarship. Mr. Jack McCoy was a great personal ambassador to many foreign students in USA, and he represented USA well when he traveled. Mr. Williamson’s passion and self-derived determination speaks magnitudes about what kind of person he is, and the kind of people we are proud to have represent the Lint Center. We look forward to working with Mr. Williamson and pairing him with a mentor who can advise him and help him identify how best to apply his talents.”

Due to the generosity and continued support of the world’s leading private intelligence company, Strategic Forecasting, Inc., Mr. Williamson will also receive a one-year subscription to Stratfor’s Subscription Service which includes industry leading intelligence reports providing situational awareness, geopolitical analysis, and analytically rigorous forecasting.

About Stratfor:

About the Jack McCoy Scholarship:

The Mr. Jack McCoy Scholarship was established in honor of Mr. McCoy, a former Sailor with an expertise in Southeast Asia. Mr. McCoy had a great understanding of cultural differences and a love for volunteering with college kids.

Dr. Anna Hyonjoo Lint, Vice-chairwoman and Chief Operations Officer of the Lint Center, describes Mr. McCoy as, “an example of what is great in the United States. Mr. McCoy had a great understanding of cultural differences, the sort of understanding that helped him become a great unofficial ambassador.”

The following is a link for a more detailed description of the McCoy scholarship http://www.lintcenter.org/2008/mccoy.htm.

About Greg Williamson:

Gregory Williamson is an Alabama Gulf Coast native who has been accepted to the University of New Orleans College of Engineering for the Fall of 2012. Mr. Williamson attended Auburn University from 1995 to 2002 and majored in Graphic Design. While at Auburn, Mr. Williamson owned and published a private newspaper and also enlisted into the Air Force National Guard, serving as an A1C in the 232nd Combat Communications Squadron in Montgomery, Alabama. Following a class research project and presentation about the oil spill and its effects on the environment and oil industry, Mr. Williamson became a volunteer deckhand in the Gulf Oil Spill clean-up efforts, as an official member of the Gulf Oil Spill Task Force, later being hired on part-time by the Captain of the vessel, for his abilities as a Project Manager.

To read his full biography and winning essay, please visit http://www.lintcenter.org/Winners/Jan12/PR-Greg-W.htm

About the Lint Center: