SpyCast SpyCast

Summary
Robert Wittman (Website; Twitter) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his career and the FBI’s Art Crime Team. Bob recovered over $300 million worth of stolen art and cultural property over the course of his career. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence















How the FBI’s Art Crime Team (ACT) was formed















The intelligence angle when investigating provenance















Living and working undercover abroad















Museums & Intelligence















Reflections















The importance of cultural property















Questions of ownership and belonging















And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“The motivation for writing the book was to get the word out how important cultural heritage is. It really is important to make the public realize that this is an important program that should be supported by law enforcement both local and federal.” – Robert Wittman.

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*Featured Resource*






















Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures, R. Wittman (Crown Publishing, 2011)







*SpyCasts*






























The Gambling Capital of the World: Intelligence, Las Vegas Style! with James Lockhart and Keith Michaels (2023)















Venice’s Secret Service with Ioanna Iordanou (2023)















70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007 (2023)















How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Spy Game with Mike Susong (2023)















*Beginner Resources*















Why art gets stolen time and again, R. Pryor, The Art Newspaper (2020) [Short article] 















FBI Art Theft Program, FBI, YouTube (2013) [6 min. video]















What is cultural property?, Information and Heritage Inspectorate (n.d.) [Short article] 
















DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources 















Crystal Sphere, Collection of the University of Pennsylvania Museum















Mask of the Man with the Broken Nose, Collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art 















Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum















The Concert, Collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum















The Rosenberg Diary, Collection of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum 















Museums and the theft of works of art (1973) 















*Wildcard Resource*















Can you identify famous pieces and artists like an art detective?















Take this Google Arts & Culture quiz to see if you’re cut out for the job! 

Summary
Dina Rezk (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss Egyptian intelligence. Dina is an Associate Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of Reading. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

Egyptian leadership & intelligence

The intelligence landscape of Egypt

Egypt’s relationship with neighboring countries

Ashraf Marwan’s story from the Egyptian perspective

Reflections

Leadership, power, and opposition

International perspectives and changing views

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“I think that's one of the ways in which the Egyptian Intelligence Service sort of conceives of its primary responsibility. It's about maintaining internal security, and particularly at the moment you know, since 2014, I would say sort of eliminating any sort of political opposition, any possibility of political opposition.” – Dina Rezk.

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*


The Intelligence Legacy of the Yom Kippur War with Uri Bar-Joseph (2023) 


Former Senior Indian Intelligence Officer with R&AW Special Secretary Vappala Balachandran (2023)


Kenya, East Africa, and America with African Intelligence Chief Wilson Boinett (2023)


Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2023)

*Beginner Resources*


Egypt Profile, BBC News (2019) [Timeline]


Abdul Fattah al-Sisi - in 60 seconds, BBC News, YouTube (2014) [1 min. video]


Why Was The Suez Crisis So Important?, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article]

*Featured Resource*

The Arab World and Western Intelligence: Analysing the Middle East, 1956-1981 (Intelligence, Surveillance and Secret Warfare), D. Rezk (Edinburgh University Press, 2018) 

DEEPER DIVE
Books


Making the Arab World: Nasser, Qutb, and the Clash That Shaped the Middle East, F. A. Gerges (Princeton University Press, 2018) 


Egypt on the Brink: From Nasser to Mubarak, T. Osman (Yale University Press, 2011)


Nasser: The Last Arab, S. K. Aburish (Thomas Dunne Books, 2004)


Orientalism, E. W. Said (Vintage Publishing, 1979) 

Primary Sources 


Mining of the Red Sea (1984) 


CBS Broadcast “The Assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat” (1981)


‘The Most Dangerous Game’ In Mideast (1980) 


Special Assessments on the Middle East Situation (1967) 


“Cairo Hails Nasser as Situation Sends Dulles to England” Newsreel (1956) 


Meeting at the White House to Discuss Suez Crisis (1956)

*Wildcard Resource*

“Intelligence” in Egypt goes back as far as the ancient times of pyramids and pharaohs. One of the earliest accounts of the impact of spies and propaganda in Ancient Egypt is the Battle of Kadesh, a major conflict against the Hittite Empire around 1275 BC. 

Check out this relief seen inside the Great Temple of Ramses II depicting an ancient view of interrogation. 

Summary
Rear Admiral Tim Woods (Biography) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss his role as Britain’s Defence Attaché to the United States. Tim previously served as the British Defence Attaché in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

What does a Defense Attaché do

How intelligence impacts military strategy

Admiral Woods’ experience of the 2021 Russian invasion of Ukraine

What it’s like to constantly be surveilled

Reflections

The power of relationships and connections 

Sacrificing personal privacy for national security

And much, much more …

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*


Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023)


Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023) 


Ukraine & Intelligence: One Year On with Shane Harris (2023)

*Beginner Resources*


What Is The Five Eyes Alliance?, K. Haan, Forbes (2023) [Short article]


Russian invasion of Ukraine: A visual timeline of the war, ABC News, YouTube (2023) [6 min. video]


What is a defence attaché?, Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (2007) [Backgrounder]

DEEPER DIVE
Books


The Secret History of the Five Eyes: The untold story of the shadowy international spy network, R. Kerbaj (Blink Publishing, 2022)


The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, S. Plokhy (Basic Books, 2017)


Defense of the West, S. Sloan (Manchester University Press, 2016)

Primary Sources 


UK defence policy and the role of the armed forces (2023)


Integrated Review Refresh 2023: Responding to a more contested and volatile world (2023)


Defence Command Paper 2023: Defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world (2023)


Statement on the Salisbury & Amesbury Investigation by Neil Basu (2018) 


Strategic Defence and Security Review: First Annual Report (2010)


Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine (1991) 

*Wildcard Resource*


Midway (1976) 

A (dramatic) retelling of the 1942 Battle of Midway, one of the most critical naval battles of the Second World War – A battle that perfectly exhibits the importance of intelligence in a time of war. 

Summary
Laura Tohe (Website) joins Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) to discuss the stories of the WWII Navajo Code Talkers. Laura is a Diné author and the Poet Laureate of the Navajo Nation. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

How the Code Talking units were formed

How the Navajo people used their language as a weapon

Laura’s father, Benson Tohe’s story

Did the Japanese ever break the code? 

Reflections

The relationship between language and the state

Storytelling and the power of oral history

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“When they got into the service they were told, ‘Now you're going to use your language to develop a code.’ They said, ‘But, back at home they told us not to speak Navajo, and now they want us to develop a code in Navajo?’ So, they were not only astounded, they were puzzled why they would be asked to do this when they were in a school where their identity was being erased.” – Laura Tohe.

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*


The 18-Year-Old Soviet Spy on the Manhattan Project: Ted Hall with Director Steve James (2023)


ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: “The D-Day Deception” with National WWII Museum Curator Corey Graff (2023)


St. Ermin’s Hotel, London – The History of a Legendary Spy Site with Stephen Duffy (2023)


Hitler’s Trojan Horse – Nazi Intelligence with Nigel West (2023) 

*Beginner Resources*


1942: Navajo Code Talkers, Intel.gov (n.d.) [short article]


Basic Navajo Introduction, YouTube (2012) [3 min. video]


American Indian Code Talkers, WWII Museum (n.d.) [short article]

*Featured Resource*

Code Talker Stories, Laura Tohe (Rio Nuevo, 2012)
DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources 


Navajo Code Talkers: Oral History Interviews (various)


Proclamation 4954 -- National Navaho Code Talkers Day (1982)


Memorandum from Commander General Vogel to the Marine Corps Regarding Enlistment of "Navaho" Indians (1942)

*Wildcard Resource*

Diné Bahaneʼ: The Navajo Creation Story

Summary
Andrew leads a SPY Museum panel discussion between four experts on the most damaging mole in FBI history, Robert Hanssen. This program was in collaboration with CBS/Paramount on their new podcast “Agent of Betrayal"

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

The story of Robert Hanssen

How his colleagues reacted to his betrayal

A psychological analysis of Hanssen 

How the Hanssen case has impacted the FBI and U.S. intelligence

Reflections

Disillusionment and betrayal

“The child is father of the man”

And much, much more …

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*


The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023)


Code Name Blue Wren: Cuban Spy Ana Montes with Jim Popkin (2023)


SPY@20 – “The Spy of the Century” with Curators Alexis and Andrew on Kim Philby (2022)


America's Most Damaging Russian Spy, FBI Agent Robert Hanssen with Lis Wiehl (2022)

*Beginner Resources*


Here's the damage notorious Russian spy Robert Hanssen caused the US in over 20 years, YouTube (2023) [5 min. video]


How Robert Hanssen Spied for the Soviets, History (2017) [Short article]


How is a mole different from a spy?, The Times of India (2006) [Short article]


DEEPER DIVE
Books


Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West, C. Walton (Simon & Schuster, 2023)


A Spy in Plain Sight: The Inside Story of the FBI and Robert Hanssen―America's Most Damaging Russian Spy, L. Wiehl (Pegasus Books, 2022) 


Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America, D. Wise (Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2003)

Primary Sources 


A Review of the FBI’s Progress in Responding to the Recommendations in the Office of the Inspector General Report on Robert Hanssen (2007)


The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Voted Today to Begin a Formal Investigation of the Robert Philip Hanssen Espionage Case (2001)


George W. Bush Remarks on the Robert Hanssen Espionage Case (2001)


Affidavit in Robert Hanssen Spy Case (2001)


Veteran FBI Agent Arrested and Charged with Espionage (2001)


Statement of FBI Director Louis J. Freeh On the Arrest of FBI Special Agent Robert Philip Hanssen (2001)

Summary
Col. (Ret.) Shlomo Mofaz (LinkedIn) and Col (Ret.) Zohar Palti (Wikipedia) join Andrew to discuss their respective careers in the Israeli Defense Forces and the Mossad. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

Israel’s relationships with neighboring countries 

The role of intelligence within the Intifadas 

Israel and the Lebanon War

Hezbollah, Hamas, and other groups that pose threats to Israeli security 

Reflections

Pressure and power

Dealing with constant threats

And much, much more …

Episode Notes
This week on SpyCast, we bring you a Double Bill featuring Shlomo Mofaz and Zohar Palti. Shlomo Mofaz is the former Head of Counter-terrorism Analysis for the Israeli Defense forces, and currently serves as the director of the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Among positions within the IDF and the Ministry of Defense, Zohar Palti formerly served as the Head of Intelligence for the Mossad. 
This episode is the final installment of SpyCast’s month-long special series on Israeli intelligence. This series has coincided with the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. We hope that through these episodes we’ve provided listeners with a bit of clarity and background on the conflict and its major players. 

Quotes of the Week
“When you're dealing with intelligence, mistakes are very problematic … People make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but you need to choose the best people that you can work with and you can count on to bring the information or the service that you need in real time.“ -Shlomo Mofaz.
“They can't be the best over here in the Middle East right now that we can deal with any threat in a radius of 2000 kilometers without being, in a way, superpowering intelligence. We are not superpowering other issues. In intelligence, we are really, really good. And this is, first of all, to protect our family. And secondly, surviving over here in the region. We have to be the best.” -Zohar Palti.

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*


Former Senior Indian Intelligence Officer with R&AW Special Secretary Vappala Balachandran (2023)


Irish Garda Intelligence Chief with Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn (2023)


Israeli Military Intelligence with IDF Brig. General (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser (2023)


The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) 

*Beginner Resources*


A Timeline of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict, E. Bubola, The New York Times (2023) [Timeline] 


The Middle East's cold war, explained, YouTube (2017) [10 min. video]


What is an intifada?, A.V., The Economist (2017)

DEEPER DIVE
Books


Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations, R. Bergman (Random House, 2018) 


Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad, G. Thomas (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015)


34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon, A. Harel & A. Issacharoff (St. Martin’s Press, 2008) 

Video

The Green Prince (2014) 
Primary Sources 


A Strategic Assessment of the Hizballah War: Defeating the Iranian-Syrian Axis in Lebanon (2006) 


The PLO Weapons Ship from Iran (2002)


Israeli Perspectives on the Gulf Crisis (1990)


The Intifada in Judea and Samaria: A View From the Field (1990)


Judea and Samaria: Behind the Uprising (1988) 


Hamas Covenant (1988)


Israel’s “Peace for the Galilee” Operation in Lebanon – Some Initial Perspectives (1982) 


Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States and the Government of Israel on Strategic Cooperation (1981) 

*Wildcard Resource*

Indiana “Dietrick” Jones?!

Ever wanted to go on an architectural dig, intrigued by the prospect of finding an ancient artifact – or even treasure…grab your hat and bullwhip and book your dig for a day in Israel here!