SpyCast SpyCast

Summary
Dennis Eger (LinkedIn) and Shawn Nilius (LinkedIn) join Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss open-source intelligence. Combined, the two have over six decades of service to the U.S. Army. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

What is Open-Source Intelligence 

How the US Army utilizes and collects OSINT 

OSINT across the Intelligence Community

How OSINT has impacted the War in Ukraine

Reflections

The power of information and how you use it

Cyber ethics

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“If [civilians are] taking a video and posting it, they become in the cycle … The amount of things that people do on the internet that leaves their data or their information out there – Their data becomes big part of the intelligence cycle and they probably don't even know that they're doing it.” – Dennis Eger.

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*


My Life in American Intelligence with Barry Zulauf (2023)


Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023)


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


Irregular Warfare & Intelligence with IWC Director Dennis Walters (2023)

*Beginner Resources*


A Brief History of the US Army, R. Guina, The Military Wallet (2024) [Short article]


What is Open-Source Intelligence? OSINT Dojo, YouTube (2023) [7 min. video]


A Brief History of Open Source Intelligence, C. Colquhoun, Bellingcat (2016) [Short article]

DEEPER DIVE
Books


OSINT Techniques: Resources for Uncovering Online Information, M. Bazzell (2023) 


Deep Dive: Exploring the Real-world Value of Open Source Intelligence, R. L. Baker (Wiley, 2023)


Open Source Intelligence Methods and Tools: A Practical Guide to Online Intelligence, N. A. Hassan & R. Hijazi (Apress, 2018) 

Primary Sources 


The IC OSINT Strategy (2024) 


Invasion of Ukraine on Google Maps (2022)


Ethical Frameworks in Open-Source Intelligence (2022) 


Open-Source Intelligence, Department of the Army (2012) 


Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (2004) 

*Wildcard Resource*

While OSINT may seem like the new kid on the intelligence block, its foundations have actually been around perhaps longer than any other -INT.

During the Civil War, the Bureau of Military Information collected open-source information from Southern newspapers to track the Confederate army. Check out this letter from Abraham Lincoln citing intelligence gathered on the location of Southern troops. 


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Summary
Andrew Hodges (Website, Wikipedia) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the life and work of Alan Turing. Andrew is an emeritus senior research fellow of mathematics at the University of Oxford. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

Turing’s early foundations for artificial intelligence 

Interwar cryptanalysis

Bletchley Park, Hut 8, and British Naval Intelligence

The mechanics of the Bombe machine

Reflections

Legacy changing alongside social history

The weight and pressure of genius 

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“Everything that you do with the digital, everything that we're doing now through these computers, flows from his perceptions. And that in turn came through his practical experience during the Second World War on breaking the enemy codes.” – Andrew Hodges .

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*


The Real Ian Fleming with Nicholas Shakespeare (2024) 


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


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


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

*Beginner Resources*


Alan Turing, B.J. Copeland, Britannica (2024) [Short biography]


How Did the Enigma Machine Work? Science Museum Group, YouTube (2019) [2 min. video]


How Alan Turing Cracked the Enigma Code, Imperial War Museum (n.d.) [Short article]

DEEPER DIVE
Books


The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park, J. D. Turing (Arcturus, 2020)


Turing’s Vision: The Birth of Computer Science, C. Bernhardt (MIT Press, 2017)


Alan Turing: The Enigma, A. Hodges (Burnett Books/Hutchinson, 1983)

Primary Sources 


Alan Turing Obituary and Tributes (1954) 


Can digital computers think? (1951)


Computing Machinery and Intelligence (1950)


Proposed electronic calculator (1946)


Turing’s Treatise on the Enigma (1939-1942)


On Computable Numbers (1936)

*Wildcard Resource*

Alan Turing’s School Report Card

Didn’t do very well in high school? Neither did Alan Turing. Amongst hopeful comments about his promising skills in mathematics, teachers noted Turing’s carelessness and severe lack of neatness in his work. 


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Summary
Simon Shuster (X, Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine. Simon is a senior correspondent at TIME. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

Zelenskyy’s career pre-Presidency

Reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion

Ukrainian public opinion of Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy’s relationship with Ukrainian intelligence 

Reflections

Contagious courage 

Leadership styles, techniques, and unique skills

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“In researching [Zelenskyy’s] transformations as a person from comedian to politician to wartime leader, I also thought a lot about what qualities have remained consistent in him. And one of them for sure is this kind of, “go get ‘em” confidence … He just has this abiding confidence in his own ability to think on his feet, to not lose his balance, to just go into a new and unfamiliar space or a set of challenges and wing it, so to say.” – Simon Schuster 

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource* 

The Showman : Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky, Simon Shuster (William Morrow, 2024)
*SpyCasts*


David Petraeus on Ukraine & Intelligence with the former CIA Director & 4* General (2023) 


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 to know about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, I. Pereira & P. Reevell, ABC News (2022) [Short article]


A Brief History of Modern Ukraine, BBC, YouTube (2022) [3 min. video]


Ukraine conflict: Simple visual guide to the Russian invasion, BBC (2022) [Short article]

DEEPER DIVE
Books


Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence, Y. Trofimov (Penguin Press, 2024) 


Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, D. Petraeus & A. Roberts (Harper, 2023) 


The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, S. Plokhy (Basic Books, 2021)

Primary Sources 


All Intelligence Agencies of Our Partners are Informed of the Current Threats and Prospects – Address by the President (2024)


Freedom must always prevail when challenged – speech by the President of Ukraine at the National Defense University of the United States (2023)


Address by the President: Ukrainians are a symbol of invincibility (2022)


Address by the President to Ukrainians at the end of the first day of Russia's attacks (2022) 


Constitution of Ukraine (1996)


Act of Declaration of the Independence of Ukraine (1991)


Act of Proclamation of Ukrainian Statehood (1941)


Ukrainian Proclamation of Independence (1917)

*Wildcard Resource*

As Simon mentioned in this episode, President Zelenskyy won the Ukrainian version of one of Erin’s favorite shows, Dancing With The Stars, in 2006. 

Watch some of his winning dances with partner Olena Shoptenko here. 


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Summary
Nicholas Shakespeare (X; Website) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the life and legacy of Ian Fleming. Nicholas is an award-winning novelist and biographer.  

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

Fleming’s family and upbringing

Debunking misconceptions about Fleming’s character

Fleming’s career in intelligence

British Naval Intelligence operations during WWII

Reflections

Life influencing literature

The lasting impact of storytelling

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“Whatever the ingredients of Bond – As a kind of, both a hero of modernization, but also as a symbol of retrospective power – The films have allowed this protean creature to exist in the future, in the present, and so that almost all over the world, the words, the names “Bond, James Bond” will ignite a smile.” – Nicholas Shakespeare.

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource*

Ian Fleming: The Complete Man, Nicholas Shakespeare (Harper, 2024)
*SpyCasts*


Bond After Fleming, the Continuation of an Icon with Mark Edlitz (2024)


The James Bond Collector with Mike VanBlaricum (2024)


70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 1 of 2 (2023)


70th Anniversary of James Bond, Special with Alexis Albion on 007, Part 2 of 2 (2023)

*Beginner Resources*


Ian Fleming – Life Story, Short Biographies, YouTube (2023) [8 min. video]


List of Books by Ian Fleming, Barnes and Noble (n.d.) [List of literary works]


Ian Fleming Life Timeline, Ian Fleming Publications (n.d.) [Timeline]

DEEPER DIVE
Books


Ian Fleming’s War: The Inspiration for 007, M. Simmons (Rare Bird Books, 2021)


The Man with the Golden Typewriter: Ian Fleming's James Bond Letters, ed. F. Fleming (Bloomsbury, 2016) 


The Life of Ian Fleming, J. Pearson (Jonathan Cape, 1966)

Primary Sources 


Diana Rigg Obituary (2020)


Ian Fleming about James Bond and himself (1964)


Our Spy-Boss Who Loved Bond by Allen Dulles (1964)


Allen Dulles and Ian Fleming (1964)


Operation “Mincemeat” Brief (1943)


Postagram Concerning Operation Mincemeat (1943)


Valentine Fleming Eulogy by Winston Churchill (1917) 

*Wildcard Resource*


Spymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming (1990)

A TV movie that stars Jason Connery as Ian Fleming. Jason Connery is the son of Sean Connery – the first actor to portray James Bond in film.


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Summary
John Blaxland (X, LinkedIn) and Clare Birgin (Wikipedia, LinkedIn) join Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss Australian codebreaking. John and Clare are coauthors of the new book Revealing Secrets. 
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

The importance of SIGINT

Codebreaking in Australian intelligence

Australia’s role in WWII and the Cold War

The advent and evolution of cyber 

Reflections

Strategic defense and offense 

The power, and danger, of communication

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
"What I've noticed with the Australians, and I think it's similar in the other the other Five Eyes countries, these people tend to be quite patriotic to do [Signals Intelligence]. They want to, they love their country, and it also seems to preserve very good qualities.” -Clare Birgin.

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource* 

Revealing Secrets: An unofficial history of Australian Signals intelligence and the advent of cyber, Clare Birgin and John Blaxland (University of New South Wales Press, 2023) 
*SpyCasts*


I Helped Solve the Final Zodiac Killer Cipher with David Oranchak (2024)


Australian National Day Special: Intelligence Down Under with John Blaxland (2024)


My Father the Navajo Code-Talker with Laura Tohe (2023) 


CYBER AUGUST: “So, You Want to Be a Codebreaker?” with Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh (2021) 

*Beginner Resources*


Australia's Involvement in WWII, Australian Broadcasting Service, YouTube (2020) [4 min. video]


A short history of cyber espionage, D. O’Brien, Medium (2017) [Short article]


Signals Intelligence (SINGINT) Overview, National Security Agency (n.d.) [Short article]

DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources 


WMD Report (2005) 


The ANZUS Treaty (1951)


Role and effectiveness of Signals Intelligence in World War II (1945)


The Atlantic Charter (1941)


The Zimmerman Telegram (1917)


Oral History by Ruby Boye Jones (n.d.)

*Wildcard Resource*

Here’s a challenge – For their 75th Anniversary in 2022, the Australian Signals Directorate released a limited edition coin with multiple layers of code to crack on both sides. 

Think you can solve it? Check out the link above and test your code-cracking skills. 


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Summary
Diane Foley (Website, LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss the legacy of her son, James Foley. James was held hostage and murdered by ISIS in 2014. 

What You’ll Learn
Intelligence

The enduring legacy of James’ murder

James’ time in captivity in Libya 

A mother’s experience communicating with her son’s captors

How hostage recovery efforts have evolved since 2014

Reflections

Grief turned into action

Forgiveness, empathy, and resilience 

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week
“[Jim] could have been teaching or doing so many things, writing … but he just felt those stories were essential. And it really made me realize and recognize the courage of our current journalists going into Ukraine or Gaza. We wouldn't have any idea what's happening in that part of the world without those folks who dare to be there and dare to find ways to tell that story and bring it back to us.” – Diane Foley.

Resources 
SURFACE SKIM
*Spotlight Resource*

American Mother, Colum McCann and Diane Foley (Etruscan Press, 2024)
*SpyCasts*


CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)


Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy with Michael Vickers (2023)


My Life Looking at Spies & the Media with Paul Lashmar (2022) 


ISIS Leader al-Mawla: Caliph. Scholar. Canary. Snitch. with Daniel Milton, West Point CTC Director (Part 1 of 2) (2022)


ISIS Leader al-Mawla: Caliph. Scholar. Canary. Snitch. with Daniel Milton, West Point CTC Director (Part 2 of 2) (2022)

*Beginner Resources*


Syria: Seven Years of War Explained, BBC News, YouTube (2018) [5 min. video]


FACT SHEET: U.S. Government Hostage Policy, Office of the Press Secretary (2015) [Short brief]


Jim’s Story, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation (n.d.) [Background on James Foley]

DEEPER DIVE
Books


The Isis Hostage, P. Damsgard (Pegasus Books, 2017)


Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS, J. Warrick (Anchor, 2016)


Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, C. Voss & T. Raz (Harper Business, 2016)

Primary Sources 


A Proclamation on U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day (2024)


Executive Order on Bolstering Efforts to Bring Hostages and Wrongfully Detained United States Nationals Home (2022) 


FBI Hostage Rescue Team Policy Guide (2019) 


Report on U.S. Hostage Policy (2015)


Murder of James Foley Press Statement (2014)


Hostage Negotiation: A Matter of Life and Death (1983) 


Current Status of the Hostage Crisis and the Implications of US Policy Options (1980) 

*Wildcard Resource*

“Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn (1973)

This song was a #1 hit when it was originally released in 1973. Six years later, the song resurged and gained even more popularity during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The song became an unofficial hostage recovery anthem, as the lyrics poignantly hint to welcoming a loved one home from captivity. 


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