SpyTalk: November 14, 2010 - November 20, 2010

Ex-AIPAC official got at least $670,000 from donors

The latest episode of the AIPAC spy scandal turned sordid last week, with the pro-Israeli lobby releasing its deposition of fired official Steven J. Rosen in which he confesses he engaged in extra-marital sex and watched pornography on his office...

By Jeff Stein  | November 19, 2010; 2:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (36)
Categories:  Foreign policy, Intelligence, Justice/FBI, Lawandcourts  
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Pot growers portrayed as terror threat

What were they smoking? Federal, state and local officials carrying out a counter-terrorism drill in Northern California Wednesday played out a scenario in which local marijuana growers set off bombs and took over the Shasta Dam, the nation’s second largest,...

By Jeff Stein  | November 18, 2010; 7:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (35)
Categories:  Homeland Security, Intelligence  
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Scandinavian protests over U.S. embassy security just politics, ex-counterterrorism official says

Fred Burton, a former top State Department security official, has suggested that the recent howls of outrage from Norwegian and other Scandinavian officials about U.S. embassy security measures were misdirected. “It’s been my experience when you see these kinds of...

By Jeff Stein  | November 17, 2010; 11:55 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (5)
Categories:  Foreign policy, Intelligence  | Tags:  Fred Burton, Strafor  
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Ex-China spy Li Fengzhi faces deportation, again

Former Chinese spy Li Fengzhi probably thought he had it made last month when an immigration judge in Denver granted his six-year long quest to avoid deportation to China, where he says he faces harsh punishment, and possibly execution, for...

By Jeff Stein  | November 16, 2010; 6:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  Homeland Security, Intelligence, Justice/FBI, Lawandcourts  | Tags:  Li Fengzhi  
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DHS intel reports way too slow, local officials say

The Department of Homeland Security is so slow getting intelligence bulletins to state and local police “fusion centers” that they are nearly worthless, according to an internal audit released on Monday. The bulletins, called Homeland Intelligence Reports, or HIRs, are...

By Jeff Stein  | November 15, 2010; 6:45 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  Homeland Security, Intelligence  
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CIA picks AF general to run military ops office

The CIA announced Monday that it has chosen an Air Force general with extensive experience in Predator drones to head its military affairs office. Air Force Lt. Gen. Kurt A. Cichowski, currently vice commander of the Air Force Special Operations...

By Jeff Stein  | November 15, 2010; 2:37 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Intelligence, Military  
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FBI offers reward for tips on Pentagon sniper

The FBI posted a $20,000 reward Monday for tips on whoever has been shooting at the Pentagon and other military targets in the Washington, DC. area. "We are following every lead that comes in and continue to call for the...

By Jeff Stein  | November 15, 2010; 11:17 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (13)
Categories:  Homeland Security, Intelligence, Justice/FBI  
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