Author Archives: SpyBlog

Give Me That Old Time Intelligence

Posted on February 10, 2012 by SpyBlog

Historian Mark Stout – Feb 10,2012 Intelligence is a field that usually builds on itself.  Old tools and techniques stay useful for years, even centuries.  Spies figured in the oldest battle about which we have detailed tactical information, the Battle … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 2 Comments

A Nifty Bit of Spy Tradecraft

Posted on November 29, 2011 by SpyBlog

October 11, 2011 Historian Mark Stout A couple weeks ago while I was at the National Archives doing research for a book I’m writing about John Grombach and The Pond, a little known espionage organization that did work for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Tools of the Trade | 1 Comment

Al Qaeda Is in Trouble

Posted on November 29, 2011 by SpyBlog

 September 21, 2011 Historian Mark Stout Al Qaeda’s future is gloomy. That’s the message I took from a conference on 13 and 14 September by the National Defense University’s Conflict Records Research Center and Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Advance … Continue reading →

Posted in Intellegence Briefing | Leave a comment

Practicing Openness—Secretly

Posted on November 29, 2011 by SpyBlog

September 19, 2011 Historain Mark Stout The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the agency which flies America’s spy satellites, celebrated its 50th anniversary this last weekend with a gala at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. … Continue reading →

Posted in In The News | Leave a comment

My September 11th and Beyond at the CIA

Posted on November 29, 2011 by SpyBlog

September 8, 2011 Historian Mark Stout On September 11th, 2001 I was a team chief, leading a small group of analysts at the CIA.  My part of the Agency did not work on terrorism.  Some of us knew a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

What Did Intelligence Do for Us during the Cold War?

Posted on November 29, 2011 by SpyBlog

September 6, 2011 Mark Stout, SPY Historian Last week I had a pleasant chat with a customer down in our bookstore and he posed a really interesting question.  He said that he understood the importance of intelligence in wartime, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Ask A Spy | Leave a comment

Before the Government Surveilled Mosques, It Surveilled Churches

Posted on March 2, 2011 by SpyBlog

March 2, 2011 Mark Stout, SPY Historian The sometimes contentious relationship between the government and the Muslim community over issues like profiling, the alleged surveillance of mosques, the scrutiny of charities, etc.  Even the possibility of internment camps for Muslims gets … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 3 Comments

Predicting the Egyptian Revolution: How Well Did The Intelligence Community Do?

Posted on February 9, 2011 by SpyBlog

February 4, 2011 Mark Stout, SPY Historian Some senators have started blaming the Intelligence Community for not providing warning of the revolution in Egypt.  Senator Dianne Feinstein, for instance, said at a recent hearing “The President, the Secretary of State and … Continue reading →

Posted in In The News | 2 Comments

A Jihadist Manual on Intelligence

Posted on January 24, 2011 by SpyBlog

January 24, 2011 Mark Stout, SPY Historian A manual on intelligence captured during the course of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Coalition Forces offers a unique take on intelligence from a jihadist perspective.  Coalition forces found copies of the 300-some … Continue reading →

Posted in History, In The News | 3 Comments

Q&A with Author Rick Bowers

Posted on January 13, 2011 by SpyBlog

Author Rick Bowers spoke recently at the Museum’s Spies of the Civil Rights Movement program.  Here he answers some questions concerning the program and his book Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destrpy the Civil … Continue reading →

Posted in A Well-Read Spy | Leave a comment