Counterintelligence News for the week of:

November 5-11, 2006

Warrantless Wiretaps Unlikely to Be OK'd

Legislation aimed at President Bush's once-secret program for wiretapping U.S.-foreign phone calls and computer traffic of suspected terrorists without warrants shows all the signs of not moving ahead, notwithstanding President Bush's request this week that a lame-duck Congress give it to him….(AP, 11 Nov 06)

Former B-2 Bomber Engineer Accused of More Spying

…The indictment alleges that on six occasions between 2003 and 2005, Gowadia traveled to China "for the specific purpose of assisting the PRC in designing, testing and analyzing a low observable exhaust nozzle... for a PRC cruise missile." Gowadia allegedly worked with individuals named Tommy Wong and Henri Nyo. The indictment notes that Wong worked for the Chinese Foreign Expert's Bureau and that the men traveled to Chengdu, China "a center for research and development of Chinese fighter aircraft and cruise missiles." …(ABC, 11 Nov 06)

U.S. engineer indicted for passing secrets to Israel

…The indictment filed against Noshir Gowadia, 62, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin, does not provide details to the nature of the secrets passed to Israel or to whom they were given. If convicted, Gowadia could face the death penalty….(Haaretz, 11 Nov 06)

Former lab contract worker meets with the FBI

…The lab has said that classified information was found in the home of Jessica Quintana. She hasn’t been charged with a crime. Quintana met with FBI agents this week and answered detailed questions…AP, 11 Nov 06)

With Power Set to Be Split, Wiretaps Re-emerge as Issue

…The Justice Department urged a federal district judge in San Francisco on Thursday to delay considering any further issues in that suit until an appeals court considers an earlier ruling of his against the government….(New York Times, 10 Nov 06)

Understanding Gates

In the early months of 1989, the overriding foreign policy issue for the new George H.W. Bush administration was how to deal with Mikhail Gorbachev...The administration was divided. James Baker, the secretary of state, wanted to test out Gorbachev. The anti-Gorbachev hawks were led by Robert M. Gates, the deputy national security adviser. Gates’ principal ally was then-Defense Secretary Dick Cheney….(Washington Post, 10 Nov 06)

Poland Said Not Helping CIA Jail Probe

European Union lawmakers Friday accused Poland of failing to cooperate with their investigation into claims the CIA held terrorism suspects at secret prisons in the country….(AP, 10 Nov 06)

Gates Hearing in Senate May Have Echoes of 1991

…Mr. Gates, in the words of one Central Intelligence Agency subordinate, Jennifer L. Glaudemans, “politicized intelligence analysis,” insisting on slanted reports that became the basis for “momentous foreign policy decisions.”…(New York Times, 10 Nov 06)

Ex-HP Ethics Chief Pleads Not Guilty

Kevin Hunsaker, former ethics chief for Hewlett-Packard Co., has pleaded not guilty to four felony charges for allegedly directing the computer and printer maker's ill-fated boardroom spying probe…(AP, 10 Nov 06)

Markus Wolf, German Spy, Dies at 83

… For 34 years, Mr. Wolf directed the foreign intelligence service of East Germany’s feared Ministry of State Security, or Stasi. He ran a network of 4,000 spies who infiltrated NATO headquarters and the West German chancellery and even brought down a chancellor, Willy Brandt….(New York Times, 10 Nov 06)

Prosecution begins probe into alleged N. Korean spy ring

South Korea's prosecution on Friday officially began its probe of an alleged spy ring for North Korea, taking over part of the state spy agency's investigation records on the case. The five suspects, including a ranking official of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party, were arrested late last month on charges of espionage for North Korea…(Yonhap, 10 Nov 06)

The reality of MI5's work

…MI5 has grown rapidly over recent years - increasing by 50% since 9/11 and it will have doubled in size by 2008. But so has its workload….(BBC, 10 Nov 06)

In Letter, Radical Cleric Details CIA Abduction, Egyptian Torture

In an account smuggled out of prison, a radical Muslim cleric has detailed how he was kidnapped by the CIA from this northern Italian city and flown to Cairo, where he was tortured for months with electric shocks and shackled to an iron rack known as "the Bride."…(Washington Post, 10 Nov 06)

Ex-Northrop Engineer Pleads Not Guilty To PRC Espionage

A 62-year-old former Northrop Grumman engineer, Noshir S. Gowadia of Maui, Hawaii, could face a death sentence for designing a “low observable cruise missile exhaust system nozzle” for the People’s Republic of China (PRC)... a July 10 trial date was set....(Defense News, 10 Nov 06)

Son says father eager for trial

...Speaking after a federal court hearing yesterday, Gowadia said charges against his father, Noshir S. Gowadia of Maui, are "ridiculous" and "false." "He's eager to go to trial," said Ashton Gowadia. "Why the court hasn't thrown out these charges is mind-boggling. What he was charged with is absolutely false. If the government really had a case, this thing would have gone to trial."…..(Honolulu Advertiser, 10 Nov 06)

Indian American charged with selling B-2 secrets to China

…Government attorneys claimed Noshir Gowadia, 62, a naturalized American citizen from India, conspired to sell stealth secrets to China…..(Indo-Asian News, 10 Nov 06)

Hawaiian Indicted for Selling Defense Secrets to Chinese

...The superseding indictment describes six trips taken by Gowadia to China for the purpose of discussing, designing and testing the stealthy cruise missile nozzle and describes contacts through covert email addresses between Gowadia and named co-conspirators, one of whom is alleged to be a representative of China's "Foreign Experts Bureau."…(Common Voice, 10 Nov 06)

Not Guilty Plea in B - 2 Secrets Case

… Gowadia was an engineer with Northrop Grumman Corp. from 1968-86 and helped design parts of the B-2's propulsion system that make it difficult for enemy missiles to detect the bomber. The technology remains highly classified….(AP, 10 Nov 06)

Government Still Trying To Dismiss NSA Spy Program Lawsuits

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is fighting attempts to dismiss its lawsuit over the National Security Agency's spy program. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker agreed this week to hear appeals from the federal government and AT&T. The government filed a request for a stay and is trying to get the case dismissed by using state secret privilege….(Information Week, 9 Nov 06)

New trial date for US sailor

…Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariel J Weinmann is accused of taking a US Navy laptop loaded with classified information and peddling its contents to an undisclosed foreign government during meetings in Bahrain, Mexico and Austria. He was due to stand trial on November 13, but the date has been moved to December 4....(Gulf-Daily, 9 Nov 06)

Sweden Ordered to Pay Compensation to Russian Scientist Cleared of Espionage Charges

The Swedish Chancellor of Justice has ordered his government to pay 80,000 Krona ($11,000) to Andrei Zamyatnin, a Russian biologist who was jailed for two months on espionage charges earlier this year….(MosNews, 9 Nov 06)

Russian President examined country’s military intelligence (GRU) new headquarters, made veiled criticism on US

…During the visit Putin made a veiled criticism of the United States for trying to extend its global reach, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. He made his comments, telling military intelligence chiefs that the practice by some states of taking "one-sided illegitimate action" and their attempts to "unceremoniously push their positions" undermine stability. …(Axis Globe, 9 Nov 06)

Iraq: the new cover-up The riddle of the missing WMD document

The government is withholding a secret draft of the Iraq WMD dossier that was never disclosed to the Hutton inquiry, the New Statesman can reveal. In a development that will stoke demands for a full parliamentary inquiry into the events that led up to the war, we can confirm that the draft was written not by the intelligence services, which had responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in the dossier….(New Statesman, 9 Nov 06)

Former East German Spy Chief Dead at 83

...Called "The Man Without a Face" because Western intelligence services long lacked even a picture of him, Wolf directed one of the world's most formidable espionage networks for nearly three decades...Wolf died on the 17th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nov. 9. Wolf successfully ran more than 4,000 spies across the Iron Curtain during his tenure at the foreign intelligence division of the Stasi secret police from 1958 to 1987, embedding countless "moles" deep into the West German government....(Deutsche Welle, 9 Nov 06)

Stasi spy chief Markus Wolf dies

Markus Wolf, the former head of communist East Germany's foreign intelligence service, has died at the age of 83, his family says. Wolf kept such a low profile that Western intelligence services did not have his picture.…(BBC, 9 Nov 06)

Legendary East German Spy Chief Markus Wolf Dies Aged 83

…Dubbed the "man without a face" for managing to avoid being photographed, Wolf headed East Germany's foreign intelligence services from 1952 to 1986….(Playful, 9 Nov 06)

Russian spy veterans mourn passing of East Germany's Markus Wolf

…Wolf, who retired as head of the German Democratic Republic's foreign intelligence agency in 1986 after 35 years of service, died Thursday morning in his apartment in Berlin….(RIA Novosti, 9 Nov 06)

Ex-Germany Spymaster Markus Wolf Dies

….(AP, 9 Nov 06)

US intelligence service spied upon Iran via Turkish satellite

… According to the periodical referring to “reliable sources,” US intelligence service used Turkish satellite cannel to intercept e-mails, control various communication devices in Iran, jam, and carry out “psychological operations” due to broadcasting special transmissions…(Regnum, 9 Nov 06)

New Rules For U.S. Army Intel

In the last three years, the U.S. Army has more than doubled its force of tactical intelligence specialists. There are now nearly 5,000 of these troops, and many of them are now assigned to brigades, instead of division headquarters…(Strategy Page, 9 Nov 06)

FBI analyst discusses changes in agency since 9/11 terrorist attacks

An FBI analyst talked about changes in the country's top law-enforcement agency since the 9/11 terrorist attacks during a presentation at Ohio University Monday night…King began his presentation by describing his work as an intelligence analyst, an FBI career that is "not typically depicted in the mass media."…(Athens News, 9 Nov 06)

Intelligence Services Go to Great Lengths to Prevent Visiting Algerian Journalist From Working

Meddi Adlène, of the Algerian daily "Al Watan", has been questioned, searched and followed by intelligence agents ever since he arrived in Tunisia on 1 November 2006 to write a series of reports and to interview Moncef Marzouki, the head of the Tunisian League of Human Rights, RSF reports….(All Africa, 9 Nov 06)

Maui engineer faces more federal charges

A 62-year-old Maui engineer (Noshir Gowadia) who worked on the B-2 stealth bomber has been charged with using secret military information to help China build a stealth cruise missile….(Star Bulletin, 9 Nov 06)

More charges filed in US-China military secrets case

…Three of the new counts charge (Noshir) Gowadia with providing classified national defense information to help China or to injure the United States. The three charges carry a prison sentence of up to life, with a possible maximum sentence of death if certain statutory criteria are met…(Pravda, 9 Nov 06)

Prosecutors Say Engineer Planned Stealth Missile For China

…Noshir Gowadia, who called himself the father of the B-2 bomber, is now charged with secretly trying to design a stealth cruise missile for the People's Republic of China…(Hawaii Channel, 9 Nov 06)

Isle man gave China stealth tech, feds say

…The indictment lists one count of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act, one count of performing a defense service without obtaining approval from the U.S. Department of State, and three counts of willfully communicating classified national defense information to Chinese defense officials....(Honolulu Advisor, 9 Nov 06)

More charges filed in US-China military secrets case

…(AP, 9 Nov 06)

Hawaii Man Indicted For Selling National Defense Secrets to the People's Republic of China

….(US Newswire, 9 Nov 06)

Robert Gates Lauded As Breaker of Barriers
…(Robert M.) Gates, 63, is a close associate of former president George H.W. Bush and was deputy national security adviser during the Persian Gulf War. He rose rapidly through CIA ranks as a Soviet expert with extensive White House experience to become director of central intelligence from 1991 to 1993….(Washington Post, 9 Nov 06)

Biographical Information on Robert Gates

The Man Who'll Replace Rummy

…Gates is likely to be confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense and he would bring to the job intimate knowledge of the White House, the Congress, the CIA and military intelligence…(Time Magazine, 8 Nov 06)

For Hayden, Repair Work At the CIA

…Hayden wants to fix what ails the CIA. He installed as his deputy Steve Kappes, a popular former director of operations who was purged by the zealous right-wing aides of Hayden's predecessor, Republican ex-congressman Porter Goss. Hayden has encouraged Kappes to press ahead with his plan to get more CIA officers out of embassies and into "nontraditional" platforms under deep cover….(Washington Post, 8 Nov 06)

Iraqi Kurds Accused of Spying for Iran

A co-defendant in Saddam Hussein's genocide trial accused Iraqi Kurds on Wednesday of spying for the Iranians at the time of the government crackdown on the Kurdish population….(AP, 8 Nov 06)

Man Arrested in Germany on Suspicion of Illicit Arms Deal

The German federal prosecutor's office said Tuesday that a man had been arrested in the country suspected of arranging illegal equipment and parts for a weapons project deals on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency….(Deutsche Welle, 8 Nov 06)

CIA seeks more secrecy for key terrorism cases

Even as 14 top al Qaeda suspects are in U.S. military custody, the CIA is still trying to impose secrecy around the high-value detainees now held at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, detention center, including alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed. The arena for the effort is the U.S. District Court of Judge Reggie Walton in Washington, D.C., where the government is seeking a still-undefined restriction on the attorney-client relationship in the case of Guantánamo captive Majid Khan, one of the 14…(Miami Herald, 8 Nov 06)

Army Revamps How Information Is Deemed Classified

U.S. Army intelligence has developed a new blueprint for standardizing the way national security information is classified, recognizing that determining whether a particular document is "confidential" or "top secret" is ultimately up to the judgment of individuals...In the past few years, the leaking of classified information has been the subject of congressional investigations, criminal indictments and Supreme Court decisions, but almost no attention has been focused on what information has become classified and how that system works….(Washington Post, 8 Nov 06)

MEPs probe Poland rendition claim

A European Parliament delegation is going to Poland to examine claims that terror suspects were transported and detained secretly in Europe by the CIA. The group of MEPs will meet one government minister, airport officials and journalists during their three day fact-finding mission….(BBC, 8 Nov 06)

Afghan Spies behind Blast, Security Sources Say

Afghan intelligence KHAD has once again been fingered by sources in the Pakistani security apparatus immediately following Wednesday morning's blast in the North Western Frontier Province in which some 35 people - mostly soldiers - have reportedly been killed….(AKI, 8 Nov 06)

Intelligence Big Brother is Coming

After several denials, the government has finally confirmed that it intends to establish a Directorate of Intelligence and Security. Bill number 23 of 2006 published in the Government Gazette of November 3 states that a Central Intelligence Committee, a National Intelligence Community and a Security Council will have oversight over the directorate….(All Africa, 8 Nov 06)

Five Charged With Conspiracy To Export U.S. Defense Info To China

Government prosecutors are preparing for a hearing next week in a case in which five family members are charged with conspiring to export U.S. defense information to China. Chi Mak, 66, of Downey, Calif., was an engineer with Power Paragon, a Navy contractor. He allegedly collected technical information about U.S. warship technologies, and then he and his wife, Rebecca Laiwah Chiu, copied it onto CD-ROMs. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, another family member then allegedly encrypted the defense data in preparation for a "surreptitious delivery" to the People's Republic of China….(Information Week, 7 Nov 06)

Man arrested in Germany for suspected arms smuggling

German authorities have arrested a man suspected of smuggling equipment for armaments projects to an unidentified non-European country, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Police arrested the man on Monday near the western city of Duesseldorf on suspicion of breaking export laws and spying…(AP, 7 Nov 06)

Edward O. Welles, 85; veteran CIA officer led anti-gun organization

Edward O. Welles, 85, a former CIA officer who later became the first executive director of the anti-handgun organization now known as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, died of brain cancer Oct. 11….(LA Times, 7 Nov 06)

Frank W. Dunham Jr.; Defended Terrorism Suspects' Rights

Frank W. Dunham Jr., 64, who fought for Zacarias Moussaoui and other well-known terrorism suspects as the first federal public defender in Alexandria, died Nov. 3…(Washington Post, 7 Nov 06)

A Shift in the Debate On International Court

...The new attitude has been prompted in part by the court's record since it began operations three years ago; Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, an Argentine, has dismissed hundreds of petitions for cases against the United States. The cases were turned down for lack of evidence, lack of jurisdiction, or because of the United States' ability to conduct its own investigations and trials. Out of some 1,500 petitions to the chief prosecutor, almost half accused the United States of war crimes….(Washington Post, 7 Nov 06)

Ex-Romanian spy accuses top politicians of collaborating with communist-era secret police

A former Romanian spy who defected to the West in 1989 has accused several top Romanian politicians, including two former prime ministers, of having collaborated with the communist-era secret police, the Securitate….(AP, 7 Nov 06)

Man seeks gov’t compensation after being accused, tortured

…Lee Su-gil, now 78, was tortured and jailed in connection with the so-called East Berlin case, in which South Korean students and intellectuals living in Berlin in the 1960s were rounded up on false charges of having committed espionage for North Korea….(Hani, 7 Nov 06)

US Court grants AT&T, govt. appeal in spy case

The U.S. government and AT&T Inc, fighting against a lawsuit accusing the telephone operator of illegally allowing the government to monitor telephones and e-mails, won the right to argue for dismissal of the case before a U.S. Appeals Court on Tuesday….(Reuters, 7 Nov 06)

Appeals Court to Review Eavesdrop Case

…The government is appealing U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's refusal to dismiss the lawsuit even though the Bush administration asserts the case could expose government secrets and put the nation at risk….(AP, 7 Nov 06)

Prosecutors Renew Extradition Request

Prosecutors have renewed their request for the extradition of 26 Americans in the alleged CIA kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Milan in 2003, a prosecutor in the northern city said Tuesday… All but one of the Americans are believed to be CIA agents, including former station chiefs in Rome and Milan. The other American has been identified as a U.S. Air Force officer stationed at the time at Aviano air base near Venice….(AP, 7 Nov 06)

Coke Trade Secrets Trial Delayed

…Joya Williams' trial was scheduled to begin next week in Atlanta federal court. Williams' lawyer, Janice Singer, says the delay was sought in part to give Singer more time to prepare for trial….(AP, 7 Nov 06)

Trial delayed for Coke secrets suspect
…Joya Williams of Norcross was supposed to go on trial next week but her attorney asked for more time to prepare Williams' defense. The trial is rescheduled for Jan 15, according to a clerk for US District Court Judge J. Owen Forrester….(Atlanta Journal Constitution, 6 Nov 06)

Convicted in spy case, locked away in secrecy

...Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban, 54, was stripped of his U.S. citizenship after being found guilty in January of six federal charges, including illegally acting as an agent of the Iraqi government before the U.S. invasion there in 2003. He was sentenced to 13 years, four months in prison after an 11-day Indianapolis trial in which prosecutors portrayed him as a clever spy who had offered to sell the names of more than 60 clandestine CIA operatives to Iraqi intelligence officials for millions. Shaaban said in secretly taped interviews he planned to use the money to launch a pro-Arab broadcast station in the U.S....(Indiana Star, 6 Nov 06)

Court-martial for sailor accused of spying postponed
The court-martial date for a petty officer accused of espionage has been moved from Nov. 13 to Dec. 4…Ariel Weinmann has been charged with espionage, desertion, larceny, failure to obey a lawful order and destruction of military property. Navy officials say he deserted the attack submarine Albuquerque in October 2004 and traveled to Mexico City and Vienna, Austria to attempt to pass classified information to a representative of an unnamed foreign government….(Navy Times, 6 Nov 06)

Former spy released without charge

A former British agent who spied on the IRA has been released without charge after being questioned about two murders in Northern Ireland....(RTE, 6 Nov 06)

Hostage-taking of the American Embassy in Iran "Reviewed"

…What made the 1979 attack against the American Embassy different from the other incidents was that Ayatollah R. Khomieni, the Supreme Leader of Iran at that time, supported this move and turned the action against US Embassy into a national and governmental issue, and a matter of state responsibility….(Persian Journal, 6 Nov 06)

Nixon visit paved way for China rise: author

....prominent Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan, author of a new book on the event, says Washington took a huge risk before Nixon's trip. As part of a bid to show good faith, national security adviser Henry Kissinger gave China reams of secret U.S. spy data on the Soviet Union....(Reuters, 6 Nov 06)

Security unplugged

Delhi Police has recently arrested two security personnel who were allegedly passing on sensitive information, in the form of documents, pen drives and CDs, about Army establishments to their Pakistani handlers....(Daily Pioneer, 6 Nov 06)

Information and Intelligence Sharing 9/11

At the five-year anniversary of 9/11, many ask what has been accomplished during this time to improve information and intelligence sharing among law enforcement agencies and others. Some might say not much. Others, with a more positive outlook, say tremendous strides have been made. Regardless of opinion, all agree more work needs to be done….(Officer, 6 Nov 06)

Top Minds Tapped by Translation Task

...That's why the military would love software that can listen to TV broadcasts or phone conversations and read Web sites in Arabic and Chinese, translate them into English and summarize the key elements for humans....(AP, 6 Nov 06)

STG Contributes to Intelligence Community's First Public Museum

STG, Inc. has donated $10,000 to the Building Fund of the National Cryptologic Museum Foundation, which will help fund the museum's new building and further the work of this historic archive.....(PR Newswire, 6 Nov 06)

Pakistan's Proxy War

Two senior American intelligence officials met with India's foreign secretary last week. While the meeting received scant attention in the States, it was big news in India. According to Indian press accounts, the role Pakistan's intelligence service (the ISI) played in the July 11, 2006 Mumbai train bombings, which killed roughly 200 people, was one of the subjects discussed….(Weekly Standard, 6 Nov 06)

Muslims excluded from India's spy agency - report

There are scarcely any Muslims working in India's 10,000-strong external intelligence agency, and neither Muslims nor Sikhs working as bodyguards for the country's top leaders...(Reuters, 6 Nov 06)

Selecting a new head of intelligence

...But while it is no longer a Cabinet position, there is an equally critical succession issue brewing at the National Intelligence Agency (BIN)....(Jakarta Post, 6 Nov 06)

Cyberspies Invade Silicon Valley

…Everything from computer chip information, cutting edge military equipment plans, and company trade secrets are being pilfered in a low-key manner by a variety of hackers, usually initiated by countries competing with the United States in worldwide markets, including allies like France and Israel….(WebProNews, 6 Nov 06)

Today in CI History:

6 November 1986: Navy spy John A. Walker, the admitted head of a family spy ring for the KGB, was sentenced in Baltimore to life imprisonment. More Information

Agency accused her of undermining probe

...Denise Woo, 47, of Redondo Beach, was indicted on five felony counts in 2004 alleging that as an agent she tipped a Torrance engineer who was under investigation for passing defense secrets to the Chinese government....(Copley News Service, 5 Nov 06)

A Wikipedia Of Secrets

...Now the intelligence agencies are trying to remedy those problems with something they call Intellipedia, a model based on the popular online, user-generated encyclopedia Wikipedia....(Washington Post, 5 Nov 06)

War room leak accused had access to defence plan: CBI

The CBI's probe into the Navy war room leak has brought to light the sorry state of security in the defence ministry, with the agency claiming that those involved in the matter had gained access to the top-secret 10th Plan of the three services.....(Hindustan Times, 5 Nov 06)

War-room leak: Ret'd Navy officer arrested

.....He had come under the CBI scanner after the agency carried out raids against arms dealers and agents recently. Sources in the CBI claimed that highly sensitive documents were seized during raids, which indicated Rathore's complicity in the war room leak case....(Times of India, 5 Nov 06)

Lebanese Man Accused of Spying for Israel

According to Lebanese media reports, 29-year-old Faisal Razi Makled has been arrested by Lebanese authorities for spying for Israel.....(IsraelNN, 5 Nov 06)