Darknet Diaries
75: Compromised Comms
Sep 29, 2020
Jenna McLaughlin, a national security and investigations reporter for Yahoo News, and Zach Dorfman of the Aspen Institute, delve into a chilling period when the CIA's communications were compromised from 2009 to 2013. They discuss the devastating impact on intelligence operations and the tragic loss of agents due to a breach involving an Iranian double agent. The conversation sheds light on the vulnerabilities of communication systems, the need for secure methods in intelligence, and the bureaucratic hurdles whistleblowers face in raising alarms.
35:07
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Quick takeaways
- The compromised communication channels used by the CIA led to the capture and deaths of several agents, highlighting the devastating consequences of the breach.
- The CIA's failure to address and rectify the flaws in their communication channels hindered efforts to prevent further compromise and jeopardized ongoing intelligence operations.
Deep dives
Aldrich Ames: The CIA Officer Turned Spy
Aldrich Ames, a CIA officer, started by trying to con Soviet intelligence out of money, but ultimately crossed a line by accepting payment and began giving up CIA spies' names working in the Soviet bloc. The information he provided led to the capture and deaths of several agents. Ames earned millions of dollars from the Russians and used the money to improve his lifestyle, eventually leading to suspicion. The CIA and FBI investigated and found enough evidence to arrest Ames, who was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison for his betrayal.
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