Former top CIA officer James Lawler discusses the manipulation practiced by agent handlers, sociopathy in the CIA, recruiting foreign spies, the potential of chromosome editing as a biological weapon, priorities in response to Russia's invasion, and disrupting weapons programs and the fentanyl threat.
Recruiting spies involves identifying vulnerable targets and manipulating them to commit espionage.
James Lawler's thriller novel explores the potential weaponization of genetic editing technology and raises concerns about national security.
Deep dives
The CIA's role in dismantling the nuclear black market
President George W. Bush called for the CIA to dismantle the nuclear black market that provided North Korea, Iran, and Libya access to nuclear weapons. James Lawler, a seasoned CIA officer, was appointed to lead the takedown team against A.Q. Khan, the Pakistani nuclear scientist who was the mastermind behind the operation. Lawler's expertise in recruiting and manipulating individuals played a pivotal role in the success of the operation. Khan was eventually placed under house arrest in Pakistan. Lawler's experiences inspired him to write espionage thrillers, with his most recent novel exploring a covert Russian North Korean genetic bioweapons program.
The art of espionage recruitment
CIA case officers are tasked with recruiting foreign individuals to work against their own countries or regimes. The recruitment process involves identifying potential targets who may have access to valuable information, establishing a relationship, and then persuading them to commit espionage. Case officers often look for individuals who are experiencing stresses in their lives and exploit those vulnerabilities. This process is akin to rock climbing, where case officers search for cracks in a target's life to exploit and relieve their stress. The recruitment of sources is a relentless and strategic pursuit.
The challenges of intelligence collection and espionage
Intelligence operations are distinct from action thrillers depicted in movies. CIA case officers focus on recruitment and running agents to gather critical information. The targeting process has evolved, with specialized targeting officers analyzing programs and identifying potential sources for case officers to approach. Building trust and rapport with potential sources is crucial, and finding commonality with them helps establish a foundation of trust. Case officers face challenges in convincing sources to commit espionage and sometimes need to persuade them to stay in place rather than defect. Threats to operational security, such as communication failures or moles within intelligence organizations, can pose significant risks.
Biological weapons and spy craft
James Lawler's latest novel, 'In the Twinkling of an Eye,' explores the development of a fictional biological weapon created through chromosome editing. While the specifics in the book are fictional, Lawler's extensive consultation with experts revealed the potential realities of gene editing technology. The novel raises concerns about the potential weaponization of genetic editing, as it could be used to target specific individuals or even entire races. Lawler believes that countries like Russia, China, and North Korea are likely conducting research into highly destructive biological weapons. Detecting and disrupting these programs remain critical to national security.
Former top CIA officer James Lawler says the manipulation practiced by agent handlers could be described as sociopathic. We talk about that and his latest thriller.
