Rome

One of the best TV shows on at the Moment is Rome on BBC 2, twice weekly. Rome is just great.

9/11 World

In my previous Blog I looked at the methods of Intelligence networks via the West and East. Here we come to the Post 9/11 World.

Al Qaeda is not a country it is a Terrorist cell or groups, thus all action is required to destroy them, No actions are beyond question; torture is out as it is not effective and not very Western; and all instruments of state should be used to destroy those that are a threat to Western Civilisation.

Here are some interesting articles on the CIA and Al Qaeda.

LA Times : The LA Times reports that President George W. Bush has signed Executive Order " that clears the way for the CIA to resume some of the harsh interrogation methods it has used against terrorism " The article points out that what we in the West would describe as torture is out, on this VIEWS supports a banning of torture. There has to be a difference between the West and those Terrorist groups. On the other hand making life very difficult for those in detention is not a problem. Those on the left will never understand they are still in the pre 9/11 world.

Washington Post: A very interesting article that looks at the history of Interrogation by the CIA and how over the years there have been calls for restraints how the Administration has reacted. A good and balance article worth a read.

The Spy

In the modern age of the Spy and for this brief essay we have the Cold War between the West and the USSR, 1945 - 1991, Post Cold War Period 1991 - 9/11 2001, Post 9/11 Period. Over the weekend VIEWS watched the The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and Smiley's People on DVD. It is interesting how Modern Film Depicts the Shadow World of Intelligence. If you look at the Bourne Identity but switch countries from the USA to Russia it is easy to understand the present strained relationship between the UK and Russia. In the Bourne Identity the CIA goes after a rogue agent after a failed mission, they send other agents to kill him with different methods from guns to knifes. They do not use nuclear material. A real life a ex agent becomes a critic of the Russian government, the allegation is that the Russian Government was not happy and took extreme action, they killed the critic. This is not new in the present Russia.

On the whole in the the Bourne Supremacy is more like a Post Watergate film set during the Cold War. Three Days of the Condor starring Robert Redford is about a researcher who comes across a highly secret operation to invaded the Middle East. The CIA is not happy and try to remove him. The Bourne Supremacy adds a post USSR feel to the movie but this only keeps it current, in essence a rogue CIA agent is the bad actor in the film, the actual CIA has no clue whats going on, more pre - 9/11 period. The problem is we need the CIA out there doing operation we of the great unwashed don't want to know about, we live in the age of mass terrorism. If you have the chance watch the Bourne Identity and see a mirror of our age.

Smiley's People with the one and only Alec Guinness starts with the death of a critic of the USSR, Ex Russian General form Estonia, the removal is via the use of a gun, the plot leads to the downfall of a rogue Russian Security Chief Karla. The Plot of Smiley's people could be changed with a few updates and done again. This time if you believe the reports it is not a Rogue Russian Operation but the arm of the state killing its critics. Thus in many respects the classic work by John Le Carre is a window in to the past and the present.

In the modern age a Intelligence network will follow subjects, listen to their conversations, open their letters, hack their computer email and telephone. Break in to homes and other buildings to take photos or copy computer files that are stored and cant be hacked. Also they will check the bank accounts, medical records, financial records. In operational terms, they will try to compromise people through blackmail such as honey traps, set people up as to make them seem suspect, they try to cause friction within different groups ( MI6 does not kill people ) it gets people to suspect people in their groups and get them to kill them. It should be added that through modern intelligence that satellites can take pictures better than if your standing by a building or a person. Also they can trace Mobiles as UBL found out when the Press in the States published the fact.

Thus VIEWS does not give an opinion about these methods, all the major intelligence networks use them ever day thats their job. But and here is the but, the use of Nuclear Material should never be used, its well very dangerous and can cause major diplomatic problems. In the Cold War it could have been seen as a Act of War. A good film about that is The Fourth Protocol with a future 007. All networks of countries should come to an understanding, above methods in the rule books but nuclear material is a no go area.