The CIA's Head Spy Hunter | Jim Olson | Ep. 150
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ต.ค. 2024
- Professor James Olson received his law degree from the University of Iowa. He is a professor of the practice at the Bush School, where he teaches courses on intelligence and counterintelligence. He served for over thirty years in the Directorate of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency, mostly overseas in clandestine operations. In addition to several foreign assignments, he was Chief of Counterintelligence at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Professor Olson has been awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit, the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Donovan Award, and several Distinguished Service Citations. He is the recipient of awards from the Bush School and the Association of Former Students for excellence in teaching. Professor Olson is the author of Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying and To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence. Prior to his career in the CIA, he served in the US Navy, where he attained the rank of lieutenant commander.
James' books:
To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence
www.amazon.com...
Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying
tinyurl.com/mr...
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#counterintelligence #cia #covertops
That part about the dinner party in 1986 and how the marine garden revealed he was compromised was such an enticing story itself
@The Team House This is one of the best interviews you guys have done hands down. They teach Olson's CI commandments, (and the book is mandatory reading), in the FBI's counterintelligence training pipeline. Would be a good get if you guys could score an FBI counterintelligence interview to mirror this one.
I am a national from PRC. I would like to thank him for acknowledging the Tiananmen Square while talking about the Olympics. It’s a scar that we bears deep in our mind, for every Chinese that loves freedom
You are a spy. You use our freedom as a weapon against us. Never trust a china man.
I am a nobody in this. But I would like to mention that when the Ruskies first went into Ukraine. I was watching many hours a day on u tube the news as it was. When I noticed that long line of tanks moving to Kiev and the airport, one of my first comments was that I would be out standing in front of those tanks, just like the Chinese man/Hero, in Tiananmen Square that day. Soon enough I did see a Ukrainian Man at a Y intersection in a small town, filmed trying to jump in front of the tanks, and they were not stopping. The guy bounced/ jumped at the last second to the next tank that wasn't stopping either. it was a short video, but I was very glad to see that happen. God Bless that Man/ Hero. One of my comments a few days later was replied to from someone unknown who replied to one of my comments said, to me, "We like what you are saying." I wasn't shocked because back in the 90s, start of Desert Storm I was a signed in civilian at R Lee Ermey's TV Website for marines. I had just got my first desktop Computer and I just kept reading thru many topics and the comments there, and caught someone who was asking and collecting weaknesses of the Abrams Tank. There were about 5 answers that pissed me off. I pointed it out and they made me a Moderator. They also clamped down on the leaks. I was very proud to help. I lasted a couple of years but had to leave as I had a 5 bypass heart attack. I'm still around with the same cat Chaser name I took from the Movie. And like Don Rickles said in the Movie Kellys Heros I get a Cookie. 😎
No
Dave and Jack, y'all are awesome. Thank you so much for all your interviews of those in the military, intelligence, and journalists.
I buy and read almost all of your guests' books. I'd heard about Olson's books, and checked, I'd ordered and read one, and now will get his second book. Nothing better than ex CIA officers' books, truly. This TH-cam channel is exceptional. Thankyou so much. I love ex CIA officers' books, they write so clearly, their books are the best.
Hollywood needs to take things to the next level. Recruit these Chinese coming here to our universities for long range work for us. Put the ideas out there, make young Americans know about the Chinese long game and take up the gauntlet and put the idea right back into the Chinese students' minds to give back to USA....someday.
Anyways, Hollywood needs to get into some new long range good ideas that longer range turn things around.
If you think this would work you know nothing about the Chinese.
@@cannibalholocaust3015say one doesn’t know anything about the Chinese…can you please explain them to me and explain what you are referring to?
One of your best interviews so far, Jack and Dave. An amazing guest. Greetings from Germany
I was at a conference a few years ago and Mr Olson was the main speaker. He was so incredible with all of his stories. I was blown away.
Big James Olson fan. He’s a solid guy all the way around.
Lol. We’re not talking about that one! 😂😂 Great interview guys.
Another Great Guest! Well Done, Team House...
Excellent interview, definitely one of the most informative regarding his line of work. Thank you guys!
Fantastic Job Fella's. This is a American Hero
I thought I knew a lot about the agency until I heard this interview. Excellent job guys!
Fantastic interview! Love this man!
I plan on buying both of his books.
Mr Olson's an true American hero!
Great interview…bring James back. He really should read some more…that bookshelf is empty. All kidding aside, one of my favorite interviews…great job guys.
People dont understand that James has a huge library, it has just all been redacted
It's always redacted, when it comes to China. Read between the lines. Don't cop out, tianemen square
"Can't talk about that"
An amazing ep 150 gentlemen, this topic is so crucial, especially the China section, we must do more
Those interested in learning more about Victor Sheymov (mentioned at 40:15 mark), read Tower of Secrets and Tiebreaker. Both are written by Victor. Sadly Victor has passed away, but his wife Olga is still alive and is a very good artist. She has done an interview for the Cold War museum.
the real patriot is Ed Snowden
Hey, Bush School! Did my outside field for my PhD at Bush School with Drs. Scheussler and Castillo. Gig 'Em Aggies!
Thank you Gents, great interview. Awesome insights. Surreal existence, amazing sense of duty to country and agency.
fascinating. thank God for men and women like Olson. thank u.
What a great interview. I really enjoyed it. I'm also a J. Olson fan! Greetings from Mexico
You guys should really timestamp the general subject matter covered.
As a highly driven and aspiring Cyber Professional, the segment on China IS ABSOLUTELY NO JOKE.
Would LOVE to hear more on this..
Well done. Great interview!
You are so right to start with the origin story
This is the guy that put Jason Bourne through TreadStone program lol j/k.
Mr Olson is a true patriot and helped us to win the Cold War. Thank you for your service and sacrifices.
You lost was in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
@@yuri.moiseyev Cold War was against the communist USSR as that Communist country no longer exists so it’s a huge US win. Iraq was a win too but you’re right about Vietnam and Afghanistan.
mr olson is actually my grandfather and i’ll make sure to tell him your a fan
Really awesome interview. This is the kind of guy that allows us to truly sleep at night. Top shelf professional.
the part of Marty Peterson was awesome after watching her interview. That's cool stuff man.
He gave the best speech hands down by anyone given at Texas Boy’s State of 23. I’ll hopefully meet him when I attend bush school
Very good interview, conversation.
Ironic that those with the best stories to tell are sworn not to spill the beans, which makes them even more enticing.
Another great one! , thanks fellas.
Amazing interview. Cheers from 🇨🇦
Another excellent guest guys, thank you! Would you recommend reading Fair Play first?
I haven’t read it yet but plan to and am looking forward to it. So I can’t recommend it based on experience but I highly recommend it based on the author and the subject matter.
Bush shirt is ironed well... great interview
Great interview
I absolutely love this interview. Wow, this stuff is just amazing. I could not imagine one of the CIA's top guy loosing his grip on reality and the insanity that must have went on under his command during that time. The especially in such a lauded organization. I would love the opportunity to just sit and speak with Mr. Olsen and listen to his stories. This brings back memories of this beauty I had an intense fling with, while stuck in Bagram Air-Base while I was with the 101st. I was trying to get back to my unit in Nuristan Province, but also kicking back and having a great time. "Whoever has been to Bagram knows that place was a little city." Yeah, so I met this real beautiful lady who happens to be in intelligence and we had a real intense fling for the two weeks I was there. We had some real interesting conversations and she told me things that should never have been spoken, not to me anyway lol. Nothing crazy, but it did put perspective on some things that were happening around that time. This was back, at the end of '07. I also remember her taking me by this black site the agency ran out of Bagram. It was a little compound within a compound. I remember her telling me stories about it. I wish we stayed in touch, but it was just as well. One day I was able to hitch a ride on this small tin can that was heading back to where my unit was in Nuristan Province to deliver mail. I will never forget riding in the back of that thing lol. Anyway, I saw her for the last time and said my goodbyes and that was it. The last time I ever saw her. Stuff like that would just happen over there. In Iraq too. Man, some great times.
Back to Mr. Olsen though. I need to purchase his books, because his story sounds amazing to me and I really could kick back on some porch and shoot the shit with him and listen to his stories for hours. I love this kind of stuff.
Thanks for doing what you guys do and putting together great interviews. I really dig your show and Shawn Ryan's.
Excellent episode
Great pod
Awesome book! Awesome American! So inspiring. And yes, extremely scary.
I like this old guy, he knows how it's done.
The privateer idea was smart.
great interview, what are the other books at around 1:28:00 we are supposed to be reading. My book shelf looks similar with all the titles at this stage. I need a new shelf.
How many times I almost commented but “only 9 years “ lmao 🤣🤣🤣 only in ‘Merica!!!!
Earned a sub
When I was much younger and I learned about James Angleton. I just knew he was a Russian mole. Still think it to this day. Aw man. I thought he was gonna talk about his time at the Daily Planet.
43:13 sounds like these cables did not conform to tempest standards.
I love The Team House
Nice malt you guys are drinking,? Laphroaig malt ( peaty tasting) great interview 👍
This guy is just wow, deep intellectual capacity, next CIA director
He wrote a book which was very good!
CIA’s old website was so much better than the new Generation-Z website.
You know, as an anthropologist, I can tell you that, culturally the PRC have a comfort with duplicity that American culture does not. Where saving face has to do with how something 'appears' generally, rather than the truth from specificity. What I'm suggesting is that the US make this subtle mental shift when combatting PRC infiltration on all levels. If we know the PRC has weaknesses in their focus on R&D theft, then why not create fake and ongoing pockets or nets that make them feel like they are successfully stealing inaccurate R&D? Moreover, duplicity and passive aggression are culturally constructed values in PRC culture, and THAT CULTURAL CONSTRUCTION is what the US needs to get really good at if we want to proactively defeat the PRC espionage threat. What's more is that in terms of 'futures' development, Russia and China are playing the long game and we are not. Civilian US citizens interpret futures development like this: 'This other country is willing to invest in me educationally and in other ways. My own country is not willing to invest in me.'. However myopic or inaccurate those perceptions are, the filter of civilian US students interprets the US counterintel behavior this way (even though the students themselves are not consciously aware of their own beliefs). Additionally, there is a reason Engineering programs within the US is dwindling, leaving a vacuum for engineering students from Mainland China at Universities. The PRC long game in futures development would include sabotage of potential US engineering students...Maybe you guys should look into that?
I'm a lawyer. That's why I don't trust lawyers.
The company narc wasn't very popular???
No way!!!!!
🤯
Americans need to use all of our Technology to keep Jim Olsen Young . ;)
Netflix should make another The Americans TV Series... but based on China or Cuba... make it a Comedy
16:41 so that’s how Hanoi had so many agents in the south. And MAC V SOG
“We didn’t realize we have a problem ummm….. until the 1990’s” 😂😂 you mean as soon as the Soviet problem ended we needed a new “boogeyman”???? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Completely agree with peril
I wonder if he ever saw “The Company” with Michael Keaton, and if he did what he thought about it…
I am interseted in this mans opinion or analysis on whet Russia is doing now with the invasion and pre invasion of Ukraine. Is our CIA up to snuff?
😂😂😂 corn seed? We can’t just be humane and share the ability to make food? Btw, I don’t want to be eating hybrid corn
Great interview. Listening to espionage folks talk disdainfully about the morals/politics/ethics of "other" espionage folks, though, is kind of like listening to one group of fetishists defend their own "thing" while happily casting aspersions on enthusiasts of other fetishes. Can't quite put a finger on it (no puns intended), but it's all just.... just....off. Also, even though so much of what gets done in the service of country is laudable, it's hard to get away from the unsettling revelation of its corollary ie the hijacking of any given governmental enterprise by forces looking to twist it all to their own advantage, ultimately poisoning everything. Vietnam...a prime example of the MIC at work cynically recruiting and manipulating patriots and heroes. One bad choice leading to another, by way of necessity and/or design. And from what moral high ground? And to what ultimate end? Very gray worlds indeed. Cheers.
1:19:31 The real top secret stuff is still top secret, and China's big shortcoming is that it still relies on US debt and innovation. It has industrial might, but cannot finance itself anymore because of its continued reliance on financial growth strategies. I warned about China way back in the mid to late 90s, but no one seemed to listen to me. Back then it was about mopping up the Soviets and the Warsaw Pact. But China was and is still a communist state that doesn't understand the pitfalls of its own economic system. It's going to come crashing down pretty soon.
China.... sure, Russia sure, Isr.... Noooooo!
I like Mr Olson. He’s a pro and seems like everything I realistically imagined a CIA officer & patriot would be.
In the modern day, there are a lot of INTEL and special ops soldiers elbowing into the social media sphere to get their stories out. While I enjoy the voyeurism I also don’t like that they talk so much. I assume they are careful but still. There’s something unsavory about telling stories online.
What is the appropriate venue for veterans to share their stories, if not online?
I would ask this guy so now that the USSR is gone what do you think about the threat from the USSA?
I also wonder if the team house has tried to get an interview with Mr. Smith? Hopefully he is recovering from his TDS.
I have ever looked at Cuba as the most interesting addition which could ever be made to our system of States. ***** Her addition to our Confederacy is exactly what is wanting to advance our power as a nation to the point of its utmost interest.
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison warned us regarding a European power’s future interest in Cuba, “might make a fulcrum of that position against the commerce and security of the US”. The Monroe Doctrine was greatly influence by the history and political possibility of Cuba.
“These islands (Cuba and Puerto Rico) are natural appendages to the North American Continent. Cuba in almost sight of our shores, from a multitudes of consideration has become an object of transcendent importance to the commercial and political interest of our Union.”
John Quincy Adams
In 1845, President James Polk offered to purchase Cuba from Spain.
“Our attitude as a nation and our position on the globe render the acquisition of certain possessions (Cuba) not within our jurisdiction, eminently important to our protection, if not in the future essential for the preservation of the rights of commerce and peace of the world.”
President Franklin Pierce
On April 3, 1854, Secretary of State Marcy was authorized to offer Spain US$130,000,000 for Cuba. That is equivalent to US$430 billion TODAY.
The Ostend Manifesto addressed to Secretary of State Marcy recommended every effort should be made to purchase Cuba. It went on to argue that the US should annex Cuba in order to have peace with Spain and to preserve the Union. Future President James Buchanan was one of its Authors.
President Buchanan continued to pursue the Cuba Purchase question which had been complicated by the question of bringing in another Slave State to the Union.
How have you not had Bob Baer on yet
man that would be a great job
It would be interesting to know what India is also doing.
High tech California is full of Chinese and Indian nationals
What steps can we take in our daily lives to combat spying?
1:09:10 if this was todays time u wouldnt get recruite
Agreed
I'm sure he knows a few I know that live in MD.
One involved in Iran Contra and the other worked for conde rice at the wh.
You know one has the WW2 pt boat.
Very interesting as we would get briefing on Chinese attempting action to steal us secrets.
As far as leaks go by US personnel in ALL professions, leaking is copious and unacceptable. All US businesses and agencies must tighten up on willful and coercive informational leaking. But, why would we? Our own government allows the reselling of US constituents' data via the internet and online software, tech companies, communications companies, etc. While the US gov't doesn't protect it's citizens from data leaks at the most miniscule level, then why would you guys expect your employees to not leak?
A shocking personal story your guest related about Angleton (that’s primary source stuff there). I imagine it’s nearly impossible to cast doubt on the alignment of a sitting counterintelligence chief but I think these things must be reviewed over time and hopefully someone is doing that post-mortem. I’ve also come to assume what in hindsight seems obvious, that Halperin and Ellsberg were Soviet assets, likely recruited during their Ivy League foreign policy studies/fellowships in the 1960s.They were working for Kissinger when they wrote their “report” which content was overly pessimistic and ommitted or ignored the brilliant successes and effects of the cross border efforts that it seemed so eager to condemn. By 1968, NVN and their Soviet allies badly needed relief from those devastating operations, particularly after Tet failed. It was well known that the Soviets supported anti-war social movements here at that time and what better vehicle than the national press releasing “top secret” documents “proving” the war was a failure and that government was concealing that fact. While some may think it’s not fair to accuse dead men (or nearly so), espionage is so pervasive in our beloved democratic state that as much as we love/revere/defend freedom we must be just as vigilant and coldly introspective about counterintelligence to protect it. Of the four men I mention, surely it is fair to say at least that they had a lifelong fascination with socialism/communism; Wikipedia states that Halperin’s last job was to work for Soros’ Open Society foundations/affiliates. Hmm...
Soros is a committed anti-Communist you dunce 🤭
I seriously just want to know why all the shelves are empty, but just a few
If anyone hasn’t watched “The Good Shepard” please treat yourself to a decent depiction of the birth of CI.
it's ironic how sensitive America is to racial stereotyping (in this case particularly against china) when most asian cultures are very up-front and blunt about their distrust and dislike of that particular nation's military and political aims. I say this as someone who from elementary school through college and my twenties was close friends with mostly asian students (either exchange students or affluent kids sent here to study by their parents). I even had a small business helping wealthy exchange students write and proofread their essays. In 2016 many of these chinese students i knew where throwing up memes about how if you didn't like the election results, just move to china where you have no vote (and thus are never disappointed). Also during this time it became obvious that the explosion in the British Columbia housing market was almost entirely due to chinese money being spent in the names of the children as a way to offshore money into assets outside china. Meanwhile, friends from other nearby nations - particularly my Thai, Taiwanese, Singaporean and Vietnamese friends) would constantly point out stories of how chinese investment in their countries had turned into chinese influence down the road---and not in a good way.
Bad Bad to the Bone
Americans are holy lambs. Ethics and America are poles apart.CIA got screwed up during nuclear test at Pokhran in India.Got completely fooled by Indian intelligence.
As far as Chinese espionage, The USA has got to hire Chinese Americans, 2nd & 3rd generation intel officers, prosecutors and judges to bring these cases to make it not racial profiling.They should be the face of the operation, even if you must pay them extra. (except for the judges, paying off the judges looks bad LOL)I think it`s more about money and the Clinton years helped it along with pushing for China to join the WTO.The Chinese know that Americans are always looking to make a quick buck the easiest way. "Free Trade" also hurt our manufacturing base where a lot of middle class jobs flowed to China for the low wages.Now China has Vietnamese and other South East Asian countries building stuff for China to sell to the West because the wages are even lower.
Blue Stahli pulled the black card, too. "Death Will Have to Die" by Blue Stahli. Meanwhile, he's going to make my sisters' brains into mush. Death should go on trial. Why not? He's in the future music club. I'm not allowed. I'm not musical. My prose is simple. This is why I'm a parasite, btw.
Hello Sir, You look very serious kinda makes me nervous.
Rather be back in so ho than down here on the farm, damit now i need GNR brb
Did he find Eric Swallows Chinese desert?
Imagine if you will; a young man, thinking of himself in terms of national security or national defense. Now try harder. Young men think of nothing but themselves and getting away from old men.
You really do not want privateer hacker groups. Bad idea.
If the FBI is overwhelmed with Chinese cases maybe they should stop wasting their time investigating conservatives and send those agents to help .
It isn't time wasting when those conservatives are or have been breaking the law, especially when those same 'patriot' conservatives take money from outside sources. It almost sounds like you're trying to shift attention........
It isn't the special agents in the field that are investigating conservatives. That is garbage being pushed at the top by the radical executive management. The actual boots on the ground guys are VERY, VERY busy trying to fight back the spies of the CCP, just as Olson tells it here.
CIA is run by conservatives
Algorithm.
Interviewer is knowledgeable but should let Subject talk.
I was under the impression that the CIAs official stance was that the "Farm" didn't exist?
If your names sasha and your a male in your early 20s to late 60s in his an probably even in our time 9 times out of 10 that guys a kgb or fsb person
Hall Patricia Anderson Sandra Garcia Angela
Oh man, do you think that it's possible that government interference of civilians, crossing all manner of boundaries over prolonged amounts of time, like at least 43 years, but most certainly longer, past this lifetime and into the last... ww2 time, I'm just saying that I've been experiencing this, and living to tell about it since I'm not an agent, employee, or anything, I'm prevented from generating income actually, many salaries dedicated to that. And when something pokes and stalks in your energy for that long,, you survive things, learn percieve piece together long standing puzzles and sidestep cycles and see the reapers looking dumb. I absolutely blast everything that happens because I have nobody protecting me, nobody believing, isolated and depleted by veterans and hackers, this creates terrorists, and 4th guys, honestly I'm being a pretty good sport I think and literally everything I love has been destroyed or taken. Everything I need or want obstructed, pets killed, and there's family members who aren't family members. And it's still going on, I live in north Carolina, why would someone like me take it laying down? Why would anyone really? I like Biden. I know he gets to be a focus of haters. Other than wanting to protect him, I don't feel safe here, I'm born here. The patriotism, this is a corporation, do you know that,? Dying by stakeholder business plans. Not freedom. So if I survive cycles repeating and there's echoes and voids under lies I then see, those are cyclical generational curses and ghosts I was meant to unbind. That's the kind of stuff a 4th man finds? I maybe wouldn't if everything stops trying to kill me. Kinda in an invisible war
your mic's are still off. voices too much bass1
The same pipe line Oswald on
Cubana airlines from Mexico City to Havana?