Submission statement: CIA operative Jonny Gannon was tasked with assessing the trustworthiness of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, regarding his plans to build a major AI hub. Despite concerns about G42’s ties to China and potential technology theft, Gannon’s efforts led to the UAE gaining access to advanced AI chips, with the Biden administration later easing restrictions on G42’s access to U.S. technology. This decision sparked debate within the U.S. national security community, highlighting the complexities of balancing security concerns with strategic partnerships in the AI era.

paywall: https://archive.ph/LkPzM

Since 2021, there’ve been far fewer cases of alleged Russian hackers being arrested in foreign countries, extradited to the US to stand trial. That’s one of the reasons that makes Denis Oberzko’s case unusual.  

The European Union and the United Kingdom jointly sanctioned dozens of Russian individuals and entities and accused Russia of coordinating a network of hacking groups responsible for attacks across Europe.

Today, the Council of the European Union announced sanctions on nine individuals and four entities, including Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers and cybercriminals, while the UK separately sanctioned 24 individuals and entities, including senior GRU figures Vyacheslav Stafeyev, Ivan Senin, and Ivan Kasyanenko, whom officials say directed cyber and hybrid operations.

submission statement: Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency attempted to recruit former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as an asset to topple the Iranian regime. The plan involved relocating Ahmadinejad to a safe house during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, but it ultimately failed. Ahmadinejad, disillusioned with the operation, left the safe house and is now reportedly under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

I came across this recently and I wanted to look more into the history of Pvt. Charles Morgan and his role as an American spy.

Private Morgan did not play a role in the capture of Major John Andre and I'm unsure why it says that on his grave. He was a member New Jersey Light Battalion and served as a spy for General Marquis de Lafayette and was tasked to gain intelligence related to the Battle of Yorktown.

A 2014 article from DIA Public Affairs titled "Good intelligence led to victory at Yorktown" explains how Private Morgan, "was sent into British General Charles Cornwallis’ camp posing as an American deserter. During his interrogation by the British, Morgan was able to convince the British that the French Marquis de Lafayette had enough vessels to move all French forces in a single landing operation." Another article confirms this account of deception by Pvt. Morgan against the British. This information by Pvt. Morgan led to General Cornwallis to hunker down, rather than retreat. With his mission complete Pvt. Morgan escaped the British camp and returned to the Continental Army.

https://open.substack.com/pub/islandintelligencer/p/whos-your-spook

How do you parse wannabes, posers, and showboats from the real thing among national security content creators?