BU Now » Joseph Wippl

Experts available on WikiLeaks scandal

Jo Breiner — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:39:28 +0000

The following Boston University experts are available to give expert commentary and analysis on the current Wikileaks scandal:

Arthur Hulnick, International Relations professor; a 35-year veteran of the intelligence profession, mostly with the CIA

Contact 617-353-8978, ahulnick@bu.edu

Joseph Wippl, International Relations professor; a 30-year CIA veteran

Contact 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Tom Fiedler, Dean of the College of Communication; Expert on American politics; a regular contributor to Politico “The Arena”

Contact 617-353-3488, tfiedler@bu.edu

Robert Zelnick, Journalism professor; Former ABC News foreign correspondent

Contact 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

Fallout from Russian spy-ring bust

Dick Taffe — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:16:27 +0000

Even as his government acknowledged that its citizens were among the 11 people that U.S. authorities charged were part of a long-running spy operation, Russian Prime Minister Putin criticized U.S. law enforcement for busting up the espionage ring. International relations Professor Joseph Wippl, a 30-year CIA veteran, says Russia has continued a robust intelligence collection program since the break up of the Soviet Union, believing that relations between countries and regions can and will change.

“Good relations can become poor relations. Neutral relations can develop into hostile relations. For Russia, intelligence is not about countries that are hostile but about countries that are important.”

Contact Joseph Wippl, 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Alleged Russian espionage ring busted

Dick Taffe — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:40:27 +0000

The FBI arrested 11 people for allegedly spying for the Russians while living secret lives in American communities – from Washington, D.C., to Seattle – sent here years ago to infiltrate U.S. society and steal its secrets. It’s unclear what the alleged spies actually found. Two BU international relations professors, Arthur Hulnick and Joseph Wippl, are both long-time veterans of the CIA and quite familiar with the world of spies. They offer their thoughts on the big bust.

Hulnick: “The case demonstrates that the FBI is really good at uncovering such spy rings. I’m not sure what will happen to the Russians who have devoted so much time and effort to what appears to be a failed operation. I suspect the Russian government will deny that it is behind the operation.”

Wippl: “Unlike diplomats, none of the 11 has diplomatic immunity which would result in a PNG (Persona Non Grata) expulsion from the U.S. Without diplomatic immunity, they will be prosecuted in a U.S. court according to the charges brought against them.”

Contact Arthur Hulnick, 617-353-8978, hlnk@aol.com, or Joseph Wippl, 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Report: Burma developing nuke

Dick Taffe — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:16:55 +0000

Smuggled evidence shows Burma’s military rulers are secretly acquiring components for a nuclear weapons program, though it appears the impoverished nation is many years away from developing an actual bomb. Political science Professor Joseph Wippl, a 30-year career CIA officer, says the report developed by the dissident group Democratic Voice of Burma, again shows the need for accurate intelligence collection.

“There is no country so unimportant or so isolated as not to require intelligence and U.S. intelligence community expertise on that country or region.”

Contact Joseph Wippl, 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Secret U.S. military ops in MidEast

Dick Taffe — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:58:31 +0000

The New York Times reports that Gen. David Patraeus, the top American commander in the Middle East, has ordered a broad expansion of clandestine military activity across the region in an effort to disrupt militant groups or counter threats. International Relations Professor Joseph Wippl, director of the BU Center for International Relations and a 30-year CIA operations officer, says the U.S. Armed Forces and the CIA have always had different areas of responsibility and he presumes Defense Secretary Gates knows the boundaries.

“The problem is balancing, on the one hand, the need for tactical intelligence to defend the United States with, on the other hand, the temptation to engage needlessly with U.S. military forces.”

Contact Joseph Wippl, 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Director of national intelligence quits

Dick Taffe — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:18:16 +0000

Retired Navy Admiral Dennis Blair resigned as national intelligence director after only 16 months on the job — pushed out by President Obama who will name a successor. Political science Professor Joseph Wippl, director of the BU Center for International Relations and a 30-year CIA operations officer, said it’s an impossible job because it doesn’t have budgetary or personnel authority over all 16 intelligence agencies.

“Expect another U.S. military man to become DNI. The military is always good for hopeless causes in civilian leadership.”

Contact Joseph Wippl, 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu