Professor Voices » CIA

Confirmation hearings begin for Gen. David Petraeus as next director of the CIA

Jo Breiner — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:03:57 +0000

Confirmation hearings begin today for General David Petraeus to replace Leon Panetta as the next director of the CIA. The following Boston University professors are available to offer expert commentary:

Arthur Hulnick is a 35-year veteran of the intelligence profession, mostly with the CIA. He is the author of “Keeping Us Safe: Secret Intelligence” and “Fixing the Spy Machine: Preparing American Intelligence for the 21st Century.” He can be reached at 617-353-8978, ahulnick@bu.edu

Joseph Wippl is a 30-year CIA veteran. He can be reached at 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

CIA drones and Osama bin Laden

Jo Breiner — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:28:26 +0000

The Washington Post reports that the CIA used stealth drones to monitor the activity of Osama bin Laden at his Pakistan compound prior to May 1 strike that killed him. Boston University international relations professor Arthur Hulnick is a 35-year veteran of the intelligence profession, mostly with the CIA. He is the author of “Keeping Us Safe: Secret Intelligence.” He offers the following comment:

“It never ceases to amaze me that details about even the most sensitive intelligence operations leak quickly to the press — fortunately, in the case of Osama bin Laden, after the event. Other key terrorists will now be even more careful about keeping themselves hidden, now that they know how easily they can be observed.”

Contact Arthur Hulnick, 617-353-8980, ahulnick@bu.edu

CIA operatives sent to Libya

Jo Breiner — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:28:11 +0000

The Obama administration has authorized the CIA to send operatives to Libya to work with and gather information from rebel forces. The following professors from Boston University’s International Relations department, both with CIA experience, are available to offer expert commentary, analysis and insight on this latest move.

Arthur Hulnick, a 35-year veteran of the intelligence profession, mostly with the CIA

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

Joseph Wippl, a 30-year CIA veteran

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

CIA and Egypt chaos

Jo Breiner — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:52:14 +0000

What should or could the CIA have known about the Egyptian uprising? Joseph Wippl, a professor of international relations at BU and a 30-year CIA operations officer gives the following view:

“Part of the intent in the creation of the CIA through the National Security Act of 1947 was to avoid surprise, the most noteworthy being the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The authority granted to CIA was to engage in human intelligence, better known as espionage, to avoid surprise and to better understand the cause of events and their implications for the future.

“The question now is did the CIA forewarn regarding the events occurring in Egypt and prior to that in Tunisia? And if not, why not? What kind of clandestine sources were needed then or are needed now?

“Are sources needed in the Egyption armed forces, the Ministry of Interior where police powers reside, the executive offices of the President, the Foreign Ministry, the religious leadership, all the various opposition elements, including the Moslim brotherhood? Have the possible new leaders in Egypt been identified and approached before the crisis?

“There are never enough sources with access to information of importance, but when these sources exist, they are there because of decades of continuous cultivation and handling. Sources can provide invaluable information to the U.S. leadership. Has such a program of long-term agent recruitment taken place? Have other partner countries engaged in these activities which can now assist us in better understanding events?

“In the past, the U.S. intelligence community has missed major events. Usually the reason is a concentration on immediate problems — that is, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq — at the expense of intermediate and long-term problems of as great or greater importance.”

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