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Now that we have had a couple of days to rest up and recover from GEOINT Tech Days (Wow, that GEOINT Tech Days Gala was quite an evening on many levels.), we are ready to dive back into covering the latest and greatest news from the defense and intelligence world. So, essentially we are making up for last week and focusing on news stories that impact what we do and, hopefully, provide the actionable intelligence you need to kick off the week. This week’s installment of the “Monday Morning News Kick Off” post includes everything from Philip Mudd withdrawing his name as DHS intelligence chief to an update on the “Cyber Olympics.” Scoll down to read more.

Department of Homeland Security Intelligence Chief Withdraws Nomination
Well, it seems that the controversial interrogation tactics of days gone by continue to create political fall out in our nation’s capital. This time it impacted Philip Mudd, a CIA official chosen by President Obama to be the intelligence chief at the Department of Homeland Security who withdrew from consideration after it became apparent that senators examining his nomination planned to scrutinize his role in the agency’s interrogation of terrorism suspects. Check out coverage from The Washington Post.

“Interrogation” Tactics Deemed Legal in 2005
In 2005, Justice Department lawyers engaged in a sharp internal debate in 2005 over the brutal interrogation techniques that are dominating the headlines and putting Nancy Pelosi (not any more) under scrutiny. And even some Justice Department attorneys who believed that using tough tactics was a serious mistake came to the conclusion that the tactics were legal. This all came to light from previously undisclosed Justice Department e-mail messages, interviews and newly declassified documents. Read more here.

Boehner Keeps Pressure on Pelosi for CIA Accusation
Speaking of Nancy Pelosi, last week, House Minority Leader John Boehner stepped up his calls for her to come clean after she accused the CIA of lying to Congress about Bush-era interrogation techniques employed on terror suspects. Boehner and fellow Republicans have vowed to keep the pressure on Pelosi to explain herself ever since she lobbed the accusation last month, insisting that she needs to either back it up with evidence or apologize. Read more here.

Watergate Burglar and Former C.I.A. Agent Dies
Bernard Barker, a Cuban-born CIA operative who participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion and was later a Watergate burglar, died Friday from complications from lung cancer. He was 92. Barker was one of five men who broke into the Watergate building in Washington, D.C., on June 17, 1972. They were trying to plant a wiretap at the Democratic National Committee headquarters to gather information on Richard Nixon’s Democratic opponent in the upcoming presidential election, George McGovern. Read more here.

Stabilizing Iraq: Intelligence Lessons for Afghanistan
We don’t often promote policy papers from think tanks, but this one rose to the top in our opinion. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy recently came out with this policy paper on what the intelligence community can do to improve our efforts in Afghanistan. Read more here.

How an American Couple Came to be Spies for Cuba
Come on…admit it. Cloak and dagger stories about married couples spying against our country are very interesting…heck, isn’t that what makes great spy movies? Anyhow, the latest reality tale along these lines was about a retired intelligence analyst at State Department and his wife being arrested on charges of spying for Cuba. They used shortwave radio, Morse code, and grocery carts to pass US secrets to Cuban agents in a security breach one official described as “incredibly serious.” Wow….grocery carts? What is up with that?

Feds Need 10,000 Cyber Security Experts
The federal government plans on continuing its “Cyber Olympics” aimed at finding 10,000 security experts for the federal government. Who knew that there was a Cyber Olympics? Man, we would have thrown our hat in the ring on that one. In all seriousness, it is comforting to see the many steps being taken to fight the cyber war that is being waged right now. Read more here.

Stay tuned for wrap up coverage from GEOINT Tech Days and we hope you have a productive week!

Tags: 000 Cyber Security Experts, 10, American Couple Spies for Cuba, Cyber Olympics, GEOINT Tech Days, Intelligence Lessons for Afghanistan, John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, NGA, USGIF, Watergate Burglar