Author of The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Espionage, Doug London was happy to get right his book and talk about his process. With 34 years of experience in the CIA, this memoir is rich with the authentic personal encounters of a case officer. Doug walks me through some of the many things going through a case officer’s mind during all stages of Spot, Assess, Develop, and ultimately Terminate—sounds more violent than it is.
Doug has a profound appreciation of those who’ve put their trust in him, and claims it’s an unethical job that has to be done with ethics. He continues to shares his thoughts on intelligence, espionage and current events at justsecurity.org.
Twitter: @douglaslondon5
From Hatchet Books:
This revealing memoir from a 34-year veteran of the CIA who worked as a case officer and recruiter of foreign agents before and after 9/11 provides an invaluable perspective on the state of modern spy craft, how the CIA has developed, and how it must continue to evolve.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a modern-day spy, Douglas London is here to explain. London’s overseas work involved spotting and identifying targets, building relationships over weeks or months, and then pitching them to work for the CIA—all the while maintaining various identities, a day job, and a very real wife and kids at home.
The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence captures the best stories from London's life as a spy, his insights into the challenges and failures of intelligence work, and the complicated relationships he developed with agents and colleagues. In the end, London presents a highly readable insider’s tale about the state of espionage, a warning about the decline of American intelligence since 9/11 and Iraq, and what can be done to recover.
---------------------------------------------------
Alternatively, if you would like to keep us operational please consider signing up as a contributing patron and join the community for exclusive commentary, and transcripts A $10 a month donation will really help keep us going ---> https://www.patreon.com/thelivedrop
Special Thanks to Tomio Toyama for your generous Paypal contribution !!
Get bonus content on Patreon
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Trevor Aaronson Takes The Sting Out of Law Enforcement
Professor Erik Dahl Offers a Prescription for Pandemic Intelligence
Syndicating the Experience of Brittany Butler
Alma Katsu is Creating a Novel Spy Franchise
Berlin Author Bernd von Kostka Duels in the Dark with Cold War History
John Pomfret and Polish American Intelligence Cooperation
Author Rebecca Donner Enters Hostile Archives to Find Anti-Nazi Spy Mildred Harnack.
Taking a Hard Look at the Five Eyes Agreement with Dr. Anthony Wells
McCloskey Deconstructs Damascus Station
A Spymaster and a Gentleman, Jack Devine Dispels CIA Myth and Dispenses his Truth
George Koval Discussion: The Atomic Spy Who Got Away
Former CIA Senior Intelligence Officer Marc Polymeropoulos Offers Clarity In Crisis
Daniel Levin Negotiates Hostage Release and Mediates Armed Conflict in the Middle East
Todd Bensman Surveys the Southern Border and the Convoluted Path of Human Trafficking
Toby Harnden Guides Us Back Into Afghanistan With CIA's Team Alpha, ODA 595, and the Northern Alliance with his new book: FIRST CASUALTY
A Moscow Station Conversation with John Sipher who Shares the Secret to a Good Spy Story
Author and former refugee, Kao Kalia Yang Reveals the Life, Loss, and Hmong Legacy of the Secret War in Laos
Author Jonathan Dyer Switches Back to his Time on Teufelsberg as an Army Intercept Operator with Field Station Berlin
International Security Risk Specialist Mike Croll Starts a New Conversation about Safety, Security and Risk
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
The Rest Is History
Lore