Last month’s spectacular terrorist attack on a concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow, which left 144 people dead, was quickly followed by startling news that US intelligence had warned the Russians about the impending assault. When the Kremlin said the warnings hadn’t been specific, moreover, US officials pushed back, saying, in effect, “Oh yes they were,” and added details to its rejoinder. Likewise, it turned out that back in January, US intelligence had warned Iran about an impending Islamic State terrorist attack at a gathering to honor its fallen Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani, who had been killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad.

The revelations that our spy services had actually warned two of our greatest mortal enemies astounded many people and triggered a lot of acidic commentary, confusion and the inevitable conspiracy theories on social media.

Today’s guest, former CIA case officer and base chief Laura Thomas, who held a number of senior intelligence positions during her nearly 16 years of government service, says those actions followed a standard practice in American intelligence. It’s called “a duty to warn.” And she’s here to explain how that seemingly esoteric, even confounding, practice is not only a staple of the spy world—at least on the American side—but it has some espionage benefits as well.

Laura Thomas
https://twitter.com/laurae_thomas

https://www.lauraethomas.com/

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New SpyTalk Contributing Editor Mike Isikoff pokes holes in 60 Minutes’ blockbuster story.

Michael Isikoff
https://twitter.com/Isikoff

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Jeff talks with Henry Schlesinger, author of "Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal, and Weaponized Love."

Henry Schlesinger
Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal, and Weaponized Love
https://a.co/d/cwXy65Z

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Jonna Mendez, former CIA chief of disguises, discusses her new book, “In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked.”

Jonna Mendez
In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked
https://www.amazon.com/True-Face-Womans-Life-Unmasked/dp/154170312X

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Former top CIA ops official Dan Hoffman talks with Jeff about options on Putin.

Daniel Hoffman
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Former US Army “influence ops” specialist Paul Cobaugh talks with Jeff about combatting conspiracy mongering. 

More from Paul Cobaugh
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-cobaugh-5253b335/
truthaboutthreats.com/

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Former CIA officials Kristin Wood and Martin Petersen built a Red Cell project on The Cipher Brief to challenge experts to explore how China came to supplant the US by 2041.

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Former Special Forces and CIA case officer James Stejskal chats with Jeff Stein about Berlin, Russia and more.

More from our Guest:

James Stejskal 
https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Stejskal/author/B00NXOQG4Y?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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