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January 2002
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest : e2k_news@hotmail.com
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XJT 'Jet Signals' | Book review : Confessions of a spy | News Items
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The British Legion's Festival of Remembrance, held at the Royal Albert Hall London featured a piece on those persons in Bletchley Park who were involved with the breaking of the ENIGMA code.
In keeping with that most important piece of British History there was also mention of the invention of Colossus, the world's first truly electronic computer.
The highlight of that piece was to see Sub-Lt Balme march across the arena. Readers of E2k's NL will remember from Issue 4 that Sub-Lt Balme removed an Enigma machine and other code related items from U-110, a disabled U-Boat in the Atlantic. The submarine was forced to the surface by HMS Bulldog on 9th May 1941.
Despatches Television Programme - A programme was broadcast on November 1st on Channel 4 (UK) in the Despatches series - considering the next move of the Al Qaeda network and Osama bin Laden. Although the programme was broad in its approach there was a short piece concerning the French Intelligence Service. A Shortwave receiver was shown and the operator keyed in the frequency 4367 kHz. It was only shown for a few seconds. Does the frequency have an significance ? [Tnx 'C']
'C' writes, 'I read a 'one line' note on the Spooks bulletin board that the U.S. listening station at Bad Aibling was now not closing as had previously been announced some time ago. Bad Aibling is the German equivalent of the British based U.S. listening station at Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire. according to the note posted, Bad Aibling had been 'saved' as a result of the events of September 11th. '
Confirming the above, E2k received:
The United States has put off closing a secretive Army spy base in southern Germany next year because of the war against terrorism, the U.S. military said Thursday.
The control post in the Bavarian spa town of Bad Aibling provides long-range communications for U.S. forces. Scheduled for closure as part of the U.S. troop drawdown in Europe, it will now stay open another two years until Sept. 30, 2004, said Lt. Col. Kenneth McClellan, a Defense Department spokesman in Washington. The postponement came about because U.S. military transport planes based elsewhere in Germany have been pressed into service for airstrikes and food drops on Afghanistan, McClellan said. The aircraft would otherwise be used to remove the spy base's electronic equipment. The communications and surveillance equipment at the base, about 35 miles southeast of Munich, also is likely to play a role in the U.S. war on terrorism.
[Thanks to AnonUS who sent this piece]
On Thursday 8th November a group of 11 British men and a woman were arrested after taking photographs of a military base. Also arrested were two Dutchmen.
The seized party were on holiday with a company that specialises in 'flying'. They are all being held in the southern Peloponnese. Originally charged with taking photographs in a restricted area the charges were changed to the much more serious charge of Spying. The party have been split up and placed in Greek gaols whilst the case is reviewed. Along with the 12 Britons two Dutch 'friends' were also arrested.
The objects claimed to be spied on were 35 year old 'Vietnam era' helicopters which Greece, it is claimed, are giving to other countries. This spying charge can carry a maximum of 20 years. One of the Britons in the party had a scanner 'capable of listening in to conversations between pilots and their control tower.'
The airbase where this 'spying' is meant to have occurred is near a hill-fort regularly visited by tourists and gives a commanding view of the airbase. Following a visit by a British MEP it emerged that the tour operator, also arrested, had been previously had contact with Turkish Military chiefs at a Turkish airshow he had reported on in his capacity as an aviation journalist. Given the antagonism between Greece and Turkey it is not hard to understand the interest in the group, and the tour operator. On 12/12 it was reported that the 12 Brits will face lesser charges of a misdemeanour [5 yr sentence possible] but were allowed home after paying £9000 each as surety. The final insult to the British Government was made when the British Embassy cheque for the total amount for all 12 British accused was checked to see that it was financially viable. Happily all those incarcerated are now enjoying the run up to Christmas in their own countries
Whilst listening to a local radio programme [1305z 29/11] where a discussion about this matter was in progress, an email from an ENIGMA 2000 member was read out. It stated:
"These charges may well be trumped up. What self-respecting intelligence agency would send 12 'spies' to do the same job? Answer: Not one! Mr Blair may well have become involved, but there is an outstanding matter with the Greeks of greater gravity than these enthusiasts; that of the Elgin Marbles. Are these hapless Aircraft spotters expected to be exchanged for the Marbles? Incidentally, the aircraft, actually helicopters, were some 35 years old. No secrets there!"
[Well done 'P']!
Local discussion of this matter revealed, "Tourism is a key industry in Greece, providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. The Greek government should be most wary about upsetting a Nation whose imports from Greece are on an average take of a miniscule 6% and whose tourist industry accounts for a much greater financial input. Obviously those in authority should be aware that tourists stop going to a particular country for such behaviour as recently displayed by the Hellenic Government."
British Government Radio Facilities In Cyprus - According to a report on the World Socialist Web Site more details have emerged concerning the planned six new radio antennae at Akrotiri military base. The six planned masts will be 190 feet (58 metres) high, and will be sited at a large salt lake within the Akrotiri base that is also home to much wildlife, particularly flamingos. London says the antennae should go into service in 2003, and are needed for the UK's military global communications network. Akrotiri is strategically located for reconnaissance aircraft, which can be mobilised quickly to monitor developments in the Middle East, and the base is also an operational centre for America's U-2 spy planes. ['C'].
The GCHQ premises at Benhall and Oakley are now on 'Bikini Amber Alert' according to the 'Gloucestershire Echo' Newspaper.
It is apparent that security experts 'fear Osama bin Laden's terrorist al-Qaida cells have the potential to detonate small nuclear devices and that GCHQ could be on a list of targets.'
With the above in mind GCHQ's some 4000 employees have been briefed on extra security measures whilst Gloucestershire Constabulary stepped up patrols of the area.
The 700 Carillion workers building the new doughnut HQ building for GCHQ,at Benhall, also evacuated due to a security alert.
[Thanks 'HP']
Jmm wrote in to draw e2k's interest to a story that was so interesting it has been withdrawn from the host website.
He was referring to Natalie Southworth's article 'On-line camouflage takes many forms. Toronto programmer's system thwarts prying eyes by making email look like innocuous spam.'
A website <spammimic.com> allows users to encode their message, by entering the line to be encoded which immediately encrypts this 'confidential' message in the form of a junk email. Particularly suited to stopping bosses and wives [or husbands] from being aware of the recipients business.
The recipient then enters the 'spam' into the sites decode line to recover the message.
The science of this is called stenography.
'Israeli intelligence agencies have not detected any link between Iraq and the September 11 terrorist attacks, officials have said. They also dismissed claims Osama bin Laden has acquired nuclear weapons. The Czech Republic has confirmed that the suspected ringleader of the September 11 hijackers, Mohammed Atta, had met and Iraqi intelligence agent in Prague earlier this year. But Israeli officials say this does not amount to evidence of Iraq's involvement in the attacks. "Our assessment is that bin Laden works without co-operating with governments", said one Israeli official. "It is too easy to detect the intelligence fingerprint of an administration or a leader. Many intelligence agencies are focused on Iraq. I am sure bin Laden is clever enough to avoid them. Telegraph 21.11.01. [Tnx 'C']
The European Union is to set up a defence intelligence service next year to back up its growing ambitions as a military power. Javier Solana, the EU's security chief, won backing from defence ministers to go ahead with plans for the agency, which will allow the EU to pull together classified data from the 15 defence ministries. The agency will serve the rapid reaction force, providing information for the new "SitCen" nerve centre in Brussels that monitors the globe around the clock. The force, which is not a atanding "Euro Army" will be able to draw on 100,000 troops, 400 aircraft and 100 ships. Telegraph 21.11.01. [Tnx 'C']
According to recent reports security as been increased at the RFE/RL HQ in Prague with armed guards following September 11 attacks, consideration is also been given to relocating the HQ which moved from Munich to Prague several years ago, to a more secure location. The Czech Security Service BIS as confirmed that former Iraqi consul Ahmad Ani had taken photographs of the RFE/RL building. Ani met terrorist leader Mohammed Atta in Prague. Ani was deported from the Czech Republic in April for matters "incompatible with his diplomatic status". Czech Radio via BBCMS. [Tnx 'C']
Simon Lappas, 26, has been charged with prejudicing the defence of Australia after Canberra Police intercepted information passed to a prostitute. It was apparent that the restricted documents were to be sold by the vice girl so that she could improve her life. Mr Lappas, a former intelligence analyst, admitted passing the documents on.
[Thanks Bruce]
A French Army Major has been jailed for two years for telling the Serbians the NATO planned targets in the Kosovo bombing campaign. He apparently handed the target listing over to the Serbs in October 1998.
All enquiries: 202 662-7109 Fax: 202 662-7127
Convicted of espionage and conspiracy to murder in a Miami federal court a ringleader of spies, Gerardo Hernandez, aged 36, was given two life sentences. The group of spies that he was said to lead were involved in the deaths of four exiles whose planes were shot down in 1996.
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