• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

October 10, 2004 Issue #3 President Joan M. min Schutz, PHD and Andy Straka of Virginia. Press Release The morning seminar included a panel Beach Sworn In discussion involving Dr. Schutz, Mr. Gores, Destination: Alan Marr, Al Farr and Kitty Hailey discussing Lisbon Portugal for 2005 AGM By Lois Colley, USA "The Then" (of Private Investigations). The First Vice President Jay Groob has an- afternoon session included Mr. Straka, and Joan M. Beach was sworn in as President nounced the 2005 Annual General Meeting CII members Paneen Allen, Steve Bibler, and at the 2004 AGM held in her hometown of will be held September 6-10, 2005 in Cas- Alexandria, VA. In addition to assuming sias, Portugal, located just outside of the presidency, President Beach was the Lisbon, one of the top five convention organizing chairperson and conference sites in the world. Jay Groob and CII host. The 2004 AGM was very well at- member Roy W hitehouse will host the tended with over 194 attendees. The conference. Robert Dudash and Ponno seminar program embraced the theme of Kalastree will assist in planning. Roy "The Then and the Now" and also com- W hitehouse reports that Lisbon is excep- memorated CII for 50 years of excellence tionally accessible, with direct flights from as an association. (1954-2004). Guests a number of geographical locations, in- included Senator Patricia S. Ticer, 30th cluding England, Spain, France, Canada, Pawan Ahluwalia, Robert Dudash, and Ponno Kalastree... District of Virginia, USA; Honorable Johanna and the United States. Vicki Marr representing "The Now" (of Private L. Fitzpatrick, Court of Appeals, Mystery According to Groob, it is one of the least W riters Joe Gores of California, and Benja- Investigation). Luncheon speaker was Attor- expensive destinations in Europe, with a ney Peter Greenspun, Esq. of the now infa- good public transportation system. The con- mous "DC Sniper" case. A Networking Tour ference will be held at the Hotel Baia in Cas- In This Issue: was conducted on Friday September 10, sias, where all of the rooms have balconies which included a well-received trip to The Spy FEATURE ARTICLE: Page 2 overlooking the ocean. Although the climate The CIA‘s Work Must Not Museum. The highlight of the AGM was per- is known for its long, hot summers, the Be Im peded By Politics haps the Dancing and music by The HUB- weather should be fantastic at the time of our Fact vs. Fiction: Page 2 CAPS in the Grand ballroom of the Hilton Conference in early September 2005. Roy The Image of the Private Investigator in Literature Hotel on Friday evening. This event was W hitehouse and Jay Groob are seeking preceded by the Silent Auction, which gener- Licensing and Cooperation Page 4 themes for the 2005 AGM and welcome any between the Public and ated proceeds of $5824USD. The Gala and suggestions for conference speakers or Private Investigation Sectors Banquet was held on Saturday, September 11 topics from our membership. Members, this Private Investigation in Page 5 with Master of Ceremony Rodney W ebb, and China: Is There Such a is your conference, so get involved! Thing? keynote speaker Judge Johanna L. Fitz- 2004 AGM Silent and Live Page 5 patrick, who swore in President Beach. More Auction is Financial Success dancing was held with the DESIGNER Member News Page 6 SOUNDS following the Black tie Gala and Legislative News from Page 7 Banquet. Around the W orld The International Councillor Staff CII Gossip Column Page 11 Close call with the POD Page 11 Editor: (”Pals of Derek‘) Football! Jimmy Gahan Committee Appointments Page 12 Assistant Editors: From 2004-2005 Lois Colley Sheila Kalastree Officers and Board Members Page 12 The CIA‘s W ork and analyzed, and they may make it worse. overcome the diplomatic, political and legal Must Not Be Im peded US intelligence agencies and their foreign obstacles to implementing paramilitary cov- counterparts are already functioning at full ert activities, let alone maintain the speed By Politics capacity and are aware of the need to co- and efficiency with which the CIA can carry ordinate intelligence. Restructuring can do them out. By Jack Devine little to improve the situation or provide Finally, embedded in the report is a rec- greater security for America and its allies. ommendation to create a new agency to Demands for U.S. intelligence reform No matter which path we pursue–that exploit open-source-data from the internet, have arrived in the high season of presiden- recommended by the 9/11 ...the CIA‘s resources foreign language broadcasts tial politics. This is regrettable. W hile no commission and endorsed to hire, train, and de- and media publications–a one questions the need for structural and without reservation by John ploy —spym asters“ task that is already part of budgetary changes, Partisanship could un- Kerry or the modified pro- abroad m ust be sub- the every-day work of CIA stantially increased... dermine meaningful reform and impose an posal by George W . Bush–it analysts. This represents urgency on the process that would be both is critical that we strengthen, not weaken, the yet another costly redundancy. unrealistic and counterproductive. At the CIA and its ability to —collect the dots“. The congressional process is indispensa- same time, there is an exaggerated focus on First, Congress must make it a priority to ble to good government when it works in the the need to improve the co-ordination of confirm Porter Goss as the new CIA director. interest of the nation rather than political intelligence data between government de- In addition to his considerable congressional parties. This can be such a moment. The partments–to —connect the dots“. intelligence oversight experience, Mr. Goss 9/11 commission‘s recommendations for Breaking down bureaucratic barriers to offers the unique advantage of having actually intelligence reform must be thoroughly re- analysis is legitimate and laudable. But we served in the CIA as a —clandestine operations view and debated in a non-partisan manner. must not lose sight of the fact that the most office“. His detailed understanding of covert Only if this is done will the CIA be strength- important task is —collecting the dots“. The operations abroad–both their strengths and ened, as it should be. Central Intelligence Agency is the —point of weaknesses–will eliminate the need for a the lance“, heading efforts to obtain intelli- lengthy period to get to know the agency and Jack Devine is a former CIA associate deputy director of operations and president provide extraordinary insight into managing gence abroad and penetrate and destroy of The Arkin Group, a New York intelligence terrorist cells. Since September 11 2001, reform there. consulting firm. This article first appeared in the August 18, 2004 edition of the Financial Second, the CIA‘s resources to hire, train, the CIA has done a highly commendable job, Times and is reprinted here with the author‘s as demonstrated by the recent arrest on and deploy —spymasters“ abroad must be kind permission. Pakistan of Mohammad Naeem Noor Khan, substantially increased. The agency has a computer engineer allegedly involved in been stretched thin covering the terrorist running a communications system for al- threat, Iraq and other priorities that pre-date Qaeda leaders. It is essential that we do not September 11. undermine the agency‘s operation capability The proposed National Counter Terrorism while creating a W ashington-based bureauc- Center (NCTC) must be tied to the CIA, no to racy. the new national intelligence director, and it The 9/11 commission‘s proposals must should be led be a senior CIA official with Fact versus Fiction: be taken for what they are: thoughtful rec- direct access to the CIA director. Intelligence The Im age of the Private ommendations, no infallible collection, analysis and plan- Investigator in Literature truths. The congressional ...Congress m ust m ake ning must be part of the same hearing have revealed that it a priority to confirm chain of command. Other- Porter Goss as the new wise, we risk making deci- By Joan Beach and Lois Colley implementing the proposed CIA director... changes will be complicated sions based on disjointed, and they have reinforced what intelligence faulty intelligence and analysis. Above all, the Is truth really stranger than fiction? Are professionals already know: that, above all, temptation to create another free-standing all PI‘s miserable? W riters, psychologists reforms needs to be done right, rather than intelligence agency must by resisted. and private investigators united in Alexandria quickly. Paramilitary covert action should remain a to discuss the evolution of the role of the If thoughtfully implemented, the commis- CIA function. The 9/11 commission recom- Private Detective. Guest panelists included sion‘s recommendations may streamline mends transferring such operations to the mystery writers Benjamin Schutz, Ph.D., Joe intelligence and budgetary activities, but they Department of Defense. If there were to oc- Gores and Andy Straka. Following the pres- will not improve how intelligence is collected cur, it is difficult to imagine how the US would entation, many of their books were person- 2 ally autographed and offered for sale. W hile cisco in the 1960‘s, Gores enlightened us as ”FUTURE‘, some of us should start writing the writers humbly down played their own to how every day —real life“ experiences pro- ”TRUE‘ stories, that could be better than talent, they enthusiastically absorbed first vide a wealth of great stories to transpose into fiction,“ offered Marr. W hile noting that his hand information about the industry from the interesting fiction. Gores affirmed a common six foot three inches and two hundred and private investigators in attendance.

Load more

  12

Copy Link