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Countering counterintelligence? A study of CIA counterintelligence

Bech-Jansen, Harald LU (2024) UNDK02 20232
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Counterintelligence is the activities and efforts aimed at protecting the intelligence agency from the adversary. This study examines CIA counterintelligence during the Cold War with a focus on defensive counterintelligence. Using a case study of convicted spy Aldrich Ames, the study sets out to answer whether there were differences in status and resources between defensive and offensive counterintelligence, how they were expressed, and what the possible consequences were. The findings are that in the CIA during the Cold War, defensive counterintelligence had lower status and less resources, particularly in the areas of security. The effects of this were expressed in security being severely underfunded and regarded as unsophisticated, and... (More)
Counterintelligence is the activities and efforts aimed at protecting the intelligence agency from the adversary. This study examines CIA counterintelligence during the Cold War with a focus on defensive counterintelligence. Using a case study of convicted spy Aldrich Ames, the study sets out to answer whether there were differences in status and resources between defensive and offensive counterintelligence, how they were expressed, and what the possible consequences were. The findings are that in the CIA during the Cold War, defensive counterintelligence had lower status and less resources, particularly in the areas of security. The effects of this were expressed in security being severely underfunded and regarded as unsophisticated, and defensive counterintelligence being considered less important than offensive, which attracted flawed and mediocre personnel. The consequences of this are highlighted in the case of Aldrich Ames,
in which the CIA failed to prevent his espionage and it took considerable time for them to catch him. Finally, specific suggestions of how certain counterintelligence measures could have aided in the discovery of Ames are presented. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bech-Jansen, Harald LU
supervisor
organization
course
UNDK02 20232
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Counterintelligence, CIA, Aldrich Ames, Security, Espionage
language
English
id
9149799
date added to LUP
2024-05-24 11:05:53
date last changed
2024-05-24 11:05:53
@misc{9149799,
  abstract     = {{Counterintelligence is the activities and efforts aimed at protecting the intelligence agency from the adversary. This study examines CIA counterintelligence during the Cold War with a focus on defensive counterintelligence. Using a case study of convicted spy Aldrich Ames, the study sets out to answer whether there were differences in status and resources between defensive and offensive counterintelligence, how they were expressed, and what the possible consequences were. The findings are that in the CIA during the Cold War, defensive counterintelligence had lower status and less resources, particularly in the areas of security. The effects of this were expressed in security being severely underfunded and regarded as unsophisticated, and defensive counterintelligence being considered less important than offensive, which attracted flawed and mediocre personnel. The consequences of this are highlighted in the case of Aldrich Ames,
in which the CIA failed to prevent his espionage and it took considerable time for them to catch him. Finally, specific suggestions of how certain counterintelligence measures could have aided in the discovery of Ames are presented.}},
  author       = {{Bech-Jansen, Harald}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Countering counterintelligence? A study of CIA counterintelligence}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}