Spies Cafe - The Hospitality of Spies

Hint for spies deep undercover in times of war, or escaping after an assignment, don't ask for Burger & Fries or a Bud Light. The years of training for a spy can be blown in a few short minutes if they can't fit into the local scene in the countries they need to operate. Interviewing many former spies that came over again and again. You have to think, eat, drink and act like the locals.

That started us thinking at Spies Cafe, what a great concept for us to host a series of dinners showcasing the many cuisines and customs of the world. We turned to Jim Swenson, renowned Executive Chef of the presigious national Press Club and asked him what regional and national dishes need to be understood by a Secret Agent, or business traveller for that matter.

The Spies Cafe dinners will be published later in 2008, ready for the cold dark nights when a glass of good Russian Vodka, or Rice Wine will go well with the unique cuisine from the featured country.

George Washington's Spies

Philadelphia was the backdrop for exploring the Spies of the Revolutionary War, and how George Washington used young children, and merchants to take messages through the British lines.

We were joined by local historians and military experts in a special program from Spies Cafe. With original portraits of Washington and Civil War Presidents looking down on us we learned of the role of espionage in tipping the scales in the favor of Washington.

The Valley Forge area, as well as Philadelphia has many stories to tell about espionage, and we look forward to scheduling more Spies Cafe's in the future.

Defining the Space Race

Months before being grabbed by Hollywood, as well as developed as a PBS Nova special, leading Author Paul Dickson gave a presentation to Spies Cafe and explained the events that led to the launch of Sputnik, and the many implications it had for American and European military and intelligence policy.

Paul has spent two years researching the whole Sputnik project and has published "Sputnik - The Shock of the Century". He is the author of over 50 books and a well respected speaker around the United States. Sputnik had a much larger effect on the US Military than most imagine and shattered many long held notions of superiority. For if the Soviets could launch a satellite into Earth Orbit they could certainly lob a missile into anywhere in the United States. The Nova Special was aired in November 2007.

In the words of Walter Cronkite "Paul Dickson's indefatigable research and reportorial lucidity have given us a fascinating history of the event that forever changed the world."

Wayne Madsen Stirs it Up Again

Controversial Intelligence Author Wayne Madsen, a regular presenter at the Spies Cafe is often found addressing audiences across the United States and recently in Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and Berlin, as well as Finland about his new book, Jaded Tasks. This book has precipitated the anger of the Bush family and every dirty trick was used to prevent it's publishing. The German translation though is on open sale, and is a huge success.

He served in the US Navy, and the NSA and takes great delight uncovering the illegal, though highly profitable activities of politicians. He is an entertaining speaker and answers a wide spectrum of questions in amazing depth.

He explains the success of his online magazine the Wayne Madsen Report, now one of the most popular anti-Bush Blogs on the Internet as "Writing about matters the others dare not!" Wayne holds audiences spell bound with his stories about the activities of politicians and governments. Activities hidden from the American public, and in many cases the Courts and law enforcement. Madsen is one investigative journalist the Bush Administration wishes would find another profession!

Two Sons of Famous Cold Warriors Meet

Washington, DC --- The setting was the Polish Embassy in Washington, DC. Ambassadors from Hungary and Poland hosted a reception for The Cold War Museum. But "A photo speaks a thousand words" for here Alan Simpson is with Gary Powers, son of Francis Gary Powers the U2 pilot shot down over the Soviet Union, and Sergei Kruschev son of Premier Nikita Kruschev, the leader of the Soviet Union at the time he was shot down. Sadly Ross Mark, the Daily Express Bureau Chief in Moscow, who broke the story for the western press, and became a regular visitor to the trial of Francis Powers died a few weeks ago.

The entire day had been an academic analysis of the many conflicts which shaped Polish, Hungarian and ultimately world politics. Today many of the key players of the Cold War live in the United States, and the inside insights of the politics of that period are finally being told.

Cold War Museum

Gary Powers Jr tells Spies Cafe he is moving forward with plans to open the Cold War Museum being planned for an old Nike Missile base in Loudon, Virginia.

The land and buildings are being donated by the State of Virginia to house the museum and all the Cold War artifacts donated over the years. Gary has spent many years lobbying government to build the museum and has been successful in obtaining the required not for profit status, and government authorizations to create the museum. You can learn a lot more at ColdWar.org

We look forward to providing the museum with the full support of Spies Cafe, Spy School and Spy Games as well as having Gary and the Cold War experts appear at future Spies Cafe's in Philadelphia.

Intelligence Journalists Meet

The obvious place for international espionage and intelligence journalists to meet is the National Press Club in Washington, DC. at a Spies Cafe meeting. These ongoing meetings, usually around the Bar, allow a frank exchange of information, investigation, breaking scandals and often heated debates. Many items labeled as "Conspiracy Theories" often turn out to be factual as the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are uncovered.

Most arguments about conspiracy theories involve Wayne Madsen whose track record of turning laughable conspiracies theories about the Bush family into indictable facts is amazing. Truth is often stranger than fiction. We are very fortunate to have the ability to meet leading authors and reporters from around the world on a regular basis, an invaluable networking resource for understanding the world of intelligence and espionage. Often political figures visiting Washington come by for "Off the Record" briefings. These have include Members of the European Parliament and even past and present leaders of African nations seeking to expose the corruption and war crimes of concern in their region.

Caught by the Stasi

Call Werner Juretzko a Spy and he gets very annoyed. "I was an Intelligence Agent collecting information for the United States, not a spy!" Well when the Stasi caught him and threw him into prison they thought differently. Werner tells of his time in prison, and his famous cell mates.

Werner tell of his work, and how he could tell what the military was planning by watching railroad cars, and how they were loaded. Werner watched the railroad traffic for both the British and American Intelligence Services.

But Werner's observations go much further back, born in Silesia he was drafted into the Nazi Wermacht in the closing months of the Second World War and as a boy soldier was used to carry messages and ammunition to the front lines fighting the Soviet advances. He was thrown into prison and learned much from Nazi Officers, who educated him on their military reasoning.

Werner was exchanged for a captured Soviet Agent and moved to the United States. He returned to his former Prison and came back with his cell door, which he donated to the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. He contributed much to developing the Spy Museum exhibits featuring the underground tunnels under Berlin, and made radio commercials to promote the museum.

Too Authentic for Werner

There was one meeting where Werner broke out into a cold sweat when he saw the photographs. The reenactment team used by historical societies, even film makers joined us to show the authentic uniforms of the Stasi. Werner lives in Chicago, but he admitted to chills down the spine when he saw how realistic they were.

The team of period experts were working with Gary Powers, Jr.at a presentation in the National Archives. They took time out to come across to the National Press Club and share with us all the researched facts about the Stasi and East German military. As we all walked across Pennsylvania Avenue many stared and the police took a long look at these strange uniforms. Not to worry they are authentic, but not real. But to anyone who felt the business end of their boots, they brought back fearful memories. Thanks for a very informative and entertaining presentation.

Camp X and James Bond

Journalists, authors and historians gathered in Washington for the Spies Cafe featuring Canadian Lynn Hodgson, author of Camp X the story of the secret training camp in Whitby, Ontario, where secret agents were trained during WWII. Lynn Hodgson is the author of several books on Camp X and training Agents in Canada during WWII. The actual site of Camp X is long gone, but many of the artifacts have been saved in one of the best Spy Museums anywhere.

It was at Camp X that the character James Bond was created, by Ian Fleming during his service at Camp X in Canada. Even Fleming would not have expected the interest in his work all these years later. The Bond "franchise" has stood the test of time, with the character changing to suit the public perception of a Secret Agent. Many regard Sir Sean Connery as the most believable. We were fortunate to meet Sir Sean Connery when he visited The National Press Club in Washington, DC.

No Publicity Please!

There is an ongoing debate over keeping the Intelligence world secret and hidden away from the eyes of the public, the taxpayers who fund the whole intelligence community. Over the years we have understood that visitors from the Intelligence Community, or major news bureaus want to talk at Spies Cafe yet don't want their pictures splashed across the Internet. The "Off the Record" and "Off the Internet" presentations have covered everything from Iran, Intelligence in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Kurdish Independence, Nuclear Terrorism to Sex and the White House.

We respect the wishes of those who want to tell their stories, yet would prefer not to see their photograph published around the world for all to see. Some of the most interesting Spies Cafe meetings have been held under these rules, and the learning experiences have been outstanding. What really went on thirty years ago can now be revealed, and fact is often stranger than fiction. Many of the first hand description read like a Tom Clancy novel. We will continue these "Off the Record" meetings and request all to honor the wishes of those who have devoted their lives to gaining intelligence for their country.

Tribute to Ross Mark

A long time supporter and contributor to Spies Cafe died from a long illness in July, 2006. His Australian wit and insight into global espionage and intrigue will be missed by all

Gary Powers, Jr. son of Francis Gary Powers, the U2 pilot shot down over the Soviet Union is seen here presenting a copy of the book on the U2 incident to Ross Mark, the Daily Express Moscow Bureau Chief, who was the first to see the wreckage of the U2, even before an angry Nikita Khrushchev arrived at the scene and had Ross thrown out of the area. Ross covered the trial, and met all the players. This was the first time he had met Gary, and they exchanged an amazing amount of information.

Ross had a goldmine of first hand information of the Cold War as he served in London, Moscow and Washington with contact with all the key players.

Spy School & Spy Games

The team at ComLinks have been pioneers in unclassified intelligence training and espionage based entertainment for over 30 years. No matter how we talk about the requirements of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering the public still insists on calling us "The Spy School". The practical Tradecraft and exercises have earned the name "Spy Games", and tens of thousands from around the world have shown an interest in the team building and entertainment value of what started out as deadly serious training.

The OSINT Center has been a leader in developing counter intelligence, and corporate intelligence managers, and is developing new international training and briefing technologies for the next generation of intelligence departments. Many of these courses are available for team building, and persuading the sales force and distributor network to take Open Source Intelligence seriously, and become part of the network.

Communication Links, Inc., PO Box 2808, Easton, MD 21601 Tel: (410) 820 0491