Soviet and U.S. Military Liaison Missions & US Counterintelligence SOXMIS & USMLM (196)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 3 September 2021

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

I speak with Aden Magee who operated as the commander of a highly specialized Counterintelligence (CI) unit in West Germany during the last decade of the Cold War. We talk about his book The Cold War Wilderness of Mirrors - Counterintelligence and the U.S. and Soviet Military Liaison Missions 1947–1990. This is a rare book that details some never-before documented accounts of the Soviet Military Liaison Mission (SMLM) in West Germany and the U.S. Military Liaison Mission (USMLM) in East Germany and shows how they were microcosms of the Cold War strategic intelligence and counterintelligence landscape. I also discuss with Aden how the book shows the impact of CIA Director James Angleton’s legacy which restricted counterintelligence operations long after his departure. Buy the book and help support the podcast. UK listeners buy here US listeners buy here What do you think the podcast is worth to you? Single or monthly donations really help keep the podcast on the air. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. I am delighted to welcome Aden Magee to our Cold War conversation… Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations 0:00 Introduction and discussion about weapons cache sites and suitcase nukes 0:17 Introduction to guest Aden McGee and his new book about strategic intelligence and counterintelligence during the Cold War 2:05 Sponsor: Podcast donations and mention of the Cold War Conversations Facebook group 3:47 Importance of documenting Cold War stories and in-depth discussion on the Soviet military liaison missions 10:35 Rotation of tours in East Germany and their intelligence collection capabilities 14:47 US's approach to counterintelligence and the importance of the USMLM's collection asset 19:04 Soviet's stance on guarding their SMLM/SOXMIS post and the normalization of ramming and shooting incidents under international law 24:14 Access to the Soviet military liaison mission compound and its implications 28:35 Likelihood of more covert activities by the Soviet military liaison mission 34:32 U.S. intelligence betrayals to the Soviets and the impact on the Cold War 53:42 Soviet penetration agents in the FBI and CIA and case of KGB Colonel Yachenko 1:00:32 Lack of urgency in addressing the mole issue within the CIA and the damaging impact of Aldrich Ames' betrayal 1:06:21 Conclusion and introduction of Aden Magee's book "The Cold War Wilderness of Mirrors" 1:06:57 Sponsor: Acknowledgement of the show's patrons and call to action for listener support 1:07:25 Closing remarks and goodbye from host Ian Sanders Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.7	We were starting to develop information regarding how they were establishing multiple weapons cache sites across the countryside.
0:13.3	There was also the suitcase nukes, which were small nuclear devices that were buried, you know, underground.
0:23.2	This is Cold War Conversations.
0:27.2	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to unknown accounts of the Cold War.
0:33.6	Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app so that you don't miss out on future episodes.
0:39.2	I speak with Aidan McGee, who operated as the commander of a highly specialized counterintelligence
0:46.8	unit in West Germany during the last decade of the Cold War.
0:52.1	We talk about his new book, The Cold War Wilderness of Mirrors,
0:56.9	counterintelligence in the US and Soviet military liaison missions,
1:01.7	1947 to 1990.
1:05.1	Now, this is a rare book that details some never- before documented accounts of the Soviet military liaison
1:13.6	mission, the SMLM, in West Germany and the US military liaison mission, USMLM, in East
1:21.6	Germany. And it shows how they were microcosms of the Cold War strategic intelligence and counterintelligence landscape.
1:30.8	I also discuss with Aiden how the book shows the impact of CIA director James Angleton's legacy,
1:39.0	which restricted counterintelligence operations long after his departure.
1:51.3	Now, I could do with your help to continue producing the podcast.
1:56.3	Single or monthly donations really help to keep the podcast on the air.
2:06.4	So if you could go along to Cold Warconversations.com slash donate and give what you think is worthy of the podcast.
2:08.7	I would really appreciate it.
2:18.2	And if you can't wait for next week's episode, I do recommend you visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search for Cold War Conversations in Facebook.
2:27.1	Now, I've been looking for accounts of the Soviet military liaison missions in West Germany for some time now.
	...

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