The hottest Intelligence Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Khomeini's right-hand man was a "Jeffersonian Democrat" womanizer — and other FBI stories

Matthew's Notebook • 78 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Intelligence Revolution Iran Diaspora Activism
  1. Newly-declassified documents shed light on Iranian revolutionary Sadeq Qotbzadeh's run-ins with the FBI.
  2. Qotbzadeh was labeled a 'Jeffersonian Democrat' despite his ties to Ayatollah Khomeini.
  3. The FBI had extensive intel on the Iranian-American diaspora through informants and surveillance.

Russiagate 2.0 loading...

Espionage& • 2 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Espionage Intelligence Foreign Relations Political Scandals Military operations
  1. Russia allegedly spent $30 million to influence the Taliban against American soldiers, reportedly as revenge for past CIA actions in Afghanistan. This shows how geopolitics can be shaped with money.
  2. The article raises concerns about the role of British Intelligence and suggests they might be trying to influence U.S. politics, particularly regarding Trump’s support for Ukraine.
  3. There's a mention of the previous 'Russiagate' scandal which impacted Trump’s presidency, hinting that similar tactics may be used again in the future. This points to ongoing political manipulation.

Uploading Our Brains. A Reality Check.

The Digital Anthropologist • 59 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🔬 Science Technology Consciousness Culture Intelligence Evolution
  1. Uploading our brains is a concept being explored, but its feasibility is uncertain. The journey may lead to advancements in treating brain-related diseases like dementia.
  2. Culture heavily influences the acceptance of new technologies like brain uploading. It challenges fundamental beliefs about human identity and the soul.
  3. The evolution towards technologies like brain uploading and AI reflects a shift towards augmenting cognitive abilities, marking an era of the Cognitive Age.
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ACF: Introducing a New Framework for Classifying AI Capabilities

The A.I. Analyst by Ben Parr • 58 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Frameworks Intelligence Development Assessment
  1. The AI Classification Framework (ACF) offers a new way to assess AI capabilities beyond the Turing test.
  2. The ACF evaluates AI based on eight modalities and aims to measure progress towards more advanced AI.
  3. Moving on from the outdated Turing test, the ACF provides a more relevant framework for understanding and developing AI.

Russians Accused of Doctoring Leaked Western Documents on Ukraine War

The Newsguy -- Steve Herman • 58 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Military Propaganda Leaks Intelligence Conflict
  1. Classified U.S. and NATO planning documents about the Ukraine war were leaked online and suspected of being altered by Russians.
  2. The leaked documents show altered casualty numbers to manipulate public opinion, especially in Russia.
  3. There are claims that the leaked documents were part of a propaganda operation by either side to mislead and gain advantage.

As Israel Reels From Mass Deaths and a Seeming Intel Failure, Evidence Mounts of Negligence By Netanyahu—Or Maybe Something More Sinister

Proof • 136 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Israel Intelligence Conflict Autocracy
  1. Israel's intelligence services failed to foresee a massive invasion, leading to questions about negligence by Netanyahu.
  2. Netanyahu's political maneuvers and focus on the West Bank may have distracted from potential threats in Gaza.
  3. Netanyahu's actions before and during the crisis raise concerns about his motivations and willingness to create or allow a crisis to benefit his political agenda.

Putin Punks America

Diane Francis • 439 implied HN points • 13 May 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cybersecurity Foreign Relations National Security Intelligence Geopolitics
  1. The recent cyberattack on a major U.S. oil pipeline is believed to have ties to Russia and may have been orchestrated by hackers linked to the Russian government.
  2. The U.S. faces serious vulnerability to cyberattacks, as many critical infrastructures lack proper security, and major attacks have increased recently.
  3. There are calls for the U.S. to take stronger actions against Russia, such as sanctions or shutting down important pipelines that benefit Russia economically.

Commentator

Castalia • 79 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Policy Intelligence Censorship Foreign Relations Civil Rights
  1. The recent U.S. intelligence leak highlights serious security flaws and morale issues within the military. Access to sensitive information seems too lax, allowing unauthorized personnel to leak crucial documents.
  2. AI technology is increasingly being used in censorship, affecting how we communicate and share information. Restrictions based on certain topics show that platforms are enforcing strict guidelines that may stifle open discourse.
  3. Emmanuel Macron's recent comments on global conflicts indicate a growing pressure in Europe for a more independent foreign policy. His stance may weaken NATO's unity in facing challenges from Russia and China during critical times.

THE GENERAL WHO WOULD NOT BE SILENCED

Seymour Hersh • 48 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Intelligence Cold War Foreign Relations
  1. James C. Pfautz had a successful military career, flying combat missions in Vietnam and holding high-ranking positions in Air Force intelligence.
  2. Pfautz was known to push his staff hard, aiming for excellence in the intelligence work they produced.
  3. An intriguing story revolves around the 1983 shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 by a Soviet pilot, highlighting the critical question of whether the pilot knew he was targeting a commercial airliner.

Vlad's Rad

Diane Francis • 319 implied HN points • 02 Sep 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Espionage Intelligence Military Health Technology
  1. The Havana Syndrome is a mysterious illness affecting U.S. diplomats and spies, with symptoms linked to strange sounds and neurological damage. This has prompted an investigation by a CIA task force.
  2. Officials suspect that advanced microwave technology may be involved, but there’s still no clear evidence of how it works or who is responsible. This raises concerns about hybrid warfare tactics.
  3. Past incidents, like the attacks on diplomats in Cuba and China, indicate a pattern of targeting U.S. officials, leading experts to believe the attacks could qualify as acts of war.

Solves maths Olympiad problems, doesn’t grasp place value: What kind of intelligence is GPT-4?

Augmented • 39 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Education Assessment Intelligence Language Models
  1. GPT-4 can solve complex problems but struggles with basic math concepts.
  2. Large language models like GPT-4 excel in certain areas but show limitations in understanding.
  3. The standards used to measure intelligence need to be reevaluated based on the capabilities of AI like GPT-4.

Who did 9/11? Whodunnit? Court Filing Shows The CIA (FBI, etc.) Dunnit

Global Community Weekly (GloCom) • 39 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Investigation Intelligence Terrorism Government
  1. Former FBI Special Agent Rossini had advance knowledge of 9/11 but did nothing to stop the attacks
  2. Court filing suggests troubling CIA links to two 9/11 hijackers, raising questions about recruitment and coverups
  3. CIA's Alec Station had unusual practices and operatives failed upwards after 9/11 attacks, raising doubts about their intentions

GPT-4 invalidates the Turing test

Gray Mirror • 110 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Computing Intelligence Models Algorithms
  1. Large language models like GPT-4 are not AI, but they are powerful tools that connect patterns and rely on intuition.
  2. The Turing test is not a valid test for AGI, as machines like LLMs can invalidate it by excelling in certain tasks while lacking in others.
  3. Understanding the difference between general and special intelligence is key to not overestimating the capabilities of tools like GPT-4.

Into Siberia: The Long Arm of Ukrainian Intelligence and the Green Wedge

Glen’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine Russia Infrastructure Trade Intelligence
  1. Ukrainian intelligence conducted bold and strategic attacks deep inside Russia, impacting Russian trade routes and signaling a vulnerability in Siberia.
  2. The Green Wedge, a large Ukrainian community in the Russian Far East, poses a security threat to Moscow and has historical significance in Ukrainian nationalism.
  3. The recent railway attacks in Siberia will likely escalate into a broader Ukrainian sabotage campaign in the Russian Far East, affecting Russian-China trade relations and military logistics.

MY FIFTY YEARS WITH DAN ELLSBERG

Seymour Hersh • 107 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Investigative Journalism War reporting Intelligence Presidential elections
  1. Seymour Hersh had a close and impactful relationship with Dan Ellsberg for over 50 years, centered around Vietnam War discussions and shared experiences.
  2. Dan Ellsberg played a crucial role in leaking the Pentagon Papers and exposing White House abuses during the Vietnam War era.
  3. Ellsberg's dedication to truth and exposing secret operations, even at personal risk, left a lasting impact on those around him.

How To Identify A Good Programmer

Morad’s Substack • 7 HN points • 24 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Programming Learning Intelligence Experience
  1. Passion is a key indicator of a good programmer - they should be enthusiastic about programming, even outside of work.
  2. Good programmers love learning and are self-teaching, constantly exploring new technologies without needing formal training.
  3. Intelligence is crucial for a good programmer - they are smart, have various interests, and usually start programming before university or formal education.

Facebook Rapidly Shuts Down Conversation of 2024 Election Engineering

Rounding the Earth Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Social media Manipulation Intelligence
  1. Facebook is quick to censor discussions about election engineering. Posts about how the 2024 election might be influenced can disappear rapidly.
  2. There are suspicions that Facebook could be part of a larger scheme involving intelligence agencies. Its history appears to align with data mining operations rather than just a casual college project.
  3. People might be unaware of psychological tactics being used against them. This raises concerns about manipulation during significant events like elections.

RUSSIAGATE'S MISSING PIECES

Seymour Hersh • 76 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Investigations Election Intelligence Government Campaign
  1. John Durham's report suggests that Russiagate was initiated by the Clinton campaign and aided by political reporters and senior FBI officials.
  2. Durham's inquiry reveals that the Clinton campaign might have funded the Steele Reports and Alfa Bank allegations to smear a political opponent.
  3. The focus of Durham's report was on who knew about the alleged Clinton Plan intelligence, indicating a potential political smear campaign.

Pentagon is Combining Corporate Records and Social Media Surveillance to Guide Hacking and Influence Operations

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 101 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Military Intelligence Surveillance Cyber Operations Information Warfare
  1. Pentagon is combining corporate records and social media surveillance for hacking and influence operations.
  2. Corporate surveillance firms were discussing providing bulk surveillance data for purposes like protecting the NATO brand.
  3. U.S. military and intelligence agencies are developing offensive information warfare industry using social media surveillance, corporate records analysis, and cellphone location-tracking.

The Physics of Intelligence

Breaking Smart • 99 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🔬 Science Physics AI Intelligence Systems Computation
  1. The physics of intelligence is not substrate dependent, similar to the physics of flight.
  2. The key questions in understanding the physics of intelligence relate to attention, memory, and the relationship between intelligence and information.
  3. Intelligence is not just about computation, but also about embodiment and specific interactions within the universe.

THE FALL OF JAMES JESUS ANGLETON

Seymour Hersh • 63 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence Foreign Relations Nuclear Weapons Government History
  1. The article discusses the refusal of the Biden administration to declassify 48-year-old Senate testimony by James Angleton, the notorious onetime head of CIA counterintelligence.
  2. Pervez Musharraf criticized US efforts to monitor Pakistan's nuclear arsenal due to the US policy of denying Israel's membership in the global nuclear club.
  3. The text mentions Seymour Hersh's encounter with James Angleton, who was in charge of the CIA's illegal domestic spying program and part of Washington's Old Boys network.

A Case for Moderate IQ Skepticism

Tom Thought • 19 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🔬 Science Psychology Intelligence Measurement Bias
  1. Performance on cognitive tasks is correlated, so individuals who excel in one area tend to excel in others as well.
  2. IQ tests are useful in predicting various life outcomes, but it's important to recognize that they are not a direct measure of intelligence.
  3. It's crucial to be skeptical of assigning deep meaning to specific IQ scores, especially when comparing across different populations.

Was the DMED Psyop a British Intelligence Operation?

Rounding the Earth Newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence Military Health Data Integrity Government Contracts Public Policy
  1. The DMED project involves military health data, and there are claims of serious data issues that were ignored. This lack of action raises suspicions about its integrity.
  2. There seems to be a connection between figures in the movement against COVID vaccines and intelligence agencies, which adds layers of complexity to the conversation about vaccine safety.
  3. Some of the leading individuals in the Medical Freedom Movement have backgrounds that hint at broader agendas, creating doubt about their true intentions.

Pollster for Niger coup support is a surveillance platform for U.S. Special Operations Forces

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 61 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Surveillance Intelligence
  1. A poll on Niger's coup support was conducted by a company that serves as a surveillance platform for U.S. Special Operations Forces.
  2. Premise Data, the pollster, has connections to U.S. military training and operations in various countries.
  3. Other U.S. intelligence contractors, like Two Six Technologies, also use polling as a cover for covert operations.

Understanding™, or the computational theory of mind

Silicon Reckoner • 19 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Mind Understanding Intelligence Science Theory
  1. The computational theory of mind is based on a metaphor and tends to take symbolic logic too seriously.
  2. Trademarked concepts like intelligence™ may limit the full understanding of intelligence by excluding certain human emotions like wonder and anxiety.
  3. Understanding in mathematics involves knowing what to calculate and having the technical skill to make those calculations.

He Just Can't Win: After Enduring Chinese Balloon Criticism, Republican Calls Biden 'Trigger-happy'

The Washington Current • 19 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Defense Intelligence Military Security
  1. Republicans criticize Biden for not acting on Chinese spy balloon, then call him 'trigger-happy' for taking down other objects.
  2. US shot down multiple unidentified flying objects after the Chinese balloon incident, raising security concerns.
  3. Increased vigilance post-balloon incident leads to heightened detection of aerial objects in the US and Canada.