Counterintelligence experts say privacy rules hamper their work
By Toby Westerman. © 2001
WorldNetDaily.com. May 15, 2001.
U.S. spy cops are hampered by privacy restrictions in their efforts to stem
the activities of Russian agents working in the United States, according to
counterintelligence experts, who deem the foreign operatives a "severe
danger to the national security of this country."
The statements were made by counterintelligence specialists addressing a
Heritage Foundation Forum, "Espionage in the New Millennium," held
last week and telecast on the C-SPAN network.
Attempts to thwart the activities of foreign intelligence officers working
in the U.S. are often hindered by laws dating back to the 1970s and 80s, which
were initially designed to safeguard the privacy of U.S. citizens.
As a result, counterintelligence agents are restrained from opening mail,
even if sent to a known foreign agent, and severe restrictions are placed upon
U.S. agents' use of wiretaps, according to Herbert Romerstein, author and head
of the Office to Counter Soviet Disinformation at the U.S. Information Agency
from 1983 to 1989.
Romerstein is the author of "The Venona Secrets," an examination
of the super-secret operation to counter Soviet espionage in the U.S. during
World War II and in the post-World War II era.
Referring to the case of FBI agent Robert Hanssen, accused of spying for the
Soviet Union and then the Russian Federation, Romerstein stated that, "the
Hanssen case couldn't be broken through standard intelligence methods."
Hanssen's file was removed from Russian intelligence and physically
transferred to the U.S., Romerstein reminded his audience. It is generally
acknowledged that the FBI's investigation of Hanssen was based upon his Russian
file.
"I knew Bob Hanssen," Romerstein said, describing the accused spy
as "a very interesting, very, very smart man." Hanssen "knew
every strength, every weakness of the FBI's counterintelligence program,"
Romerstein stated.
Hanssen's knowledge of FBI procedures and legal restraints on the agency
enabled him to send stolen secrets through the mail without fear of detection,
according to Romerstein.
In Romerstein's estimation, Hanssen caused such severe damage to the U.S.
intelligence network, that he should be executed if he does not actively
cooperate with U.S. authorities to repair, to some degree, that damage.
Although severely restricted in funding, the SVR -- the foreign intelligence
successor to the KGB -- is able to recruit "the best of the best" from
Russian universities who "know precisely what they want," according to
Stanislav Levchenko, a participant in the forum and former KGB senior officer
who defected in 1979.
Levchenko stated that Russian intelligence today has little need for large
numbers of agents in "residences" -- base facilities from which
intelligence agents plan and carry out their operations. Following the collapse
of the Soviet Union, Russian intelligence now seeks to use the increased number
of Russians who are able to come to the U.S. and attempt to utilize them in
intelligence operations.
The SVR also cooperates with the "Russian Mafia," which Levchenko
describes as "the most vicious criminal organization in the world."
According to Levchenko, the SVR and the "Russian Mafia" are "getting
united" -- pooling their efforts and resources. "The larger part of
the Mafia," Levchenko said, "is running the state."
Russian intelligence also gains important information from those doing
business in Russia, including consultants, journalists and lecturers. According
to Levchenko, the practice of using foreign visitors to Russia for intelligence
purposes goes back to the time of Lenin.
The intelligence threat to the U.S. is not, however, limited to traditional "cloak
and dagger" activities.
In an interview with WorldNetDaily, Kirk Reagan Menendez, deputy executive
director of the Cuban American National Foundation, stated that the Russian and
Chinese agents based in Lourdes, Cuba, are intercepting cell phone, e-mail and
other methods of electronic communications in the U.S.
Menendez, who has been monitoring the on-going "Wasp Network" spy
case in Miami, told WND that the testimony of prosecution witnesses in court
confirmed the electronic surveillance activities in Lourdes, which are directed
at civilian as well as military targets.
The "Wasp Network" refers to a group of Cuban agents operating in
the United States who attempted to obtain sensitive military information for
Havana. The FBI eventually broke the ring, and the ensuing trial has continued
since last year.
The Cuban-American exile community remains of prime interest for Cuban
surveillance.
Various sources have pointed to a large, sophisticated electronic
surveillance -- and warfare -- presence in Cuba, employing Russian, Chinese and
Cuban operatives.
Related stories:
'Wasp
Network' stung in Miami
Moscow
threatens 'a new Cold War'
Moscow
warning against spy probe
I.J. Toby Westerman, is a contributing reporter for WorldNetDaily who
focuses on current events in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the
Balkans.
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