Spycraft: Inside The CIA’s Top Secret Spy Lab by Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton (book review).
I’ve been holding onto ‘Spycraft: Inside The CIA’s Top Secret Spy Lab’ by Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton for several years. Melton, a writer specializing in real espionage, and Wallace, a former director of the CIA’s Office of Technical Services (1998-2002), present a pioneering book on the subject published nearly 15 years ago. To my knowledge, few books on spy technology come from such authoritative sources, although this one had to pass through CIA scrutiny to avoid revealing sensitive information.
The book begins with the origins of the OSS during World War II. Initially consulting with the British Secret Intelligence Service for spytech development, they later fostered their own, albeit reluctantly, as it felt un-American. Much of their innovation stemmed from Stanley Platt Lovell under Colonel William H. ‘Wild Bill’ Donovan. Following WWII, the OSS disbanded for three years, but with the onset of the Cold War, there arose a need for a new espionage organization: the Central Intelligence Agency, bringing Lovell back into service.
The CIA’s slow development of spytech is intriguing, as they focused more on satellites and U2 aircraft, overlooking some more practical needs. Even the TV series ‘Mission: Impossible’ featured more advanced technology. I recall real agents wondering why they couldn’t have similar equipment; at the time, they simply didn’t. This gap is addressed on page 112, though I was surprised to see the sitcom ‘Get Smart’ included. Did they really prefer communication devices in shoes rather than pens? There was no mention of ‘Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ or ‘I Spy’, both of which were closer to real spytech. The backnotes reveal that ‘Mission: Impossible’ aimed for realistic-looking devices, supporting the idea that believability is crucial for such series.
The series was ahead of real-life espionage in involving tech experts in field assignments. Initially, the CIA’s case officers lacked tech expertise, and the tech department was underfunded, though this changed over time. The book also delves into some of the CIA’s long-term operations in Russia.
The narrative isn’t limited to the CIA’s equipment. It covers the infamous Russian bug in the Great Seal of the United States in the American Embassy in Moscow, a gift from Russian children. It took Peter Wright, a Britisher, to demonstrate its workings to the CIA, a device that operated without batteries.
The book touches on the CIA’s mindset, particularly their reluctance to employ people with a criminal background due to security clearance issues, despite the usefulness of such skills in espionage.
A compelling aspect is how technological advancements, like the transition from vacuum tubes to transistors, influenced bugging technology. The challenge of battery replacement, especially when tapping into local power supplies wasn’t an option, is highlighted. An external consultant provided a solution for discreetly drilling holes for cameras, raising questions about why they didn’t recruit such innovators.
While the book doesn’t focus on fictional spies, it does mention the Fulton Skyhook, first used in 1943 and later featured in the 1968 film ‘The Green Berets’, though it overlooks its earlier use in the 1965 James Bond film ‘Thunderball’.
The book also examines misinformation spread by other countries, especially that mimicking American documentation. The CIA had to validate the authenticity of materials down to paper and typewriters, a task made more challenging in the computer era.
The last five chapters delve into the mechanics of spycraft, highlighting the case officers’ focus on managing agents over technological aspects. The disguise department’s capabilities would have impressed the original ‘Mission: Impossible’ team.
It’s noteworthy that some information came from an ex-MI6 officer, hinting at areas the CIA preferred not to disclose.
Like the space program, spytech has influenced consumer technology. Miniature batteries in devices like watches and hearing aids are a direct result of espionage technology.
The final chapter reflects on changes brought by computer technology and the new avenues it opens for information transfer. Fictional representations of technology can date a film or TV series, posing a challenge for Science Fiction writers to stay ahead.
This book is a worthwhile read for those interested in the technical side of real espionage. Though dense, it commanded my full attention, an endorsement in itself. It encourages readers to be observant and aware of potential surveillance.
GF Willmetts
November 2023
(pub: Bantam Books/Transworld Publishers, 2009. 548 page illustrated indexed small enlarged paperback. Price: varies. ISBN: 978-0-55382-007-2)
check out website: www.rbooks.co.uk and www.ciaspycrat.com
