Cuban Intelligence Targeting of Academia

Main Content

Editorial note: The following is derived from an FBI unclassified Private Sector Advisory dated September 2, 2014, and was first released publicly by Washington Free Beacon national security reporter Bill Gertz.

The FBI report in turn is largely derived from EL SERVICIO DE INTELIGENCIA CASTRISTA Y LA COMUNIDAD ACADÉMICA NORTEAMERICANA, a 2002 monograph by former Cuban intelligence officer Jose Cohen and published by the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami.

While focused on Cuban intelligence activity, the same methods are likely to be used by many other secret services. There is very little new under the sun, and this is especially true in the world of espionage.

Contents

0. Introduction <- Start Here
1. Vulnerabilities Within Academia
2. Targets Within Academia
3. The Cuban Intelligence Services
4. Recruitment Methods
5. Hazards of Travel to Cuba
6. Tasking
7. Influence Opportunities
8. Conclusion

Learning More

A. Basics of Intelligence Collection
B. Basic Types of Intelligence Operatives
C. A Recruitment Example
D. Influence Operations