The case for alternative intelligence sources and outside contractors

My client Michael Bagley of the OSINT Group is profiled in this month's Homeland Security Today, check out page 52:

One of Bagley’s constant themes is the utility of having an outsider challenging existing assumptions, particularly when it comes to hacking and network intrusions.
“Black operations require people to think this way” he argued. “Otherwise, there are no black teams. If we were all thinking the white way, the right way, we’d have no ability to counter these kinds of events or operations. It takes both kinds of people to work this way.”

Note -
Wanted: Computer hackers ... to help government

General Dynamics Information Technology put out an ad last month on behalf of the Homeland Security Department seeking someone who could "think like the bad guy." Applicants, it said, must understand hackers' tools and tactics and be able to analyze Internet traffic and identify vulnerabilities in the federal systems.

Gary Berntsen and Erik Prince at the AFIO

Gary Berntsen and Erik Prince will be speaking at the February meeting of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Gary Berntsen, decorated former CIA career officer, spent 23 years with the Agency. He was the CIA field commander for the Jawbreaker team at Tora Bora, the subject of his 2005 book: Jawbreaker. At this event he will discuss Human Intelligence, Counterterrorism, and National Leadership, his recently published manual for incoming President Obama and White House staff. It includes highly specific recommendations and policy prescriptions for human intelligence and counterterrorism operations.

Erik Prince, Chairman/CEO of Blackwater Worldwide and the Prince Group. Using experience and tight controls outlined in numerous contracts with the U.S. Department of State, Blackwater’s security professionals successfully protected American diplomats in an environment where suicide bombers use cars as weapons, roadside debris conceals improvised explosive devices, and insurgents disguise themselves in law enforcement uniforms. Prince's Blackwater has trained more than 100,000 local police officers, SWAT team members, homeland security professionals, military personnel and others to prepare them to protect U.S. citizens at home and abroad. The firm was immediately called upon by scores of private merchant shipping and import firms to deal with rapidly increasing threats to vital shipping, oil tanker transports, and pleasure cruise lines from piracy in the Gulf of Aden and elsewhere. Controversial, daring, self-assured, well-trained, fearless....Prince and Blackwater evoke a wide range of opinions from the public and intelligence professionals. Prince is working on a forthcoming book about Blackwater Worldwide to appear from Regnery Publishing.

That should make a very interesting meeting.