Today, in yet another first for the program, I was joined by Rod Barton – a former high-ranking Australian Intelligence Officer. Rod appeared on the show to discuss his remarkable life and career that he has now committed to paper with, ‘The Life Of A Spy’. Topics discussed include:

- Growing up in a small town with an intriguing Weapons Research Establishment – how that, along with his extensive Boy Scout work and passion for chemistry might’ve aggregated into shaping him to take on such a unique career.

- The serendipitous turn of events, applying for a vague-sounding job, that would lead to him becoming a Junior Analyst and ultimately see him pursue a career within the national intelligence sector.

- The Yellow Rain/Bee Poo scandal – how that put him out of odds with CIA (being branded by the then-Director of the CIA as ‘perverse and mischievous’) and how a later sharing of information obtained by his work with a Russian defector might’ve restored that somewhat.

- Being present at (and contributing to) historical events and meetings, from Bob Hawke’s Kuwait-related outburst, to serving as advisor to Kofi Annan and Hans Blix.

- Risking life and limb – from using his boy scout training to try saving the life of a gunshot victim in Somalia, to nearly plunging into the highly-volatile ‘volcano’ in a bombed-out plant facility in Iraq.

- His decision to become a whistle-blower with the Camp Cropper story, what led to that and what arose from that. Including major change within the U.S. and Australia’s policies.

Big thanks to Rod for appearing on the program, and for Black Inc books for publishing such a unique and cracking book! You can purchase your copy of ‘The Life Of A Spy – An Education In Truth, Lies and Power’

https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/life-spy