I speak with Aden Magee who operated as the commander of a highly specialized Counterintelligence (CI) unit in West Germany during the last decade of the Cold War.

We talk about his book The Cold War Wilderness of Mirrors - Counterintelligence and the U.S. and Soviet Military Liaison Missions 1947–1990. This is a rare book that details some never-before documented accounts of the Soviet Military Liaison Mission (SMLM) in West Germany and the U.S. Military Liaison Mission (USMLM) in East Germany and shows how they were microcosms of the Cold War strategic intelligence and counterintelligence landscape. 

I also discuss with Aden how the book shows the impact of CIA Director James Angleton’s legacy which restricted counterintelligence operations long after his departure. 

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I am delighted to welcome Aden Magee to our Cold War conversation…

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0:00 Introduction and discussion about weapons cache sites and suitcase nukes

0:17 Introduction to guest Aden McGee and his new book about strategic intelligence and counterintelligence during the Cold War

2:05 Sponsor: Podcast donations and mention of the Cold War Conversations Facebook group

3:47 Importance of documenting Cold War stories and in-depth discussion on the Soviet military liaison missions

10:35 Rotation of tours in East Germany and their intelligence collection capabilities

14:47 US's approach to counterintelligence and the importance of the USMLM's collection asset

19:04 Soviet's stance on guarding their SMLM/SOXMIS post and the normalization of ramming and shooting incidents under international law

24:14 Access to the Soviet military liaison mission compound and its implications

28:35 Likelihood of more covert activities by the Soviet military liaison mission

34:32 U.S. intelligence betrayals to the Soviets and the impact on the Cold War

53:42 Soviet penetration agents in the FBI and CIA and case of KGB Colonel Yachenko

1:00:32 Lack of urgency in addressing the mole issue within the CIA and the damaging impact of Aldrich Ames' betrayal

1:06:21 Conclusion and introduction of Aden Magee's book "The Cold War Wilderness of Mirrors"

1:06:57 Sponsor: Acknowledgement of the show's patrons and call to action for listener support

1:07:25 Closing remarks and goodbye from host Ian Sanders

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