The Value of Human Intelligence

By Robert Richer

Robert Richer served as a former Associate Deputy Director for Operations at the CIA.  He retired in 2005 and before his retirement he also served as Chief of the Near East and South Asia Division, responsible for Clandestine Service Operations throughout the Middle East and South Asia. Mr. Richer currently consults on Middle East and national security issues and is a senior partner with International Advisory Partners.

The Cipher Brief sat down with Rob Richer, the CIA’s former Associate Deputy Director for Operations, to talk about the evolution of espionage and the value of human intelligence.

TCB: Does Hoffman’s book, the Tolkachev story, bring you back to the good old days of the Cold War?

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