CIA had forged the data that the Soviets got and used

[Ivan Seeking]

I ran across this in a somewhat private conversation, so I will have to leave out the source but it is almost certainly reliable. It seems that when the Soviet tried to copy our shuttle program for their Buran project...

They managed to steal our thermal testing data for the shuttle. However, the CIA had forged the data that the Soviets got and used.

Another good one was made public after the Gulf war [Gulf 1]. Some years before the war we had sold a good number of printers to Iraq. Knowing that they might be used for military purposes [perhaps based on a lead] we installed homing beacons in the printers. When the war broke out, all that was needed was a signal to activate the beacons, which then lead our missiles directly to points of critical military operations.

On the flip side, the Soviets got us really good one time. Though I'm not sure of the precise details and titles of those involved, I think it was the head of NATO who received a gift from the Soviets - a large wooden plaque with an eagle carved into the surface. Contained within was a secret cavity oscillator that was powered by a microwave beam, which was transmitted from an apartment across the street. An audio signal was returned via microwave beam, so the KGB could listen to the planning taking place in the office of the head of NATO. This hung in the office for years before it was detected! The fact that it was powered by the beam made it undetectable [at the time] unless it was active.

 

[dlgoff]

"The fact that it was powered by the beam made it undetectable [at the time] unless it was active."

If memory serves, they found out about the device when microwaves were finally detected. Years later as you said.

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I cannot confirm or deny the accuracy of these specific instances mentioned. However, it is well known that during the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in espionage and counter-espionage activities in order to gain an advantage in military and technological developments. It is not uncommon for intelligence agencies to use tactics such as forging data or planting surveillance devices in order to gather information. These tactics can be effective, but they can also be risky and potentially damaging to international relations. As scientists, it is important for us to be aware of these activities and to always question the validity of data and information that we receive.