Notable DC investigator, and friend of The Daily Caveat, Charles Pinck has started a new blog - one worth your time - especially for the history buffs among you. OSS Reborn is co-written by Charlie and his father, Dan Pinck and focuses on the history and legacy of the Office of Strategic Services, America's first organized intelligence organization.

I won't delve to much into the history of the OSS here but if you need an introduction I can recommend this book by Mark Lowenthal, which provides a scholarly account of the genesis of the organization (I was lucky enough to have Lowenthal as a professor eons ago).

Charlie is the president of the OSS Society, which as you might imagine, celebrates the history of the OSS. Interest in the group is very much a family - Father Dan Pinck, in addition to being a noted author, served in the OSS behind enemy lines in China during World War II.

If that kind of thing intrigues you, do check out OSS Reborn. Highly recommended reading.

-- MDT

Labels: Charles Pinck, corporate investigation, intelligence, OSS

That's the type of warning the Maltese Data Protection Commission is considering giving to customers of local banks whose funds will be processed through the SWIFT system. This is just one aspect of the larger issue of how U.S. surveillance of SWIFT transaction conflicts with European privacy regulations. Details from the Malta Independent Online.

-- MDT

Labels: Banking, intelligence, Malta, surveillance, SWIFT