Week in Cables: 1–7 November 2026
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8 November 2026
BLUF: How the techs got a directorate of their own, a woman and a wooden leg crossing the Pyrenees in November, $20 million for anyone who knows a little too much about Iran, the polygraph stories nobody can stop telling, a font-size tactic for the career-minded, and a hoodie for the weather, with an old U-2 program back for the holidays. Six items from the week, for those who keep track of such things.
Pour something. Read the cables. Argue in the replies.
1. Before Anyone Built the Gadgets
By 1963 CIA had flown the U-2, tested the A-12 and pulled film back from CORONA. What it didn't have was agreement on who ran the science. Peter Scoville's Directorate of Research tried to claim all of it in 1962, the other directorates pushed back, and Scoville stepped down. McCone reorganized, and on 5 AUG 1963 the Deputy Directorate for Science and Technology came into being under Bud Wheelon. He was 34. The aircraft and satellites get the stories. The org chart is why they kept getting built.
The post on X · CIA: Origins of the DS&T
2. If Cuthbert Is Troublesome
In November 1942, with the Germans moving into the rest of France, Virginia Hall walked out over the Pyrenees into Spain on a prosthetic leg she called Cuthbert. She told London she hoped Cuthbert wouldn't be bothersome. London, not following, suggested she eliminate him. A former CO walked the route last month with former CIA and MI6 officers and two young women who want to do the job someday. They're going back in the spring.
Laura Thomas on X · Laura Thomas's trip report · CIA: A Climb to Freedom
3. Easy Money
On 6 NOV, Rewards for Justice offered up to $20 million and possible relocation for information on Iran's nuclear program: facilities, equipment, people. We announced we had a previously vetted source who says Iran is weeks away from a bomb. The reporting is dated. It has been weeks away for a long time.
The post on X · Rewards for Justice
4. Except for the Incident in College
Former CO Laura Thomas admitted to a homemade fake ID in her CIA interviews, and the replies filled up with everyone else's polygraph confessions, ours included. Everyone who sat for one is sure they failed it.
5. Official Troubleshooting Steps
Someone pointed out that if you raise your font size by one point every time you reply to an email, eventually people stop emailing you. We recommended it to anyone headed to HQS, for cables from the desk to the station. Works wonders, if the goal is a permanent GS-12. Separately, we can report that the approved tech fix still includes unplugging it, plugging it back in, and hitting it.
6. Hoodie Weather
It's getting cold. We found a few Memorial Hoodies left over from the last run, and we're down to the last ten. Once they're gone, that's it.
Also back, because a number of you asked: AQUATONE, the Dragon Lady tee. It's here for a limited run through 31 DEC. After that it goes quiet again, which is more or less what the program did.
The post on X · The Memorial Hoodie · AQUATONE
That's the week. Which of these will still matter in a month? Tell us. We read everything, eventually, and we always appreciate the support.
See you next Sunday.
Nos longe inter paucos.