Gene Boffa

Author

[geneboffa-blog]

How the Best Intel Agents Are Recruited

Browsing through the website of the Central Intelligence Agency, you will find a tab that leads to career and internship opportunities with the much-renowned agency. You may browse jobs by category, see student opportunities, and learn the application process. The website states that the CIA, as the premier agency tasked to protect the national security of the United States and provide global intel, has virtually all jobs imaginable, plus those unimaginable ones. The agency does provide a fair warning that their application and selection processes are lengthy and grueling. You can surmise that theirs is not the cut-and-dried application process we are all familiar with. Did you always know that you may apply to become an intel agent? Some of us probably always thought that agents—spies—are hired in the most unusual of ways. Thanks to books and movies, the usual preconceived notion is that agencies like the CIA seek for individuals with unique set of skills, low to zero liability, IQ and EQ above the regular man or woman, among other qualifications. These individuals then go through training like no other. Think Jason Borne or Ethan Hunt—that kind of Hollywood stuff. At one point or another, we probably thought CIA and other intelligence agencies hire like in movies, but the amazing truth is, anybody can apply for a position at these agencies. No matter what the application process is like, it goes without saying that the men and women who will be successful at these agencies are not regular men and women. They are brave individuals who are willing to sacrifice even their lives for the sake of the nation. They are patriotic individuals who must see to the needs of the country and the demands of their job before they even think of themselves. They are men and women of intelligence, skills, and most of all, grit. If you think you are that kind of person and working for the CIA seems like your dream job, feel free to visit the agency’s website. Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

CIA and Other Intel Agencies

What is an intelligence agency and how does it affect the affairs of the world? According to Wikipedia, “An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law  enforcement, national security, military, and foreign policy objectives.” Hollywood portrays intelligence agents as cool, technology-savvy, dark-suited guys with a special skill or two that often involves fire arms and close combat. In real life, however, intel agents do more than just appear cool, and while mostly tech-savvy, they often do well with suits and just about any garment able to camouflage them from the unsuspecting world. In fact, they are everywhere, and their work affects our everyday life—from phone conversations, email and internet usage, bank transactions, personal and professional records, among others. Intel agencies can access anything that is not protected, and everything that is protected simply needs an agent with special cracking skills. There are many intel agencies around the world. In the United States, there is the Central Intelligence Agency or CIA. On its website, the agency has this to say about the organization, “CIA is the nation’s premier agency providing global intelligence in an ever-changing political, social, economic, technological, & military landscapes.” The agencies mission is simply stated: “Preempt threats and further US national security objectives by collecting intelligence that matters, producing objective all-source analysis, conducting effective covert action as directed by the President, and safeguarding the secrets that help keep our Nation safe.” The agency continues to accomplish its mission by using covert and overt measures that may include interception of communication, cryptanalysis, espionage, among others. Other intel agencies from other nations, more or less, play by the same rules. Online, these agencies are ranked, but we know there is no way to ascertain which agency is better compared to the others. These are, after all, organizations skilled in decoys and camouflages. What remains certain is this, everything we do, especially online, leaves an imprint. Following these imprints does not need rocket science. Perhaps we need these ever-watchful eyes for our security—perhaps not. Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

Is China Gearing Up for World War III?

Napoleon Bonaparte once remarked in the nineteenth century that China is a sleeping giant. Now, late in the twentieth century, that sleeping giant has awakened. With its economic reform that led to its boom in the 1980s, the world has seen China’s transformation as a country to reckon with, with its military might and economic power. Its GDP growth has been off the charts—2000 percent from when it started; its workforce deployed in countries it has economic interests with; lent trillions of dollars to other countries; has a large middle class and developing cities rivaling those of first world countries. Its military is enormous as well as its budget from the government, totaling to $177 billion annually. It has the biggest number of active military personnel in the whole world, over 2 million, and counting the reserved and paramilitary forces, it would reach over 4 million. China has become undeniably a superpower in the Asian region and has been flexing its muscle. It has strong-armed and bullied other countries it has territorial disputes with—Japan, Vietnam, Philippines—by sending in military and para-military boats to protect their commercial fishing vessels. Interestingly, it has claimed the entire of South China Sea, disregarding the Exclusive Economic Zone of its neighboring countries. For example, military installations have been built, as seen by US intelligence, with possibility of missile silos right in the backyard of the Philippines. China built man-made islands too in order extend its foot-hold in the region. Control of this important trade passage that is the South China Sea has been established by China—with military presence that intimidate other countries. With all of China’s military posturing, is it gearing up for World War III? Well, it has a lot at stake—its economy, for example, is driven by trade. Also, it is allied with its perceived rivals, which goes all the way back to World War II. Nevertheless, if World War III does happen anytime soon, China is obviously more than ready. Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

Britain and Its Influence Worldwide

The most obvious worldwide influence of Britain is the modern English language. Approximately 1.5 billion people speak this language, or roughly 20 percent of the world population. It is the second most widely spoken language in the entire world, second to Mandarin. However, China has been aggressively learning English as it is integrating itself into the world order, and English may someday overtake Mandarin. The English language, however, is not the only influence of Britain as it has been a colonizer all around the globe for hundreds of years. At the height of the British Empire in the early twentieth century, when it was regarded as the largest empire in history, 23 percent of the world population was under it and covered 24 percent of the entire world’s land area. The British Empire was unlike the second biggest empire of the Mongols that only covered continental Asia and central Europe. During this period, its colonies were all over the globe: Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and the Americas to name a few. With territories everywhere, no wonder it was called “the empire on which the sun never sets.” As a colonizer, it has influenced its colonies with its culture—from industries, religion, to governments. Many of its colonies have become first-world countries such as Canada, Australia, and the early states of America that became United States of America when it gained independence. Though it has lost many of its colonies, it still holds sway on the world economy. With its recent Brexit, it is expected to have chilling effects in Europe socially and economically and, consequently, the whole interconnected world of trade. Also, despite its decline in military power after the Second World War, it still has a permanent seat in the United Nation’s Security Council. This means that it can veto any draft council resolution, which may be supported by the majority of the UN countries. It appears the country’s influence is here to stay. Its take on many social, cultural, economic, and political issues continue to influence other nations in their decision-making processes. Countries who ally with the UK form some of the strongest unions in the world. Overall, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is still one of the formidable forces in world affairs. Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

Hong Kong: The New Richest City in the World

Move over, New York City. Hong Kong is now the new richest city in the world. The Big Apple now has some serious competition at the top with the rise in Hong Kong’s economy. Pushed by the new global wealth-creation movement across Asia, Hong Kong has surged to the top of the list by having more multimillionaires in their city than New York, as reported by Wealth-X. According to the World Ultra Wealth Report by Wealth-X, the world saw a 13 percent growth in 2017 in the number of citizens worth $30 million or more, and with Asia surging to 19 percent. Hong Kong topped this with having more than 10,000 ultra-high-net-worth individuals worth more than $30 million, beating out New York who has an estimated 8,900 ultra-rich citizens, and Tokyo taking the third spot with 6,800 individuals. While Hong Kong sits at the top of the richest city list, the United States still dominates the world market and still accounts for one-third of the world’s ultra-rich. About 80,000 US citizens are worth $30 million compared to China’s 17,000. But if you look at the bigger picture, the report shows that the United States exhibited the weakest economic growth among the top 7 countries in the world. This new title of Hong Kong is precedent of the predicted strong economic growth that Asia has been experiencing in the last few years, wherein China and Hong Kong are at the forefront of. This is also a reflection of the growing fortunes of China through its enhanced trade and investment links. It is expected that by 2022, 108,000 ultra-rich individuals will emerge from Asia, which shows a 50 percent growth. This growth supports a forecast that in five years, Asia will soon close the wealth gap with other regions. This shift of fortunes and forecasted growth in the next few years seem to be pointing to one important thing: the distribution of the global ultra wealth seems to be pointing to a more balanced one. So while the United States is still definitely at the top of the totem pole, it should not take its eyes away from Asia. Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

What Makes a Nation a Superpower

Dictionaries define a superpower as an extremely powerful nation, specifically “one of a very few dominant states in an era when the world is divided politically into these states and their satellites” or “an international governing body able to enforce its will upon the most powerful states.” In The Deed, two superpowers—Britain and China—fight over Hong Kong. What does it take to be a superpower? If The Deed is not fiction, which between the two powers is sure to be the victor? At the end of World War II, the United States and Russia were the first two nations who were acknowledged to be superpowers. This spoke of the two nations economic, political, and military influence over other nations in a time fraught with battle scars. Today, while there is no official list of the top powers of the world, the following nations are the more-consistent contenders in surveys and online lists. United States Russia China United Kingdom Germany France Japan Israel Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates To be considered a superpower, a  nation has to have a “dominant position characterized by its extensive ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale. This is done through the combined means of economic, military, technological and cultural strength as well as diplomatic and soft power influence. Traditionally, superpowers are preeminent among the great powers.” In The Deed, Britain and China are on the brink of starting World War III over rightful ownership of Hong Kong. Between the two power nations, China has the largest standing army in the world and is has a huge military influence. Britain, on the other hand, cannot rival the size of China’s army, but it has maintained steadfast connections and alliances with many nations, some of which are also superpowers and are definitely willing to fight with the Brits. The victor remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, it will be World War III. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superpower Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

When Borders Become a Blur

The term globalization has long been in use. According to Webster, it means “the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets.” Over the years, the increase of global economic integration, plus digital nomadism, has resulted to blurred borders and their pros and cons. Goods and services, for example, are more easily outsourced from third-world countries where labor and/or materials are cheap, promising business individuals and companies better profit margins. Many offices that are based in first-world countries, like the U.S. and Canada, hire assistants from countries like India and the Philippines to work virtually for them. Education too is a popular reason to integrate into a new society. Koreans flee to English-speaking countries, like Canada and Australia, to learn the English language. The rise of the social media is also a factor in making global citizenship possible. There are influencers who jet off to different places in the world to increase their market reach and value. There are models and entertainers who seem to hail from just about anywhere where there is glitz and glamor. Aside from these advantages, globalization has allowed people to experience other cultures without boarding a plane. There is no need to head to Korea for authentic K-pop items; they are everywhere. No need to order straight from Japan their coveted skincare products; they are everywhere. The disadvantage is when these blurred borders are used for illegal pursuits. Crossing borders without papers, overstaying in a country, seeking employment in a foreign country without permission are among the common problems when borders are deliberately ignored for selfish interests. Talks of China and Russia potentially expanding their territories through unwarranted military and political maneuvers are rampant too. This for sure is the worst blurring of borders, the kind of takeover that we should be careful about. It happens in movies and literature, but should not happen in real life. Never again? Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

China and Its Seas

In ancient times, China had all the four cardinal directions boarded by a sea although two were actually lakes: Lake Baikal or North Sea, East China Sea or East Sea, Qinghai Lake or West Sea, and South China Sea or South Sea. These bodies of water played significant roles in Chinese history; however, only one continues to make headlines throughout the world today—the South China Sea. The South China Sea is largely part of the Pacific Ocean. Located along its shores are several nations now in dispute regarding maritime territorial rights taunted by China in the last decade or so. According to China, the South China Sea belonged to Beijing since ancient times. Neighboring nations—Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Borneo, Taiwan, and Singapore—however, are not keen on granting ownership of the seas to China. On the contrary, disputes are getting more heated over the last few years. But why is the South China Sea so important? One, the South China Sea is an important trade route in the Pacific. In 2018, over $5 trillion worth of commerce passed through the South China Sea or almost one-third of the total maritime trade around the world. China itself uses the seas to import over 80 percent of energy and 40 percent of China’s trade passes through the South China Sea. Two, its seabed is rich in oil and natural gas: While U.S. estimates have put the amount at 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the South China Sea, one Chinese government-owned oil major actually put the figure closer to 125 billion barrels of oil and 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in undiscovered areas. (Cnbc.com) If these figures are correct, then China would have found a partial way out of its dependence on the Middle East for oil. Three, the United States believes that China will destabilize Asia and, ultimately, the world should it be allowed to win over its Asian neighbors that are allies of the U.S. Aside from that, the U.S. is bent on protecting the freedom of navigation as stipulated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Many believe China is acting like a bully, and the U. S. is the peacemaker holding back the next world war. Many are still waiting for peaceful resolutions to happen. Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

Making Cynics Out of Neighbors

What is a cynic? According to Webster, a cynic is “a faultfinding captious critic” especially “one who believes that human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest.” At one time or another, Americans have personified the word. In fact, in an airline setting, what American today will not take a second look at a woman in a hijab or a man in a thobe? In many U.S. communities, how many find faults and doubt the acts of kindness of ethnic minorities? Back in 2001, the aftermath of the September 11 bombings saw a united America: All throughout the U. S., volunteers came to New York to help in the rescue and recovery efforts. Americans rallied behind President George W. Bush in his plans to eliminate the cause of such a huge national heartache. Money was raised for the rescuers and for the victims. Church leaders urged Americans to stay calm in building a stronger foundation for the nation. Yet many times after September 11, the grief America felt manifested in anger and violence especially aimed at Arab Americans and Muslims. Others who did not resort to violence were guilty of cynicism and racism. Suddenly, trust became a rare commodity and privacy a forgotten concept. Espionage was taken to a whole new level. The Department of Homeland Security was created, and the National Security Agency begun its warrantless surveillance. Suddenly, peaceful ethnic and religious minorities became targets, subjected to suspicions, avoidance, and sometimes, violence. A Muslim’s action in a public place became an object of speculation. A neighbor became a possible intel agent or a spy. People doubted the intentions of others. More recent history includes Trump’s travel ban, which restricted citizens of seven Muslim countries from entering the U.S. Such are the realities after 9/11. While many are willing to pay the price to secure peace and order, others have expressed their concerns and shown support for victims of cynicism and racism. America, however, is far from restoring its faith in other people, far from recovering from the effects of 9/11. But America too has always come through triumphantly against the factors that have tried and tested its strength as a democracy and as a united people. Perhaps in due time it will triumph once again and give no room for cynicism, racism, and terrorism. Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

Is China the New Superpower?

The United States has long been considered as the superpower, but have recent developments allowed China to surpass the U.S.?   A superpower has dominant position in international affairs, able to influence other nations due to its military, financial, political, and cultural strength. The term was first applied to the U.S. and Russia after World War II. When the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1990, the U.S. became the superpower. However, given its recent financial setbacks, costly war against terrorism, new political landscape, has another nation surpassed the strength of the United States? An annual report ranking countries is released to determine the superpowers of the world. For 2019, twenty-five were named as the top of the list. At first, it seems like China is the strongest contender for the coveted no. 1 position. With a population over 1.4 billion, China has steadily increased its military, financial, and political strength. In fact, despite its trade war with the U.S., China’s economy has surpassed its expected growth rate in the first quarter of this year. According to an article publish on East Daily News, “Industrial production, fixed-asset investment, retail sales, and the urban jobless rate showed improved performance from previous months, with the latter two coming in stronger than expected.” Militarily, China is a powerful friend or foe. With over 2 million personnel, China is still the largest standing army in the world. Military service is compulsory in China, but it has never been strictly enforced due to the large number of volunteers willing to serve in the military. In recent news, China uses this size advantage to bully its neighboring countries over disputes regarding the South China Seas. What China lacks in military equipment—they are considered twenty years behind the U.S.—they more than make up in manpower and political will under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who is intent on claiming the disputed seas. Still the question is, did China unseat the U.S. as the no. 1 superpower? Reports say the U.S. is still the undefeated champion. China’s GDP per capita, estimated to be $16,800 by the end of this quarter, is a far cry from the that of the U.S., which is $53,500. While China has the biggest army in the world, the U.S. has the most superior in terms of equipment and technology. According to Times.com, the U.S. accounts for 37 percent of military spending around world. The political influence of the U.S. in international affairs continue to be steadfast. The U.S. has allies that are powerful. At the same time, the U.S. inspires loyalty from countries it has continued to support in different forms over the many decades. Figures and reports aside, people all over the world still look up to the U.S. Politics may downplay this influence, but the truth cannot be denied—the world’s oldest functioning democracy is still the force to reckon with. Read the full article

[geneboffa-blog]

Intel of the New Times

Everybody knows there is no such thing as privacy anymore. Someone is always listening, watching attentively, and archiving information for possible future use. This, of course, is made easier by the advancement of our technology. It is indeed a double-edged sword. No wonder some Americans feel uneasy even in their own homes and offices. Emails and phone conversations could be easily monitored, and houses, offices, cars could be easily bugged. But this is all old news really, old ways exhausted by espionage around the globe and even in literature. Intelligence has taken a whole new level to keep up with the times. In 2017, theatlantic.com published an article online entitled “The Tools of Espionage Are Going Mainstream.” And it is. According to the article, Russian intel lured unsuspecting Americans to join an online group and, from there, launched campaigns ranging from religion to social issues. Twitter and Facebook are two of the readily available targets used by intel to gather information, spread false news, plant doubt and other subtle ideas to further hidden agendas. The more inclined we are to use these social media platforms, the smaller the world shrinks and the easier we become pawns in someone’s game. Facebook and Twitter alone have millions of users who use these platforms regularly. Sometimes these users spend their day glued to the screen, sharing information about themselves or spreading information about others. Anyone inclined to gather information can easily do so. Imagine what computer wizards can do. In the past, spies or intel agents had very distinct characteristics—or at least that’s what the movies led us to believe. These days, intel agents may look just like the next hardcore gamer, online gods hooked to the screen, clothes and appearance, in general, be damned. Surely, you can imagine the vast amount of online treasure at their disposal. A few clicks and they can access your bank account. Another click and they can get into personal information stored on any website. Just like how the government employed the best muscles and tacticians in history, the government now keeps some of the most brilliant hackers in the world and they wouldn’t have any scruples obtaining information should the need arise. Be careful then what you share or post and what communities, groups, or events you join. You never know who is watching. Read the full article