<story><title>Eat, Drink and Be Wary: Ex-CIA Officer Reveals How Eateries Are Key to Spycraft</title><url>https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/16/770368584/eat-drink-and-be-wary-ex-cia-officer-reveals-how-eateries-are-key-to-spycraft</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>mysterydip</author><text>This is well known but often ignored for convenience. Go to any restaurant in the DC area around lunchtime and you&amp;#x27;d be amazed at what you can learn from the table next to you.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>opportune</author><text>Also true for the Caltrain, coffee shops, and nicer restaurants between SF and SJ. And SFO, SJC, and SEA airports; I think I hear some salesman loudly talking about a deal almost every time I fly out of those places on weekdays.</text></comment>
<story><title>Eat, Drink and Be Wary: Ex-CIA Officer Reveals How Eateries Are Key to Spycraft</title><url>https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/16/770368584/eat-drink-and-be-wary-ex-cia-officer-reveals-how-eateries-are-key-to-spycraft</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>mysterydip</author><text>This is well known but often ignored for convenience. Go to any restaurant in the DC area around lunchtime and you&amp;#x27;d be amazed at what you can learn from the table next to you.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>openasocket</author><text>My fiance worked for a movie theater in the DC area for a while. Once she found, left on the floor, a packet for an Afghanistan diplomat program put on by the US State department. Big itinerary with lots of names, dates, contact information, not just for the various stops and talks but for the people selected for the program. Nothing classified or obviously sensitive, but I&amp;#x27;m sure someone with the interest could run through those contacts and come to a lot of conclusions about the US&amp;#x27;s foreign policy goals in the region. Or to follow these up-and-coming Afghanistan diplomats around on their trip to the US and maybe grab some blackmail.</text></comment>