Written by Olivia McCaughan
I have attended many World Affairs Council Events, but none has caught my interest in the way that Dr. Tam Dao did with his presentation on “Sexpionage”–the use of sex in the world of espionage.
Dr. Doa is the Associate Vice President for Campus Safety and Research Security at Rice University. Before joining Rice University, Dr. Dao held various positions at the FBI, including work in the counterintelligence task force, classified briefings, and as a certified hostage negotiator.
The event was in a smaller setting, making it more intimate and interactive.
Dao noted that men are much likely to be “victims” of sexpionage than women, and the examples he offered, such as Lt. Col. Benjamin Bishop, bore that out. We also discussed the case of Robert Hanssen, although this was not a true “sexpionage” case.
Not all the cases, however, were as high profile as the above. In many cases, the “espionage” is the process of surreptitiously gaining access to professors’ academic research. Interestingly, Dao noted, many of the people who are seeking this information are doing it for the love of their native countries–despite the fact that they live in the United States and enjoy the opportunities the US affords them.
Dao, an immigrant himself, finds this behavior curious and ironic. While acknowledging flaws in the US culture, politics, and economic system, he praised the US for the opportunities it has offered him and his family.
This was one of the most enjoyable of the WACs we have attended, a sentiment we shared with Dr. Dao following his presentation.
Katz’s Deli
Following the WAC event, we stopped at Katz’s Deli, where we enjoyed various deli-type sandwiches, including a Lox sandwich, a Reuben…
…cabbage rolls…
…and some shakes for the road.
It was a sweet ending to an enjoyable evening!
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 