British Spy Agency Searches For Real-Life 'Q' 79
suraj.sun writes with this quote from the Associated Press:"Britain's domestic spy agency — MI5 — is hunting for its very own 'Q,' of sorts. MI6's sister organization, which carries out surveillance on terror suspects inside Britain and gives security advice to the government, is searching for someone to lead its scientific work. Projects could include everything from developing counterterrorism technology to tackling a biological or chemical attack. 'Looking for a chief scientific adviser to lead and coordinate the scientific work of the security service so that the service continues to be supported by excellent science and technology advice,' MI5's Web site ad reads. MI5 has long had a roster of scientific staff tasked with developing high-tech gadgets, but an official said the service now wants a high-profile figure to lead pioneering work in technology and science. The adviser's work will focus chiefly on creating sophisticated new tools to help security service officers carry out surveillance and analysis work, said a government security official, who requested anonymity to discuss the work of MI5."
There was a real life Q (Score:5, Interesting)
The model for Q didn't do science or engineering per se. He just knew where to get anything. If you wanted to send an agent into Germany, everything about him had to be absolutely authentic. Q could find a German tailor in Manchester who would create an absolutely perfect garment for whatever purpose. A garbage man's uniform would be stitched differently from a general's uniform.
You agent might be caught but it wouldn't be because a watch pocket was on the wrong side. Q was an absolute stickler for detail.
There's one obvious candidate. (Score:5, Interesting)
Sir Clive Sinclair.
Re:FYI (Score:2, Interesting)
Peter Wright did a book about MI5's work ("spycatcher [amazon.co.uk]" - you'll have trouble getting a copy in the UK) that seems quite informative...
Re:FYI (Score:5, Interesting)
But they are exactly like the TV shows (Spooks/MI-5)
The woman who actually runs MI-5 watches the show. She has commented that the two big errors are the assumption that everything is eventually knowable and that five people can do it all.
Maybe they should be more like the movies (Score:1, Interesting)
Maybe they'd be more successful if they were like the movies.
More freethinking, rugged individualism.
Less risk averse bureaucratic types that are more worried about covering their own arse.
Less making political points, more action oriented.
Less cracking down on their domestic citizens, and more overseas adventurism.
Less hiring of blonde haired, blue eyed females with law degrees, more hiring of slightly dodgy individuals that can speak a number of exotic languages.
It'd be great, but it'd piss of the government hating lefties (but if we talked to our enemies they'd be our friends!), and the righties would be bamboozled that something other than football metaphors and 'send in the marines' can solve foreign policy problems (Jesus didn't say nuffin about espionage in that thar bible, it's for pussies!).
A win on all accounts I say.