{"id":27705,"date":"2017-08-24T07:42:52","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T11:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=27705"},"modified":"2017-08-24T07:42:52","modified_gmt":"2017-08-24T11:42:52","slug":"the-intercept-the-us-spy-hub-in-the-heart-of-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/the-intercept-the-us-spy-hub-in-the-heart-of-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Intercept: The US Spy Hub in the Heart of Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/PIne-Gap-Australia-e1503574721172.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27706\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/PIne-Gap-Australia-e1503574721172.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"504\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/2017\/08\/19\/nsa-spy-hub-cia-pine-gap-australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Intercept<\/a> via Dan Robinson)<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>A SHORT DRIVE south of Alice Springs, the second largest population center in Australia\u2019s Northern Territory, there is a high-security compound, code-named \u201cRAINFALL.\u201d The remote base, in the heart of the country\u2019s barren outback, is one of the most important covert surveillance sites in the eastern hemisphere.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of Australian and American employees come and go every day from Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap, as the base is formally known. The official \u201ccover story,\u201d as outlined in a secret U.S. intelligence document, is to \u201csupport the national security of both the U.S. and Australia. The [facility] contributes to verifying arms control and disarmament agreements and monitoring military developments.\u201d But, at best, that is an economical version of the truth. Pine Gap has a far broader mission \u2014 and more powerful capabilities \u2014 than the Australian or American governments have ever publicly acknowledged.<\/p>\n<p>An investigation, published Saturday by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in collaboration with The Intercept, punctures the wall of secrecy surrounding Pine Gap, revealing for the first time a wide range of details about its function. The base is an important ground station from which U.S. spy satellites are controlled and communications are monitored across several continents, according to classified documents obtained by The Intercept from the National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.[&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/2017\/08\/19\/nsa-spy-hub-cia-pine-gap-australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Continue reading at The Intercept&#8230;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Source: The Intercept via Dan Robinson) A SHORT DRIVE south of Alice Springs, the second largest population center in Australia\u2019s Northern Territory, there is a high-security compound, code-named \u201cRAINFALL.\u201d The remote base, in the heart of the country\u2019s barren outback, is one of the most important covert surveillance sites in the eastern hemisphere. Hundreds of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[925,6452,2635,6453,813,812,6450,6451,5007],"class_list":["post-27705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-central-intelligence-agency","tag-cia","tag-dan-robinson","tag-joint-defence-facility-pine-gap","tag-national-security-agency","tag-nsa","tag-pine-gap","tag-pine-gap-australia","tag-spy-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7cR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40319,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/gchq-hidden-past-in-the-press\/","url_meta":{"origin":27705,"position":0},"title":"GCHQ &#8220;hidden past&#8221; in the press","author":"Thomas","date":"October 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who writes: You recently posted about the on going GCHQ exhibition at the Science Museum here in London. I now offer you two more GCHQ items. Both radio related. First one from BBC Radio: How Scarborough saved the world The Secret History of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GCHQ-Benhall2-e1571676202625.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GCHQ-Benhall2-e1571676202625.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GCHQ-Benhall2-e1571676202625.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GCHQ-Benhall2-e1571676202625.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15792,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/hackaday-recounts-an-an-unlikely-radio-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":27705,"position":1},"title":"Hackaday recounts an &#8220;An Unlikely Radio Story&#8221;","author":"Thomas","date":"November 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader,\u00a0Michael Letterle, who shares this story from the excellent website Hackaday. The following is an excerpt from Swans, Pigs, and the CIA: An Ulikey Radio Story: Shortwave radio is boring, right? Maybe not. You never know what intrigue and excitement you might intercept. We recently\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SWLingPost-Spy-Numbers-Station","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/SWLingPost-Spy-Numbers-Station.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/SWLingPost-Spy-Numbers-Station.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/SWLingPost-Spy-Numbers-Station.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48954,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/radio-waves-the-woodpecker-gutter-antenna-air-travel-with-radios-and-a-spy-in-every-embassy\/","url_meta":{"origin":27705,"position":2},"title":"Radio Waves: The Woodpecker, Gutter Antenna, Air Travel With Radios, and &#8220;A Spy in Every Embassy&#8221;","author":"Thomas","date":"May 18, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Soviet-Radio-Dial-e1539517556232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Soviet-Radio-Dial-e1539517556232.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Soviet-Radio-Dial-e1539517556232.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Soviet-Radio-Dial-e1539517556232.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1966,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2011\/09\/estonian-engineer-drags-uvb-76-numbers-station-into-the-internet-era\/","url_meta":{"origin":27705,"position":3},"title":"Estonian engineer drags UVB-76 numbers station into the Internet era","author":"Thomas","date":"September 28, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"It seems there's no shortage of\u00a0interest\u00a0in numbers stations these days. This article, from Wired magazine,\u00a0Inside The Russian Short Wave Radio Enigma: From a lonely rusted tower in a forest north of Moscow, a mysterious shortwave radio station transmitted day and night. For at least the decade leading up to 1992,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Numbers Stations&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Numbers Stations","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/numbers-stations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/OHtower.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":61706,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/congress-orders-sale-of-massive-federal-building-steps-from-national-mall\/","url_meta":{"origin":27705,"position":4},"title":"Congress Orders Sale of Massive Federal Building Steps From National Mall","author":"Dan Robinson","date":"January 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Dan Robinson This article appearing in the Washington Business Journal reports that President Joe Biden signed legislation that orders the sale of the Wilbur Cohen Building at 330 Independence Avenue, which has been headquarters to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (ex-Broadcasting Board of Governors) and Voice of America\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;International Broadcasting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Reagan-VOA.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Reagan-VOA.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Reagan-VOA.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22887,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/labor-mps-want-to-protect-abc-northern-territory-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":27705,"position":5},"title":"Labor MPs want to protect ABC Northern Territory shortwave service","author":"Thomas","date":"December 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ian P, who comments with this link to an article in News.com.au: Shortwave radio cuts risk NT lives: Labor Two federal Labor MPs have demanded the national broadcaster reverse a decision to switch off its radio shortwave service in the Northern Territory, which they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Broadcasters&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/NorthernTerritory-Australia.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27705"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27705\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}