this is brian latell, here's his book. if you could start, though, by giving us your background. particularly, your cia background. >> i worked at cia and the national intelligence council in washington for 35 years. >> in what capacity? >> ultimately, became the national intelligence officer for latin america, which is a three or four star military equivalent. i was a civilian, of course, but it's a substantial position. i had responsibility for all of latin america and cuba on the analytic side of intelligence. >> what does that mean? >> well, i was notysç a field operative. i did not -- i did not go out and conduct espionage. i did not meet foreign agents. i was basically, most of the career at headquarters, in virginia, i wrote national intelligence estimates, quite a few on cuba over the years, and on many of the other latin american countries. >> before we get into fidel castro and his regime, how did you get interested in that work? >> i was a student at georgetown university where i later taught for 25 years as an adjunct. teaches here now at the university of miami, but

. >> brian latell, the book "castro's secrets mpt the cia and cuban's intelligence machine." we ran out of time and he can't tell you the poisen pen story. pick it up and read it yourself. it's unfortunate because it's a good story so brian, thank you for joining