Dino A. Brugioni

Dino A. Brugioni was a World War II veteran who served as an aerial photographer and later joined the CIA in 1948. He was enticed by Arthur C. Lundahl to join his staff in the Photographic Intelligence Division, where he played a key role in analyzing reconnaissance photos, particularly from the U-2 Spy Plane.¹

Brugioni recalled seeing the first signs of what would become the Israeli nuclear reactor at Dimona. He and other photo interpreters observed the fencing off of a large, barren area, the construction of a new road, and significant subterranean digging and concrete pouring. They immediately suspected something unusual was happening, given the scale of the construction in the middle of the desert.¹

Despite his fascination with the construction at Dimona, Brugioni noted that the White House never encouraged further briefings on the matter. He prepared presidential briefing materials for Lundahl and knew the intelligence on Israel was reaching the top, but he never understood whether the White House wanted Israel to have the bomb or not.¹

By the end of 1959, Brugioni and Lundahl had no doubt that Israel was pursuing nuclear weapons, and that President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his advisers were determined to look the other way. Brugioni and his colleagues chose not to raise questions about Dimona, understanding that the hierarchy had decided to "play it cool."¹