From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Robert "Bob" Booker Baer (born July 1, 1952) is an American author and a former CIA case officer  assigned to the Middle East. He is TIME.com's intelligence columnist  and has contributed to Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.  Baer is a frequent commentator and author about issues related to international relations, espionage and U.S. foreign policy.