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Always nice to hear stories about old-school spycraft. As an aside, for a less romantic view of the agency and its history Legacy of Ashes is a good read.

Outdoorsman 11y ago
Legacy of Ashes was indeed a good read...I've made it a point in my life to read the works of all National Book Award winners, and have not been disappointed... World War II essentially brought the CIA into being...I'm sure the thinking at the time was "we've got to prevent catastrophes like this from ever happening again"... Light embassy work, Mrs. Peterson's cover, was typical of that era...easy to see why the Soviets were on to the game...a nice looking young woman, embassy employee, out and about just a little more often than chance seemed to call for... The denouement--her contact's suicide in the interrogation chair--made me wonder how often such scenes played out over the years, on both sides, without the public knowing ...a lonely profession that could end at any moment... For a nice relaxing look into somewhat-dated spy-craft I usually turn to John LeCarre...his pace is magnificent, evidence of a writer who nailed the seminal advice given to all aspiring writers--"find your voice"...informed and superb characterization separate his works from those in the craft who likely know much more, but lack his narrative skills... Thanks for posting...
- rdtsc 11y ago
  > made me wonder how often such scenes played out over the years I would guess not many. Mainly because the KGB learned their lession. Here is there video of them apprehending Dmitri Polyakov, a high ranking general working for the CIA for 25-something years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0-1ogBb6kg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0-1ogBb6kg [warning: man being held and his shirt is taken off] Notice how they are holding him and what they are doing to him. It is presumably so he doesn't have a chance to swallow a poision pill or inject himself. .
- YeGoblynQueenne 11y ago
  >> World War II essentially brought the CIA into being...I'm sure the thinking at the time was "we've got to prevent catastrophes like this from ever happening again"... I kind of thought the idea with the CIA was to have a secret agency serving USA interests abroad?
tomjen3 11y ago
I read it, but honestly that book was very boringly written and could have been much improved if it had been half as long. It also felt like the author had a political agenda so I don't know how much I can trust it. But it did finally make me accept one thing: it really is possible for the entire US defence system to overlook all the evidence for 9/11 - they really are that incompetent.

Outdoorsman 11y ago

Legacy of Ashes was indeed a good read...I've made it a point in my life to read the works of all National Book Award winners, and have not been disappointed... World War II essentially brought the CIA into being...I'm sure the thinking at the time was "we've got to prevent catastrophes like this from ever happening again"... Light embassy work, Mrs. Peterson's cover, was typical of that era...easy to see why the Soviets were on to the game...a nice looking young woman, embassy employee, out and about just a little more often than chance seemed to call for... The denouement--her contact's suicide in the interrogation chair--made me wonder how often such scenes played out over the years, on both sides, without the public knowing ...a lonely profession that could end at any moment... For a nice relaxing look into somewhat-dated spy-craft I usually turn to John LeCarre...his pace is magnificent, evidence of a writer who nailed the seminal advice given to all aspiring writers--"find your voice"...informed and superb characterization separate his works from those in the craft who likely know much more, but lack his narrative skills... Thanks for posting...

rdtsc 11y ago
> made me wonder how often such scenes played out over the years I would guess not many. Mainly because the KGB learned their lession. Here is there video of them apprehending Dmitri Polyakov, a high ranking general working for the CIA for 25-something years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0-1ogBb6kg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0-1ogBb6kg [warning: man being held and his shirt is taken off] Notice how they are holding him and what they are doing to him. It is presumably so he doesn't have a chance to swallow a poision pill or inject himself. .
YeGoblynQueenne 11y ago
>> World War II essentially brought the CIA into being...I'm sure the thinking at the time was "we've got to prevent catastrophes like this from ever happening again"... I kind of thought the idea with the CIA was to have a secret agency serving USA interests abroad?

tomjen3 11y ago

I read it, but honestly that book was very boringly written and could have been much improved if it had been half as long. It also felt like the author had a political agenda so I don't know how much I can trust it. But it did finally make me accept one thing: it really is possible for the entire US defence system to overlook all the evidence for 9/11 - they really are that incompetent.