It's not that Trump is who he is that bothers me -- it is that so many Americans are okay with it, and with him. As a country we have lost our way, and there is plenty of blame to go around for that.
Dear Michael, it was such a great story. I remember well Moscow in 1985, I was University student, and loved to walk around Садовое кольцо, and Посольство США на улице Чайковского. I loved to look at those magnificent American cars, they were thousands miles ahead of Lada and Volga. People from the Посольство also looked so different unlike boring soviet clothes the Americans wore jeans and jackets and for me they all were like from different planet. Years later, I live in Ireland. Большое Спасибо Вам за вашу историю из жизни. Незабываемое время. America was on the freedom side back then.
Excellent story. I actually read "Spy Dust" as it was a gift from my son several years ago. I was amazed at the art of disguises that was illustrated in that story. Thank you for your service.
Ha ....yes, my pal Tony Mendez somehow used 'Spy Dust'as the title for his book about disguise. I never quite figured out how hecame up with that as the title, but the book was great and actually helped me in that he got CIA to declassify a lot of stuff about disguise work that is helpful to me.
Speaking of "spy dust," I hope you don't believe GRU Lieutenant-Colonel Pyotr Popov was uncovered in 1959 by the KGB's watching George Winters mail a letter to him and by spraying spy dust on his shoes (or some-such thing). Truth-be-told, Popov was betrayed in early 1957 by either recently-fired-by-CIA Edward Ellis Smith (Popov's former dead drop setter-upper) or Bruce Leonard Solie (look him up) when one or the other of them met with high-level KGB officer Vladislav Kochnov in Washington D.C. movie houses, with the other two-thirds of the FBI's monikered "Three Musketeers" group of Soviet spy-types -- "Kislov" and Guk -- nearby.
Both sides had counterintelligence successes. One source of pride for us was that, even as mayhem descended on us in 1985 -- of the 13 Soviet agents who were exposed during that period, none of it happened because of tradecraft mistakes by the Moscow team. All were a result of Aldrich Ames, Ed Howard, or Robert Hanssen -- the three moles in CIA and FBI. To the Moscow team, that matters.
Great read, Michael. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and for your service to our country. I couldn’t agree with you more about the US becoming complacent, and the three names you mentioned make me cringe every time I see them. Hoping it’s not too late to turn things around, glad we both got out of the Soviet Union alive.
I may not be outside the US now, but this story is far from over. I don’t consider myself “out” until I no longer have to be concerned about Russia. Things are happening.
A great read, thank you for sharing it. What a life you have led, thank you for your service.
So good to hear the true history of the spy service. As Genevieve has already said, it must be galling to see what is going on now.
A riveting narrative!
Thank you for your service to our nation.
What an amazing life you have lived. Trump's cozying up to Putin must be especially galling to you.
It's not that Trump is who he is that bothers me -- it is that so many Americans are okay with it, and with him. As a country we have lost our way, and there is plenty of blame to go around for that.
Dear Michael, it was such a great story. I remember well Moscow in 1985, I was University student, and loved to walk around Садовое кольцо, and Посольство США на улице Чайковского. I loved to look at those magnificent American cars, they were thousands miles ahead of Lada and Volga. People from the Посольство also looked so different unlike boring soviet clothes the Americans wore jeans and jackets and for me they all were like from different planet. Years later, I live in Ireland. Большое Спасибо Вам за вашу историю из жизни. Незабываемое время. America was on the freedom side back then.
Excellent story. I actually read "Spy Dust" as it was a gift from my son several years ago. I was amazed at the art of disguises that was illustrated in that story. Thank you for your service.
Ha ....yes, my pal Tony Mendez somehow used 'Spy Dust'as the title for his book about disguise. I never quite figured out how hecame up with that as the title, but the book was great and actually helped me in that he got CIA to declassify a lot of stuff about disguise work that is helpful to me.
As an ancient Brit living in Thailand, I'm not sure I qualify as a Cold War espionage nerd- but a great read and a tribute to your professionalism
Brilliant!
So fascinating. Your efforts took such courage.
Speaking of "spy dust," I hope you don't believe GRU Lieutenant-Colonel Pyotr Popov was uncovered in 1959 by the KGB's watching George Winters mail a letter to him and by spraying spy dust on his shoes (or some-such thing). Truth-be-told, Popov was betrayed in early 1957 by either recently-fired-by-CIA Edward Ellis Smith (Popov's former dead drop setter-upper) or Bruce Leonard Solie (look him up) when one or the other of them met with high-level KGB officer Vladislav Kochnov in Washington D.C. movie houses, with the other two-thirds of the FBI's monikered "Three Musketeers" group of Soviet spy-types -- "Kislov" and Guk -- nearby.
I remember it on the news here in Australia but didn't take much notice only to think oh I didnt think they ever got those CIA people!
Both sides had counterintelligence successes. One source of pride for us was that, even as mayhem descended on us in 1985 -- of the 13 Soviet agents who were exposed during that period, none of it happened because of tradecraft mistakes by the Moscow team. All were a result of Aldrich Ames, Ed Howard, or Robert Hanssen -- the three moles in CIA and FBI. To the Moscow team, that matters.
Great read, Michael. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and for your service to our country. I couldn’t agree with you more about the US becoming complacent, and the three names you mentioned make me cringe every time I see them. Hoping it’s not too late to turn things around, glad we both got out of the Soviet Union alive.
Amen to that. Your story is likely more harrowing than mine.Glad you made it out.
I may not be outside the US now, but this story is far from over. I don’t consider myself “out” until I no longer have to be concerned about Russia. Things are happening.
Thank you for this excellent read. I wish it would be made into a new documentary or limited series. And thank you for your service as well 🙏