Comrade J

Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America after the End of the Cold War

De: Pete Earley

Narrado por: Michael Prichard

Spymaster, defector, double agent....Here is the remarkable true story of the man who ran Russia's post-cold-war spy program in America.

In 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed, the cold war ended, and a new world order began. We thought everything had changed. But one thing never changed: the spies.

From 1995 to 2000, a man known as "Comrade J" was the highest-ranking operative in the SVR - the successor agency to the KGB - in the United States. He directed all Russian spy action in New York City and personally oversaw every covert operation against the United States and its allies in the United Nations. He recruited spies, planted agents, penetrated security, manipulated intelligence, and influenced American policy - all under the direct leadership of Boris Yeltsin and then Vladimir Putin. He was a legend in the SVR, the man who kept the secrets.

Then, in 2000, he defected - and it turned out he had one more secret. For the previous two years, he had also been a double agent for the FBI.

He has never granted a public interview. The FBI and CIA have refused to answer all media questions about him. He has remained in hiding. He has never revealed his secrets. Until now.

Comrade J, written by the best-selling author of Family of Spies and The Hot House, is his story, a direct account of what he did in the United States after we all assumed the spying was over - and of what Putin and Russia continue to do today. The revelations are stunning. It is also the story of growing up in a family of agents dating back to the revolution; of how Russia molded him into one of its most high-flying operatives; of the day-to-day perils of living a double, then triple, life; and finally, of how his growing disquiet with the corruption and ambitions of the "new Russia" led him to take the most perilous step of all.

Many spies have told their stories. None has the astonishing immediacy, relevance, and cautionary warnings of Comrade J.

©2007 Pete Earley, Inc. (P)2008 Tantor

Some Inaccuracies, but still good

Of particular interest from the US point of view, the book reveals that for three years before his defection in October 2000 Tretyakov worked for the FBI, providing details of residency operations and personnel. Ten months before his defection, the FBI encouraged him to leave but could not tell him the reason: it was hunting a mole who might learn about him. When Tretyakov's defection became public on 30 January 2001 and Robert Hanssen was arrested on 18 February 2001, the press presumed Tretyakov was the one who gave him up. The FBI assured Earley that this was not the case.

Finally, as with all unsourced defector memoirs, one must deal with the question of accuracy. In this case, the narrative contains two technical errors worth noting: (1) reference to Tretyakov as a double agent is incorrect, and (2) the statement that the CIA calls its employees'agents is wrong. Recognizing that independent assessment of Tretyakov's story is desirable, Earley includes a chapter with comments from a high-ranking US intelligence official that addresses the kinds of material Tretyakov provided and affirms that it included names and saved American lives. Further detail is attributed to other intelligence sources, as, for example, the fact that the bug planted in the State Department conference room in the late 1990s had a miniature battery recharged with a laser beam. If correct, someone would have had to have line-of-sight access to the battery, but no comment is made on this point.

In the end, although Earley has provided another well told espionage case study, he leaves the curious hoping for a second volume containing more details of Tretyakov&'s work for US intelligence.

Informative, if not very exciting

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was an ok use of time. It helped me get a better general sense of what a Russian agent in the US actually does, and what are the day-to-day challenges and frustrations. It also gave some sense of how the KGB and its successors work/ed (e.g. its agents were trained, how centralized things were, how the truth did not always matter to upper management).

Excellent book, compelling story

Great reality check. This courageous man is a better American than most of us. I wish them well...

Better than expected

Even though it was first published in 2007, I could see how it was going to impact a lot of lives for the worse, most deservedly. The Russians are a scourge on the world, and so much energy has been devoted to combating them day in and day out. This book reveals in detail Sergei Tretyakov's defection from the SVR. In doing so, it paints a detail rich picture of life working for the corrupt and brutal Siloviki machine post-Cold War.

It is naive to think Russia will ever escape the paranoia and brutality that is baked into its creed. Such different people they are from us.

And "Nuclear Winter" is uncovered as Soviet disinformation, who knew?

must read

fascinating read, very well produced, well written, an important look at Russian attitudes and policies.

Good lesson on modern Russia

A good account from someone that was part of the Russian Intelligence with first hand knowledge and participation in the collapse of the Soviet Union and the folly of our mutual interests.

A Good Informative & Interesting Listen

Moreso an informative and descriptive book than a 'thriller'. That isn't a criticism. It's interesting and well worth the time. It's more than a shame that it's audience likely won't include many who could benefit all of us by listening to it, but it's still helpful to those that do.

Much of the theme may not be surprising to people who follow these topics, but it's another interesting personal account with it's own worthwhile contributions. Personally I appreciated the Oil for Food program corruption explanation the most.

Narration: The narration was good as well but just occasionally a bit difficult to follow when the volume rose & fell in places seemingly because the distance from the mike changed.

Phenomenal listen!

Once I started I didn't want to stop listening. This is a book that anyone who is interested in Russia, the government , or Russia and US relations should listen to. Between the information provided in this book, and also in a book called Russians Among Us, US citizens should be very very wary of what they hear and what they believe.

The Russians are still coming

Here's a work that shows how naive Americans are about the intentions of the Russian state, especially under Vladimir Putin. After Gorbachev and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Russians were suddenly our friends. Think again. There's a reason why Putin, a former high-ranking KGB officer, still runs the show. This is an excellent story, well told and well-narrated. Strongly recommended for anyone with an interest in current affairs.

Great read

Fantastic insight into the KGB, and SVR. A fascinating story about espionage, geopolitics and personal insights from a communist turned capitalist.