Spies without Cloaks

by Amy Knight

Release Date: 22 December, 1997

Edition: Paperback

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Repression under a different alias

Apparently, not everyone in Russia was dying to develop democracy. In fact, the leadership likes to assume in times of trouble that the KGB was never disbanded, Yeltsin used their strong-arm tactics just as effectively as any Soviet premier.

Knight does write an interesting book, but there are some major flaws. I was reading this book for enjoyment, and found that it is about as dry as the vellum the Constitution was printed on - I fell asleep quite easily while reading it. That's not to say I didn't think it was good, I just wouldn't read it if I was suffering from insomnia. The second flaw isn't Knight's fault: this is an account of the first 4 years of the Russian Federation and the Commonwealth of Independent States through the eyes of the former KGB - what about the time since '95? Perhaps a post-Yeltsin update is in order. The third flaw is that Knight's research was primarily Russian newspaper and other media sources - so if you're interested in international espionage for example, the Russian media didn't cover it all except for the Aldritch Ames case.

However it does have its good points, and is a great source for anyone wondering whatever happened to the KGB. I wouldn't drop everything and get it, but if you can find it it is a good enough read.

eye opener

Amy Knight identifies a part of post-Soviet society that the citizens of that former empire need to reconsile with. The Secret Police Empire is the remnant of Bolshevik terror and corruption that eats away at what could possibly be a law based society. Knight illustrates how post Soviet leaders have tried to distance themselves from their KGB goons but hurry back when going get tough.