The Main Enemy: The Inside Story of the CIA's Final Showdown with the KGB by Milton Bearden, James Risen Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Main Enemy: The Inside Story of the CIA's Final Showdown with the KGB
Book Review: Learn about how the world really works...a page turning book
Summary: 5 Stars
Superbly written, page burning, riveting book. All of the excitement and word craft of a Tom Clancy novel but real history from a man who lived it. This book is a great read and about a subject that anyone interested in history, politics, or current events should absolutely read. The Main Enemy chronicles the secret war of spying from 1985 until the end of the cold war. What makes this book so interesting, and different, is that one of the authors lived the story. In addition this book shows how men make history while not even knowing the ultimate consequences of their actions. Milt Bearden puts the stories and the lessons learned in a global context. Instead of being simply a collection of anecdotes or a another narcissistic (and self-serving) biography, this book opens up a very poorly understood period of history and of a profession.
The Main Enemy also clearly shows us the debt we owe countless men and woman who protect and serve this country whose actions and sacrifices will never be known. The authors show how the information acquired by these brave people contribute to saving lives on the battlefield, contribute to better US-World negotiations, and impact every American's life, without our even knowing it.
Not only have Mr. Bearden and Mr. Risen written a great book, but they have served this country by better educating us on how the world really works and what is needed in the future. I believe that this book should be required reading by every student and politician. It could save grave errors and costly mistakes in the future.
Book Review: An exceptional insight into the endgame of the Cold War
Summary: 5 Stars
This reviewer served in Embassy Pakistan for two years from the week the author arrived in mid-1986 as Chief of Station, Islamabad.In a government career that spanned twenty-five years, he was, without a doubt, the best Agency operator and manager ever encountered. Looking back on events, what was accomplished under our watch was not only important, it was truly exciting.
This book, especially the middle third that deals with the war in Afghanistan, is right on the mark. In fact, I learned things in this book that I never knew about at the time as I did not have the "need to know."
This book has a very important story to tell on a critical junction-point in the resolution of the Cold War told by the man at the tip of the spear. In all areas where I have direct knowledge, there is not one instance where I felt he was less than totally objective. Most remarkably, he made what he did seem effortless and, more importantly to me, he did it with elan. His troops relished every minute of every day -- unless they dropped the ball. One lapse and there was all hell to pay.
The seriously broad scope of this book is such that, clearly, there was simply not enough pages to encompass all the many peripheral stories that might have been mentioned. Anecdotes and telling detail abound throughout but there are many more tales that could have been told that would make the reader drop the book in sheer glee. Of the many that do make it into the text, the one on the exchange of cables between the field and Langley on the "specifications" for mules delivered to portage materiel into the Afghan war zone, is, without a doubt, a classic.
For those of us then in Islamabad who fought in Viet Nam and saw it as a correct but completely mishandled affair by both the Pentagon and Capitol Hill, we all understood on that crisp, Fall day in 1986 when a Stinger missile brought down the first Soviet aircraft, that their arrogant adventure in Afghanistan was the death-knell of their perverted philosophy and totally-flawed and simplistic system.
One had to be there. To date, for the armchair warrior, this book is as close and as good as it gets.
Book Review: Bearden's new MOLE HUNT!
Summary: 4 Stars
I think I could write the world's largest review of "The Main Enemy" by the ex-CIA's "Uncle Milty", but I think we should simply focus on one item that this book, like a small scale nuclear explosion, lays on the reader: A HIGH PLACED MOLE AT SENIOR LEVELS INSIDE THE CIA BETRAYED TO THE FORMER SOVIET KGB THE HIGHEST PLACED AND STRAGEGICALLY MOST IMPORTANT AMERICAN SPY IN US HISTORY: A.G. TOLKACHEV! Anyone interested in what Tolkachev revealed to US Intelligence may have difficulty finding out the facts. Tolkachev gave us everything from Soviet Missile research to the latest designs for Soviet combat aircraft. Mr. Milton Bearden and his writer friend James Risen, chosen by Uncle Milty so he could avoid the CIA `black magic marker' when he submitted this manuscript for approval in Arlington, reveal for the first time that neither Aldrich Ames nor Edward L. Howard had anything to do with Tolkachev's betrayal! This begs the question: WHO WAS AND POSSIBLY STILL IS THE TRAITOR MOLE INSIDE THE CIA?
For those of you interested in the on-going historical MOLE hunts inside the CIA, stop watching the idiot TV show "The Agency" and read: "Legend, the Secret World of Lee Harvey Oswald" by Edward Jay Epstein. I am a believer and follower of the late James Jesus Angleton who went to this grave wondering about the mysterious 1978 death of CIA official John A. Paisley and several others inside the agency from 1978 to 1985. Angleton was the MOLE HUNTER who came close to discovering the identity of the super "Soviet Mole" before he was suddenly fired by CIA Director William Colby. Colby, like Paisley, died in an equally mysterious "canoe accident" in 1996. He and Paisley's demise had one thing in common: it happened on the water. Paisley, in addition, had a 9mm hole behind his left ear. They called it a "Suicide".
As you begin this reading adventure you might consider finding a copy of "The Encyclopedia of Espionage" by Norm Polmar and Tom Allen. It might help guide you on your journey through the "WILDERNESS OF MIRRORS"!
Have fun!
Book Review: Gripping Action
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. The story grabs you from page one and never lets go. It puts a very human face on this mysterious and larger-than-life era in world history. The authors did an excellent job bringing the story and its characters to life!Book Review: Outstanding
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent story telling combined with insights into the espionage end game of the Cold War.