Confessions of a CIA Spy in the Soviet Union
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An engaging account of the author’s stay in the Soviet Union during the last days of Communism. Pursuing research for a book on the history of Russian-Muslim relations, the author stayed in private homes in Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan just after the ban on Soviet citizens meeting with foreigners was lifted along with the ban on foreigners traveling alone without official escort.
At the request of the CIA, the author kept a journal of his encounters, and discussed history and politics with many Soviets who had never met a foreigner, many of whom still believed that the Soviet Union was the wealthiest and most advanced country in the world, while others who were more skeptical were just starting to become aware of facts about the West. The author met with militant Sufis, tribal Uzbeks, and minority Russians who blamed Moscow for abandoning them with no defense against ethnic rivals except for “knife and fist.”
A rare exploration of crumbling Soviet society. Dr. Roberts draws on his academic training to present a prescient view of the breakup of the Soviet Union and evaluates the likelihood of Sharia Law coming to former Soviet regions with many observations on the nature of Communism and Islamic societies, perhaps of more significance today given Russia’s changing demography and growing religious and ethnic tensions.
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