Mission

I am not now, nor ever have been a spy. The romantic, dream-side of me would like to have been, but the analytical, realistic me knows I would have been a terrible, unhappy spy. Think of the personalities of the fictional spies you have read or watched. I am the opposite. My cover codename would have been "Harmless."

I have been a librarian for 27 years. I have not studied my dream profession over these years. I retired in January 2017. So now I am studying my dream possibly preparing to be a spy in my next life. Creating this Website is my method of study.

Spying claims to be the second oldest profession. So this Website presents some information about espionage before and after the Cold War.

Cold War espionage took place within the background of the Cold War doctrines of both sides. Cold War events will be mentioned when relevant. But my primary mission focuses on spy-vs-spy between the Soviet Union and the United States because lots of text, pictures, and video about this period have been declassified and are now available on the Web.

Links to articles in Wikipedia and other sources are used to provide necessary background, but as much as possible, I will tell the story through articles, manuals, memoirs, videos, lectures, Congressional testimonies, etc. by real spies.

I end with one piece of advice: "Audi, Vide, Tace." - Source: "12 Spy Agency Mottos"

Enjoy.

Harmless, Spy Wanna-Be