Betrayal:: The Story of Aldrich Ames, an American Spy
by Tim Weiner, David JOHNSTON, Neil A. LEWIS
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Betrayal is the remarkable story of the last American spy of the cold war: Aldrich "Rick" Ames, the most destructive traitor in the history of the Central Intelligence Agency. Tim Weiner, David Johnston, and Neil A. Lewis, reporters for The New York Times, tell how the barons of the CIA could not believe that its headquarters harbored a traitor. For years, the Agency was baffled by a wily Russian spymaster who played a high-stakes chess game against the Americans, deceiving the CIA into show more thinking that there were other moles -- or no moles at all. It took nearly eight years for the CIA to share the full facts of the scenario with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Once they knew those facts, the men and women of the FBI tracked Ames day and night for nine months before they arrested him. They tell their story here in astonishing detail for the first time. The interviews are entirely on-the-record. There are no pseudonyms, anonymous quotes, or invented scenes. The men betrayed by Ames were real people, and the stories of their lives are the true history of the espionage game in the waning years of the cold war. show lessTags
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StreedsReads Aldrich Ames, General Polyakov, KGB Assets, Espionage, Mole, Cold War.
Member Reviews
3 1/2 stars: Good
From the back cover: For years the CIA could not believe that its headquarters harbored a traitor. FOr years, the Agency was baffled by a wily Russian spymaster who played a high stakes game against Americans, deceiving the CIA into thinking that there were other moles - or no other moles at all. Betrayal describes Ames' meetings with his Soviet handlers in Washington, Rome, and Bogota, and his confrontation with his wife when he first shared the truth about his treason. The book details the befuddlement of CIA officers who tried, in fits and starts, to find the traitor. It took nearly 8 years for the CIA to share the full facts of the investigation with the FBI. Once they knew those facts, the men and women of the FBI show more tracked Ames day and night for nine months before they arrested him.
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I found this book interesting and engaging, but at times much too detailed.. It interwove the stories of Ames and the people trying to figure out if the CIA had a mole, and who he was. The main evidence was that the Soviet spies for the US were being murdered or "disappeared" by the KGB. It wasn't clear who was who and the problem solvers story was weak. Ames was more compelling, and by his own admission, he was in it for the money. He did not have a ideological cause, though when pressed, said he aligned more with KGB. Basically, a selfish person who felt he should have been higher level than he was, so he sold out his country. show less
From the back cover: For years the CIA could not believe that its headquarters harbored a traitor. FOr years, the Agency was baffled by a wily Russian spymaster who played a high stakes game against Americans, deceiving the CIA into thinking that there were other moles - or no other moles at all. Betrayal describes Ames' meetings with his Soviet handlers in Washington, Rome, and Bogota, and his confrontation with his wife when he first shared the truth about his treason. The book details the befuddlement of CIA officers who tried, in fits and starts, to find the traitor. It took nearly 8 years for the CIA to share the full facts of the investigation with the FBI. Once they knew those facts, the men and women of the FBI show more tracked Ames day and night for nine months before they arrested him.
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I found this book interesting and engaging, but at times much too detailed.. It interwove the stories of Ames and the people trying to figure out if the CIA had a mole, and who he was. The main evidence was that the Soviet spies for the US were being murdered or "disappeared" by the KGB. It wasn't clear who was who and the problem solvers story was weak. Ames was more compelling, and by his own admission, he was in it for the money. He did not have a ideological cause, though when pressed, said he aligned more with KGB. Basically, a selfish person who felt he should have been higher level than he was, so he sold out his country. show less
This work is frank in its appraisal of incredible shortcomings at both the CIA and FBI. A to-the-point retelling of how a mediocre pseudo-professional rises to the top of the CIA once he couldn't be demoted or fired after having been granted access to vast amounts of clandestine operational intelligence (past and then present). This is not as rich on background historical context as other related books, but the excellent narrative pace makes up for that in a distinguishing way.
A really good story. Well paced. Lots of insight. Amazing that this guy went undetected for so long.
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Author Information
12 Works 4,419 Members
Tim Weiner was born on June 20, 1956. He was educated at Columbia University. As a correspondent for The New York Times, he covered war and terrorism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Sudan, and other nations. His articles on secret government programs received the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. He has written several books including Blank show more Check: The Pentagon's Black Budget, Enemies: A History of the FBI, and One Man Against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon. Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA won the National Book Award. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
1 Work 140 Members
2 Works 145 Members
All Editions
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1995
- People/Characters
- Aldrich Hazen Ames; Milton Bearden
- Important places
- Bogotá, Colombia; USA
- First words
- Les Wiser snapped awake in a rush of adrenaline.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The CIA would never know the truth, and it would never be made free.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 327.12 — Society, government, & culture Political science International Relations: Spies Foreign policy and specific topics in international relations Espionage and subversion
- LCC
- JK468 .I6 .W43 — Political Science Political institutions and public administration (United States) Political institutions and public administration United States Government. Public administration
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 142
- Popularity
- 231,024
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.71)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 2
