DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - U.S. arrests 10 alleged Russian secret agents

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J.J. Green, wtop.com

WASHINGTON - The stunning announcement from federal authorities that 10 alleged "long-term, deep cover" Russian spies have been arrested here on American soil and the ring leader in Cyprus was no surprise at all to Sergei Tretyakov.

"Cold War never ended. It's like a virus, you apply the medicine and virus develops a resistance and it continues."

Tretyakov has been warning for years that the Russians have never let go of the Cold War.

Sitting on his porch in an undisclosed location on a sunny afternoon in early spring, he reiterated his ominous message to U.S. leaders.

He said during the Cold War the Soviet Union identified the U.S. as a "potential enemy. Potential meaning an attack might have come in 10 days or 100 years or it may never happen at all."

But now he says Russia has reclassified the U.S. as a "main target." That, he says, is much different from a "potential enemy" and a bigger threat to the U.S.

"When you are my main target. You are my main target, today, tonight and the same minute (constantly)."

Still smarting over the perception that the Soviets lost the Cold War, Tretyakov says Russia's leaders are committed to restoring Russian honor. According to Tretyakov, who allegedly brought along with him thousands of classified documents and more than 100 classified cables from the KGB and its successor the SVR, the Russian intelligence establishment planned to flood the U.S. with "deep cover" spies.

Ultimately, according Department of Justice documents, the 11 arrested this week hoped to "establish a network in the United States tasked with recruiting sources and collecting information for Russia."

Also, they allegedly planned to blend into American society and quietly increase their numbers and collect as much information as possible.

"The intended recruitment targets are American citizens," says Tretyakov.

A main focus of their operation was government information and their efforts allegedly reached all the way to the top.

The No. 1 collection target was thought to be the White House. According to Tretyakov, President Barack Obama's desk is of greatest interest to them (Russian spies).

Tretyakov, recalling his goal as Russia's top intelligence official in the U.S., said, as a spy, "I'm not interested in what he (the President) has on his table. I want to know what he has under his table. What he is hiding from me."

As a result, he says, "The activities of Russian intelligence in the U.S. increased dramatically from the Soviet period."

He says the numbers will continue to grow. Russia's leadership is made of former KGB ideologues.

"Seventy five percent of those who run Russia to and in the foreseeable future are linked with the KGB or former KGB structures."

Waiting at the airport gate, before the interview began, Tretyakov was ebullient and excited to discuss his life since heading into semi-seclusion.

Arriving at the comfortable and spacious home he shares with wife Helen, he cautioned that small talk in the car on the way, the surroundings and key indicators about their life must remain off the record.

When asked about what kind of protection they have against agents that may be sent to retaliate against them, he responded, "What are we supposed to do hide under a rock?"

"No", he said, "We have normal lives as any American family. I think it's too late for the Russian government."

"If they (the Russian government) have any brains left, they would send a team from the FSB here to protect me because, if anything, were to happen to me, no one would believe it wasn't the Russian government."

Check back Friday for the final report in this series.

(Copyright 2010 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Russian spies interested in Pres. Obama's desk
J.J. Green, wtop.com

WASHINGTON - The stunning announcement from federal authorities that 10 alleged "long-term, deep cover" Russian spies have been arrested here on American soil and the ring leader in Cyprus was no surprise at all to Sergei Tretyakov.

"Cold War never ended. It's like a virus, you apply the medicine and virus develops a resistance and it continues."

Tretyakov has been warning for years that the Russians have never let go of the Cold War.

Sitting on his porch in an undisclosed location on a sunny afternoon in early spring, he reiterated his ominous message to U.S. leaders.

He said during the Cold War the Soviet Union identified the U.S. as a "potential enemy. Potential meaning an attack might have come in 10 days or 100 years or it may never happen at all."

But now he says Russia has reclassified the U.S. as a "main target." That, he says, is much different from a "potential enemy" and a bigger threat to the U.S.

"When you are my main target. You are my main target, today, tonight and the same minute (constantly)."

Still smarting over the perception that the Soviets lost the Cold War, Tretyakov says Russia's leaders are committed to restoring Russian honor. According to Tretyakov, who allegedly brought along with him thousands of classified documents and more than 100 classified cables from the KGB and its successor the SVR, the Russian intelligence establishment planned to flood the U.S. with "deep cover" spies.

Ultimately, according Department of Justice documents, the 11 arrested this week hoped to "establish a network in the United States tasked with recruiting sources and collecting information for Russia."

Also, they allegedly planned to blend into American society and quietly increase their numbers and collect as much information as possible.

"The intended recruitment targets are American citizens," says Tretyakov.

A main focus of their operation was government information and their efforts allegedly reached all the way to the top.

The No. 1 collection target was thought to be the White House. According to Tretyakov, President Barack Obama's desk is of greatest interest to them (Russian spies).

Tretyakov, recalling his goal as Russia's top intelligence official in the U.S., said, as a spy, "I'm not interested in what he (the President) has on his table. I want to know what he has under his table. What he is hiding from me."

As a result, he says, "The activities of Russian intelligence in the U.S. increased dramatically from the Soviet period."

He says the numbers will continue to grow. Russia's leadership is made of former KGB ideologues.

"Seventy five percent of those who run Russia to and in the foreseeable future are linked with the KGB or former KGB structures."

Waiting at the airport gate, before the interview began, Tretyakov was ebullient and excited to discuss his life since heading into semi-seclusion.

Arriving at the comfortable and spacious home he shares with wife Helen, he cautioned that small talk in the car on the way, the surroundings and key indicators about their life must remain off the record.

When asked about what kind of protection they have against agents that may be sent to retaliate against them, he responded, "What are we supposed to do hide under a rock?"

"No", he said, "We have normal lives as any American family. I think it's too late for the Russian government."

"If they (the Russian government) have any brains left, they would send a team from the FSB here to protect me because, if anything, were to happen to me, no one would believe it wasn't the Russian government."

Check back Friday for the final report in this series.

(Copyright 2010 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved) http://www.wtop.com/?nid=778&sid=1989344