I BEGAN READING THE SPY NOVELS of the late John LeCarre’ thirty years ago (see https://www.moviesmarketsandmore.com/the-author-who-came-in-from-the-cold-on-john-le-carre/). I have reread most of them many times. The experiences–the places of being he draws you into–become a destination each time you open one of his books: an exotic canyon, a rare geological formation, or a hiking trail that weaves into and out of vistas and panoramas and naturescapes. And each time there’s something new you missed the last time.

One drawback to reading his more “believable” espionage novels is that having been a spy, he dramatizes the plots of high intrigue that do occur, but are covered up in the interest of national security. Too much spy novel reading can leave you spotting conspiracies in even the tame headlines; you have to mix in some Dickens or John Irving for balance.

But a recent news item would make a plot that even LeCarre’ might have shunned for risk of seeming too fantastic–more the stuff of James Bond or pulp fiction than the fare of MI6. I refer to the very recent Guardian news article which cited some alleged KGB documents in proposing that our most recent former president may have had a long and complex affair with the Russians. The documents suggest that “45” may have been compromised by Russia’s more powerful and sinister players. I have believed for about five years that such an impulsive, indebted, and undisciplined fellow would be every spy agency’s dream target. For that matter, I would have been surprised if nothing was uncovered.

But having read LeCarre’, I know that a rival agency having kompromat (compromising material) on a valuable source is only the beginning. The handler of the operation helps to support the double agent by furthering the promotions of other compromised agents. Thus a classic KGB/GRU operation–especially over any period of time–would have created a whole network of operatives in high places to support the prized main agent. So yeah, if confirmed, it would be the most successful espionage and disruption campaign and the greatest spy caper in modern history.

One convenient thing about conspiracy theories is that they answer questions when things just don’t make sense based on available facts. Like why would ___________ make such a fool of himself/herself by ranting about something one day and then take the opposite position in equally passionate terms only a few days later? And why would politicians or high-ranking public servants behave in such a way as to seemingly destroy their reputations and legacies–years of forthright (though perhaps partisan) service? With conspiracy theories about kompromat it’s simple: they act that way because they are being blackmailed, extorted, threatened, bribed, etc. And it wouldn’t even have to be a rival government if the leveraging interests were ruthless enough to ignore the means in favor of the end result.

Look at the crazy GOP congressman who is being investigated for sex trafficking a minor! He came from a very wealthy family, but his constant antics became over the top of “over the top.” And as it turned out, he had already been under investigation for two years! Hello!

I won’t list the names, but I can think of a lot of such examples among prominent lawmakers and even former cabinet members. Just take note of those who, for all the craziness out there today, simply act too crazy: they seem like victims of some unseen puppeteer who pulls on strings to make them dance, wave their arms, and make their mouths move while they don’t even speak with their own voice.

If the Guardian is right about this kompromat–and if we ever really find out—and if I am right about how agent networks expand around a key source, the words that have not yet been turned loose on any scale, “treason” and “traitor,” will be attached to names and reputations till Hell won’t have it any more.

WRH