So the Russians were running “illegals” in America, non-diplomatic spies who wanted, among other matters, to find out about the gold market from a top financier! The discussion of their spycraft–secret ink, passing identical briefcases as they brushed against each other in a stairwell, Mata Hari’s, shortwave radio blasts, etc. is right out of an old James Bond novel. The FBI had been spying on the spies for ten years, and chose to expose them right after the Russian president’s visit, to stoke hostilities. The Russians have said they may roll-up a US illegal spy ring or two in response. Let’s hope not. US hardliners want at least another Cold War, just like Truman. Spy hysteria helps.

The Best of Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.