Confessions of a Spy: Real Story of Aldrich Ames [Hardcover]

Having borrowed a copy from a colleague, whose book contained signatures of all those who took part in this long-lasting investigation on behalf of the CIA, I wrote to a friend, who some thirty years ago occupied the same position as Rick Ames, i.e. he was a CI chief at the SE Division. His answer may be interesting not only to Mr Earley but to many readers of this well written and useful book. My friend permitted me to quote him and I do it with pleasure.
'Hard to know where to begin to comment on the despicable Aldrich Ames. First, his actions. His was the particularly venemous form of treason that doesn't just expose hidden details of science or industry or political planning--which some rationalize as spreading necessary knowledge or
improving the prospects of peace. What he was doing, instead, was destroying the day to day work of his own colleagues and friends, murdering individuals as selectively as if he were aiming a gun at each of their heads, and clearly and directly diminishing the security of his own country (moreover, a democracy no more imperfect than any other). That he did such
a colossal thing simply for money suggests not just disloyalty but an extraordinary, almost inhuman, lack of conscience, decency or morals. In other words, a monster.
By the way, I don't accept justification by comparison with similar revelations from the other side in the Cold War. There was not only the difference in regimes east and west, but especially in punishments. Certain execution (and punishment of families) cannot be compared with a few years in a Western prison.
I suppose one could also comment on the degree of Ames's access. His job was somewhat similar to one I held a generation earlier, and I can testify that he knew, or could find out, just about everything we were doing clandestinely against our principal adversary. Seen from the point of view of the KGB as a counterintelligence organism, he was prettty close to perfectly placed.
A fascinating aspect of the case is the blindness of CIA to this menace despite blatant signs. "No man so blind as him who doesn't want to see"--but in this case, "seeing" was the paid responsibility of many within CIA and the prime mission of some. That they failed, almost willfully, tells you all you need to know about the capacity of Americans in the field of counterintelligence. One old vet told a reporter, "This
couldn't have happened in Bagley's time." Indeed, I would have forced their goddam noses down into the smell of treason that filled the air for nine years before Ames was finally caught--though maybe I wouldn't have succeeded any better than I did under somewhat similar circumstances in my own time (...)."
To this honest and professional comment, which I fully support, I'd only like to add that one crucial element is missing in Mr Earley's narration, and that is the fact, that Ames would probably be never identified as a spy if it were not for a Russian defector, who brought the final evidence to the otherwise dying investigation. So a proud CIA team featured on the photo should not actually be proud, but ashamed.

I cannot add very much that hasn't already been stated in these spaces. The reader, however, must remain aware that this book is very self-serving to Mr. Ames. Like John Walker, he finds excuses for his abominable actions by blaming others: the CIA, the federal bureaucracy, our "consuming society," his wife, his mother-in-law, etc. The book, however, is very well written and informative. It is well worth reading.

Confessions of a Spy captured every aspect of the spy life of Aldrich Ames. It was fantastic. Even reading this in 7th grade, I had no problems understanding it. The book showed exactly what both sides were up to, and kept the pages turning. Outstanding.