The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

13.07.2015 Views

institutions. Afghan special services, which is called Istichbahrat, was extremely ineffective andwas not trusted by the leaders of the country. In the elite, in the army, in the state apparatus,Afghans have always known each other personally. The leadership would make a decision ifsomeone would transgress, but those decisions were based on personal understanding instead ofwritten law. When Afghans served as agents of foreign special services, their covert activitieswould be considered treason only in the case that the traitor worked against the ruler ofAfghanistan, or members of his family or clan. Afghanistan doesn’t have any systematic archives ofspecial services. It doesn’t have recruitment methodology or criterion of evaluation of covertcollaboration. There are no written descriptions of the processes and results of investigations thattook place.“You, personally, will have to organize a powerful counterintelligence apparatus based onlaw. You will have to establish goals in the sphere of counterintelligence activities for your Afghancolleagues. You will have to develop an organizational plan as soon as possible, prepare a budget,and participate in selecting cadres who are effective and loyal to the revolution. It’s possible thatsome of them will be former officers of Istichbahrat and the police.”The junior colonel seemed impressed by the scale of the tasks.“I asked my boss, are there any normative acts regarding the activities of advisers—KGBoperatives abroad—which might provide me with guiding principles in Kabul? I was told that youwould familiarize me with them.”Ershov was taken aback. “Yes, but not on the plane! Our office in Kabul has a code ofinstructions regarding scope of activities of KGB residencies overseas. Tomorrow, if there is time, Iwill let you read it.”Ivan Ivanovich issued a deep yawn, signaling that he would like now to be left alone.122

However, he didn’t fall asleep. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to sleep on the plane. Every timehe flew to Kabul, Ershov was gripped with excitement. He had developed deep connections withthat city.Ershov was born in the Kaluga region of Russia. He grew up in a poor peasant family. Hewas very short, which was of extreme concern to him, and prompted him to wear high-heeledboots and to have a preference for large, imposing objects. Sometimes, when he drove agovernment car, it would seem like there was no driver inside and the car was driving by itself.The drivers on the opposite side of the road were horrified at the sight and would often pull off theroad. He spoke with a high-pitched voice. He was afraid of women, particularly of his wife, MayaAlexeyevna.Ivan Ivanovich was a veteran of World War II. At first, being a Navy cadet in Kronstadt, heextinguished Nazi firebombs on the roofs of Leningrad. Later he became a sniper. He was in chargeof the Komsomol organization of a military regiment when the war was coming to an end. Whenhis regiment freed Bulgaria and was preparing to enter Sofia triumphantly, Ivan Ivanovich decidedto enter the city riding horseback. They found a good horse for him, but the saddle that someonehad selected for the horse gave Ivan Ivanovich blisters on his buttocks, rendering him toouncomfortable to carry out his plan. Instead of entering Sofia on a horse, Ivan Ivanovich enteredthe city in an ambulance. Since then, he became very mistrustful, suspecting foul play at everyturn.After the war was over, he enrolled in the Institute of Military Interpreters in Moscow,where he studied French. As one of the most politically reliable and academically inclinedgraduates, he received an offer to work in the counterintelligence service of the KGB. IvanIvanovich agreed. However, having begun to work, he was very surprised that his bosses decided123

However, he didn’t fall asleep. He knew that he wouldn’t be able <strong>to</strong> sleep on the plane. Every timehe flew <strong>to</strong> Kabul, Ershov was gripped with excitement. He had developed deep connections withthat city.Ershov was born in the Kaluga region of Russia. He grew up in a poor peasant family. Hewas very short, which was of extreme concern <strong>to</strong> him, and prompted him <strong>to</strong> wear high-heeledboots and <strong>to</strong> have a preference for large, imposing objects. Sometimes, when he drove agovernment car, it would seem like there was no driver inside and the car was driving by itself.<strong>The</strong> drivers on the opposite side of the road were horrified at the sight and would often pull off theroad. He spoke with a high-pitched voice. He was afraid of women, particularly of his wife, MayaAlexeyevna.Ivan Ivanovich was a veteran of World War II. At first, being a Navy cadet in Kronstadt, heextinguished Nazi firebombs on the roofs of Leningrad. Later he became a sniper. He was in chargeof the Komsomol organization of a military regiment when the war was coming <strong>to</strong> an end. Whenhis regiment freed Bulgaria and was preparing <strong>to</strong> enter Sofia triumphantly, Ivan Ivanovich decided<strong>to</strong> enter the city riding horseback. <strong>The</strong>y found a good horse for him, but the saddle that someonehad selected for the horse gave Ivan Ivanovich blisters on his but<strong>to</strong>cks, rendering him <strong>to</strong>ouncomfortable <strong>to</strong> carry out his plan. Instead of entering Sofia on a horse, Ivan Ivanovich enteredthe city in an ambulance. Since then, he became very mistrustful, suspecting foul play at everyturn.After the war was over, he enrolled in the Institute of Military Interpreters in Moscow,where he studied French. As one of the most politically reliable and academically inclinedgraduates, he received an offer <strong>to</strong> work in the counterintelligence service of the KGB. IvanIvanovich agreed. However, having begun <strong>to</strong> work, he was very surprised that his bosses decided123

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