"I think some in the Reagan and GHWB administrations were alert to the possibility that Anatoliy Golitsyn's warnings had validity. The wishful-thinking was that with the tidal wave of people wanting freedom...that the Bad Guys "lost control" of the situation."
Interesting. I'm a big fan of Golitsyn, myself. I have both his books, though I've only read various parts. I think the problem is not so much whether or not anyone believed Golitsyn---but how strongly placed his various enemies were, not only Soviet agents that had penetrated our government, but Russian agents of influence---and their numerous progeny inside the United States and throughout the West.
Although Golitsyn realized there were Russian agents of influence (my use of the term comes from him), I believe he underrated their importance---particularly the way they could "force multiply" over the decades---gradually gaining followers/blackmailed slaves/etc. and finally---undermining entire institutions such as the MSM, the Democratic Party, the State Department, teachers unions, and academia.
"In retrospect, we should have leaned much, much harder on Boris Yeltsin to terminate the KGB. Not just rename it FSB."
I'm skeptical that that approach would've worked. I do think it's possible that if the U. S.---along with many key people inside Russia---had been more suspicious and kept full pressure on---the current proto-communist government of Russia could have been avoided. I suspect this pathway would have led to bloodshed inside Russia during the 1990s. But it would have been well worth it to cleanse that country of its rot---and would have avoided the current nest of problems faced by the United States---primarily driven by Russia on every side.
It's VERY ironic that TGJ would post an article that provides a link to a Russian organization that is filled with men who see the US leadership as "puppets" of the Carlysle Group out to occupy Russia. In other words, they're of the exact same mindset of some of our own old fools who have been suckered by Golytsyn (KGB out to conquer America).
And what about this Golytsyn guy? In my opinion Golytsyn is one of the most successful, if not THE most successful KGB operation every put in place. Why?
1.) Kim Philby, a Soviet spy and British defector was Jim Angleton's best friend. Philby was planning to defect and working with the Soviets when he was assigned as Angleton's partner. Angleton put all his trust in Philby. Philby learned everything about Angelton - his paranoias, his predeliction to conspirarcy theories, his fears, his thoughts, his weaknesses.
2.) Philby defects.
3.) Golytsin appears. He's very well versed in what Angleton's fears were, what he thought about the Soviets, and his paranoia concerning moles. Golytsin uses this knowledge gained from Philby's cooperation with his KGB handlers.
4.) Golytsyn moles his way into Angelton's inner circle. He feeds Angleton's paranoia. He uses what the KGB learned about Angleton to the KGB's advantage. After all, that was/is his real mission. Cause strife and in-fighing in America's premier intelligence agency. Golytsyn's hold over Angleton paralyzed the CIA.
5.) Golytsyn spoke to Angelton's fears and covered himself by convincing Angelton that any defectors who appeared after him were fake and they were sent by the KGB to denounce him. A CLASSIC KGB MOVE, i.e., a Double Agent, such as Golytsin, convinces Angleton that real defectors are double agents. The KGB did this to lessen the impact of real defectors. They knew people would flee their criminal regime and they had to have a counterweight in place. That counterweight was Golytsin.
6.) Present Day Goltytsyn Mission: Work with his KGB cronies who do NOT want to see the end of the Cold War and the lack of prestige it brought. But how? Easy. Convince people that the Soviet Union is just hibernating. Influence America's foreign policy by infiltrating "patriotic movements" Convince these people that the KGB is still around and ready to strike. Why? So these patriotic movements will influence their elected officials to be tougher on Russia which in turn will force Russia to see Russian hardliners' point-of-view, i.e., the US wants to occupy Russia.
7.) Stifle any criticism of Golytsin by convincing his followers to label Golytsin critics traitors. Golytsin knows very well that the worst thing to call an American is "traitor."
In short: So far MISSION ACCOMPLISHED for Golytsin. He and his KGB allies have managed to dupe and manipulate people by playing on their irrational fears. This in turn has caused lobbying of elected American officials to get tougher on the Russias. Toughness of Russia, in turn, allows the KGB veterans to get the ear of Putin and co. and convince them that the US is out to occupy Russia. Next up, the rebirth of the prestige of the KGB and the current FSB. More money spent on special services because of the "American threat," more trading with America's enemies, because of the "American threat." In short - A VERY SUCCESSFUL KGB AGENT this Mr. Golytsin. I wonder what rank he is now?
Bottom line: Proliferators of Golytsin's propaganda further the KGB mission - making them KGB accomplices. "Well done" (/sarcasm).
PS - It's no "coincidence" that Russian television and books are awash with documentaries and information about how much Godievsky, Penkovsky and Polyakov hurt the Soviet Union, but nary a word about Golytsin. Hmmm.