Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland

Seth G Jones

W.W. Norton and Company

https://wwnorton.com

9780393247008, $17.79


Synopsis

In December of 1981, the polish government cut telephone lines, closed the border and eventually declared martial law. Soon after a group of determined polish citizens joined together to fight the governments actions. Aided by the covert actions of the United States Central Intelligence Agency this solidary movement fought for and achieved a landmark victory for democracy. This book, describes in great detail, many of these efforts. Well researched, it includes in-depth interviews and declassified evidence.

My thoughts  

I enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it. Especially enlightening was reading about the role that the Catholic Church played in the solidarity movement. It was also inspiring to read about the important role that solidarity played in the early days of democracy movements in Europe. I would recommend it to history lovers of all types.

About the author. 

Seth G Jones is  the Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).He also wrote the Graveyard of Empires, and Hunting in the Shadows.