About the Author

Robert W. Pringle is a veteran of 25 years service with the Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He was educated at Bucknell University and the University of Virginia. After service in Vietnam as a U.S. Army officer, he spent two years at the Department of the Army’s Center for Military History. From 1975 to 1982 he served two tours in southern Africa and one in Moscow as a consular and political officer with the State Department. In Moscow and later in Cape Town, he was those missions’ human rights officer. From 1983 to 1998 he served as an analyst and manager at the CIA. He was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal on his retirement. From 1998 to 2004 Pringle taught history and political science courses at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. While at Kentucky, he wrote a number of articles on Soviet intelligence. He now lives in Williamsburg, Virginia.

All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the CIA or any other U.S. government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying U.S. government authentication of information or CIA endorsement of the author’s views. The material has been reviewed by the CIA to prevent the disclosure of classified information.