kgb, one member know in washington and kgb did not get. got a lot of oss memos but didn't get this one so they tried their hand at it. nobody really got a whole lot out of ernest in the intel business in world war ii. ernest as i say, something he wanted to do. it's something he devoted a lot of energy to. but it may have been a dramatic story but it didn't have dramatic results. there just wasn't a lot of product at the end of the day, only a story that i really like to tell. so that's about it. thank you very much. >> if anyone has questions. >> one right over here. >> i would like to know what -- not the part of spain. why did hemingway kill himself? >> whew! >> that's long and complicated. i think it's the long-term effects of drinking. he's probably -- he was probably an alcoholic physiologically. probably by even by this time, hemingway's productivity as a great author falls off dramatically. you know, the last great book he writes is "for whom the bell tolls" then he writes "old man and the sea." that's really the last home run he w

he knows the american target better than almost anybody in the kgb and the kgb has real problems around this time. because stalin keeps calling -- anybody gets to be too good at his job he gets called back to russia and shot. golos gets called back at one point, but he can't go because he's in trouble with the fbi. they have told him he can't travel. so he cables back to moscow, he said i'm really sorry i can't come, because the fbi -- i'll be on their -- i'm already on their black list, but i'll be on a blacker list if i try to leave the country, i think i'm doing good stuff here. he's kind of the senior guy on the american scene for periods of time. and he is enormously productive. he is one of the main guys in project enormous which ngismeri secrets. so, you know, if you were an intel officer, you can imagine. this is his efficiency report bullet. stole atomic secrets, changed world history. i mean, this is a long ball ernest hemingway to pad out his resume. so i concluded that it was not likely that golos got it wrong, that, you know, he probably did have the meeting with ernest. we

in the end gorbachev was hated by the kgb. as y gbachev was hated, because he produced some of those liberal reforms. wand country without losing the, you know, great -- communist ideals. he did not understand what i said earlier, you cannot build a paradise on earth. and he wanted to change, but he would bump into great opposition from the military, the kgb. and, well, when i spoke openly about that, later on, after the august events of 1991, gorbachev came back to power fully reinstated, happy. i was invited to the kremlin reception. by gorbachev personally, and he just apologized, shook my hand, and i was so happy, back to everything. i tell you honestly, i did not understand -- i did not realize that six weeks later, it would exist no more. he would emerge as the russian federation, all other republics ukraine, central asia, they all became independent. that was the beginning of the and i was really appalled. i did not really mean that. i thought, the more solidarity naturalists we have, whatever relief, that's good for --

and they send an enormous kgb contingent. they help organize and train the common turn, the various international brigades and this effort really impressing ernest in spain. he decides -- and he says this is few times. you can find it in for whom the bell tolls. but he says the only way we're going to win this war is by accepting communist or soviet discipline. he doesn't necessarily say he believes in communism or soviet russia, but he believes that the discipline that they imposed in spain was the only chance to win that war. now, ernest is wearing blinders when he's saying this because as time goes on in the spanish civil war, the soviets are ubds mining they're there to help. also they steal all of its gold. give it to us for safekeeping and we'll take the part we need to pay for the arms that we're sending you. but they take it all and stalin has a party when it gets to russia on ships going through the mediterranean. he has a wild party and says hey, if they think they're ever getting this back, they're wrong. anyway, i

when i came to washington as deputy chief of the kgb. and later acting chief of station, and we really felt pressures which would be later picked up by great president reagan. by the way, it was mr. gorbachev who called president kennedy a great president. that doesn't happen often, when a soviet leader would call an american president a great leader. well, anyway, i came to washington, and there were no ideological spies any more. illusions were all just destroyed. and we were just capitalize on those who wanted to make money. i will just mention one case, because it may be interesting how you treat intelligence and what may happen. john walker was one of the guys i admired. he was a totally money-motivated guy, he was a volunteer, and we befriended him. he would work for the next 20 years, and recruited his son and brother. anyway, in 1968 i'm acting chief of kgb station in washington. and august 21st, i believe, the soviet troops are about to move into czechoslovakia to crush the you know, anti-socialist elements. and i receive a cabl

, a very senior member of the kgb. when i was an analyst back in the '80s during the reagan years, looking at soviet foreign policy. one of my tasks in my various accounts was to figure out, why was it that the soviets do what they do? what are the real policy intentions? what motivates them to do the various things they're doing, say, in the third world. why are they in cuba or mozambique or ethiopia? i decided i really needed to get to the bottom of this, how do you get into people's minds. how do you find out what motivates them? in the course of my research, i discovered that actually, many of these soviet leaders got a lot of their information from the kgb, not only for managing domestic affairs, because one of their main functions was -- it is the committee for state security, it's security domestically, but they had a foreign intelligence arm called the first chief directorate. that provided the bureau a good deal of their knowledge and insight into what was going on in the rest of the world. it occurred to a lo

as i said before, so did the kgb, so did gorbachev, so did the politburo, so did the supreme soviet. the decades of cia economic analysis has been controversial. it's treated very thoroughly by doug michekin here and bruce berkowitz that you'll hear this afternoon and by wonderful books that go with it. but to gallop through this grand terrain in the 1970s the cia estimated soviet defense spending at 6% of its gnp. this was clearly off base. the problem stemmed from the intelligence community hyping the overall size of the soviet economy, which low balled the defense burden. on the smaller than estimated economy. the intelligence community then deemed the soviet gnp half the size of the united states gnp, where actually it was one-third or less. what's been dubbed a bombshell what's been dubbed a bombshell exploded in may of 1976 when the cia recalibrated its ruble prices and costs and raised the approval of soviet defense spending i was then working as a special assistant. i was young and to tell you the truth not too special to the young and very special secretary of defense don ru

at the big home opener last season, id kgb -- it paid to be an o'malley. 15 of the tickets were given to the governor's family. responding to questions, the governor says there is no abuse of his use of the skybox. his guest list includes big donors to this campaign and campaign officials. the first lady was a big user of tickets. an e-mail exchange before the bengals game. her aid writes -- >> there is nothing in the constitution that prohibits governors from continuing to a family or friends while they serve the people of our state. >> other politicians were frequent guests. maggie mcintosh asked for and got four tickets for games. >> if they are available, they are available. >> other cities have in post policies. gov. o'malley says he is open to the idea, but did not endorse it. >> i do not believe anyone has accused my family of being abusive of things like this. >> the guest list is lacking clear evidence of willing business before the state. -- wooing business for the state. >> the governor pushed his same- sex marriage built before a group of catholics. the governor said he is

kgb deals has an offer with capital river cruises two adult tickets $14, a 50% savings. you can take in the sights of d.c. during a 45-minute potomac river cruise. and a cheap way to get from d.c. to new york on a luxury bus. tripper bus has a $13 deal with groupon. it's good for one way or you can buy two for round thip, a 48% -- trip, a 48% savings. if you're a local merchant for a deal with -- with a deal for our viewers, i'd love to hear from you on facebook. i'm jessica doyle, 9news now. >>> new information about the cleanup of ground water near maryland's fort detrick. the national research council is calling for more analysis of the health risks near that site. the group found fault with a 2009 study by the department of health and human services. that study concluded that exposure to ground water contaminated by the chemicals at fort detrick was unlikely to have any harmful health effects. >>> well, here's something to think about as you get ready to sit down and have some lunch. the group center for science in the public interest says carcinogens in coke and pep

kgb is offering those to assistant lies your -- tantalize your taste buds. you're getting 50% off the taste of arlington which is may 20. sears deal is a three-piece luggage seat now $59.99 regularly priced at $119.99, a $60 savings. finally yipit is offering $550 off of a wedding planning package. here's how the deal works. you pay $150. you get $700 to put towards one of three packages of vintage ivy events. if you have seen an offer or you're a local merchant for our viewers, i'd love to hear from you on facebook. i'm jessica doyle, 9news now. >>> president obama responded to critics who are linking his policies to the higher gasoline prices. the president went to oklahoma and he discussed plans to speed up construction of a new oil pipeline. tara mergener explains. >> reporter: president obama headed for the oil fields of oklahoma to take on his critics. >> under my administration, america is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years. >> reporter: speaking at the future site of part of the keystone pipeline, the president announce

kgb deals is offering the android 2.3 multitouch tablet. $79. plus free shipping. this is a discount of 74% and normal ligases for 29 # -- normally goes for $299. how about this one? from george foreman. buy.com as the deal. $49.99 plus free shipping, normally $89.99 and your savings 44%. here's one for the ladies a little spring fashion. target.com's featured daily deal is for a cotton dress, $20 plus free shipping, normally $27. if you have an offer you've seen or a local merchant what a deal for the viewers i'd love to hear from you on facebook. i'm jessica doyle, 9news now. >>> it is the 9th of the month, please call your buddies and remind them how to take charge to have breast health through early detection and lifestyle changes. linda crill reinvented herself after cancer struck her family twice. how she made the turnaround on two wheels is the subject of today's buddy check 9 report. ♪ motorcycles and women? forget the image of the tough tattooed broad too up on her guy's bike. check out linda crill. >> i'm a mama, i'm a woman. i'm a good friend. >> and one

he had a relationship with another intelligence organization starting in 1941 and that was the kgb.

his theory is that the kgb that captures oss officers, and they told bill donovan, we'll give it back if you kill patton. i've got news for you, patton is the one they always focused on. so the deal was, that this oss guy was standing on the side of the road, and he's going to shoot some sort of special air gun that was going to hit patton in the head and kill him. why he would be driving with a window down on december 20th, or december 9th, i have no idea. of course, there was a nurse in the room. every second that patton was in the hospital. so exactly how they did it, i don't know. i think it's that same thing, you know, you see with jfk, where somebody of such great importance, that a simple car accident just can't do this. you know? he did linger. i shouldn't say linger, because actually his voice was energetic for those nine, ten days in between. and if he had seen somebody shoot him, patton, pretty smart guy, i think he would have noticed it. but he spent his time, beatrice flew in from boston. she would read books to him. and letters. a lot of letters poured in. and they kind

promised supporters that it had been an open and honest contest 59 year-old vladimir putin is a former kgbspy who served two terms as president until 2008 he has been prime minister for the last four years british petroleum has reached a settlement with victim's nearly two years after the massive oil spill in the gulf of mexico. the oil company expects to pay $7.8 billion in claims for illnesses caused by the oil spill along with property damage and lost wages and business the deepwater horizon oil rigged exploded in april 2010 and spewed crude oil into the waters for months offshore drilling has resumed in the gulf and will soon surpass levels from before that disaster jury selection begins today in a lawsuit stemming from the deadly shooting spree at virginia tech university in 200732 students and faculty members were killed before the gunman took his own life attorneys for the parents of two students killed are expected to ask university officials to defend their actions to notify the campus of those shootings a state panel has already ruled that the school sent out a campus wide e- mai

>> the police is an independent agency like the kgb does not have a sizable armed forces. putin has to rely on the police were which is a separate agency from the police and he clearly e does not trust the police in moscow came to cooperative troops were involved because the moscow police and not trusted. >> are you worried about your on safety when you go back? >> i worry sometimes. i don't want to overstate because there are people that i know the have been attacked and threatened and i am not one of them. >> do think the protesters could turn violent at one point and to threaten to take the kremlin? >> the rhetoric has a way to get away. there was very clear he could not believe he was saying what he was saying. there is always that risk. one thing that has happened to be radicalize significantly since the beginning of three months ago, people used to come out for fair elections. there were more people who could chant along with the reelection than those who were willing to chant along with the 10. then he made his remark the protesters remind him of condoms. you could

his theory is that the kgb had captured some oss officers. and they told bill donovan, we'll give them back if you kill patton because patton wants world war iii with russia. i've got news for you. every other general in the u.s. army wanted war with russia at the end of world war ii. patton is the one they focus on. so the deal was that this oss guy was standing on the side of the road. and he was going to shoot some sort of special air gun that was going to hit patton in the head and kill him. why he would be driving with the window down on december 20th -- or december 9th, i have no idea. and so when that failed, they bring him to a hospital in hilg hidelburg. it's an x-ray room at an american army base. and the russians s squirted so sort of poisonous gas through the window. of course, there was a nurse there every second patton was there. how they did it, i don't know. i think it's that same thing you see with jfk. somebody of such great importance that a simple car accident just can't do this, you know? he did linger -- i shouldn't even

in 198 oh goes to his friend john tunney to contact the kgb to tell them he agrees with their afghandeed he will support ted kennedy in what what he wants to do, he will send barbara walters and walter cronkite to moscow to make him look good in front of the public and the united states of america. 1980, jimmy carter goes to arm & hammer. he -- you let the soviet jews go back to israel. carter if reelected will remember you after he's reelected and be good to the soviet bloc. 1983. kennedy wakes up again and through john tunney reaches out again to the soviets and says, i'll help you with reagan if you will help the democrats win the election in 1984. jimmy carter this time. goes to them and says we can't have reagan as the president. this world is better off if we have another president in 1984, walter mondale. 1984. tip o'neil at a dinner goes to a dinner with the soviets and says it's in the best interest of the so yets and the democrats to get rid of that demagogue reagan and put someone else in, walter mondale. this is historic for the liberals to go to the soviets, the enemies

some foreclosures, today we got shares of kgb homes is down and struggling with a pile of debt.ks, pretty flat for averages. opening at the bell, silicon index has some gains. >> eric: thank you very much. >> kristen: let the games begin. wait is over for millions of fans who have been hungering the next big thing from hollywood. hunger games appeared at midnight. fans lined up for several hours at theaters across the bay area to be among the first to see the film. at this theater in san francisco all five midnight showings were sold out. >> i want to see the movie, i'm pretty excited but i don't think any movie is better than the book. >> kristen: some controversy over the violence in the movie, specifically kids killing kids and whether it's appropriate for children. it takes place in the future and based on how the main character survives the hunger games of brutal to their death contest that is televised. they say the movie is selling an average of ten pickets per second. does it live up to the hype? don sanchez will give his take and gma will have a lot more at 7:00 right a

. >> he was talking kgb speak too.t should send a chill up everybody's spine and our allies like israel -- four more years like i said and the guy will be taking ago ma din that you joked, i don't know. >> that would -- they would get courtside seats. >> and jack nicholson next to him. >> holding their eyes when the cheerleaders come out. >> and yes and then comes out and starts shooting the cheerleaders because they are under dressed. >> that's unfair. he would throw stones at them. >> greg, you asked who else is obama whispering to? you mean the world leaders he is talking to in private? i would think all of them. >> no, people liken viern mental lists. people like them too. i ran out of other examples. >> i am going to agree with gavin on this. i don't think it was a big deal. >> that's it. >> he said he will be more flebzable after the election. >> i want a smoking gun too, but this is not one. >> he was saying something we all know is true. if you win a second term, yes, you don't have to campaign. >> when you are

kgb deals is offering discounted massages with spalon in northwest. pay $49 for one-hour deep tissue massage or $39 for one- hour swedish massage. how about a round of golf? pay 70 bucks and you get a golf outing for two up to 50% off at montgomery village golf club. if you have an offer you've seen or if you're a local merchant with a deal for our viewers, i'd love to hear from you on facebook. a check of the news before you go is up next. >>> good morning. 6:53 on your friday morning. lots of sunshine to start out your friday. mostly sunny skies this morning. highs topping out low to mid- 60s. by 5:00 in the lower 60s under partly sunny conditions. right now partly cloudy, a temperature of 44 degrees. here's mike and andrea. >>> today's friday, march 30. here's a quick check of the news before you go. an investigation is under way into an early morning train derailment in jessup, maryland. two freight trains collided in the csx rail yard. only conductors were on board at the time. they were not hurt. it did take down some telephone wires. >>> severa

you'll find the offer on kgb deals. of cleaning for a studio or one bedroom apartment 50 bucks priced normally $125. among the other options, you can pay $89 and get five hours of cleaning for a home or town home. normally a service that would cost you $200. finally, here's one for you shutter bugs. maybe you're going to the cherry blossoms later. a 32 gig compact flash card from transcend. it will cost you $51.99 on amazon, a savings of 42%. if you have an offer you've seen or you're a local merchant with a deal for our viewers, i'd love to hear from you on facebook. a check of the news before you go is up next. [ female announcer ] discover dove's new nutri-oil serum with precious argan oil. a nourishing serum that boosts smoothness and shine, all without weighing hair down. dove anti-frizz serum. >>> welcome back. 6:556789 partly to mostly cloudy of the temps in the 50s. we'll be in the 60s by noon. highs in the mid-70s with spotty showers and thunderstorms. >> at 6:55, here's one last look at today's news before you

kgb is offering a deal to assistant lies your taste buds. you can get eight tickets for the taste of arlington for $15. you're getting 15% off. the taste of arlington may 20. >> sears has a three-piece luggage set 59.99 regularly priced at 199.99 so you are getting a $60 savings. finally today yippett is offering $550 off of a wedding planning package. here's how it works. you pay $150 and you get $700 off one of three packages from vintage ivy events. if you have an offer you've seen or you're a local merchant with a deal, i'd love to hear from you on facebook. >> thanks, jess. >>> we've done a lot of stories on the national cathedral but it was not the only church damaged by the earthquake last august. the national city christian church sustained most of its damage in the sanctuary. last night church organize begannist charles miller performed a 90-minute concert to raise funds for repairs. some of the fallen chunks from the ceiling hit the church's organ. >> we lost about 500 organ pipes. for us to repair this damage to the ceiling and to

kgb deals is offering the android 2.1 multitouch tablet for $71 and free shipping, that's a discountsf 74%. this normally sells for $299. how about this one? a three in one panini press, grill and open griddle from george foreman. buy.com has the deal $49.99 plus free shipping, normally $89.99 and saving 44%. and one for the ladies, a little spring fashion target.com's featuring this daily deal. it is a dress a cotton summer dress by the merona line. $20, free shipping, normally $27 so that is a 29% savings. if you have an offer you've even or if you're a local merchant for the deal for the viewers, i'd love to hear from you on facebook. a check of the news before you go, that's up next. >>> 6:53. we are turning chillier this morning, the rain is just about gone everywhere. we return with partly sunny conditions and 49 at 9:00. 52 at noon although the winds out of the northwest 10 to 20. you're going to feel it highs mid- to upper 50s. mike? >>> thank you howard. today is friday, march 9th here's a check of the news before you go this morning. police are investigating the death of a 3

kgb deals is offering a deal to tantalize your taste buds. you can get eight taste tickets for the taste of arlington. it's $15. you're getting 50% off here. the taste of arlington is may 20. >>> sears' real deal has three- piece luggage set for 59.99 regularly priced at 119.99. that is a $60 savings. >>> finally today, yipit is offering $5350 off -- $550 off of a wedding planning package. you pay $150 and you get $700 off one of three packages from vintage ivy events. if you're a local merchant with a deal, i'd love to hear from you on facebook. >>> a check of the news before you go. that is up next. >>> at 6:53, dense fog, widespread. dense fog advisory by 10:00 a.m. by lunch time sun starts to break out and a sunnier afternoon. it should boost temperatures up into the middle and upper 70s. >>> today is thursday, march 22. a check of the news before you go. some breaking news from that standoff in toulouse, france. this is a live look at toulouse. a series of loud explosions and gunfire was heard just minutes ago. no word exactly what happe

was also, of course, a media sensation when she landed and the reporters were hounding her, but the kgb was after her as well. so there was a point where she actually needed sanctuary. she needed to be hidden. so george arranged to hide her in east berlin. this is east berlin, pennsylvania, where his farm is, and that's where she was for a couple of months in the summer of 1967. she later moved to princeton, and lived there for several years. and there was a close relationship, but also a difficult relationship. and there's a lot of correspondence back and forth, mostly from her to him. i think she was slightly in love with george, and that would be understandable because george had played a great role in getting her out, and so that was extraordinarily important. i don't think george was in love with her. and maybe that was the problem in the correspondence, because there were -- she went through many difficulties -- she had tragic life, as you know, and just died this fall. but the irony that somehow george kennan, who had psychoanalyzed stalin, in some of his own -- should wind up be

you'll find this offer on kgb deals.hree hours of cleaning for studio or one bedroom apartment for $50. the price normally $125. among the other options, pay $89 and you get five hours of cleaning for a home or town house. that service normally $200. finally one for you. shutter bugs out there. a 32 gig compact flash card. you'll find the deal on amazon.com. today it will cost you $51.99, a savings of 42%. if you have an offer you've seen or if you're a local merchant with a deal for our viewers, i'd love to hear from you on facebook. >>> protesters want some changes made to the greatest show on earth. they rallied outside verizon center yesterday. animal advocates have said for a long time that ringling brothers barnum & bailey mistreats its animals. the circus wrapped up a stint at verizon center yesterday. they'll be in fairfax over the next few weeks. >>> maryland senator barbara mikulski will be honored by her colleagues wednesday. that's because she became the longest serving woman in the history of congress over t

kgb deals is offering discounted massages with salon in northwest. pay $39 for one hour swedish massage or 49 bucks for a one- hour deep dish massage. you're also going to get a $20 gift certificate for your next visit. how about a round of golf? google offers has this deal for you with montgomery village golf clubs. you pay $70 for a golf outing for two. that's up to 50% off. the deals includes a golf cart and a bucket of balls. if you have an offer you've seen or if you're a local merchant with a deal for our viewers, i would love to hear from you on facebook. >> sounds good. mike is intrigued by that. >>> two weeks before the historic howard theater reopens, a statue of native jazz legend duke ellington is installed. the granite sculpture sits in ellington plaza. it's the work of internationally acclimbed sculpture and d.c. native zachary oxman. it shows duke sitting upon a monumental treble clef. >> pretty cool. >>> the key to staying healthy may be just taking care of your skin. >>> coming up at 5:48, what you can learn from your skin about your

here's a much cheaper option, kgb deals is offering an android 2.3 multitouch tablet. $79. plus shipping. that's a discount of 74%. this normally sells for $299. how about this one? a three in one panini press grill and open griddle from george foreman. buy.com has this one $49.99 plus free shipping. it's normally $89.99 so you're saving $44 -- 44% on this one. and here's one for the ladies. a little spring fashion. target.com's featured daily deal is for a summer dress by the merona line. $20 plus free shipping, you're getting a 29% savings. if you have an offer you've seen or if you're a local merchant with a deal for the viewers i would love to hear from you on facebook. mike and andrea? >>> thanks jess. see you in a little bit. it's an epidemic among women in one group and it's trying the make sure -- one group is trying to make sure they open their eyes about hiv/aids. >> what you need to do to keep yourself and those you love safe coming up at 5:48. we'll be back. >>> good morning, welcome back to 9news now, you know who rides a bike with three four inch heels on? >>

this is a man, a kgb intelligence officer obsessed with control. he only knows how to rule through fear or favor. he is incapable, temperamentally really of the give-and-take of politics. and nobody knows. >> finally, margaret, what's been the u.s. reaction? you were expecting to have an interview with the u.s. ambassador tonight but i gather that was called off. >> warner: that's right. he was supposed to be standing right here next to me, jeff. it was called off by the white house. this is a very delicate situation because the reset the obama administration has worked with now president medvedev of the relationship really is in trouble because of the campaign, because of criticism by secretary clinton and others of the fairness of the december elections. putin took umbrage at that. he has responded by accusing the u.s. and in fact europe too of trying to... of criticizing the election process as a way of weakening russia. this is a serious situation as far as the obama administration is concerned because they have so many issues they want to cont

she landed and reporters were hounding her but the kgb was after her as well. it was to the point where she needed time so george arranged to hide her in east berlin. this is east berlin, pennsylvania just where his farm is. and that is where she was for a couple of months in the summer of 1967. she later moved to princeton and lived there for several years. and there was a close relationship, but also a difficult relationship there and there is a lot of correspondence back and forth, mostly from her to him. but, i think it's fair to say she was slightly in love with george and that would be understandable because george had played a great role in getting her out, so that was the start of good early -- i don't think george was in love with her and maybe that was the problem in the correspondence because there were fallings out later on. .. long relationship with the cia, he was an only supporter of covert actions and at one plant oddly enough even the policy planning department somehow he had control of that. it is unthinkable. [laughter] >> guest: he actually

some groups have been vocal against the former kgb agent.e people shopping at a retail empire that's been so successful the founder has been called the sam walton of russia. our senior economics reporter, steve liesman, is live in moscow with the details on that one. hi, steve. >> hey, sue. thanks very much. and good evening from moscow. look, a lot of russian billionaires made their money basically by getting control of the former soviet state assets. but one of them is among those who earned it the old fashioned way. he built a $10 billion retail empire from scratch. welcome to retail in modern russia where the empty shelves of soviet times replaced by an abundance of goods from all over the world. we're not just talking in moscow, we're south. fueling russia's consumer boom, 50% of all households entered middle class in the last ten years. disposable income up by 26%. this super store on the cutting edge of russian retail founded by a man who some call russia's sam walton. >> maybe we can do what other guys can't do. >> what he's managed

he trying to reshape russia in the shape of kgb.h as a child. >> he was very thuggish as a child. he loves telling stories about how he got into brawls. >> if you can't change putin can you change the system over there? >> i think people are really fed up with living in the system. it's humiliating. more than anything else it's an insult to human dignity every step of the way. it effects rich people the same way as ordinary people. that's the audience of the protests. the protesters are speak toog ordinary people and saying when they do the system will collapse. >> you described essentially a dictator, a man this close to kim jong-il. why is he regarded as some of the more outlandish dictators? >> that's a great question. i think it has something to do with oil. it has something to do with the general prosperity of the country. it has something to do with russians being white. >> also, if you have a vote then we tend to fall for that. we tend not to examine exactly what was the circumstances of the way this country voted. and so all

guest: he was a mid-level kgb operative. he basically established himself as someone who you can rely on and was very thorough. his career led him to the presidential apparatus inside moscow and into the kremlin. the team was looking for someone who was loyal and could assure a predictable transition and where he would not go after the yeltsin crowd. host: how would you define putinism? guest: i think it is about the state. he has demonstrated that the answer to russians problems are a strong state. we probably do not sure that approach. russia has oscillated in its history between control and chaos. host: kim from louisiana. good morning. -- tim. caller: i'm trying to find out these people that were arrested by the police. did anybody say what they did to get arrested or what they did and that they needed to arrest these people? guest: i think we're seeing a new face of the russian government overnight. you needed to be careful not to make things worse by cracking heads. there was a permit for people to have a demonstration