From Asia Times, January 14:
Smersh: Why Putin has resurrected Stalin’s feared anti-spy unit
A man under arrest by Russian internal security forces was seen confessing to a “crime”, in a video posted on January 2.
He had been apprehended after allegedly posting a video on social media that purportedly showed air defenses near the Russian city of Belgorod. This city, on the border with Ukraine, was the target of Ukrainian missile attacks on the same day.
What was notable, though, about this confessional was that the man was flanked by two internal security officers who had the word Smersh emblazoned on the backs of their jackets.
Many people in the West remember Smersh from Ian Fleming’s early James Bond novels (and early films). It was the shadowy Soviet spy agency bent on eliminating the fictional British agent.
But there was nothing fictitious about Smersh itself. It was a real counterintelligence agency set up in Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union during the Second World War.
Indeed, the name Smersh (a blend of Russian words Smert’ Shpionam which translates into English as “death to spies”), was supposedly coined by Stalin himself. The fact that Smersh – with its alarming moniker – has reappeared may be seen as a further indication of the increasing clampdown on all forms of internal dissent in Russia.
Smersh and German spies...
....MUCH MORE
I suppose SPECTRE is going to take advantage of the British zeitgeist as well.
From EuroNews, January 5:
License to trigger: BFI posts content warnings ahead of James Bond screenings
He may have a license to kill, but also one to offend...
One year after Ian Fleming’s 007 books were revised to omit offensive references, more cautions are being made – this time by the British Film Institute (BFI).
Filmgoers are being warned about potentially offensive content ahead of new retrospective at the BFI, 'John Barry: Soundtracking Bond and Beyond', which will celebrate the work of composer John Barry.
Goldfinger (1964) and You Only Live Twice (1967) are the James Bond films selected for the first half of the event, with On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) included later in the March program.
The event page states: "Please note that many of these films contain language, images or other content that reflect views prevalent in its time, but will cause offence today (as they did then). The titles are included here for historical, cultural or aesthetic reasons and these views are in no way endorsed by the BFI or its partners."....
