CIA's Analysis of The Soviet Union 1947-1991

The United States has been in a state of war for the better part of the last half of the 20th Century. Many American remember growing up learning where to sit in a schoolroom or what part of the school was considered safest in the event of a nuclear blast. The source of America's preparation for war and its concern for its citizen derives from the intelligence obtain from the Central Intelligence Agency.

The CIA's Analysis of the Soviet Union 1947-1991 is a collection of correspondence, memoranda, and reports from a 44-year period in what is usually referred to as the Cold War. These documents provide an insight into the thinking of America's foremost intelligence analysts. They provide insight into the CIA's analysis of the Soviet economy, its weapon systems, radars, and intent. Many of the documents are recent enough that they seem almost contemporary.

One article by the Directorate of Intelligence in 1988 discusses the Soviet perusal of western media for information on American stealth or very low observable technology. The report concludes that America's special access has kept the Soviets from knowing very much about our stealth programs. Such a memorandum is interesting when juxtaposed with more contemporary assertions by former Soviet KGB officers working at the time in the U.S. Indeed, these memoranda are all the more interesting because of the current comments by these same Soviet officials.

The CIA's Analysis of the Soviet Union 1947-1991 is a fascinating walk through over 40 years of history. For anyone interested in current events or history, this book should be on your bookshelf.