The Terror Network
Encyclopedia
The Terror Network was a 1981 book by Claire Sterling
which argued that the USSR was using terrorists as a proxy force.
In part because of the book, CIA director William J. Casey
commissioned a Special National Intelligence Estimate on Soviet support for terrorism. That estimate had this to say about the book:
In the 2004 British documentary The Power of Nightmares
, former CIA Head of Soviet Affairs Melvin Goodman states that some of the book's claims stemmed from the CIA's own black propaganda
:
Michael Ledeen
, who promoted the book's claims when it was published, later commented that "Almost everything Claire said was borne out" by Stasi
files that emerged after the end of the Cold War.
Claire Sterling
Claire Sterling was an American author and journalist whose work focused on crime, political assassination, and terrorism...
which argued that the USSR was using terrorists as a proxy force.
In part because of the book, CIA director William J. Casey
William J. Casey
William Joseph Casey was the Director of Central Intelligence from 1981 to 1987. In this capacity he oversaw the entire United States Intelligence Community and personally directed the Central Intelligence Agency ....
commissioned a Special National Intelligence Estimate on Soviet support for terrorism. That estimate had this to say about the book:
In the 2004 British documentary The Power of Nightmares
The Power of Nightmares
The Power of Nightmares, subtitled The Rise of the Politics of Fear, is a BBC documentary film series, written and produced by Adam Curtis. Its three one-hour parts consist mostly of a montage of archive footage with Curtis's narration...
, former CIA Head of Soviet Affairs Melvin Goodman states that some of the book's claims stemmed from the CIA's own black propaganda
Black propaganda
Black propaganda is false information and material that purports to be from a source on one side of a conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It is typically used to vilify, embarrass or misrepresent the enemy...
:
Michael Ledeen
Michael Ledeen
Michael Arthur Ledeen is an American specialist on foreign policy. His research areas have included state sponsors of terrorism, Iran, the Middle East, Europe , U.S.-China relations, intelligence, and Africa and is a leading neoconservative...
, who promoted the book's claims when it was published, later commented that "Almost everything Claire said was borne out" by Stasi
Stasi
The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security The Ministry for State Security (German: Ministerium für Staatssicherheit (MfS), commonly known as the Stasi (abbreviation , literally State Security), was the official state security service of East Germany. The MfS was headquartered...
files that emerged after the end of the Cold War.