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longer anything but symbols, at a time when the power was already
passing from the ossified Politburo into the hands of the "iron young
men" (as Brezhnev's successors are called in Moscow) of the military-
political apparatus, headed by the KGB, and of the ideological
~
apparatus, headed by the Russian Party.
These men are not disturbed by what the West thinks of Russia.
They are concerned with what they see as more pressing business–
restoring a disciplined, powerful, and impressive empire, in view of
the obvious threats to its existence - China, the West, resistance by
the satellite nations, and a fifth column within Russia itself. Under
these circumstances, an Olympiad without the Americans was
advantageous to the "iron young men," since they favor isolationism
over detente. (One American, at any rate, has recognized this:
Harrison Salisbury, in his article "A Boon for the KGB," which
appeared in the
New York Times,
January 31, 1980.) Even the grain
embargo worked to their advantage, because it is easier to unite a
half-starved population than one that is surfeited - especially under
the slogan of hatred for an imperialist power that is trying to starve
Russia out.
The "iron young men" are preparing for a war with China-one
that they see as inevitable. They figure (not without reason) that it
would be to their advantage to start that war, and to start it soon,
before China grows out of its atomic diapers.
Russia's "iron young men" long ago realized how much they had
to gain from the Carter administration. It was during his adminis–
tration, and thanks to it, that they were able to consolidate their
position in Russia. They have now pushed their way up close to the
top of the power structure, and it is quite possible that in the late
seventies they carried out, behind Brezhnev's broad back, an indis-
cernible
coup d'etat,
the only outward manifestation of which was the
invasion of Afghanistan.
I once had a talk with KGB agent Boris Pavlovich Chudinov
that completely astounded me. I had had a rather loud quarrel with
a violent chauvinist, and was later summoned to a KGB office,
where I was given a chewing-out for the quarrel. Chudinov was
present, but took no part in the proceedings. Afterwards, when the
two of us were alone, I asked him point-blank, "What was all that
fuss about? You'd think I'd done direct damage to the interests of the
KGB and to X, your agent."
"It's not a matter of X," Chudinov said placatingly, "but of the
