Putin was a 'small fish' as a KGB spy

[Kellanved]

BERLIN - One of the big mysteries about Russian President Vladimir Putin's past is what he did during the five years as a KGB agent in former communist East Germany.

The answer, in report to be published on Thursday, is: Not much.

"Putin was a small fish as KGB agent," says the German political magazine Cicero in an article made available in advance to reporters.

The magazine quotes a number of former KGB spies who worked with Putin as well as former East German Stasi spy chief Markus Wolf to reach this conclusion.
...
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=13259&name=Putin+was+a+%27small+fish%27+as+a+KGB+spy

[russian33]

1. I wouldn't call it latest breaking news, that's common knowledge

It always amazed me how it was spun 'Former KGB spy - new President'...it's not like he ran the damn thing.

[JuniorPlankton]

2. Only very "special" people were selected to work for the KGB

He was one of them. It says a lot to me.

"Former communist" means nothing, "former KGB" means a lot!.

[NNN0LHI]

3. So he wasn't 007. Never thought he was. Just another thug in a suit

With little beady fucking eyes I might add.

Don

[htuttle]

4. And a black belt in Judo

...which tells you a lot about his strategic thinking, IMHO.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1556434456/002-7241819-2049645?v=glance

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1556434456.01._PE30_PIdp-schmooS,TopRight,7,-26_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Kagemusha]

5. Who starts as a big fish when he's young?

It's a silly topic IMHO.

[Bridget Burke]

6. And what was Bush doing back then?

Running Harken oil into the ground--insider trading, anyone? Using the resulting windfall to buy a small share of a baseball team? Being groomed as Governor in a state whose Governor has very little power?

I'd still say Putin had a more serious background. Of course, we can trust all those guys from the KGB. And the Stasi--another bunch of fine fellows.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. I'm pretty sure that he would have been quite young

at the time. He was most likey up and coming, and going places, but everybody starts at the bottom, except people without family connections.