An introduction to Putin’s formidable intelligence and security organization Since its founding in 1995, the FSB, Russia’s Federal Security Service, has regained the majority of the domestic security functions of the Soviet-era KGB. Under Vladimir Putin, who served as FSB director just before becoming president, the agency has grown to be one of the most powerful and favored organizations in Russia. The FSB not only conducts internal security but also has primacy in intelligence operations in former Soviet states. Their activities include anti-dissident operations at home and abroad, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, criminal investigations of crimes against the state, and guarding Russia’s borders. In The Russian FSB, Kevin P. Riehle provides a brief history of the FSB’s origins, placed within the context of Russian history, the government’s power structure, and Russia’s wider culture. He describes how the FSB’s mindset and priorities show continuities from the tsarist regimes and the Soviet era. The book’s chapters analyze origins, organizational structure, missions, leaders, international partners, and cultural representations such as the FSB in film and television. Based on both English and Russian sources, this book is a well-researched introduction to understanding the FSB and its central role in Putin’s Russia. Concise Histories of Intelligence SeriesChristopher Moran, Mark Phythian, and Mark Stout, Series Editors
When intelligence officers defect, they take with them privileged information and often communicate it to the receiving state. This book identifies a group of those defectors from the Soviet elite - intelligence officers - and provides an aggregate analysis of their information to uncover Stalin's strategic priorities and concerns, thus to open a window into Stalin's impenetrable national security decision making. This book uses their information to define Soviet threat perceptions and national security anxieties during Stalin's time as Soviet leader.
An analysis of the insider information and insights that over eighty Soviet intelligence officer defectors revealed during the first half of the Soviet periodIdentifies 88 Soviet intelligence officer defectors for the period 1917 to 1954, representing a variety of specializations; the most comprehensive list of Soviet intelligence officer defectors compiled to date. Shows the evolution of Soviet threat perceptions and the development of the "e;main enemy"e; concept in the Soviet national security system. Shows fluctuations in the Soviet recruitment and vetting of personnel for sensitive national security positions, corresponding with fluctuations in the stability of the Soviet government. Compiles for the first time corroborative primary sources in English, Russian, French, German, Finnish, Japanese, Latvian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish.When intelligence officers defect, they take with them privileged information and often communicate it to the receiving state. This book identifies a group of those defectors from the Soviet elite - intelligence officers - and provides an aggregate analysis of their information to uncover Stalin's strategic priorities and concerns, thus to open a window into Stalin's impenetrable national security decision making. This book uses their information to define Soviet threat perceptions and national security anxieties during Stalin's time as Soviet leader.
An introduction to Putin's formidable intelligence and security organization Since its founding in 1995, the FSB, Russia's Federal Security Service, has regained the majority of the domestic security functions of the Soviet-era KGB. Under Vladimir Putin, who served as FSB director just before becoming president, the agency has grown to be one of the most powerful and favored organizations in Russia. The FSB not only conducts internal security but also has primacy in intelligence operations in former Soviet states. Their activities include anti-dissident operations at home and abroad, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, criminal investigations of crimes against the state, and guarding Russia's borders. In The Russian FSB, Kevin P. Riehle provides a brief history of the FSB's origins, placed within the context of Russian history, the government's power structure, and Russia's wider culture. He describes how the FSB's mindset and priorities show continuities from the tsarist regimes and the Soviet era. The book's chapters analyze origins, organizational structure, missions, leaders, international partners, and cultural representations such as the FSB in film and television. Based on both English and Russian sources, this book is a well-researched introduction to understanding the FSB and its central role in Putin's Russia. Concise Histories of Intelligence Series Christopher Moran, Mark Phythian, and Mark Stout, Series Editors
This book contains poems, essays, and thoughts which are designed to provoke deep thinking, reinforcement (for some), and even change (for others). The author presents a collection of social networking posts he shared in the past, which are being reworked into something more distributable. It makes a good gift for moralistic, value-focused individuals. It may be useful with Churches and families who seek further advice and instruction for Christian living and Christian education. Providing thoughts on reality as well as light-hearted pieces to dull some of the pain, this book seeks to provide hope, help, and clarification in this time of confusion and distress we call Life.
Have you ever grown tired of hearing about the battle between science and religion? Or searched for the answer to a question,only to come up with another dead end? This book is a collection of poems and thoughts, by the author, simply meant to intrigue you enough to discover and find answers to some of the thoughts and questions you have yourself. Some of the contents of this book are of actual events and responses, to questions and problems, the author faced and dealt with in his everyday life. With an interesting collection of stories and poetry, this book is intended for the enjoyment of all its readers, and to, hopefully, bring peace and serenity into their lives as well.
For as long as I can remember, I had one excuse for all conscious sin. If I felt guilty about something I had done, I would justify myself saying, "Well, if I knew for sure that God was for real, I wouldn't do that." I wanted to be sure God exists. I mean it's no fun if you've held back from all the pleasures of life because you've got your eyes fixed on some "grand reward" only to find out God was a hoax, right? So I told God, "Prove to me that You exist and I won't do any of that ever again." Then one day, God showed up. He took me by the hand, led me out of the wilderness and opened my heart and mind to the spectacular. This book captures the lessons God taught me along the way. Life is a mirage. We only see and feel what we want to. But we owe it to ourselves to at least once in our lifetime see things as they really are and explore what lies beyond the physical realm. And this book will help you do just that.
Sometimes we feel as though we are navigating through this life not knowing what to do next or which way to go. Yet, if we really analyzed our situation and looked in the right direction in the right way, we would see that God is moving mountains on our behalf and clearly directing our steps." Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1
Winner of the 2014 Christian Book of the Year Award "I'M TOO BUSY!" We've all heard it. We've all said it. All too often, busyness gets the best of us. Just one look at our jam-packed schedules tells us how hard it can be to strike a well-reasoned balance between doing nothing and doing it all. That's why award-winning author and pastor Kevin DeYoung addresses the busyness problem head on in his newest book, Crazy Busy — and not with the typical arsenal of time management tips, but rather with the biblical tools we need to get to the source of the issue and pull the problem out by the roots. Highly practical and super short, Crazy Busy will help you put an end to "busyness as usual.
Software patterns have revolutionized the way developers think about how software is designed, built, and documented, and this unique book offers an in-depth look of what patterns are, what they are not, and how to use them successfully The only book to attempt to develop a comprehensive language that integrates patterns from key literature, it also serves as a reference manual for all pattern-oriented software architecture (POSA) patterns Addresses the question of what a pattern language is and compares various pattern paradigms Developers and programmers operating in an object-oriented environment will find this book to be an invaluable resource
THE STORY: To Bernie, a tendentious, chauvinistic air-conditioning salesman, who has lived on New York's Upper West Side for most of his life, the city--and the country--are headed for big trouble. He laments the growing incivility and violence of ur
This book introduces students to Christian mysticism and modern critical responses to it. Christianity has a rich tradition of mystical theology that first emerged in the writings of the early church fathers, and flourished during the Middle Ages. Today Christian mysticism is increasingly recognised as an important Christian heritage relevant to today's spiritual seekers. The book sets out to provide students and other interested readers with access to the main theoretical approaches to Christian mysticism – including those propounded by William James, Steven Katz, Bernard McGinn, Michael Sells, Denys Turner and Caroline Walker-Bynum. It also explores postmodern re-readings of Christian mysticism by authors such as Jacques Derrida, Jean-Luc Marion and Jean-François Lyotard. The book first introduces students to the main themes that underpin Christian mysticism. It then reflects on how modern critics have understood each of them, demonstrating that stark delineation between the different theoretical approaches eventually collapses under the weight of the complex interaction between experience and knowledge that lies at the heart of Christian mysticism. In doing so, the book presents a deliberate challenge to a strictly perennialist reading of Christian mysticism. Anyone even remotely familiar with Christian mysticism will know that renewed interest in Christian mystical writers has created a huge array of scholarship with which students of mysticism need to familiarise themselves. This book outlines the various modern theoretical approaches in a manner easily accessible to a reader with little or no previous knowledge of this area, and offers a philosophical/theological introduction to Christian mystical writers beyond the patristic period important for the Latin Western Tradition.
For centuries, people have been drawn to the Christian mystics—women and men who have known God in powerful and experiential ways. Mystic Bonfires is for students, scholars, and practitioners of ministry, theology, and spiritual formation. It explores theology and theory and shares insights for practice and prayer. Readers will encounter classical concepts about the spiritual life and how to apply these concepts to their ministries in faithful and creative ways. Mystic Bonfires includes questions for students in academic and formation settings as well as project ideas for congregations. Mystic Bonfires explores the intersection of spiritual theology and practical theology. Walter Hilton, a 14th century English mystic and a contemporary of Julian of Norwich serves as a case study for the intersection of these fields called practical spiritual theology.
In his acclaimed book American Theocracy, Kevin Phillips warned of the perilous interaction of debt, financial recklessness, and the spiking cost (and growing scarcity) of oil- warnings that are proving to be frighteningly accurate. Now, in his most significant and timely book yet, Phillips takes the full measure of this crisis. They are a part of what he calls "bad money"- not just the depreciated dollar, but also the dangerous attitudes and the flawed products of wayward mega-finance. His devastating conclusion: In its hubris, the financial sector has hijacked the American economy and put our very global future at risk-and it may be too late to stop it.
Michal Goleniewski was one of the Cold War’s most important spies but has been overlooked in the vast literature on the intelligence battles between the Western Powers and the Soviet Bloc. Renowned investigative journalist Kevin Coogan reveals Goleniewski's extraordinary story for the first time in this biography. Goleniewski rose to be a senior officer in the Polish intelligence service, a position which gave him access to both Polish and Russian secrets. Disillusioned with the Soviet Bloc, he made contact with the CIA, sending them letters containing significant intelligence. He then decided to defect and fled to America in 1961 via an elaborate escape plan in Berlin. His revelations led to the exposure of several important Soviet spies in the West including the Portland spy ring in the UK, the MI6 traitor George Blake, and a spy high up in the West German intelligence service. Despite these hugely important contributions to the Cold War, Goleniewski would later be abandoned by the CIA after he made the outrageous claim that he was actually Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia – the last remaining member of the Romanov Russian royal family and therefore entitled to the lost treasures of the Tsar. Goleniewski's increasingly fantastical claims led to him becoming embroiled in a bizarre demi-monde of Russian exiles, anti-communist fanatics, right-wing extremists and chivalric orders with deep historical roots in America's racist and antisemitic underground. This fascinating and revelatory biography will be of interest to students and researchers of the Cold War, intelligence history and right-wing extremism as well as general readers with an interest in these intriguing subjects.
In this entertaining, endearing account of one of the greatest road trips the human mind has ever devised, Kevin Price and John Gardner take you from Pebble Beach to Bethpage Black and from Harbour Town to Piñon Hills with tales of adventure on and off the golf course. Bouncing back and forth between the misery of steamy summer nights in a little orange tent and the luxury of world-class resorts, Kevin and John drove almost 14,000 miles through 36 states to play 42 rounds of golf in 71 days. Their story exposes the soul of the game in the people who play it. From stroke victim Rico Paris to beach bum head pro Keith Stanzel, from the exuberant Bob Svihus to the goofy J. Traylor Johnson III, a colorful cast of characters brings this story to life. Beginning with the first blush of an idea and ending in an improbable, incredible conclusion, Fairways and Highways moves as briskly as the guys’ Honda Civic. Wish you could have joined them? Try the next best thing: Come along for the ride as Kevin and John search for the Perfect Drive.
A fascinating up-to-date look at the roots of our financial crisis from the New York Times bestselling author Kevin Phillips Kevin Phillips’s Bad Money revealed the roots of the financial malignance that led to 2008’s devastating market meltdown, explaining how the financial sector hijacked the American economy and put our very global future at risk. In this substantial and thought-provoking update, he refocuses his arguments through the lens of the real losses and reverses that have befallen us since the book’s publication. Drawing on the latest developments on Wall Street and the response from the Obama White House, After the Fall provides a sobering yet illuminating postmortem of how we got ourselves into this crisis, and what we must do going forward if we hope to emerge from it.
The latest edition of this in-depth look at athletic injuries of the shoulder has been updated to feature 16 new chapters, additional illustrations and algorithms, an added focus on arthroscopic treatments, and pearls that highlight key information. Additional contributing authors give you a fresh spin on new and old topics from rehabilitation exercises to special coverage of female athletes, pediatrics, and golfers. This book offers coverage of arthroscopy, total joint replacement, instability, football, tennis, swimming, and gymnastic injuries, rotator cuff injuries, and much, much more! The large range of topics covered in this text ensures that it’s a great resource for orthopaedists, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and primary care physicians. Presents a multidisciplinary approach to the care of the shoulder, combining contributions from the leaders in the field of orthopedic surgery, physical therapy, and athletic training. Demonstrates which exercises your patients should perform in order to decrease their chance of injury or increase strength following an injury through illustrated exercises for rehabilitation and injury prevention. Illustrates how the shoulder is affected during activity of certain sports with a variety of tables and graphs. Covers a large range of topics including all shoulder injuries to be sufficiently comprehensive for both orthopaedists and physical therapists/athletic trainers. Features 16 new chapters, including Internal Impingement, Bankarts: Open vs. Arthroscopy, Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder, Cervicogenic Shoulder Pain, Proprioception: Testing and Treatment, and more. Details current surgical and rehabilitation information for all aspects of shoulder pathology to keep you up-to-date. Organizes topics into different sections on anatomy, biomechanics, surgery, and rehabilitation for ease of reference.
For most Christians, explaining why and what we believe about God and the Bible is a challenge. For high school students, many of whom are wrestling with their own questions and doubts as well, the challenge is even greater. Think will help high school students explore God s Word to discover for themselves the truth behind what they believe. In 20 straightforward studies, students will explore the Bible to find solid reasons to believe and the know-how to explain their faith.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.