JACK BARSKY | Spying on the US as a KGB Agent (Ep. 613)
Jun 25, 2024
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Former KGB sleeper agent Jack Barsky shares his journey from Communist indoctrination in East Germany to espionage in the US. He details his recruitment by the KGB, tasks as a sleeper agent, and his unexpected path to Christianity. Barsky also discusses the importance of countering communist ideologies from a young age.
Early exposure to communist ideals in school shaped Jack Barsky's worldview.
Recruited by the KGB, Jack's missions in the US included spotting recruits and monitoring military activities.
Embracing Christianity, Jack's transformation was sparked by deep introspection and divine intervention.
Deep dives
Growing Up in East Germany
Growing up in post-World War II East Germany, Jack Barsky recalls life in poverty with limited medical services and basic nutrition. Despite challenges, he found contentment in simple joys and a sense of community, shaped by his parents' roles as teachers.
Early Indoctrination in Communist Ideology
From an early age, Jack experienced indoctrination into communist ideals in school and organizations. Starting in kindergarten, he was exposed to communist teachings about equality and oppression, which influenced his worldview well into high school and college.
Recruitment into the KGB as a Sleeper Agent
Approached by a KGB operative posing as a Stasi member, Jack was observed over 18 months before being officially recruited as a sleeper agent. Tasked with integrating into US society, his missions included spotting potential recruits and monitoring military activity.
Challenges and Defection from the KGB
Facing suspicions of being compromised in late 1988, Jack contemplated defecting from the KGB after a sign indicating surveillance. Eventually, a warning from an informant prompted his decision to leave espionage and embrace a new life.
Transformation to Christianity and Resilience
Introducing Shauna, Jack's administrative assistant, was transformative as she evangelized him, sparking deep introspection. Embracing Christian teachings, rational arguments, and a life-changing experience at a church service, Jack recognized divine intervention, leading to his baptism and testimony sharing.
In this episode, we welcome Jack Barsky to the show. He is a former sleeper agent for the KGB, author, and Christian speaker. He spied on the US from 1978 to 1988 at the behest of the Soviet Union. After the Cold War, Barsky became a US counterintelligence agent. He details his life and story in his autobiography Deep Undercover. In this interview, we discuss what it was like growing up under Communist control in East Germany, how Communist ideals where ingrained in him and his classmates starting at a very early age, the process of him being observed and recruited by the KGB, what his job as a sleeper agent inside the US entailed, what happened when the KGB thought his cover had been blown, how he got out of the world of espionage, how he became a Christian even though he did not grow up around any kind of Christian ethic, what parents can do to prevent their children from being romanced by Communism, and much more. Let’s get into it…