Developing a Nemesis that Cannot be Spoken
My Duncan Hunter books operate in the clandestine world. Spyplanes, top secret clearances, black programs. The routine bad guys are the usual fare of Islamic terrorists the KGB and their communist buddies. With that group there's not a lot of work needed to develop an antagonist or two. And then there is the press. Specifically today's press. In the 1920s, 30s, 40s the relationship between the U.S. government and the press was different in those days. Many reporters were routinely trusted with secret information to be used as "background" for stories. As an example, journalists would never consider discussing or reporting on President Franklin Roosevelt’s paralysis after contracting polio. Few know the KGB was well aware of this relationship and worked tirelessly to exploit the confidential access of American reporters. The USSR sponsored coursework in Moscow to teach editors the fine art of propaganda.
From the 50s to the present day, the USSR and Russia have continually recruited and used journalists across the world as spies. Newspapers across the country, and even Time magazine was a hotbed of spies and pro-Soviet activity. Whittaker Chambers, a Time editor, was a Soviet spy and courageously switched sides and blew the lid off on the communist network and their influence in the press and the government. In Duncan Hunter's world, there is an abundance of evidence that journalists continue to work on behalf of the KGB and now the Russians. In Duncan Hunter's world, he despises the media. The media today makes it about themselves. They are celebrities. They're on late night shows and magazine covers. They think they are kingmakers, to a degree. Politicians from both sides kiss up to the media and the media actually thinks they're important; the media today think that what they say really matters. Duncan Hunter is fond of saying, "The greatest power of the media is its power to ignore." Instead of guys reporting the news, these guys selectively report what they want and then spin what they report. In Duncan Hunter's world, the media is a criminal enterprise disguised as a legitimate business. In Duncan Hunter's world, the media is an extension of the criminal enterprise that is the democrat party.
When Duncan Hunter is "working" he has to worry about the KGB, the terrorists, and the media. The former two just want to kill him; the latter would just be happy to expose him.
Maverick out!
My Duncan Hunter books operate in the clandestine world. Spyplanes, top secret clearances, black programs. The routine bad guys are the usual fare of Islamic terrorists the KGB and their communist buddies. With that group there's not a lot of work needed to develop an antagonist or two. And then there is the press. Specifically today's press. In the 1920s, 30s, 40s the relationship between the U.S. government and the press was different in those days. Many reporters were routinely trusted with secret information to be used as "background" for stories. As an example, journalists would never consider discussing or reporting on President Franklin Roosevelt’s paralysis after contracting polio. Few know the KGB was well aware of this relationship and worked tirelessly to exploit the confidential access of American reporters. The USSR sponsored coursework in Moscow to teach editors the fine art of propaganda.
From the 50s to the present day, the USSR and Russia have continually recruited and used journalists across the world as spies. Newspapers across the country, and even Time magazine was a hotbed of spies and pro-Soviet activity. Whittaker Chambers, a Time editor, was a Soviet spy and courageously switched sides and blew the lid off on the communist network and their influence in the press and the government. In Duncan Hunter's world, there is an abundance of evidence that journalists continue to work on behalf of the KGB and now the Russians. In Duncan Hunter's world, he despises the media. The media today makes it about themselves. They are celebrities. They're on late night shows and magazine covers. They think they are kingmakers, to a degree. Politicians from both sides kiss up to the media and the media actually thinks they're important; the media today think that what they say really matters. Duncan Hunter is fond of saying, "The greatest power of the media is its power to ignore." Instead of guys reporting the news, these guys selectively report what they want and then spin what they report. In Duncan Hunter's world, the media is a criminal enterprise disguised as a legitimate business. In Duncan Hunter's world, the media is an extension of the criminal enterprise that is the democrat party.
When Duncan Hunter is "working" he has to worry about the KGB, the terrorists, and the media. The former two just want to kill him; the latter would just be happy to expose him.
Maverick out!
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