QOTD: It Was a Betrayal

 

“To betray, you must first belong.” — Kim Philby, 1967.

Not until 1963 was the treachery of KGB mole Kim Philby incontrovertibly revealed. He had been regularly passing on information to the Soviets since World War II and had schemed to wrest the job as head of the MI6’s then expanding anti-Soviet, counter-intelligence effort from his own boss in 1944.

Today’s quote was part of a statement by Philby to the Australian journalist Murray Sayle, who scored the only interview ever with the spy after his defection to the Soviet Union. Philby brushed off his betrayal by continuing, “I never belonged.”

Yet in a 1981 video of a lecture to East German Stasi agents, unearthed only last year, Philby told them his secret spy sauce. “Because I had been born into the British governing class, because I knew a lot of people of an influential standing, I knew that they would never get too tough with me.” Excellent at lying to other people, it was easy for Philby to lie to himself too.

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  1. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    Nothing stings so much as betrayal. It’s far easier to have compassion for your enemy than a betrayer.

    Yet in a 1981 video of a lecture to East German Stasi agents, unearthed only last year, Philby told them his secret spy sauce. “Because I had been born into the British governing class, because I knew a lot of people of an influential standing, I knew that they would never get too tough with me.

    I guess the deep state swamp, has always been. :(

    • #1
  2. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Season One, Episode 8 of Yes, Prime Minister: “One of Us”

    Too many good quotes to publish here, but it deals with this exact subject. He couldn’t have! He was… one of us.

    • #2
  3. Snirtler Inactive
    Snirtler
    @Snirtler

    EJHill (View Comment):
    Season One, Episode 8 of Yes, Prime Minister: “One of Us”

    Too many good quotes to publish here, but it deals with this exact subject. He couldn’t have! He was… one of us.

    I don’t remember that episode. I’ll have to look that up.

    • #3
  4. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    In the late Eighties, British moviemakers returned to this general subject again and again, now from the opposite angle of a degree of sympathy with Philby and other British turncoats and double agents.

    I used to refer to the genre as “They wouldn’t respect my sexuality at Harrow, so I decided to give Stalin the plans to the hydrogen bomb”.

    • #4
  5. Snirtler Inactive
    Snirtler
    @Snirtler

    For anyone interested, this is a BBC Radio program on the 1981 Philby tape.

    • #5
  6. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Fascinating video. Thanks for the link.

    I have often mused how it is that heretics and non-believers have it easier than apostates. This is the crux of the problem on the Republican side these days.

    • #6
  7. Snirtler Inactive
    Snirtler
    @Snirtler

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    In the late Eighties, British moviemakers returned to this general subject again and again, now from the opposite angle of a degree of sympathy with Philby and other British turncoats and double agents.

    I used to refer to the genre as “They wouldn’t respect my sexuality at Harrow, so I decided to give Stalin the plans to the hydrogen bomb”.

    That’s one thing film is for–to explore alternative hypotheses of what motivates people. In this case, private hang-ups lead to public treason.

    Philby though might disagree with the personal is political. From this article,  “I am really two people,” he once said. “I am a private person and a political person. Of course, if there is a conflict, the political person comes first.”

    • #7
  8. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    In the late Eighties, British moviemakers returned to this general subject again and again, now from the opposite angle of a degree of sympathy with Philby and other British turncoats and double agents.

    I used to refer to the genre as “They wouldn’t respect my sexuality at Harrow, so I decided to give Stalin the plans to the hydrogen bomb”.

    Makes sense: Stalin was at least likely to f- ’em!

    • #8
  9. Mountie Coolidge
    Mountie
    @Mountie

    I’m not much of one to blame the son for sins of the father (you know, the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree and all that stuff) but someone in British Intellegence had to have had misgivings about Kim Philby given the history of his father. His father Harry St John Philby renounced his British citizenship, converted to Islam, and became an advisor to Abdulaziz , founder of modern Saudi Arabia, advising  him against the interest of his former country and the west in general.

    • #9
  10. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    • #10
  11. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Wonder when @She will chime in here, hmmm?

    • #11
  12. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    And they seemed to like the Muslims better than the Hindus in India, too. One conqueror to another, I suppose.

    • #12
  13. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Larry KolerAnd they seemed to like the Muslims better…

    Churchill on Islam:

    “Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

    The River War (1899)

    • #13
  14. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    EJHill (View Comment):

    Larry Koler: And they seemed to like the Muslims better…

    Churchill on Islam:

    “Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

    The River War (1899)

    Yes, he saw the fanaticism up front and in its ugliest form in his time in Sudan.

    The regular British diplomats, on the other hand, saw things differently — and do still today. Theodore Dalrymple’s White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India is an amazing source for this.

    • #14
  15. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    Nanda Panjandrum (View Comment):

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Wonder when @She will chime in here, hmmm?

    She’ll know it’s not xenophobia; I’ve always been just as willing to make comic generalizations of our own ruling classes as well…

    • #15
  16. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Gary McVey (View Comment):

    Nanda Panjandrum (View Comment):

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Wonder when @She will chime in here, hmmm?

    She’ll know it’s not xenophobia; I’ve always been just as willing to make comic generalizations of our own ruling classes as well…

    Of course, Gary!  I’m sure She and fam met many such and were exasperated by them… :-) .

    • #16
  17. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Nanda Panjandrum (View Comment):
    Of course, Gary! I’m sure She and fam met many such and were exasperated by them…

    Thought there might be an anecdote forthcoming from her, actually.

    • #17
  18. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Bingo.

    • #18
  19. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Percival (View Comment):

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Bingo.

     

    Oooof, Sir Percy!  What else has the man been trained to do, exactly?!  (Don’t forget the Prince’s Trust Charities, etc.)

    • #19
  20. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    Percival (View Comment):

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Bingo.

    It’s good to be King. It’s also fun to play King.

    • #20
  21. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Kevin Schulte (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Bingo.

    It’s good to be King. It’s also fun to play King.

    He’d probably get busted if he dressed like that in New York. That appears to be a high-capacity bandolier he’s wearing.

    • #21
  22. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Percival (View Comment):

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Bingo.

    You come up with the best stuff. Thanks for this.

    • #22
  23. Snirtler Inactive
    Snirtler
    @Snirtler

    Thanks all for chiming in with the tidbits of film, history, and fun.

    • #23
  24. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Thank you, Snirtler. This quote certainly started an interesting conversation.

    This was also part of our all-volunteer Quote of the Day Series. If you would like to share a quote and start a conversation, our sign-up sheet is here with openings as soon as tomorrow.

    • #24
  25. Mountie Coolidge
    Mountie
    @Mountie

    EJHill (View Comment):

    Larry Koler: And they seemed to like the Muslims better…

    Churchill on Islam:

    “Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

    The River War (1899)

    Churchill before the House of Commons in 1921:

    “The Wahabis profess a life of exceeding austerity, and what they practice themselves they rigorously enforce on others. They hold it as an article of duty, as well as of faith, to kill all who do not share their opinions and to make slaves of their wives and children. Women have been put to death in Wahabi villages for simply appearing in the streets. It is a penal offense to wear a silk garment. Men have been killed for smoking a cigarette, and as for alcohol, the most energetic supporter of the temperance cause in this country falls far behind them. Austere, intolerant, well armed, and bloodthirsty, in their own regions the Wahabis are a distinct factor which must be taken into account, and they have been, and still are, very dangerous to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and to the whole institution of the pilgrimage, in which our Indian fellow-subjects are so deeply concerned….The Emir Bin Saud has shown himself capable of leading and, within considerable limits, of controlling these formidable sectaries.”

    • #25
  26. Doctor Robert Member
    Doctor Robert
    @DoctorRobert

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    And buggery

    • #26
  27. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Percival (View Comment):

    Gary McVey (View Comment):
    The British have always been attracted to pan-Arabism. One wag said it was because the English upper classes liked hierarchy, dressing up in anachronistic clothes, and participating in no useful economic activity.

    Bingo.

    What a royal Twit.

    “God rot all royals. Give us the wisdom of  America”

    Mr Fox,

    The Madness of King George

    • #27
  28. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Kozak (View Comment):
    Mr Fox,

    The Nancy Pelosi of his time and place. Good guy to quote.

    • #28
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