Ms. Chapman’s Charm School

This is what now passes for news at The Washington Post , “reporting” on the Russian spy case:

---

There were 11 alleged Russian agents arrested this week, under accusations that they'd been living as Americans while reporting back to the mother country. But mostly we care about the hot one.

You may recall, this is the same type of analysis from the moribund media we got after the panty bomber’s underwear miraculously didn’t explode on a commercial jet on Christmas Day. Fixating on Anna Chapman—her good looks and burlesque nature provides an effective diversion from the actual point—how at least ten Russian spies managed to live among us for a decade. Nor is there much media interest as to what these people are doing here. Instead, the fish wrap media wants us to believe that, much like they do with jihadis, that this was a bunch of innocuous simpletons. After all, Russia treasures our kinship now. The New York Post has somehow managed to avoid succumbing to Chapmania:

The alleged operatives' normalcy and low-key methodology is in stark contrast to Russian spycraft during World War II, epitomized by the high-profile Alger Hiss and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg cases. The OSS -- America's precursor to the CIA -- was infiltrated by Russian spies; Stalin knew that we had the atomic bomb before Truman did. Today's SVR, however, is preoccupied with lesser goals. These people are here to be agents of influence, to make connections. You want to influence American policy and opinion, including opinions about Russia.

We know that Chapman comrade, Juan Lazaro managed to get himself a teaching position at Baruch College . Lazaro taught Latin American studies—academic code for America Bashing. The spy couple in Cambridge was able to register to vote. The male half, Donald Heathfield also had business dealings with Al Gore’s former top national security aide, Leon Fureth. Never one to be left out in the cold when communists are seeking succor, a notable fund raiser for Hillary Clinton was a target of the spies.

P. J. Crowley, assistant secretary of state and Mrs. Clinton’s chief spokesman, told Declassified. News reports suggested that New York financier and tycoon Alan Patricof, a longtime Clinton supporter, was probably the American financier alleged, in a Russian spy message, to have had several meetings with a Russian operative who used the name Cynthia Murphy.

As for Ms. Chapman, she is either the daughter of a high level diplomat or KGB operative, depending on who you ask. The KGB was hoping for an image makeover by rebranding itself the SVR. Former double agent, Boris Korczak asserts that everyone’s favorite spy was schooled by the SVR in the art of seduction.

During the Cold War, ‘the Soviet Union had a number of schools that trained beautiful women how to lure and satisfy powerful, rich, American men, sexually and intellectually,’ he said. ‘They're called 'worm-on-a-hook' agents.’ SOME of these schools are located in small towns in the southern part of the country. None appear on a map. They are exact replicas of American suburbs such as Chevy Chase, Md. -- just outside Washington, where the bulk of KGB agents were deployed during World War II.

Describing what could just as easily be a scene from Nelson DeMille’s Cold War novel, The Charm School, Korczak described the Russian spy schools:

Russian spies-in-training in these towns, Korczak said, ‘buy groceries at 7-Elevens, eat hamburgers at McDonald's, watch American TV and go to American movie theaters, get American newspapers delivered every morning and speak only English.’

One wonders, as did DeMille, who, exactly is staffing these Charm Schools? Fitting into American life requires much more than mastery of English. Unless, of course, your assignment is to draw as much attention to yourself as possible, as is the case with Chapman. Fox News is now reporting that Chapman had her sights set on Princes William and Harry. Chapman was actively trying to penetrate their social circle. MI 15 is investigating to determine if the little royalty groupie ever achieved target acquisition. She did manage to get close to people in the royal orbit.

Chapman -- now locked up in New York on charges of being a Russian agent -- frequently visited the naughty nightclub Boujis in London expressly to bump into the princes and chat them up, London's Mirror newspaper reported. Both William and Harry, the sons of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles, were regulars at the private members club, which is notorious for its libertine atmosphere. The princes were also close to former Boujis manager Jake Parkinson-Smith -- whom Chapman managed to meet several times before he was fired in a drug scandal.

This would be a fine time to read The Charm School. It is especially recommended for members of the media who prefer to pretend the Russian spy ring was a bunch of buffoons. The protection of Barack Obama from embarrassment certainly trumps national security. But sleep well, America. Holder’s DOJ is on the case.