My most immediate thought--though it's probably not--is of the many U.S. servicemembers in Korea who marry women (usually entertainers from local clubs/bars) from the former Soviet Republics.
In at least one case it appears an Air Force Captain here in Korea was being blackmailed by one of these women She demanded any sort of "classified information" from him, not caring what category of information it was. He did this, I would assume in exchange for sexual attention at the time, but was later making large monthly deposits to her account once she had moved to the U.S. WITH HER HUSBAND (an enlisted U.S. servicemember).
Most likely, once she had one classified document, she had the ability to compel him to pay later. Once he ran out of money she turned him in.
I've read rumors (again, not sure if they're substantiated) that the Russians used to run schools to train female "entertainers" to act as spies. If the Russian intel community lost funding after the breakup of the Soviet Union, I'd imagine lots of these ladies went freelance (just like some of the gentleman that are now thought to be wrapped up in organized crime).
If you haven't caught onto this statistic...it used be very common to have Phillipino or Korean wives amongst military members. When you talk about foreign marriages within the last 10 years...suddenly Russian wives start to show up alot more. I've been in Germany at a military installation for 12 years now. I know of at least 8 military guys with Russian wives. I'll bet by 2010...there are over 3,000 military personnel on active duty with Russian wives.
Yes, you are correct about his Captain in Korea and the way he got tied into a huge game with this gal. The interesting thing about that story...which Stars and Stripes didn't explain...and the court didn't touch....is this money-laundering episode. Even though this gal had an account at the on-base bank...she had him moving money for her. They don't explain this part of the story, and I'm betting its too complicated for them to figure out. But this guy must have been thousands of dollars back to Russia for her and her friends. You have to wonder what this all adds up to.
And the amusing part of the court martial...they never explain what "secret" he told the gal and the charges barely touch on that. Makes you wonder if he made up some secret just to make her happy.
"I've read rumors (again, not sure if they're substantiated) that the Russians used to run schools to train female "entertainers" to act as spies. If the Russian intel community lost funding after the breakup of the Soviet Union, I'd imagine lots of these ladies went freelance (just like some of the gentleman that are now thought to be wrapped up in organized crime)."
Possibly, but don't you think those who would have received training at that "school" (if it existed) would be a bit long in the tooth to be strutting their 35+ year old bodies on the stage? Most of the Russian strippers sucked into those contracts are 18 -22 year olds. They were much too young to have been KGB trained. Now, what could happen is someone had some leverage over her or her family, or, being a girl of questionable moral background she was willing to do anything for $$$$$. Why any guy would want to marry a stripper is beyond me.