December, 1981--the CIA learns that the Polish government has cut telephone communications with the West and closed the Polish border. The agency's leaders quickly inform President Ronald Reagan at Camp David. Within hours, Prime Minister Wojciech Jaruzelski has appeared on Polish national television to announce the establishment of martial law. A new era in Cold War politics has begun: Washington and Moscow are on a collision course. In this gripping narrative history, Seth G. Jones reveals the little-known story of the CIA's subsequent operations in Poland, which produced a landmark victory for democracy.

Prologue -- The people's man -- The general -- The spymaster -- Covert actors -- Dutch -- The Gdansk Agreement -- Polish abyss -- The case for covert action -- The birth of QRHELPFUL -- Struggling to survive -- Getting off the ground -- Ratlines -- The underground -- Hardball -- Cracks in the foundation -- Holy alliance? -- An emotional visit -- A global campaign -- The tide turns -- The return of Solidarity -- The trump card -- Round table talks -- Finishing the job -- The white eagle -- Epilogue.