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273 Document No. 46: Message from Ryszard Kukliński to CIA April 26, 1981 Usually, Polish Col. Ryszard Kukliński’s secret messages to the CIA during the Polish events were filled with hard intelligence on military preparations or the intentions of senior Soviet and Polish officials (see for example Document No. 21 from December 4, 1980). At times, however, he was quite emotional, as in this communication in which he describes feelings of dismay about Poland’s situation that have percolated up the ranks of the Polish General Staff. Implicit in the bitter remark by a general (whose name has been deleted from the source document) that “the Americans sold us out to the Russians” is the noteworthy point that many Poles—even in high office—looked to the United States for help in saving their country. Kukliński was by no means alone in this respect, but even he betrays a certain unease about Washington’s commitment to support Polish independence. The story of how Kukliński communicated to the CIA—here he uses a code name for his chief handler in Washington—is fascinating. After the December 4, 1980, message, the Agency gave him a sophisticated electronic transmitter to replace the need for “dead drops,” which were both dangerous and time-consuming. Dubbed “Iskra” (meaning “spark,” which was also the name of Lenin’s pre-Revolution newspaper), the device was the size of a pack of cigarettes and could send short bursts of data to the U.S. embassy in Warsaw from any nearby location. The problem was that it repeatedly broke down, as it did when Kukliński tried to send the message below. This was understandably frustrating given the urgency of the circumstances, but also because Kukliński, as he later readily admitted, was not particularly technically savvy.15 Dear Daniel!16 After returning from Sofia with some senior officers from the general Staff, we reflected on the hopeless—in military terms—current situation in Poland. In this depressing atmosphere, one of the most dedicated generals who openly proclaims the need for deep political changes in Poland […] hurled a bitter accusation at your country, maintaining that “the Americans sold us out to Russia.” Without their silent approval, he said, the ‘comrades’ would not act so boldly. We are profoundly desperate but we hope that general […] is mistaken! [We 15 Interview with Kukliński at the National Security Archive, September 1997, and as described in Weiser, A Secret Life, pp. 181, 215, 229–230. 16 “Daniel” was the code name for David W. Forden who became Kukliński’s CIA case officer in June 1973. (Daniel was Forden’s son’s name.) See Weiser, A Secret Life, pp. 68–82. 274 hope] that the information which he generously sends to you will continue to be properly utilized. We Poles are deeply aware that for freedom we ourselves must fight, even if we had to pay the ultimate price. In addition, I continue to believe that the assistance your country gives to all who are fighting for this freedom may speed up the attainment of such a goal. Thank you for your latest, cordial letter. With heartfelt greetings, Yours, P. V.17 [Source: Originally published in Polish in Tygodnik Solidarność 50 (325), December 9, 1994. Partial translation by Magdalena Klotzbach for the National Security Archive. Further translation from Benjamin Weiser, A Secret Life: The Polish Officer, His Covert Mission, and the Price He Paid to Save His Country, (New York: PublicAffairs, 2004), p. 239. Copyright 2004 by Benjamin Weiser. Reprinted by permission of PublicAffairs, a member of Perseus Books, L.L.C.).] 17 “P. V.” stands for “Polish Viking,” a code name Kukliński gave himself, beginning with his first communication to U.S. officials in August 1972, and occasionally thereafter . See Weiser, A Secret Life, p. 18. ...

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