A Dangle? But Why Executed?

摘要

Ben Fischer argues that Adolf Tolkachev was a Soviet KGB dangle and, after initial hesitation, the CIA swallowed (the proverbial) hook, line, and sinker. It would not be impossible as the U.S. has had successful dangles. Like the excellent officer and thinker Mr. Fischer is, he points out the anomalies in this case. He does not take up the huge amount of valuable intelligence Tolkachev provided to the U.S., although he could probably counter the value of it as well. What puzzles is why Tolkachev was executed. He should have been secretly honored with the "Order of Lenin." Or was he executed? If he was not, and this should not be too difficult for a good journalist or even Mr. Fischer himself to discover, then Tolkachev was a dangle and Royden and Bearden were wrong.