NODULE X7 OSWALD IN MINSK AND THE U2 DUMP: JANUARY ...

collectively more than 50 years of experience in Soviet counterintelligence
work.
Based upon the review of this voluminous material and the results of some
collateral investigation it has been concluded, contrary of some collateral
investigation in the 1968 paper, that SAMMY is what he says he is, that he
is knowledgeable in the areas and to the extent that he should be, and he
has a logical explanation for his acquisition of information which normally
would not have been accessible to him in his claimed positions. It is
believed impossible that he developed this detailed knowledge by KGB
briefings only. The consistency between previous and current interviews is
substantial proof of this. If he was dispatched by KGB he was given a
"green light" to tell everything he knew. This is believed incredible,
particularly because of his connections with ranking KGB officers and
because his information is closely related to that furnished by various
other sources. Collectively these sources have seriously damaged SIS
operations and have rendered valuable assistance to Western
Counterintelligence. They have supplied the key to practically all
successful counterintelligence operations during the past five years. To
hold that they are all "Plants" is preposterous. While SAMMY admittedly
during previous interrogations, exaggerated and in some instances lied
about his KGB rank and his personal involvement in some cases, there is
no reasonable basis for now doubting his bona fides.
The current interrogation of SAMMY by SOLIE is being handled as
indicated in number six above and has been productive. Based upon the
results summarized in the attached paper, the conclusion is inescapable
that the persons who handled previous interrogations and evaluations of
SAMMY were either incompetent or for reasons of their own persisted in
the attempt to prove the February, 1964, conclusion that he was not bona
fide. There was a definite failure to take elementary steps to clarify
questioned matters. A good example is the insistence that KGB could not
have placed "metka" (powder) on the clothing of JOHN V. ABIDIAN
because he did not employ a Soviet maid until 16 months after his arrival
in Moscow. The current interrogation of SAMMY developed that KGB was
aware that ABIDIAN had an American girl friend who sent her maid to
clean ABIDIAN's apartment. Recent interview of ABIDIAN by SOLIE
confirmed this; the maid therefore could have had access to his clothing
beginning 6 months after his arrival in Moscow. Other examples of
inadequate interrogation and collateral investigation are set forth in the
attached paper:
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