Benjamin Cole, Sandy Larsen, and Department 13-radioactive Valery Kostikov

[Benjamin Cole]

TG-

Verily, I have read some of the stuff you are referring to, and Bagley's book, etc.

I recently read Solie's interview with the HSCA, in which Solie comes off very poorly, and cannot explain why he believes Nosenko on the JFKA/KGB. You might get a kick out of the interview.

https://aarclibrary.org/publib/jfk/hsca/secclass/pdf/Solie_6-1-78.pdf

Since we do not have accurate organizational charts of the KGB circa 1963, I cannot prove Kostikov was Dept. 13. The biographer quoted above, who claims to have been friends with Kostikov, says he was Dept.13.

I take it you never met Kostikov, nor have seen accurate organizational charts of the KGB circa 1963.

Bruce Solie as a KGB asset sounds plausible, as does the KGB running LHO, possibly through G-2 assets in the US, which by most accounts had thoroughly infiltrated the Cuban community.

That hardly proves the KGB/G-2 had a role in the JFKA. But, I wouldn't rule it out, either.

[Tom Graves]

I recently read Solie's interview with the HSCA, in which Solie comes off very poorly, and cannot explain why he believes Nosenko on the JFKA/KGB. You might get a kick out of the interview.

I've already read it about five times.

His answering a couple of questions with an "Uh huh" is telling.

Since we do not have accurate organizational charts of the KGB circa 1963, I cannot prove Kostikov was Dept. 13.

Reread my last longish post.

Bottom line: It doesn't matter if he was Department 13 or not.

The biographer quoted above, who claims to have been friends with Kostikov, says he was Dept.13.

BFD.

Pardon my German.

I take it you never met Kostikov, nor have seen accurate organizational charts of the KGB circa 1963.

Point being?

Bruce Solie as a KGB asset sounds plausible, as does the KGB running LHO, possibly through G-2 assets in the US, which by most accounts had thoroughly infiltrated the Cuban community.

Just "asset"?

That hardly proves the KGB/G-2 had a role in the JFKA. But, I wouldn't rule it out, either.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

Maybe.

[Benjamin Cole]

TG--

Kostikov in Dept. 13 or not is relevant, if one suspects the KGB/G-2 instigated the JFKA through LHO.

Kostikov would be better-informed about how to bring about the JFKA, compared to a bona fide cultural-exchange diplomat.

[Tom Graves]

TG--

Kostikov in Dept. 13 or not is relevant, if one suspects the KGB/G-2 instigated the JFKA through LHO.

Kostikov would be better-informed about how to bring about the JFKA, compared to a bona fide cultural-exchange diplomat.

Which "bona fide cultural-exchange diplomat" are you referring to?

PS I don't believe you when you say you've read Bagley's 2007 Yale University Press book, Spy Wars: Moles, Mysteries, and Deadly Games.

https://archive.org/details/SpyWarsMolesMysteriesAndDeadlyGames

[Benjamin Cole]

Which "bona fide cultural-exchange diplomat" are you referring to?

PS I don't believe you when you say you've read Bagley's 2007 Yale University Press book, Spy Wars: Moles, Mysteries, and Deadly Games.

https://archive.org/details/SpyWarsMolesMysteriesAndDeadlyGames

It is available on Internet Archives....and I read parts/50% of it, on your recommendation.

That is what prompted me to read Solie's unconvincing interview with the HSCA.

[Tom Graves]

It is available on Internet Archives....and I read parts/50% of it, on your recommendation.

That is what prompted me to read Solie's unconvincing interview with the HSCA.

To get an idea of how thoroughly the CIA and the FBI were penetrated, how truthful Golitsyn was and how disingenuous Nosenko was (starting in Geneva in June 1962), etc., you need to read Bagley's whole book and his 2014 follow-up article, "Ghosts of the Spy Wars," too.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08850607.2014.962362


BTW, in case you haven't read Bagley's HSCA testimony, here it is!

https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/docid-32273600.pdf

[Benjamin Cole]

Thanks for your recommendations.