long but ultra-compelling

This piece, [Tolkachev, A Worthy Successor to Penkovsky (U)] recently declassified and posted to the CIA's website, gives a 31 page account of one of our Country's most successful intelligence operations. Tolkachev is now considered by many the most prodigious source ever developed out of Moscow (and certainly the most productive source for intelligence on Soviet military systems). It is a riveting account of the multitude of challenges facing intelligence agents in their daily routine. Complete with all the elements of a good Bond movie, the detailed accounting of CIA support provided for this particular source sheds light on the inside of our Country's most dangerous profession. I won't give away the ending, but following years of successful meetings, dead drops, counter surveillance operations and photographing sensitive Russian aircraft materials, the operation suffers a disasterous setback when Tolkachev's case officer is jumped by KGB, detained, interrogated and released. Like I said though, it's long. Took 2 METRO trips to for me to finish... but it's well worth it. If you ride public transportation like I do, go ahead and print it out, take it with you, when you're done just leave it on your seat ... that'll surely weird out the next guy who sits down. :) Enjoy. You won't be disappointed.