Director Hayden called Kuklinski "the most valuable source of information in the entire Cold War." Although in Poland he is primarily known for providing information about the plans for martial law, Kuklinski over 9 years provided detailed information about the strategic thinking of the Warsaw Pact, and detailed plans for the invasion of Western Europe. This information allowed US intelligence to put together and integrate all of the pieces of information that were coming in from other sources. Hayden compared intelligence work to putting together a jig-saw puzzle with pieces missing, and with no picture on the box. Kuklinski provided not only the missing pieces, but also the picture. In addition, Kuklinski provided information on over 200 weapon systems, and details of the location, equipment and communication system of Warsaw Pact control centers. This allowed the US to implement pin-point targeting of surgical strikes, instead of massive bombing campaigns.

Brzezinski gave a fantastic presentation. He told about receiving Kuklinski’s information while serving as President Carter’s National Security Advisor, about the first emotional meeting after Kuklinski’s arrival in the US, about his talks with then-Prime Minister Miller about Kuklinski’s rehabilitation, telling him that this must occur on the initiative of the Polish government, and not be conditioned on an appeal for a pardon, because Kuklinski does not consider himself guilty. He also mentioned a meeting, at some international conference, with Soviet Marshal and head of Warsaw Pact forces, Victor Kulikov. For some reason Kuklinski’s name came up, whereupon Kulikov launched into a tirade of denunciation, then contradicted himself by saying that Kuklinski passed on only insignificant information. To which Brzezinski replied that, because of this information, three hours after the outbreak of hostilities, you, Marshal, and your entire staff would be dead.

David Forden talked about his first meeting with Kuklinski, where he said he was with the CIA, not the army. In his initial contact with the US Embassy in Bonn, Kuklinski had requested to work with an army officer, and until then all his contacts were with persons under army cover. Forden’s admission did not faze Kuklinski at all, and he continued working with him, forming not only a professional relationship but a deep personal friendship that lasted to the end of Kuklinski’s life. Years after that first encounter, Forden asked him about his reaction to the news that he was working with the CIA. Kuklinski’s answer: I have heard such vile propaganda about the CIA from the Polish government and the USSR, that I knew there had to be many decent people there.

One of the highlights of the event was the premiere of the film “War Games,” a documentary about Kuklinski. After six years of trying, director Dariusz Jablonski finally obtained Kuklinski’s agreement to make the film, but Kuklinski died before filming began. Still, production went ahead, with interviews with his widow, Brzezinski, Jan Nowak Jezioranski, Richard Pipes, many of the contacts in the US intelligence community, and Polish and Soviet generals. These last, of course, were critical of Kuklinski, calling him a traitor to his country and uniform. Considering the source of this criticism, it only served to emphasize the merits of Kuklinski’s decision. Jablonski and several assistants from his production company were present at the event. Availability of this film here has not been determined.

In summary, this was a great tribute to a man who, as was said in conclusion, chose loyalty to his nation over loyalty to a foreign-imposed state.

Ted Mirecki