Defection: No Jumping in Line

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He needed help, and in a hurry. But a Soviet military intelligence analyst who wanted to defect to the West recently was almost not allowed to. When this official approached the gates of the U.S. embassy in Tunis, he attempted to make himself understood to the Marine guard. The befuddled guard pointed toward the visa section. The official dutifully took his place at the end of a lengthy queue of Tunisians submitting their visa applications. Soon, he became jumpy; the KGB might already be on his tail. He approached the officer in charge, who promptly ushered the upstart back to the end of line. The frustrated defector excitedly explained that he had an important matter to discuss with the Ambassador or the CIA. The embassy's consul, hearing the ruckus, came out to investigate. The man, now desperate, flashed his Soviet passport. No reaction. Next, he took out his military identification card. A glimmer of comprehension. The consul copied the Cyrillic letters and sent them upstairs to the CIA station chief. Minutes passed. No response. The distraught man exclaimed that he would be shot if they did not do something quickly. Then a CIA man, curious about the fuss, took one look at the card and promptly rushed to talk to his boss. Only then did the station chief come down and, with proper apologies, invite the defector upstairs.