and redefected to the Soviet Embassy in Washington. There he
claimed to have been kidnapped and drugged by CIAagents, and four
days after he was flown back to Moscow. Subsequently, some CIA
officials considered the possibility that Yurchenko was a false defec-
tor, but, given the information he provided, this theory appeared far-
fetched. The CIAhas concluded that Yurchenko’s was a genuine case
of a real defector having changed his mind and deciding to return
home to face the consequences.– Z –
ZAPATA (OPERATION). SeeBAYOF PIGS INVASION.ZIMMERMAN TELEGRAM.The Zimmerman telegram was an of-
ficial cable, intercepted in February 1917, from the German foreign
minister, Arthur Zimmerman, to the German ambassador in Mexico,
Heinrich von Eckardt, disclosing a scheme to seek an alliance with
Mexico in a war with the United States. If Mexico acceded to the
plan, then it would reconquer the lost territories of Texas, New Mex-
ico, and Arizona upon the defeat of the United States. Because the
telegram was conveyed to President Woodrow Wilson by the British,
some speculate that the telegram was a forgery, intended to persuade
President Wilson to bring the United States into World War Ion the
side of the Allies.224 • ZAPATA (OPERATION)05-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 6:27 AM Page 224