The U.S., which followed developments in the Iran-Iraq war with extraordinary intensity, had intelligence confirming Iran's accusations, and describing Iraq's "almost daily" use of chemical weapons, concurrent with its policy review and decision to support Iraq in the war [Document 24]. The intelligence indicated that Iraq used chemical weapons against Iranian forces, and, according to a November 1983 memo, against "Kurdish insurgents" as well [Document 25].
What was the Reagan administration's response? A State Department account indicates that the administration had decided to limit its "efforts against the Iraqi CW program to close monitoring because of our strict neutrality in the Gulf war, the sensitivity of sources, and the low probability of achieving desired results." But the department noted in late November 1983 that "with the essential assistance of foreign firms, Iraq ha[d] become able to deploy and use CW and probably has built up large reserves of CW for further use. Given its desperation to end the war, Iraq may again use lethal or incapacitating CW, particularly if Iran threatens to break through Iraqi lines in a large-scale attack" [Document 25]. The State Department argued that the U.S. needed to respond in some way to maintain the credibility of its official opposition to chemical warfare, and recommended that the National Security Council discuss the issue.
Following further high-level policy review, Ronald Reagan issued National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) 114, dated November 26, 1983, concerned specifically with U.S. policy toward the Iran-Iraq war. The directive reflects the administration's priorities: it calls for heightened regional military cooperation to defend oil facilities, and measures to improve U.S. military capabilities in the Persian Gulf, and directs the secretaries of state and defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to take appropriate measures to respond to tensions in the area. It states, "Because of the real and psychological impact of a curtailment in the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf on the international economic system, we must assure our readiness to deal promptly with actions aimed at disrupting that traffic." It does not mention chemical weapons [Document 26].
Soon thereafter, Donald Rumsfeld (who had served in various positions in the Nixon and Ford administrations, including as President Ford's defense secretary, and at this time headed the multinational pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle & Co.) was dispatched to the Middle East as a presidential envoy. His December 1983 tour of regional capitals included Baghdad, where he was to establish "direct contact between an envoy of President Reagan and President Saddam Hussein," while emphasizing "his close relationship" with the president [Document 28]. Rumsfeld met with Saddam, and the two discussed regional issues of mutual interest, shared enmity toward Iran and Syria, and the U.S.'s efforts to find alternative routes to transport Iraq's oil; its facilities in the Persian Gulf had been shut down by Iran, and Iran's ally, Syria, had cut off a pipeline that transported Iraqi oil through its territory. Rumsfeld made no reference to chemical weapons, according to detailed notes on the meeting [Document 31].
Rumsfeld also met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, and the two agreed, "the U.S. and Iraq shared many common interests." Rumsfeld affirmed the Reagan administration's "willingness to do more" regarding the Iran-Iraq war, but "made clear that our efforts to assist were inhibited by certain things that made it difficult for us, citing the use of chemical weapons, possible escalation in the Gulf, and human rights." He then moved on to other U.S. concerns [Document 32]. Later, Rumsfeld was assured by the U.S. interests section that Iraq's leadership had been "extremely pleased" with the visit, and that "Tariq Aziz had gone out of his way to praise Rumsfeld as a person" [Document 36 and Document 37].
Rumsfeld returned to Baghdad in late March 1984. By this time, the U.S. had publicly condemned Iraq's chemical weapons use, stating, "The United States has concluded that the available evidence substantiates Iran's charges that Iraq used chemical weapons" [Document 47]. Briefings for Rumsfeld's meetings noted that atmospherics in Iraq had deteriorated since his December visit because of Iraqi military reverses and because "bilateral relations were sharply set back by our March 5 condemnation of Iraq for CW use, despite our repeated warnings that this issue would emerge sooner or later" [Document 48]. Rumsfeld was to discuss with Iraqi officials the Reagan administration's hope that it could obtain Export-Import Bank credits for Iraq, the Aqaba pipeline, and its vigorous efforts to cut off arms exports to Iran. According to an affidavit prepared by one of Rumsfeld's companions during his Mideast travels, former NSC staff member Howard Teicher, Rumsfeld also conveyed to Iraq an offer from Israel to provide assistance, which was rejected [Document 61].
Iraqi insurgency leader surrenders
By Peter Wilson in Baghdad and agencies
December 17, 2003
THE reputed head of the Iraqi insurgency surrendered to US forces at dawn yesterday, Al-Arabiya television reported last night.
The reported surrender of Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the highest ranking member of the former regime still at large, follows the arrest at the weekend of two leaders of the insurgency along with Saddam Hussein ...
Myers cast doubt on regional news reports about the arrest of Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, who is the highest-ranking member of Saddam's former regime still at large and is thought to be organizing anti-U.S. attacks.
"We heard the same thing. We chased that down. We are not aware that has taken place," he said.
DEBKAfile's military and intelligence sources reveal that Washington and Dr. David Kay, senior US and coalition WMD hunter in Iraq - far from groping in the dark for Saddam's prohibited weapons, as conventionally believed - have a very good idea of where they are hidden.
The search has narrowed down to a section of the Syrian Desert known as Dayr Az-Zawr in Syria's 600 sq. mile Al Jazirah province, which is wedged between the Turkish and Iraqi borders. The missing weapons systems are thought to be buried somewhere under these desert sands. This area is now probably the most keenly watched area on earth - from its outer periphery. At its eastern edge, US special force units, Predator drones and reconnaissance airplanes and satellites make sure no one steps into this ultra-sensitive patch of desert. Turkish special forces, intelligence and air force units are guarding it from the northwest. The Syrians are nowhere to be seen, acting as though the target-area does not concern them.
It didn't take long, and just in time for the holidays, the "Captured Saddam," action figure, presumably fresh out of an imaginary spider-hole, has been rushed to store shelves.
"We got him," advertises Herobuilders.com. "We are thrilled at the fact that we can respond to new world circumstances within 24 hours.
"We still mold and hand paint each and every action figure right here in the Good Old USA," adds the company which specializes in political playthings, and also is proud to feature Uday Hussein and macabre DOA (dead on arrival) Uday dolls.
US welcomes help from Germany, France on Iraq debt[/b]
Tue December 16, 2003 01:30 PM ET
WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - The White House said on Tuesday it welcomed commitments by Germany and France to help rebuild Iraq and reduce its debt burden, and said the United States would "do our part as well."
"We appreciate the commitments they made on the need to restructure and reduce the debt burden," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.
A German government spokesman said Germany, France and the United States agreed they were prepared to offer substantial debt relief to Iraq to aid the country's reconstruction.
McClellan would not say what Washington would commit to the debt reduction initiative, but added, "We'll do our part as well."
"The United States is the one that led this effort to remove the regime from power. We have made significant contributions along with coalition forces," McClellan said.
"We remain committed to seeing that through and we will see it through. ... I think you can continue to expect the United States to do our part to help the Iraqi people."
U.S. special envoy James Baker is in Europe seeking support for a debt relief deal for Iraq and trying to ease a trans-Atlantic row over contracts to rebuild Iraq.
© Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.
... Kimmitt said there were 18 engagements between Iraqi guerrillas and U.S.-led coalition forces in the past week, a marked decline over previous weeks.
"These numbers are significantly lower than recent norms, although we anticipate and are fully prepared for any upturn in attacks in the days and weeks ahead," he said ...
Saddam betrayed by his wife
December 17, 2003
SADDAM Hussein was captured in a filthy underground hole because of the demands of the one woman he still trusted.
She is Samira Shahbander, the second of his four wives.
And now she may receive part of, if not all, of the $US25million ($33.8 million) bounty the US Government promised for information that led to the capture of the Iraqi dictator.
Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had been tailing her since she fled to Beirut, Lebanon, before the US invasion.
In a tapped phone call last Thursday she arranged to meet the former dictator that weekend after demanding more cash ...
16 Dec 2003 18:18
Fewer Palestinians back suicide bombings - poll
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian public support for suicide bomb attacks in Israel has dropped to its lowest level in three years of Middle East conflict, according to a poll released on Tuesday.
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's rating also declined but he remained more than twice as popular as any other public figure, the survey by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) found.
In a report on its web site, it said 48 percent favoured suicide bombings -- less than half for the first time since March 2000, six months before an uprising against Israel erupted as U.S.-brokered peace talks broke down.
Fifty-nine percent polled by the independent institute in October backed suicide attacks, staying within a range of slightly over half dating back to the start of the bloodshed.
Another poll by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics of Palestinians aged 10 to 24 found a majority opposed suicide bombings but gave no figure. It said 57.8 percent wanted peace negotiations with Israel to resume.
In the PSR's latest representative survey of 1,319 adults, support for militant attacks on Israeli soldiers and settlers in occupied West Bank and Gaza territory remained high at 87 percent.
But 83 percent also supported a complete, mutual ceasefire and 53 percent said they would back a Palestinian Authority crackdown on militants who violated such a truce.
But 80 percent worried that such a crackdown could lead to civil war -- a reason often cited by Palestinian leaders for rebuffing Israeli demands to break up militant groups.
A U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan charts reciprocal steps including an end to militant violence and a freeze on Jewish settlement to pave the way for a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza by 2005.
Palestinians backing suicide bombings, carried out mainly by people in their teens and twenties, have regarded them as the only way to counter Israel's overwhelming military might.
But recent polls have detected waning support for violence that has brought little but Israeli military crackdowns imposing hardship on the population at large, and growing support for a mutual ceasefire to revitalise peacemaking.
Arafat's support fell in the PSR poll to 38 percent from 50 percent in October and his Fatah movement slipped into a tie at 25 percent with the two main Islamist militant factions.
But most Palestinians -- 40 percent -- professed no political affiliation, continuing a trend.
The PSR questioned 1,319 people from December 4 to 9 and the PCBS surveyed 5,600. Both had a three percent margin of error.
Quote:
I suspect strongly that this is not unrelated to developments in Iraq.
Otherwise it's not much better than claiming the $20 bill I found yesterday is a positive development of the war in Iraq.
