CIA and the Kurds

Source CIABASE Ralph McGehee
Posted to alt.politics.org.cia -- 9/9/96

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The US CIA Director (DCI) Dr. Deutch promised to topple Hussein before Saddam's attack on Kurds in northern Iraq. Deutch had promised that the Iraqi dictator would be toppled within a year, but Hussein discovered and foiled a $20-million covert op to un seat him. This is one of the greatest setbacks U.S. intel has ever suffered, an anonymous senior U.S. official told the Los Angeles times. Paper said the six-year op was one of the largest authorized by Clinton. [Reuters 9/8/96]

Saddam foils military coup. 50 officers arrested in a plot. Iraqi dissidents and Arab sources said Saddam Hussein has foiled a coup attempt by disgruntled military officers. dissidents reached in Jordan, said all suspects are Sunni Muslims. [Washington Ti mes 7/13/96 a5]

The group of CIA officers running a covert operation in northern Iraq to overthrow Iraqi president Saddam Hussein left Iraq last week as Iraqi forces moved into Irbil. [New York Times 9/7/96; CNN daily report 9/7/96]

There were mass arrests of followers of Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan by the Iraqi army. Officials of the Iraqi National Congress said Iraqi troops executed 96 Iraqi soldiers who had defected to the U.S.-financed umbrella opposition group. [Washington Post 9/2/96 a2] <> Exile group in Jordan called the Iraqi National Accord is working feverishly to implement the latest CIA-backed plan to topple Saddam. They have a radio station, al-Mustaqbal or "the future." Station can blanket much of Iraq and the group has aided defec tion of several officers with stolen military radios. Ayad Alawi who fled to London in 71 is group's leader. "We preach coordinated military uprising." Iraqi opposition is hopelessly splintered.

Six other stations spew anti-Saddam propaganda. In January Clinton authorized $6 million to the group. CIA spokesman Dennis Box declined comment. Earlier efforts centered on another org., the Iraqi National Congress (INC), formed with CIA backing in 92 as an umbrella group for Sunni Muslim, Shiite Muslim and Kurdish factions. But INC based in Kurdish controlled N. Iraq has infighting. National Accord, formed with Saudi backing in 90, seeks a quick military coup.

Bio on Alawi. It is suspected of being heavily infiltrated by Iraqi agents. Group involved in defection of Hussein Kamel Hassan Majeed. Others in movement are defectors, Gen. Nizar Khazraji and Brig. Gen. Najib Salahi. [Washington Post 6/23/96 a1,27]

A bloody CIA covert op with its cover blown sky high. Iraqi democrats promised significant help in toppling Saddam five years ago are now in despair. Kurdistan is facing a general collapse. The Kurdish regional govt. that was supposed to have displaced Baghdad's rule over an area of 3.5 million people has disintegrated. Kurdish leaders Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani have been fighting each other rather than cooperating to topple Saddam.

Most embarrassing U.S. failure in Kurdistan is that of CIA, which backed the wrong horse. The CIA centered its covert program styled as the Iraqi National Accord, or WAFAQ in Arabic. Accords leaders were once Saddam's cronies. The leaders promised they c ould mount a quick coup. They failed. One of the key bomb-makers disclosed publicly that bombs financed by CIA have killed scores of Iraqi civilians in Baghdad and destroyed HQs of rival National Congress in Salahedin.

This represents an all too familiar failure by CIA. CIA defends its covert programs by saying it has to deal with people who are not angels. What it does not explain is why it consistently deals with corrupt incompetents. [op-ed by Jim Hoagland Washin gton Post 3/31/96 c7]

A British newspaper accused the U.S. of helping to fund an Iraqi opposition group's bombing campaign that has killed at least 100 people since the Persian Gulf war. The Daily Independent said it received a videotape in which the chief bomb-maker of Iraqi National Accord, Abu Amneh al-Khadami, talks about the bombing campaign and his fears of betrayal.

Iraqi National Accord, or INA, is "heavily sponsored by the United States and under the influence of the CIA." Newspaper said it received a videotape from an Iraqi dissident. Al-Khadami had apparently sent copies of the tape to various opposition members to help drum up support for his claim that his superiors had betrayed him. The group also has offices in northern Iraq and -- since February -- in the Jordanian capital Amman. But other Iraqi opposition sources in London said the INA was set up immediate ly after the 1991 war, mainly by defectors from the Arab Baath Socialist Party of President Saddam Hussein.

INA is loosely affiliated with the biggest opposition umbrella group, the Iraqi National Congress, or INC. In the video, al-Khadami accuses his superior, Adnan Mohammed al-nuri, a former Iraqi army general, of working for Iraqi intel. Al-Khadami also com plains of being underpaid for bombings and accuses Al-nuri of stealing money. "We blew up a car and we were supposed to get $2,000, but Adnan gave us $1,000. We caused several explosions in Baghdad," he adds.

Last year the CIA asked the U.S. Congress for $15 million for covert ops against Iraq and named the INC as the main beneficiary. Aziz Alyan, another spokesman for the INC, told UPI last year that although his group does not receive any money from the CIA , he could not vouch for individual members and organizations affiliated to the Congress. Another Iraqi opposition figure said Tuesday, "it is common knowledge among Iraqi dissidents that the Accord is directly financed by the CIA." In a related develop ment Tuesday, an Iraqi opposition group said it detonated a bomb that extensively damaged the regional governorate offices in the southern province of Nassiriyah.

On 22 July, after two days of official but unpublicized talks with prime minister Tansu Ciller and foreign minister Erdal Inonu, CIA director John Deutch left Turkey. The topic of discussion was Turkey's Kurdish problem and the fighting between rival Iraq i Kurdish groups in northern Iraq. This clearly means Deutch and the CIA were organizing the secret Kurd meeting which took place recently in Ireland. [Intelligence - a computerized intelligence newsletter published in France 8/28/95 63]

Meetings between Iraqi and Irani intel to coordinate ops against Kurds by encouraging infighting between two major Kurd parties - Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of Jamal Talbani and Democratic Party of Kurdistan (DPK) of Barzani. Ops of major importa nce as enclave a staging ground for U.S. intel ops in northwest. Baghdad and Tehran backing Barzani because they consider rival, Talbani who lives in Damascus an agent of CIA and Turkish intel services. [Intelligence Newsletter 5/26/94 5,6]

Major-general Wafiq al Samra'i, former chief of Iraqi military intel said that Iraqi army is restive, but that Iraq is volatile. He is now at Salahuddin in the Kurdish-controlled zone and defected to the Iraqi National Congress [Reuters 12/2/94]

"Desperate Kurds consider turning once more to Saddam." Bankrupted by Saddam and shortchanged by West, Kurds so financially strapped, their leaders talking of renewing negotiations with Saddam. This would be a major setback for Clinton Adm. Massoud Barza ni, leader of Kurdish Democratic Party said economic crisis cannot continue. [Washington post 6/23/93 a13]

U.S.-backed group obscure in Iraq. The Iraqi National Congress (INC). Members met by Christopher, VP Gore, and NSC adviser Lake in April. Group dismissed as irrelevant as paid agents of West and Arab intel agencies. Group has radio broadcasts from London and Iraqi Kurdistan. Other exiled organization radios based in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Aziz Ailyan, is a member of INC's executive council. Group financed by CIA. Kurdish element of INC led by Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzai. [Washington Post 6/23/93 a13]

Clinton Adm. embrace of main Iraqi opposition group, Iraqi National Congress (INC), has helped org. gain recognition from Saudi Arabia and some other Arab nations. Some say gains more symbolic than real. Group claims of legitimacy greeted by derision. Ma in source of support is Kurdish opposition in north. Egypt and Kuwait support lacking. INC claims to represent 200 fractious, impotent dissident groups. A radio station in Saudi Arabia. [Muhammad bahr ulum, leader of INC delegation in DC. [Washington Po st 6/21/93 a10]

In early April CIA 11-man paramilitary team dropped into N. Iraq to stimulate Kurdish revolt but determined revolt would fail. [Perry, M. (1992). Eclipse: The last days of the CIA 398-9]

Iraqi opposition groups recently gathered in Vienna to plot overthrow of Saddam. Iraqi National Congress elected a 17-member national assembly and a 17-member executive committee and agreed on 5-point program for taking over. Meeting came after Kurds in N. Iraq conducted an election. [Washington Times 7/3/92 f4]

Iraqi opposition picks leaders. Leaders are: Kurdish guerrilla leader Massoud Barzani, moderate Shiite clergyman Muhammad Bahr Ulum and retired general Hasan Naqib. There is also a 25-member executive committee. [Washington Post 11/1/92 a35]

Massoud Barzani, Kurd leader, in DC for discussion with Secretary of State Baker. "Nebulous, long-divided Iraqi opposition beginning to coalesce. Meetings that Barzani, his fellow Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani and representatives from Iraq's Sunni and Sh iite communities held with Baker as united delegation helped accelerate that process."

Until now Bush Adm. has banked on a palace coup to topple Saddam. But the group encouraged to establish a national leadership office in the Kurdish area now under protection of U.S. forces. Scowcroft said the Adm. will examine two other steps: providing increased protection for Kurdish safe haven and turning frozen Iraqi assets over to the opposition's leadership.

Group had session with Saudi Arabia's Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi opposition to Kurdish-based Iraqi opposition important in U.S. policy. Bandar stunned Iraqis by voicing support for their plans. [op-ed by Jim Hoagland. Washington Post 8/4/92 a19]

Iraqi opposition meets in Kurdistan to prepare for post-Saddam state. U.S. planes fly overhead to enforce UN. ban on Iraqi military flights over n Iraq. exiles to elect 174-member general assembly. conference hosted by Massoud Barzani. problems between factions. [Washington post 10/28/92 a21

Secretary of State Baker meets Iraqi opposition. Baker met for 2 hours with six-member delegation representing Kurds, who live primarily in n. Iraq, and Shiite and Muslim communities. group seeking support and recognition. most prominent members were J alal Talabani, secretary general of the patriotic union of Kurdistan, and Massoud Barzani, president of Kurdistan democratic party. before meeting two met with editors and reporters of the Washington post. baker statement noted Iraqi opposition groups had formed a united front 6/22/92. [Washington Post 7/30/92 a20]

Saudi govt. pressing bush to organize a large-scale CIA project to topple Saddam. Saudi Arabia seeks an allied effort to supply arms and intel to Kurdish rebels in n. Iraq, Shiite Muslim fighters in the south and Sunni Muslim forces in central Iraq. whe n intel reports indicated growing disaffection with Saddam among Iran's ruling class, the white house began preparing for more aggressive action. NYT 1/19/92 a1,10. defense secretary Chenney insists Saddam's days are numbered. [Washington Times 1/20/9 2 a3]

Iraqi Shiite opposition leader Mohammed Barq Hakim said he invited leading dissidents to Damascus to discuss ways to oust Saddam. Kurdish leader, Jalal Talabani, called for overthrow of Saddam. more than 60 Iraqi opposition groups seek Saddam's fall. S audi Arabia had suggested formation of a provisional govt. in Riyadh. [Washington Post 12/24/91 a9]

Election in N. Iraq on 5/12/92 by Kurds. NED funding allowed Iraq foundation to sponsor visit of team of Americans to witness elections. National Endowment for Democracy (NED) annual report 1992 30

Kurds to suspend negotiations with Saddam and hold elections. Kurdistan Front said elections between Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani to take place April 3 as well as election for Kurdish national assembly. front is a group of 8 Kurdish parties. [Wash ington Post 1/16/92]

Misuse of the Kurds during op desert storm. Bush Adm., which had been funneling covert credits to Saddam in pursuit of a divide-and-rule strategy vis-ą-vis Iran when it knew Saddam was applying economic and military sinew thus acquired to a genocidal fi nal offensive in Kurdistan, and which later used the Kurds as a bait to lure congress into war - and then energetically called upon the Kurds to revolt. Kurds, having served their purpose, are on their own, their election unrecognized and their agoniz ing history viewed with official contempt. [The Nation 7/27/92 79]

"Crisis may lead to covert war." Eruption of a covert war of spies, provocateurs, terrorists and assassins is increasingly likely. Setting more likely be streets of Europe. foot soldiers likely to be Palestinians and Israelis as Iraqis and Americans. Advantage may lie with Saddam. Using large intel number cadres of Iraqi General Intel Agency could foment demonstrations against U.S. involvement in Gulf crisis. May attempt assassinations. Israeli intel sources said there is evidence Palestinian grou ps possibly making preparations for terrorist attacks Europe. Israel has long history of effective c.a. against Iraq: bombing raid in 81 against Iraq's nuclear reactor; inducing Iraqi pilot defect with a MiG jet and smuggling thousands of Jews out of t he country in 50s. Israeli secret service, or Mossad, also widely believed responsible for assassinations of Iraqi scientists involved in weapons research. Israel for decade helped Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq fight central govt. beginning in May 6 1

Israel maintained permanent delegation of advisers to Kurds inside Iraq and supplied Kurdish rebels with weapons, etc. Israeli techs built clandestine radio stations for Kurds funded by CIA, which also backed Kurds in 72 U.S. and Israeli assistance to Kurds suspended in 75 when Iran repaired relations with Iraq. Kurds then crushed. Kurdish option remains. U.S. may avoid using Israeli intel in Iraq. [Washington Post 9/13/90 a33, 37]

Saudi Arabia preparing fund covert ops in Iraq by CIA and other western intel agencies. conduit for money will be Saudi ambassador Bandar bin sultan. following Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, pres bush signed a national security directive OK'ing covert ops t o overthrow Saddam Hussein. because CIA faces significant budget cuts in next fiscal year, outside funding necessary. one covert scheme under consideration is to send money and supplies over turkey's mountainous border to the Kurds. Saudis contributed about $32 million to aid contras. in 61-69 a coalition of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel collaborated to fund and supply an op by British special forces in Yemen. Saudis wanted to destroy radical Egyptian influence on their borders. [Newsweek 9/10/ 90 6]

"Kurds contend U.S. encouraged rebellion via `Voice of Free Iraq.'" Kurds contend voice of free Iraq sponsored by CIA and owes moral obligation to rebels who rose up. U.S. officials decline to confirm or deny U.S. involvement. [Washington Post 4/9/91 a 17]

Organizations supported by NED in 1992 include: Iran - Iran teachers association, its publication "Mehregan;" Iraq -- free Iraq foundation, organization of human rights in Iraq (re Kurds); turkey -- American turkey foundation, forum corporation; region al -- change in the middle east, Dar al Saqi publishing house. multi-regional -- book, "private solutions to public forums," "economic reform today" journal, and, Interco Press. [National Endowment for Democracy Annual Report 1992 79-82]

Iraq's fractious exiled opposition - encouraged by Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia is trying to unite on a political platform that would be acceptable to many Iraqis if Saddam overthrown. Mohammed Mohammed Ali, a London-based official of Iraq's most pre stigious Muslim fundamentalist movement led by Sayid Bakr Hakim, said planned conference to unite all Iraqi political groups. Others mentioned: Taleb Shabeeb, a former ambassador who lives in New York; Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani; Massaud Barzani ano ther Kurdish leader; and, London-based Hani Fekaiki. [Washington Post 1/7/92 a8]

United States: no comment on charges CIA urged Kurdish revolt. U.S. govt. declined comment on charges by Kurds in DC. and London that the CIA urged Iraq's Kurds to revolt via Saudi radio broadcasts. State Dept. spokesman refused comment in NYT article of 4/6/91 that expatriate Kurds were recruited by Saudi intel to record broadcasts for "Radio of Free Iraq" which they believe supported by CIA.

Allegations repeated in DC. At press conference of Kurdish National Congress. KNC reps charged that the CIA tried to recruit hundreds of Kurdish guerrillas (Pesh Mergas) who had taken refuge in Turkey after the Iraqi 88 campaign against an Iran-bac ked Kurdish rebellion. Bush did sign at least two presidential findings since August 90 authorizing covert action against Hussein including psychological ops. [Inter Press Service International News 4/8/91]

Iraq has quietly expelled a senior American diplomat, Hayward Rankin, head of the U.S. political section in the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Info suggests he was in contact with the Kurds and this led to his being expelled. [Washington Post 11/17/88 a33]

After supporting Kurds with Shah against Iraq. in 75 Shah made deal with Iraq and ordered Iranian army cut supplies to Kurds. Close to 700,000 Kurds killed or displaced. earlier in Jordanian-CIA op in 70 Liberation war of Dhofari people in Oman set back by Shah's troops backed by U.S. fleet. etc. [Counterspy 4/82 30]

Savak began supporting the Kurds' Red Mullah, Barzani in 68. By 1970 he received support from the U.S. and Mossad. A tripartite committee of Savak, CIA and Mossad, organized the channeling of arms to the Kurds and exercised overall political control. [Taheri, A. (1988). Nest of Spies 60]

U.S. supplied arms to Kurds until 3/6/75 when Iran reached agreement with Iraq and all aid canceled. Kurds attacked. [Peterzell, J. (1984). Reagan's Secret Wars footnote 7]

All too often the CIA has recruited `freedom fighters' around the world and then let them fend for themselves when things got tough: Hungarians in 56, Sumatran's in 58, Cuban exiles in 61, Kurdish rebels in 72, Meo tribesmen and Montagnards; most recently the Nicaraguan contras. [WP 7/20/89 outlook 15]

United States had organized a Kurdish insurrection against Saddam Hussein as a favor by President Nixon to the Shah of Iran, only to abandon the Kurds to destruction when the Iranian and Iraqi leaders settled their border dispute. Account appears in th e leaked version of the House of Representatives Pike Committee report of 1976. [Washington Post 4/7/91 d3]

"Our movement and people are being destroyed in an unbelievable way, with silence from everyone. We feel, your Excellency, that the United States has a moral and political responsibility towards our people, who have committed themselves to your country' s policy." written by Mustafa Barazini, to Secretary of State Kissinger on 3/10/75. Letter could have been written to Bush by Massoud Barazani, leader of the devastated Kurds in 91 article 1975: background to betrayal; How Kissinger, Nixon and the S hah rallied--then shrugged off--an uprising. [Washington Post 4/7/91 d3] .