MIDDLE EAST BRIEF

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0000234642
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2008
• Case Number: F-1999-00204
• Publication Date: June 30, 1988

 (b)(1) (b)(3) StlRf' r_ _              yr PAGE  OQ1 TOT:              300'31?                                    JUN  88 APPROVED FOR RELEASE DATE: 09-Jul-2008 'St'C?R E~ BRIEF TO:   IMMEDIATE                    1EA BRIEF. SUBJECT: M!ODLE EAST BRIEF OCPAS MEA 88-152 FOR 30 JUNE  1988. FROM: ODI/O/CPAS.                                I..1 r e D (ZSZ -  I  KD CONTENTS                 q1t' ?` ? " 1.  IRAN-IRAQ: SITUATION REPORT 2.  IN BRIEF TEHRAN WILL RECEIVE A UN DE ELATION TO INVESTIGATE  ITS CLAIMS OF  IRAQI  CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE  IN THE FIGHTING; THE DELEGATION REPUBLICAN GUARD ANG ARMORED UNITS MA'  SOON BEGIN TRAINING FOR ['r Wx'71 k'" R" PAGE O0_ TOT: 3005.3 I Z JUN 138 USE OF CHEMICAL WFGPIJC  AND THAT IT MAY HAVE EVIDENCE FROM THE RECENT FIGHTING. IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSAYN PUBLICLY CRITICIZED THE US TUESDAY FOR PROVIDING IRAN WITH INTELLIGENCE ON IRAQI  PREPARATIONS TO RECAPTURE THE MAJNOON ISLANDS. HE CHARGED THAT SOME OF THIS INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPHY AND THAT THE PRESS, QUOTING US INTELLIGENCE SOURCES, PREDICTED THE ATTACK. THE GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED IRAQI PRESS IS ALSO ATTACKING THE US FOR HOLDING A MEETING WITH  IRAQI KURDISH REBEL LEADER JALAL TALABANI EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE  IRAQIS ARE DEPICTING THIS AS EVIDENCE OF A SHIFT IN US SUPPORT TO IRAN NOW THAT BAGHDAD ENJOYS THE MILITARY EDGE. F COMMENT: THE IRAQIS APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE MEETING WITH TALABANI  IS A WARNING NOT TO PRESS THEIR MILITARY ADVANTAGE TOO FAR. BACHOAD HAS LONG RESENTED WHAT IT BELIEVES WAS US SUPPORT FOR THE IRANIAN- AND ISRAELI-BACKED KURDISH REBELLION IN THE MID-1970S THAT FORCED IRAQ TO ACCEPT A BORDER AGREEMENT WITH  !RAN. SADDAM'S CRITICISM MAY ALSO BE  INTENDED IN PART TO FLAUNT A VICTORY ACHIEVED DESPITE IRAN'S ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE OF THE OFFENSIVE. F__~ 0 U T G- 0 I N G 6