NSC ACTION ON IRAQ

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00268R000800080078-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2013
• Sequence Number: 78
• Publication Date: March 5, 1959
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/08/21 : CIA-RDP86T00268R000800080078-3
5 March 1959
MEMORANDUM FOR: DDI
SUBJECT NSC Action on Iraq
You will recall that when Gordon Gray raised the subject of
Iraq some time ago and got it to the MSC, Planning Board was directed
to keep Iraq policy under continuing review. First State argued
that we should visit till Jernigan had sent in his initial reports.
Then State argued that the present paragraphs in 5820 cover the
contingencies so that there was no need for a policy review. At
that time we were unable to state unequivocally that the trend in
Iraq was toward Communism rather than independent nationalism.
It seem to me that the evidence of the past month permits
118 to be a great deal more conclusive on the above question. Our
recent SNIE (36.2-59 of 17 February 1959) concludes that we doubt
KassiWUtility to stem the movement toward a Communist takeover of
his regime, and we believe that his area for maneuver is shrinking
rapidly." We now have the report of removal of two division com-
mandere and most recently the appointment of Mahdawi as Minister
of Interior, which OCI says would be the strongest indication to date
that Kassim is increasingly subject to Communist influence.
I realise that we and State may already have things afoot re
Iraq about which I know nothing. If this is not the case, shouldn't
we raise Iraq again at the Planning Board, perhaps in the form of
getting the Director to make a summary of the present trend in his
next NSC briefing, thus permitting you to raise the subject at the
Planning Board pre-briefing and to ask for further Planning Board
consideration of the policy issue. I am fearful that with our oyes
glued on Berlin we may let this slide beyond the point of no return.
Incidentally Janes O'Donnell's glossy article on Kuwait in 1
current Saturday Evening Post ends up with a ringing advocacy of the
ac odation with Nasser case which we argued at Planning Board.
S.
R. W. KOMER
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/08/21 : CIA-RDP86T00268R000800080078-3