CONGRESSIONAL STAFF BRIEFING REQUEST ON IRAQI TERRORISM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00135R000601040046-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 19, 2008
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: February 18, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/05/19: CIA-RDP91 B001 35R000601040046-2
Central Intelligence Agency
Office of the Deputy Director for Intelligence
23 February 1983
Dick Kerr has recommended that
Bob Ames and do this briefing.
I have discussed it with and
know he has been in touc wit SA
Iraqis, while we were waiting to hear
from the DDI Front Office. Briefing
would be at Headquarters. Please
pass the word.
DDI/Congressional Support
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/05/19: CIA-RDP91 B001 35R000601040046-2
 Approved For Release 2008/05/19: CIA-RDP91 B00135R000601040046-2
') tt,Kt I
18 February 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR: Dick Kerr, ADDI
DDI/Congressional Support
SUBJECT Congressional Staff Briefing Request on Iraqi
Terrorism
1. I need guidance on how to respond to a request from
Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffers (Mike Kraft and
others) for CIA's assessment of the current extent of Iraqi
support for international terrorist groups. This is a tricky
political issue because last year the State Dept. removed Iraq
from its list of terrorist-sponsoring nations with whom we would
have minimal relations. Now the US is extending $450 million. in
credits to Iraq--and making other efforts to improve bilateral
relations. The State Dept. should also be getting close to its
annual review of its terrorism list.
2.. From an intelligence standpoint, has 25X1
indicated it y!ould be impossible to represent Iraq as withdrawing
.from terrorisl~ activity. CIA's assessment of Iraq's involvement
was prepared for the State Dept. last November and one could
question whether Iraq qualifies to be off the list.
3. Dick says this same problem about briefing the Hill
occurred last year. Do you have any suggestions as to how we
should proceed? n the Senate probably will
keep this a relatively high profile issue, and the. SFR staffers
are likely to insist on a briefing.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2008/05/19: CIA-RDP91 B001 35R000601040046-2
 Approved For Release 2008/05/19: CIA-RDP91 B001 35R000601040046-2
Ily.lohn M. Goshko anti Ward Sinclair
W.uliinghn, e..stalaff 1t'ill.?is
't'he Iteagaii admiui.ltralion is extend-
ing credits to Iraq-torn by war with
Iran--for purchases of up to $450 million
in Anntricant alvictlltural cotlllllollities.
The II.S.-subsidized, low-interest sales,
the first of Iheir kind since Iraq broke
diplonmut.ic relations with the United
States after the 1967 Arah-Israeli war,
mark the latest step in an administration
campaign to cultivate closer commercial
and political ties with the radical Arab
slate.
The effort began a year ago, when the
administration removed Iraq from the list
of countries formally regarded as support-
ers of international terrorism. It stems
partly from the adlninistration's tendency
to regard Iraq as a potentially good nnr-
ket tier U.S. exports and partly from a
political and strategic desire to help Iraqi
President Saddain l itissein ward off
Iran's drive to overthrow his regime.
"All I .can say is that this is an impor-
tant economic and political development,"
.said Melvin V. Sims, associate adlninis-
orator of the Foreign Agricultural Service.
U.S. Offering Iiacj Credits
O11 Food Commodity Sales
"'t'his is the first time that we've extended
credit to them that I'm aware of."
Sims said that an Iraqi delegation,
which visited here in December, was
awarded $210 million in export credit.
guarantees by the Commodity Credit
Corp. and immediately spent $160 million
to buy wheat, rice and barley.
In addition, other U.S. sources 'Said,
the. Agriculture Department has a trade
team in Baghdad negotiating a deal for
additional credits that the sources esti-
mated will bring the total package to
what one called "a ballpark figure of
around $450 million." .
On Monday, Saddoun Ihnnmadi, the
former Iraqi foreign minister who recently
assumed the new positior of minister of
state, conferred here with Secretary of
State George P. Shultz. Administration
sources described the meeting as one of
several that Ilnmmndi has held with
American secretaries of state in recent
years. They insisted that it does not pres-
age any dramatic new changes in the still-
severed relations between the two coun-
tries.
However, there is no question that the
administration, despite fierce criticism
from Israel's supporters in Congress, has
been maneuvering to establish closer ties
with (rail.
The original impulse to take Iraq off
the terrorism list, an act that removed
several major trade barriers, came from
administration officials primarily inter-
ested in expanding the market for Amer-
ican exports to as many non-communist
countries as possible.
The United States officially is neutral
in the war that began when Iraq invaded
Iran in September, 1980. However, the
United States, despite poor relations with
both countries, also believes that in over-
throw of either existing regime could
throw the Persian Gulf region into tur-
moil and give the Soviet Union opportu-
nities to expand its influence in that vital
oil-producing region. Since Iran expelled
Iraqi forces and countered with its own
Massive invasion, U.S. policy has tilted
quietly toward the hope that Saddam
I lussein can check the Iranians so the war
will end in a stalemate.
Although a deal to sell Iraq six or more
L10U transport planes apparently has fal-
len through, the Iraqis did recently buy
60 U.S.-made helicopters, which congres-
sional critics charge can be used for mil-
itary purposes.
The administration defended dropping
Iraq from the terrorism list on the
grounds that it was easing its support of
terrorist groups. But it subsequently was
.embarrassed by revelations that Baghdad
had welcomed back Ahu Nidal, leader of
a Palestinian splinter group linked to sev-
eral terrorist actions, including the at-
tempted assassination last June .1 of the
Israeli ambassador in London.
Approved For Release 2008/05/19: CIA-RDP91 B001 35R000601040046-2