IRAQ/U.S.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP95B00890R000700190006-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 4, 2011
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: December 19, 1983
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/11/04: CIA-RDP95B00890R000700190006-8
CBS EVENING NE S
19 December 1953
ii'.AQ/U.S. RATHER: faking an unscheduled and unexpected visit to Iran
today, Donald Rumsfeld, the special Middle East envoy, he's the
highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Baghdad since Iraq broke
off relations during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. With Iraq's war
with Iran still going strong, U.S. officials are down-playing
the significance of Rumsfeld's visit. But, as we hear from David
Martin at the Pentagon, changes are in the wind.
Y.ARTIN: The U.S. is officially neutral in the war between Iran
and Iraq, and a State Department spokesman today rejected
suggestions that Rumsfeld's visit to Iraq represents a change.
JOHN HUGHES (State Dept. Spokesman): If you're asking, is there
a tilt in favor of Iraq, the answer to that is no.
MARTIN: But informed sources tell CBS News the U.S. already is
secretly exchansin intelligence information with Irac. The
. yasses Iraq information on Iranian troop dispositions, and
the Iraqis in turn eve the U.S. intelligence about military
egu_nment they receive from the Soviet Union tae U.S. gas also (G1-J(
opened the way for the sale of equipment like these helicopters
by removing Iraq from a State Department black list of nations
which support terrorism. Realistically, U.S. officials say, an
American tilt toward Iraq can do little more tha_n.stave off a
defeat by Iran. The Soviet Union, meanwhile,'seeas to be
attempting a tilt of its own. For the first tine in three
Iml-
ears the SoviQ Union is shipping weapons to !--an for use in
its war against Iraq. Last week, U.S. intelligence spotted. f/,v7
Soviet border into Iran. That will not turn the tide or attle,
but analysts say it is significant because until now Moscow has
openly sided with the Iraqis, shipping them several billion
dollars worth of military equipment each year. Some analysts
say Moscow may be buying itself protection against Iranian
terrorist attacks of the kind directed against the.U.S. and
France. Other analysts view the shipment as air attempt by Moscow
to patch up relations with the Iranian military in anticipation
of the day the Ayatollah Khomeini dies and a power struggle
breaks .out for control of Iran. David Martin, CBS News, the
Pentagon.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/11/04: CIA-RDP95B00890R000700190006-8