CIA EVALUATION OF SADDAM WAS BASED ON 'COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-01448R000401660061-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 61
• Publication Date: May 17, 1991
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23 :CIA-RDP99-014488000401660061-5
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CIA Evaluation of Saddam Was Based on ~Camunity Assessment'
NEW YORK (AP) -CIA chief William Webster says the agency was
late in evaluatin Saddarn_Hussei.n's intention toward Kuwait.
But in an interview to be published Sunday in parade magazine,
Webster disagreed with Senate Intelligence CaTmittee Chairman David
Boren's assessment that the agency was still involved in fighting
the Cold war and lacks ~~sufficient Arabic specialists,
linguists. "
Webster, who announced last week his decision to leave the
agency, said an assessment was made 10 months before the invasion
that Iraq was too exhausted after its eight-year war with Iran to
start any new battles.
He said that opinion came not only from the CIA but from the
Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, allies in Western Europe,
Israel's CIA equivalent the Mossad and intelligence agencies of
friendly Islamic nations ~~which are not lacking in Arabic
linguists. "
Webster said the main problem was that ~~Iraq was a total
dictatorship - no dissent tolerated. It is very difficult to get
into one man's head, to know what he's going to do until he knows
it . "
Webster took over as director of the Oentral Intelligence Agency
four years ago and was charged with restoring morale to the agency.
tarnished by the Iran-Contra affair under predecessor William
Casey.
Though still concerned about the image of the agency, Webster
said he announced his departure plans at this time ~~because we're
on high ground. General (Norman) Schwarzkopf said it was the best
informe3 war we ever fought. we're well-positioned for the 90s. "
He denied he was leaving as a result of criticisms or pressures
the job carries. ~~If I thought that we were under fire, I'd be
here at my desk until doa~nsday. "
'~ ~
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23 :CIA-RDP99-014488000401660061-5