The problem with revealing US intel on Iraq

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by GePap
1. America has an intelligence outfit for a reason. INtel is there to be of use, and in this case, it would be of great use (if it actually exists) in the political arena.

Would it be of use. Your own post indicates it would not - if we have evidence iraq has WMD, the response will be so what - deterrence/containment works. Yes there are times when one must sacrifice agents to use intell - but there should , I think, be some evidence of real benefit. In this case all the evidence seems to be it will be of no benefit - it wont change any minds.

Re: still getting agents after Sov mechanic died. He died due do an unauthorized leak - thats bad(as were agents compromised by moles), but hardly the same as the Sec of state publicly putting out stuff that leaves agents out to die.

And i must agree with those who say that intell is generally for internal govt use, not for PR.

[Panag]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


Would it be of use. Your own post indicates it would not - if we have evidence iraq has WMD, the response will be so what - deterrence/containment works. Yes there are times when one must sacrifice agents to use intell - but there should , I think, be some evidence of real benefit. In this case all the evidence seems to be it will be of no benefit - it wont change any minds.

Re: still getting agents after Sov mechanic died. He died due do an unauthorized leak - thats bad(as were agents compromised by moles), but hardly the same as the Sec of state publicly putting out stuff that leaves agents out to die.

And i must agree with those who say that intell is generally for internal govt use, not for PR.

hi ,

there are loads of evidence , .....

dont forget HUMAN intel , they shall not reveal anything that could lead to the people or could bring anyone in danger , ...... (!)

have a nice day

[Sirotnikov]

UK: U.N. is victim of Iraqi spies

Tuesday, February 4, 2003 Posted: 1208 GMT

LONDON, England (CNN) -- U.N. arms inspectors are subject to "intimidation and psychological pressure" by the Iraqi secret service, a British report says.

The team of UNMOVIC, currently searching for any weapons of mass destruction, is constantly watched and even threatened by the Al-Mukhabarat, the British Information Service in the United States says.

The service, tied to the British Embassy, says that inspectors are investigated by Iraqi authorities even before they enter the country and then subject to 24-hour surveillance.

Being outnumbered by 200 to one, the 108 U.N. inspectors find little escape from bugged rooms, secret cameras and monitored telephone calls, the report adds.

Iraqi intelligence officers are engaged in disrupting the inspectors work but also in concealing weapons using sophisticated radar systems.

"Iraq has deliberately hampered the work of the weapons inspectors," the report says.

It adds: "The Iraqi security organisations work together to conceal documents, equipment, and materials."

In addition to the Ground Penetrating Radar, Iraqi intelligence hides documents in private homes of low-level officials, universities, rural areas, beneath hospitals and mosques.

Surveillance equipment listens in on conversations and telephone calls, while hidden video cameras monitor meetings. When inspectors get into their cars they are usually driven by a member of the Al-Mukhabarat.

The journey is then watched by security officers stationed along the way and can be disrupted by organised car crashes if the inspectors suddenly change course towards a target the Iraqis wish to conceal.

"Escorts are trained, for example, to start long arguments with other Iraqi officials 'on behalf of UNMOVIC' while any incriminating evidence is hastily being hidden behind the scenes," the report says.

The job is made more difficult by the material being moved all the time, the report adds. And by Iraqi scientists being intimidated in to not speaking to inspectors.

"So the Iraqis disrupt their work and daily lives by staging demonstrations wherever they go and having stooges make threatening approaches to inspectors -- such as the Iraqis who recently tried to enter the inspectors' compound armed with knives or climbed into U.N. vehicles which were going out on an inspection. The whole effect is one of intimidation and psychological pressure," the report says.

U.N. teams began their first searches of the new year amid objections from Iraq to planned aerial inspections of suspected weapons sites. U.N. intelligence sources told CNN that helicopter surveys of Iraqi sites may have been delayed Wednesday for "technical reasons."

But the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said the matter had been the topic of discussion in a meeting between U.N. and Iraqi officials.

[Kramerman]

Colin Powell is supposed to be arguing for war in front of the UN tomorrow, and to support his arguement he will be presenting much evidence, including radio intercepts of Iraqi officials talking about hiding stuff and Al Quida movements into Iraq after Afghanistan, among other things, such as testimonials by defected Iraqi officials. It is very, very rare for US radio intercepts to be released, last time was in the early 80s (83 i believe?) when they displayed radio intercepts of Soviet officials after they shot down a korean airliner. This evidence, and how Powell presents it tomorrow shall be interesting...

Kman