Posted on 03/30/2005 12:09:13 PM PST by gman992
Top Stories - AFP
1981 attack on pope planned by Soviets: report
Wed Mar 30, 9:40 AM ET Top Stories - AFP
ROME (AFP) - New documents found in the files of the former East German intelligence services confirm the 1981 assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II was ordered by the Soviet KGB and assigned to Bulgarian agents, an Italian daily said.
AFP/ANSA/File Photo
AP Photo Slideshow: Pope John Paul II
The Corriere della Sera said that the documents found by the German government indicated that the KGB ordered Bulgarian colleagues to carry out the killing, leaving the East German service known as the Stasi to coordinate the operation and cover up the traces afterwards.
Bulgaria then handed the execution of the plot to Turkish extremists, including Mehmet Ali Agca, who pulled the trigger.
The daily said the documents had been handed over to Bulgaria and would be made available to the Italian parliamentary commission inquiring into the activities of formerly Communist eastern European regimes in Italy.
The newspaper said the documents consist mostly of letters from Stasi operatives to their Bulgarian counterparts seeking help in covering up traces after the attack and denying Bulgarian involvement.
Ali Agca, who is now in jail in Turkey, claimed after his arrest that the operation was under the control of the Bulgarian embassy in Rome. The Bulgarians have always insisted they were innocent and argued that Agca's story was part of an anti-communist plot by the Italian secret service and the CIA.
The paper said the documents back up the pope's own memories of the assassination attempt in May 1981 in his book "Memory and Identity: Conversations Between Millenniums," in which he said he was convinced that the attack was not planned or directed by Ali Agca.
Maybe they can hire Michael Schiavo to pull his feeding tube?!?!
That's the whole plot behind Red Rabbit.
"Evil Empire" -- President Bush had it pegged.....
"Evil Empire" -- President Bush had it pegged.....
What good would killing the pope do?
This has been consistantly reported throughout the years, but what real goal would be served by eliminating the Pope? After all, it's not like there wouldn't be another Pope.
You meant Reagan right?
That would have been a good P.R. move by the Soviets. /sarcasm
But he wouldn't have been Polish, and able to provide the first blow against the Soviet Empire.
The Pope was giving prestige and attention to the Poles who were resisting Moscow. They would have preferred another Italian Pope.
Red Rabbit?? New Clancy book?
Yes, Reagan. Thanks....
Oh yeah. It's all coming back to me now.
Yeah, I read that one. Just couldn't remember the title, glad you posted it.
It's creepy how much Clancy books and real life run parallel sometimes. There was also one (can't remember the name - Clear and Present Danger maybe?) where a passenger jet was crashed into the Capital.
LQ
It came out two years ago. Where've you been?
Many people feel that the Pope had as much to do with bringing down the Soviet Union as anyone. This story would lend some credence to that point of view.
LOL apparently NOT in the book store.
The Hunt for Red October: A Soviet sub captain defects to America.
Patriot Games: Jack Ryan stops an IRA terrorist attack and becomes a target himself.
Cardinal of the Kremlin: A Soviet spy's cover is blown, and must be extracted.
Clear and Present Danger: Special Forces are sent to Columbia to fight the war on drugs.
The Sum of All Fears: A missing Israeli nuclear bomb is discovered by Islamic terrorists and blown up in America.
Without Remorse: John Clark takes revenge on gangbangers for murdering his girlfriend.
Debt of Honor: The U.S. fights a second war against Japan.
Executive Orders: After a rogue Japanese pilot crashes his airliner into the Capitol, Jack Ryan is the new President.
Rainbow Six: John Clark assembles an internatonal antiterror task force.
The Bear and the Dragon: China declares war against Russia.
Red Rabbit: The KGB plots to assassinate the Pope.
The Teeth of the Tiger: After a terrorist attack on soft targets in America, Jack Ryan's son and nephews hunt down the conspirators.
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