Telegraph: Russia Helped Saddam Spy on Blair

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/04/13/wrus13.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/04/13/ixportaltop.html ^

[Cathryn Crawford]

Top secret documents obtained by The Telegraph in Baghdad show that Russia provided Saddam Hussein's regime with wide-ranging assistance in the months leading up to the war, including intelligence on private conversations between Tony Blair and other Western leaders.

Moscow also provided Saddam with lists of assassins available for "hits" in the West and details of arms deals to neighbouring countries. The two countries also signed agreements to share intelligence, help each other to "obtain" visas for agents to go to other countries and to exchange information on the activities of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qa'eda leader.

The documents detailing the extent of the links between Russia and Saddam were obtained from the heavily bombed headquarters of the Iraqi intelligence service in Baghdad yesterday.

[EternalVigilance]

Moscow also provided Saddam with lists of assassins available for "hits" in the West and details of arms deals to neighbouring countries.

If this is true, these are warlike acts.

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[Senator Goldwater]

Indeed they are.

We'd better secure all of the documentation that is available at this Intel Center in Baghdad.

There's some serious diplomatic comeuppance to spead around.

[Happy2BMe]

This is worse than series - this is a KNOTMARE!

SHUT that door - are you SPYING on Me!?

US Congress: Russia will be barred from Iraq restoration

Soviet Spymaster Kalugin on Bush, CIA Complacency, and Enemies of America

US Congress: Russia will be barred from Iraq restoration

[alameda]

"The documents detailing the extent of the links between Russia and Saddam were obtained from the heavily bombed headquarters of the Iraqi
intelligence service in Baghdad yesterday."

This is BIG!!! IMHO I would like to have more confirmation.

[wonders]

Fusion, I thought you and "Mr. D" might find this of passing interest.

[Cathryn Crawford]

But, really, are we all that surprised?

Putin had it made with Bush. He had Bush convinced that he would be the greatest friend, that the US and Russia could have a new, close partnership - but that all faded away when the choice came between an older, closer partnership with the oil-rich nation of Iraq - or the new, only hours-old friendship with the US.

Notice which one got left behind.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Certainly portends interesting times in our relations with the axis of weasels . . .

[Happy2BMe]

"We'd better secure all of the documentation that is available at this Intel Center in Baghdad."

Unfortunately, I fear you are correct on that.

I'm afraid our biggest blunder will be NOT securing the reams and reams of damning source documentation, hard drives, photographs, films, CDs, tapes, and other data clearly connecting Russia and other countries to the bowels of Saddam's ongoing reign of terror.

Why isn't anyone questioning the tactics of the Russian "embassy" staff who prolonged their stay in Baghadad up until the very last second?

Also, it has now been discovered that huge vaults in the basements of the Secret Police were "professionally blown" just within the past few days.

I smell a RAT - a HUGH, HUGH STANKIN' RAT!

[KriegerGeist]

"Moscow also provided Saddam with lists of assassins available for "hits" in the West and details of arms deals to neighbouring countries."

"If this is true, these are warlike acts."

Warlike is an understatement. Wasn't WW1 started over an assassination? These guy were probably targeting Bush and Blair. WOW! would this ever change G.W.B.'s "new tone". I would dread us mixing it up with Russia.

This sure would put a different opinion of Putin in President Bush's mind. Blair must be furious.

Putin: You can take the man from the KGB/GRU but you can never remove the KGB/GRU from the man.

[RippleFire]

bump

[formercalifornian]

I assumed that Russia had improper dealings with Iraq.
I did not expect this. The Telegraph is usually
reliable, but it would be good to have some confirmation
from another source.

[Cathryn Crawford]

That will, I hope, be forthcoming.

[may18]

Iraq and russia always have had extremely close ties. It doesnt surprise me at all.

[Steve Eisenberg]

I assumed that Russia had improper dealings with Iraq. I did not expect this. The Telegraph is usually reliable, but it would be good to have some confirmation from another source.

Agreed. Competitive presure among London newspapers to have striking Sunday morning headlines is fierce, and, as a result, we typically see several London newspaper stories becoming FR threads every Saturday night. (This story is actually dated tomorrow.)

Aren't almost all the US forces in Baghdad American? And wouldn't they be more likely to pass stuff on to American media? On the other hand, the Telegraph is not a trash paper.

[Theresa]

"This is BIG!!! IMHO I would like to have more confirmation."

I don't believe a 10th of it. Nothing will come of it.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Exactly. However, the Telegraph is not a rag, by any means.

So, we shall wait and see, and while we do, we shall discuss the possibiities.

[MEG33]

Treachery .Is this the old Soviet government all prettied up? I already knew Putin wasn't going for a ride in Bush's pickup again but this is stunning.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Yes, we Texans don't particulary like being stabbed square in the back, so I'd advise Putin not to show his face around here for awhile.

Actually, we never really liked him being around here in the first place.