CIA in Iraq: report
From correspondents in Beirut
30jun02

DOZENS of US troops and intelligence services have been sent into northern
Iraq from Jordan under a plan to overthrow President Saddam Hussein, the
Lebanese newspaper As-Safir reported overnight.

In a front-page story datelined London, the daily quoted "well informed
diplomatic sources" as saying Washington "has launched a security and
military operation in Iraq".
Central Intelligence Agency chief George Tenet had "personally visited
northern Iraq during his last tour of the region and had given orders to
start the security plan after US President George W Bush (recently)
approved a decision to ask the CIA to overthrow ... Saddam," the source
said.

The Lebanese daily, which maintains close relations with the Syrian
leadership, said forward bases for US troops had been set up in Jordan.

"Jordanian King Abdullah has given orders to clear two military airports in
Jordan for the US forces. About 2,000 US troops have been deployed in
Jordan so far," it said.

"Dozens of those US soldiers, along with CIA agents, have been sent into
Iraqi territory," it said.

The sources said the US had started a "flurry of contacts with various
forces among the Iraqi opposition, and there are great difficulties in
forming a coalition similar to the 'Northern Alliance' in Afghanistan".

"Intensive contacts are being held with both the Kurdish and Shi'ite
opposition in order to establish springboards for potential operations,"
they said.

The sources added that Washington had first approached Saudi Arabia,
which "refused to let its territory be used for any military attack against
Iraq".

"It seems that discussions moved to other countries in order to reach an
agreement on the possibility of using their territory in case it is
needed," they said.

"The United States has drawn a plan for an emergency economic assistance to
Jordan in case its economic and trade relations with Iraq suffer a crisis,"
they added.




          © Herald and Weekly Times

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