StormWarning’s Counterterrorism

With the release of papers of former DCI Richard Helms, we learn that before the 1973 Yom Kippur War (and after the Munich Massacre), Henry Kissinger instructed the CIA to maintain contact with Arafat, even after the kidnapping and murder of the U.S. Ambassador and his deputy in Khartoum, Sudan.

The released documents cover the period of 1973-1976 when Helms was the U.S. Ambassador to Iran (following his six year stint as Director of the CIA) and show:

● an Egyptian effort to have the U.S. through Iranian channels plead with Israel to withdraw to 1967 boundaries

● a proposal by the Shah of Iran for Egypt to limit their actions to an artillary barrage on Israeli positions in the Suez rather than an invasion

In a telegram Helms sent Kissinger - then Richard Nixon’s National Security Advisor - on July 5, 1973, Helms reported that King Hussein of Jordan told him that Jordanian intelligence had learned of a Syrian attack to recapture the Golan Heights originally planned for June, that had been delayed but could take place at any time soon. One of the Jordanian intelligence sources was the commander of a Syrian armored brigade, and the Jordanians had obtained a copy of the battle plans, which had been coordinated with Egypt and Iraq.

Additionally, Ali Hassan Salameh who was head of the Fatah security apparatus and commander of the Black September group, apparently met with Robert Ames of the CIA, knowing of Salameh’s involvement on the Sudan assassinations. Salameh asked about Nixon Administration intentions toward the PLO, and told Ames that they were planning to remove Jordanian King Hussein and establish a Palestinian homeland in Jordan. The Nixon government response was that it would assist in negotiations but not support the toppling of existing governments. Arafat also threatened Lebanon, apparently claiming that he would burn Beirut to the ground if Lebanon acted against the Palestinians.

Not negotiate with terrorists? But no one can know how the World would have evolved if…

Black September, Egypt, Fatah, Kissinger, Lebanon, Nixon, Richard Helms, Yom Kippur War

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As I have before, I find myself in a sort of political “nowhere land” largely because despite what I believe in my heart, I also have a deep-seated distain for the type of personal attack politics that now pervades our society. On many issues, including the War in Iraq, I am strongly Republican (even though I feel that policy, strategy and tactical mistakes have been made). Yet when I voice my pro-choice belief, I am immediately challenged and branded a “librul.” It is clear that one is not afforded the opportunity (or privilege) of walking that thin-line in the American Middle.

There is nothing in either Democratic Party candidate that could prompt me to vote for them. Frankly, I am glad that John McCain, regardless of his flaws (aren’t we all flawed afterall?), is the candidate for the Republican Party (I am equally thrilled that a social, or “values” conservative is not the party’s nominee).

At the same time, it is impossible to maintain my views in World and National Affairs, focused on security both home and abroad, and not be appalled by this video compilation in which the Democratic Party leaders ask for what amounts to be a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq.

The road to democracy, our continuing quest to perfect an already perfect Union, remains a challenge each day. If not motivated solely by partisan politics, but in fact, driven by strongly held beliefs, these Democratics leaders are entitled to their opinions.

The reality is as former Secretary of State Powell noted…”we broke it, we need to fix it” (or something close to that). Leaving Iraq and abandoning the Middle East…in fact, abandoning the “fix the Middle East” strategy of the Bush Administration can only lead to the emboldening of those people who our State Department and Department of Homeland Security refuse to call what they are, Isalamic Fundamentalist Jihadists, exactly the opportunity they plan…a World power without the resolve to see through to the end an effort, regardless how flawed, poorly planned and implemented, or even falsely justified…and with that, the Long War of the Global War on Terrorism will be both longer, and more difficult to win.

Prevail we must…for the sake of our democracy, we must. And we will. Despite the character assassination, the inuendo, the gossip, the lies and falsehoods, the “swift boating” and all of the rest of the dirty, Internet inspired politics…we will emerge the day after this coming election day with a President who will have won the most Electoral votes, and as envisioned by our Founding Fathers, power will transfer, and the Nation shall prevail. In what state the World will be on that day, is a completely different question.

democracy, librul, McCain

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To me, this is comical. Saddam Hussein feared contracting HIV or an STD from guards in the prison he was kept prior to his hanging. Other insights into how this madman thought were revealed in his diaries, being reported today.

Among the revelations of from the Al-Hayat newspaper was that he feared catching “young people’s diseases” because the soldiers were hanging their clothes out to dry on the same clothes line with his.

Of course, the diaries (not available in their entirety yet, I don’t think), also offer insight into this madman’s thinking.

“I explained to them that they are young and they could have young people’s diseases,” Saddam wrote. “My main concern was to not catch a venereal disease, an HIV disease, in this place.”

[:]

“The spread of the Persians… is more dangerous for Iraq than the Zionist entity, now and in the future,” he wrote. “The Persians are similarly dangerous to the Arab nation, especially the Arab countries of the Gulf.”

More is included in another article:

I joked with him saying… may Allah will enable me to get married and have children again, to name two of them Uday and Qusay, and the third Mustapha,” wrote Saddam, who was reportedly married four times.

This is a link to the translated page(s) of Al-Hayat. Here is one of his poems.

I suspect that I remain in the minority on this one. But Hussein was so delusional that I believe that either his WMDs had been shipped out of Iraq and sent to Syria (or Yemen), or maybe more likely, Saddam had been duped by his scientists into believing that Iraq still maintained a stockpile of WMDs, their motivation being the continuation of their budgets and good life styles afforded by doing phantom research.

al Hayat, diaries, Hussein, WMDs

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In what can only be seen as a step toward instability, Syrian backed Lebanese president Emile Lahoud, whose term ended at midnight, passed control of the security services over to the army, declaring a state of emergency.

The US-backed government of Fouad Siniora rejected the declaration. “It is as if the statement was never issued,” said Siniora. The constitution says a president cannot call a state of emergency without government approval, but Lahoud and the Hizbullah-led opposition view the cabinet as unconstitutional following the walk out of its Shia ministers last year.

So, the military is dispersed around the country, there is no political leadership, and the new election has been postponed until at least next Friday.  While this move appears to not surprise a number of Lebanese, it is unclear as to what the army’s role will be…it could move toward greater control in managing the affairs of state or things could remain status quo.  As the outgoing President, Lahoud’s authority in declaring this state of emergency has also been questioned.

State department spokesman Sean McCormack said: “This is the procedure stipulated by the Lebanese constitution and will ensure that the government is able to continue conducting its business without interruption.

“The US government commends Lebanon’s armed forces and security services for their stated commitment to ensuring law and order during this interim period, and we urge all Lebanese political groups to do their part to maintain calm and promote security for Lebanon’s citizens.”

However, the legality of such a declaration of a state of emergency is not legal or constitutional…Lebanon slides into constituional crisis as president ends term without successor.

This situation bears watching, and likely updates throughout the weekend.  See Real Clear Politics (vote)  Well, you can if you wish, but certainly you should read Laer’s post at Cheat Seeking Missiles, Lebanon’s Dreams Slipping Away on the same topic.  As he points out, neither Siniora nor Lahoud have much legitimacy.

Lahoud, Lebanon, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora

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