Monthly Analysis:
March 2004

Compiled By: Ryan Mauro

tdcanalyst@optonline.net

 

           

Terrorist Threats


            During March, we saw the highest volume of terrorist “chatter” indicating possible terrorist attacks during the last week of March. We saw threats of general attacks in the USA against soft targets; bomb attacks against the Sydney Opera House in Australia (according to disappearing messages on the Internet); and bomb attacks (and possibly explosive-laden aircraft) against coastal refineries in Texas and Louisiana (also from vanishing messages). [1] CIA director George Tenet also warned Congress about “the growing” threat of WMD attacks from terrorists.

            He said that Al-Qaeda and other groups are still planning spectacular attacks in the US, and we are the #1 target. He mentioned that one of the immediate threats is their effort to produce anthrax bacteria, and that over two dozen terrorist groups are seeking WMD material. He mentioned the threat was growing due to a network of people with scientific knowledge selling their expertise to terrorists. Tenet also hinted that Iraq’s WMDs might be in Syria. WorldThreats.com is very surprised the major media did not notice this. This is what Tenet said:

            “We want to know whether we were right or wrong. We want to know what the dispositions of these programs were. We do need to understand whether there was any secondary proliferation, which would be of great concern to us.” [2]

            When Israel killed the Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, calls came for more cooperation between terrorist groups. We immediately saw the results of this, with Hezbollah artillery attacks, and rumors of discussions of cooperation between Hamas, Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades, Hezbollah and Iran in order to prepare a new terror offensive once the groups healed from the Israeli attacks. Interestingly, Al-Qaeda appeared to want to get in on the action, as the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades calls for Muslims to avenge the killing of Sheikh Yasin by attacking Israel, the US and our allies. [3] The group also issued a statement on March 15, 3 days after the Madrid bombings, saying that the next targets would be the US, Japan, Australia, the UK, Saudi Arabia or Italy. [4]

            We do not believe that the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades is a terrorist group per se, but rather a group attached to Al-Qaeda that plays a role in propaganda, public relations and possibly recruitment. It appears this is the name that Al-Qaeda’s spokespeople use in issuing statements, such as the threat released on March 11 saying that the next attack on the US was “90 percent ready” and would be called “The Winds of Black Death”. [5] Nonetheless, we still find their statements as proof of the alliance between Hamas and Al-Qaeda we have long suspected. Israeli intelligence has reported that the assassination of Sheikh Yassin has prompted the creation of a new strategy for Hamas, with the assistance of Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda. Instead of smaller, more constant suicide bombings, Hamas plans to use all its potential, by launching as many suicide bombings simultaneously in Israel as possible. They reportedly plan to use 800 suicide bombers all at once, knowing that even if many of them fail in their operations, the blow will still be big enough for the effect desired. [6]

            Drug trafficking is tightly connected to terrorist activities, and has often been used by outlaw regimes as a form of cultural and psychological warfare, as well as a form of intelligence gathering and moneymaking. I highly suggest reading “Red Cocaine” by Joseph D. Douglass Jr. The book clearly demonstrates the state sponsor role in this problem, and Iran is mentioned as having a role in it. It appears that Iran is accelerating its role or has always had an unseen role. It is clear Iran is involved in subversive activity in Iraq, and the Iraqi Interior Ministry says that large amounts of narcotics are coming in from Iran, and threatens to destroy the social fabric. [7]

            In March, we also saw the Pakistani offensive against terrorist forces, and the rumored surrounding of Ayman al-Zawahiri. Now the Pakistanis claim that the “high-value target” being attacked was a senior Al-Qaeda leader from Uzbekistan, who was wounded. Earlier it was claimed that the HVT was Zawahiri, and he was wounded. From these details, it appears likely that the wounded target could not be identified, and was assumed to be Zawahiri. We now know it is the Uzbek leader Tahir Yuldash. Once the main thrust of the offensive was over, a tape was released by Ayman al-Zawahiri calling for the overthrow of President Musharraf of Pakistan, saying “recent operations” by Pakistani forces showed that he was allied to the US. [8] It appears he was referencing the recent offensive, but there is a good chance this is an old tape, as Pakistani forces have launched such offensives over the past month or two.

            Briefly, the media also highlighted the release of an old interview of Ayman al-Zawahiri by Hamid Mir, where he claimed that Al-Qaeda had bought “smart briefcase bombs” (suitcase nukes) on the central Asian black market. When Mir said he didn’t believe they had the expertise for using them, Zawahiri laughed and said that for $30 million, you can easily get a disgruntled Soviet scientist. He continued to say that “they” (the black market people and scientists) contacted “them” (Al-Qaeda), and that he sent representatives to Moscow, Tashkent, and other central Asian cities to finish the deal. [9]

            We must also mention Al-Qaeda’s new recruitment drive in Europe. The new drive has allowed Al-Qaeda and its affiliates to double the amount of personnel on the continent. Due to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the shape of the network has changed. Some of the most critical training areas to the group has shifted to the Pakistani border, to the Ferghana Valley on the Chinese border, and to the camps in Iran that allow them to train several hundred terrorists at once. The main operational cells are now present, due to dispersion, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Chechnya, most of central Asia (especially Uzbekistan), Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. [10]

            New polls released also showed that the US, although overall doing better in world public opinion prior to the Iraq War, is still failing the war of ideas. Here is some of the statistics from the poll:

Percentage holding a favorable view of Osama Bin Laden: 65% in Pakistan

                                                                                                55% in Jordan

                                                                                                45% in Morocco

 

Percentage with an unfavorable view of Bush:                               57% in United Kingdom

                                                                                                60% in Russia

                                                                                                67% in Turkey and Pakistan

                                                                                                85% in France and Germany

                                                                                                90% in Morocco

                                                                                                96% in Jordan

 

Percentage feeling suicide bombings against Americans, and Westerners is justifiable:

                                                                                                70% in Jordan

                                                                                                66% in Morocco

                                                                                                46% in Pakistan

                                                                                                31% in Turkey

 

Percentage with an unfavorable view of Christians:                        52% in Turkey

                                                                                                62% in Pakistan

                                                                                                73% in Morocco

 

Middle East

            It is frustrating for geopolitical analysts to watch events in Syria. We see a continued problem in Syria—a country that can likely be swayed by outside pressure. Yet the actions resulting in the deaths of innocents and our troops continue. It appears almost as if parts of the US government, possibly the State Department, are dead set against any possible confrontation, even of a nonmilitary nature. The analysts got optimistic over the issue when there was talk of the placement of sanctions on Syria. We still believe this is likely to occur very, very soon but it is very discouraging to see how long it took for this to occur. It is no wonder that some state sponsors like Syria and Iran have the belief that they can act as they wish and get away with it for a long, if not eternal, time. This belief has allowed Iran to be so bold as to announce the opening of a plant in Isfahan for processing uranium ore into gas, and to continue to block access to sensitive sites by IAEA inspectors. [11]

            In March, the CIA concluded that Syria was still maintaining the operational arms of the Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and PFLP-GC in Damascus despite the pressure. The CIA also concluded that most of the money that was used in terrorist attacks by these groups was transferred through Syria. [12] Syria’s assistance to the terrorists in Iraq is resulting in the death of our troops. Al-Hayat confirmed Syria was still helping them by interviewing members of the Arab mujahideen that confirmed that they planned for up to 6,000 total militants to arrive in Iraq via Syria by trucks. [13]

            Syria is continuing its pursuit of a nuclear weapon with Iraqi renegade scientists. Although the AQ Khan investigation is ongoing, it is already suspected that the Pakistani black market may have sold nuclear equipment to Syria (this is not proven yet). We do know though that a large amount of uranium recently went missing from a Swedish nuclear technology company which is known for educating Syrian nuclear physicists in the treatment of uranium. Another Swedish consultant is known to have sold equipment to Syria that can be used to treat radioactive material. [14] Is it unlikely that the theft of the uranium in Sweden was orchestrated by the Syrians, possible with the knowledge of the company?

            Dissidents in Syria have identified a secret nuclear site near Deir el-Hajjar, a site supposed to be used for “agricultural research”. The dissidents confirmed that Iraqi scientists went to Syria before war broke out and passed along their expertise. The site is underground, with two facilities: one civil and one military. [15]

            In addition, this month Syria saw its worst internal violence since the 1980s, with 47 people being killed during Kurd riots and uprisings in response to when Syrian authorities machine-gunned the Kurds involved in a soccer riot. After the riots, hundreds of Kurds were arrested, even the peaceful ones that simply demonstrated against the Ba’ath. The uprisings quickly spread throughout northern Syria. [16] WorldThreats.com understands that this new height in anger among the Kurds is also a cry for freedom. It is not limited to the Kurds either. On March 8, the Syrian police broke up the first ever antigovernment rallies on the anniversary of the Ba’ath revolution. [17] We remain disappointed that it appears that the USA is not doing much to help the freedom fighters that threaten to end Assad’s corrupt rule.

            Luckily, it appears that Europe is slowly beginning to side with the US on these matters. Recently, the UK, France, and Germany joined with the US in pressuring Iran through the IAEA to fully cooperate with inspectors. Now, the three have unified in a demand for Syria to disclose its weapons of mass destruction stockpiles before a partnership agreement with the European Union is signed. [18]

            Iran’s nuclear program also continues unstopped. It is becoming clearer and clearer that Iran has a secret nuclear program, with the assistance of Russia, possibly Pakistan, and North Korea. We now know that in late January, a high-ranking Iranian military official visited Pyongyang, and negotiated a deal, where the two countries would jointly build a secret underground facility in northwest Korea to produce centrifuges to enrich uranium. [19] The Gulf Cooperation Council members have also expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear program, warning that if Iran obtains nukes, it may prompt Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt to do the same. [20]

            An unknown nation (not America) has also made an intelligence report that explains that recent evidence of Iran’s nuclear program has convinced them of the pursuit of a nuclear capability. The report explained that senior Iranian officials, mostly form the Atomic Energy Organization, managed a secret committee formed last year to coordinate efforts to conceal nuclear activity at nearly 300 locations. The officials often inspect the sites, looking for poor hiding jobs, and correct it. [21] Other evidence was found that Iran was seeking nukes when IAEA inspectors found traces of enriched uranium, “extremely highly enriched” to the purity to make a nuke. It was refined to 90% of the 235 isotope, which proves that the enrichment efforts are not for a power source. [22] In response to the subsequent IAEA condemnation, Iran froze inspections of nuclear facilities until March 27, and threatened to end all cooperation. Iran also said it would continue uranium enrichment. [23] The Iranians even went so far as to say that if the IAEA does not close their file on Iran, they would not continue the process of ratifying the Additional Protocol, and rethink future cooperation with the IAEA. [24]

            Iran also continues to make destabilizing Iraq a priority.  To help defend itself against retaliation, we know Iran is pursuing a nuclear capability, as well a cruise missile capability meant to defeat US anti-ballistic missile defenses. Iran’s favorite man in Hezbollah, Imad Mughniyah, has been promoted to #2 (some would argue he already is #1) in the group under Hassan Nasrallah. The United States has captured four Iranians in Iraq that revealed that the Ministry of Intelligence and Security and Revolutionary Guards are sending personnel into Iraq. They hope to destabilize the nation, and build up their power base so they can affect the Shi’ite community once the US gives up power. The Shiites then would, according to the plan, ally with Iran.

            This escalation by Iran is in preparation for a new terror offensive being planned with Syria against Israel, Iraq, the US and Afghanistan. In March leading terrorists had several meetings in Tehran and Damascus, and Iran’s top liaison with the terrorists, Brig-Gen Qassem Suleiman was present. He is the commander of the Al-Quds force of the Revolutionary Guard.  Suleiman is the head of the effort to establish Iranian influence in Afghanistan and undermine President Karzai. Hezbollah is to lead an effort to kidnap American and Israeli nationals, particularly in Europe. [25]

            Iran has already been blamed for several large attacks in Iraq, as we have discussed in the past. In the first week of March, there were massive attacks on Shiite shrines in Baghdad and Karbala, threatening to provoke civil war. After the attacks, a Coalition official told the Iraqi press that Iran was responsible. He also mentioned that four of 15 suspects spoke Persian and were tied to Iran. [26] Syria also had a role in the attacks on moderate Shiites in March. We know suicide bombers were caught coming in from Syria, and Syrian nationals were involved in the attacks. The US Baghdad commander later went on to say that the new rounds of attacks in Iraq were orchestrated by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a high-ranking member of Al-Qaeda, with assistance from Hezbollah (used by Syria and Iran as a liaison with the terrorists). Given this nexus, it is not surprising that Zarqawi, at the time of this new round of attacks in early March, was safe in northern Iran. [27]

            It is obvious Zarqawi and Iran work together. We know that Zarqawi is using Iranian nationals to infiltrate the Shiite community in Iraq, using Iranian nationals to gain intelligence and to transport bribes. Zarqawi reportedly benefits from targeting Shiite areas where US forces are not present; the uncoordinated security around Shiite mosques and shrines; and Shiite refusals to cooperate with Sunni police. [28]

            Positive developments from the Iraq War continue. First of all, Israeli intelligence has reported that documents captured in Baghdad revealed Saddam Hussein’s intelligence operations in Egypt, allowing Mubarak to begin cleaning out the Iraqi spies. These spies revealed, among other things, the details of US-Egyptian military cooperation. [29] From these documents, the West was able to identify editors of three weeklies in Cairo that were on Iraq’s payroll. [30] The democratic movements in the region also continue to gain power. A Syrian citizen has made a documentary named “15 Reasons Why I Hate the Ba’ath”, and openly says he was encouraged to speak out by the Iraq War. Apparently, Syria is being forced to give in to the movements, as just a year ago, this citizen would quickly have been put in jail. [31]

            On the Saudi side of things, the Saudi government has claimed to have abolished all charity institutions and organizations, and has transferred their funds to the account of a new organization established by the Royal Command. It is called the Civil Saudi Body for Rescue and Charity Activity Abroad. The Saudis also banned sending donations abroad without the king’s approval. [32] It appears that the Saudi Royal Family is recognizing the fight they are in against the terrorists, and realize they must push against the extremists as hard as possible without provoking civil war.

Evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and ties to terrorists continues to pile up. A retired Israeli general recently came out and said that weak US intelligence was to blame for not finding the weapons, and that the US failed to quickly enter sites where weapons were thought to be spotted. He confirmed his belief that Iraq had chemical and biological weapons, and was in the early stages of producing a nuclear weapon in the days up to the war. [33] There is also more proof that Iraq sponsored terrorists including Al-Qaeda. An Iraqi IIS file in Arabic, dated from 1993, and labeled “top secret” has been found. It is 20 pages long, and lists IIS agents that are “collaborators”. Page 14 lists “The Saudi Osama Bin Laden…a Saudi businessman and is in charge of the Saudi opposition in Afghanistan…And he is in good relationship with our section in Syria.” The document was signed by “Jabar”, and had the IIS logo. [34] Another document was found dated December 21, 2002 that showed Saddam ordering the Minister of Information to declare Osama Bin Laden the “Man of the Year” in Iraq for 2002. [35]

WorldThreats.com has reported extensively on how the Iraqi press gave hints of the 9-11 attacks in advance, and from studying the state press, it seemed likely Iraq at least encouraged such an assault. Now, Newsmax.com on March 28, 2004 ran an article including some of the same information, and even added some more that we missed. In 1992, Uday wrote in the paper he owned, Babil, that the US should fear Iraqi suicide attacks, saying, “Does the United States realize the meaning of every Iraqi becoming a missile that can cross countries and cities?”

The Newsmax.com report goes on to say:

“Then in the late 1990s, according to UPI, ‘a cable to Saddam from the chief of Iraqi intelligence was transmitted by Baghdad Radio. The message read, 'We will chase [Americans] to every corner at all times. No high tower of steel will protect them against the fire of truth.' Coincidence? Perhaps. But after the 9/11 attacks, Saddam became the only world leader to offer praise for bin Laden, even as other terrorist leaders such as Yasser Arafat went out of their way to make a show of sympathy to the U.S. by donating blood to 9/11 victims on camera. The day after the attacks, in quotes picked up by Agence France-Press, Saddam proclaimed that ‘America is reaping the thorns planted by its rulers in the world.’

‘There is hardly a place [in the world] that does not have a memorial symbolizing the criminal actions committed by America against its natives,’ AFP quoted the Iraqi dictator complaining, based on reports in the Iraqi News agency.

After excoriating the U.S. for ending World War II by using nuclear weapons, and for its involvement in Vietnam, Saddam gloated, ‘[He] who does not want to reap evil must not sow it, and [he] who considers the lives of his people precious must remember that the lives of the people in the world are precious also.’

‘The American peoples should remember that no one ever crossed the Atlantic carrying weapons to be used against them. They are the ones who crossed the Atlantic carrying death, destruction and ugly exploitation to the whole world.’

A day later, Saddam told visiting Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib ben Yahya, ‘America brought the hatred of the world upon itself.’

For his part, Uday flat-out praised the 9/11 attacks, saying, ‘These were courageous operations carried out by young Arabs and Muslims,’ according to quotes picked up by the Saudi daily Asharq al-Awsat.”

 

           

As for another piece of evidence, the Czech envoy to the UN has confirmed the meeting between Mohammed Atta and the Iraqi intelligence agent al-Ani. [36] Finally, the Hudson Institute also issued a report on Iraqi links to terrorism on March 15. It concluded that Saddam supplied terrorists with safe haven, training and funding right up until the days before the war began. Ansar al-Islam, Hamas, Palestine Liberation Front, and the Abu Nidal Organization were all listed as the main beneficiaries of Iraqi assistance. One link that the report mentioned was that a top Palestinian deputy to Abu Nidal named Khala Khadar al-Salahat, who helped the Libyan agents use Semtex explosives to destroy Pan-Am Flight 103 was found to have been protected in Baghdad. He was captured there in April 2003. [37]


Captured documents from the Iraqi archives and the testimony of terrorists revealed a great deal about Iraqi links to terrorism. Documents showed that Iraq gave 1 million barrels of oil to the leader of the PFLP, Abu Abbas. One million barrels was given to the MEK Iranian opposition militants as well, and 7 million barrels was sold to Muhammed Salah, an Egyptian terrorist. Documents also showed that money was given to “Hawala” in Malaysia, an informal banking system often used by outlaw Middle Eastern and Asian countries, as well as terrorists, to launder money without being detected. Captured terrorists from the Palestine Liberation Front also have testified that they were trained in Iraq, particularly by the Republican Guard in Tikrit. They also said that Iraqi intelligence personnel were present to direct instructions and give briefings. [38]

 

AmericanThinker.com ran a great article on March 2 by Douglas Hanson, who served as Chief of Staff in the Iraqi Ministry of Science and Technology. He said he believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and explained the problems with the Iraq Survey Group that are causing the inability to find them. Among the problems:

--Unfocused, uncoordinated search operations

--As of October 2003, the ISG still had not secured 120 of 130 known ammunition storage points. This does not include any secret underground sites that we do not know about.

--Previous intelligence assessments were not used to provide an operationally focused search.

--The appropriate US intelligence analysts and UNSCOM personnel were not on the ground helping the initial searches.

--Kay quickly shifted the focus from searching sites to interviewing scientists for information.

--The huge amount of information being gathered hampers the progress of using that intelligence for meaningful searches.

--Scientists often provide false information due to fear of reprisals; they usually have no incentive to tell the truth; and there is a lack of incriminating documents to force the liars to come clean.

--He also explains how many times the ball has been dropped in the ISG, and some of the foolish acts that have occurred.

--Lack of analysis of historical data

--Lack of preparation of the operational framework to focus the search

--Over-reliance and unsystematic interrogation of scientists

--Poor operational monitoring and coordination

--Lack of resources

--Poor security at WMD sites and failure to prevent looting.

 

Europe

First, I want to suggest that readers read the following Time article: http://www.time.com/time/europe/eu/daily/0,13716,339026,00.html. It is a very in-depth article about how a long line of ministers and senior figures in Hungary were connected to the communist secret service. WorldThreats.com does not believe that this means Hungary is secretly still an East Bloc nation, but rather there was likely a hidden conspiracy prior to the collapse of the East Bloc. The communists in power planned to infiltrate the various groups that would replace them, as a way to preserve their power, similar to how a mafia would do the same. We study this because these people may pose a threat:

            A: They likely are still corrupt, as the communists were. We should hesitate to trust them.

            B: They may still believe in some or all of the Marxist-Leninist ideology, and have anti-American sentiments.

            C: They may have ties to Russian intelligence, which preserved its ties to many of the Cold War-era spies and intelligence agents they worked with throughout the East Bloc.

            D: They may collaborate with the other communists still in power on some agenda. We know that there have been incidents in Eastern Europe, for example in the Czech Republic, where former communists in power in the media helped other ex-communists in the government persecute and blackmail those revealing their shady dealings.

 

            We also saw the terrible Madrid bombings in Spain, which helped topple the conservative party, and put the anti-American socialists in power who plan to withdraw the 1,300 Spanish troops from Iraq. You can view our analysis of the possible perpetrators of the bombing here: http://www.worldthreats.com/al-qaeda_terrorism/Madrid_bombing2.htm. It is apparent this is a victory for Al-Qaeda, who will now make attacking US allies during elections a ritual. Moreover, it is likely that some Europeans will give in to appeasement, as the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades has called for a truce with Spain if they withdraw troops from Iraq immediately. [39] If they hold to this truce, the gains for the terrorists will be immeasurable.

Western intelligence now suspects the senior Al-Qaeda affiliate, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi of playing a role. He often served as a liaison between Iraq and Al-Qaeda, and often managed ties between the terrorist organization and various state sponsors (Iraq, Iran, possibly Syria). It is thought that Zarqawi is in Iraq, but we know that he has spent a small amount of time in Damascus, and a good deal of time in Iran. There are rumors in Iraq that Zarqawi, the target of many recent raids, is “under arrest” in Iran (being sheltered) and being used as a way to try to bribe America into extraditing members of the MEK Iranian opposition group. [40] However, we do not know if he is still in Iran or has snuck back into Iraq.

 

            The new socialist government of Spain is extremely favorable to Russia. It has long been known that Russia (and the USSR since the 1950s), had a goal of a Russian-allied Europe, which would, if possible, consist of socialist-run governments. During the past decade, especially during the Kosovo War of 1999, we saw Russia move towards uniting with Europe. It is understood among experts that when Russia opposes American policy, so will France and often, Germany. Study of the texts written by Russian strategists also clearly shows that Russia wants to be united with Europe, partially to serve as a counterbalance to American supremacy. WorldThreats.com will publish an article on how the Madrid bombings affect Russian strategy in the coming days.

            There is much worry that Italy is the next target. Italy’s counter-terrorism unit has said that a group of 80 Muslims is standing ready for terrorist attacks in Italy. La Repubblica, a paper in Rome, warned that the most likely dates for attacks were March 19, April 4, or June 12-13 since its right before the European Union election. [41]

            A new book by Kenneth Timmerman is coming out called “The French Betrayal of America”. We have not read it yet so we cannot comment. But readers know that we regularly report on the shady dealings France had with Saddam Hussein, and how this affected their opposition to the war. French oil companies, we now know, stood to profit nearly $100 billion in the first seven years of exclusive oil deals they had signed with Saddam. [42]

 

Asia

            In March, we saw a new height in tension between China and Taiwan. The Taiwanese president narrowly won re-election, showing that the Taiwanese people want a hardliner that will push their independence aspirations as far as they can short of war. As of now, China’s military is on alert to serve as a warning, and the state-controlled media fails to cease the warnings of a possible war. However, unless Taiwan declares independence, it is unlikely China will attack. They simply have too much to lose, and as time goes on, Taiwan gets weaker while China gets stronger. To put it simply, now is not the time.

            Pakistan launched its greatest anti-terrorism offensive yet. This began as Colin Powell designated them a “major non-NATO ally” alongside Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and New Zealand. [43] It appears as if this offer, along with the repeated assassination attempts on Musharraf, has prompted Pakistan to fully cooperate in the War on Terror. This month a plot was also discovered that was being organized by radical Islamists inside Pakistan since February. They planned to spark a revolt, and replace Musharraf with “the father of the Islamic bomb”, Abdul-Qadeer Khan who led the Pakistani nuclear black market and sold nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea. [44]

            Captured documents from Iraq showed a Russian role in the market of ballistic missile and WMD proliferation. From the AQ Khan investigation, we know that there was a large Russian role in the Pakistani nuclear black market. Now we also know that Russia, in violation of UN sanctions, helped Iraq to build ballistic missiles. A group of Russian engineers, including experts that used to work for the Russian aerospace design center (closely tied to the state), were in Iraq helping Saddam’s long-range ballistic missile program under the guise of a private dealing. [45]

 

Africa

            Libya has been cooperating so much with the West that some are wondering if we may become allies. That is a long time away, but if things keep on track, it sure seems like Libya may become a useful partner. Libya’s long record in terrorism, WMD proliferation, and work with Iran, Iraq, and North Korea means they can reveal a massive load of intelligence on these issues. Qaddafi’s son even went to the press saying that reforms are being planned, and that Libya would become a democratic society.

            The United States has discovered an extensive Iranian military presence in Libya, learning that they had nearly one hundred military-related contracts that for developing missiles, nonconventional weapons, conventional weapons, etc., and was involved in nearly every major Libyan weapons program. The most extensive collaboration was involved in the research-and-development of intermediate-range ballistic missiles. In December 2003, we also identified an Iranian-built plant for the production of fuel for Libya’s liquid-fuel ballistic missiles, based on the designs of the SCUD. [46] Libya has also revealed that they gave technology for extended-range SCUD-C missiles to Egypt, which is particularly dangerous since we know that