[size=32]
British secret documents reveal a US military plan to prevent Iran from winning over Iraq[/size]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
2 hours ago
British secret documents reveal a US military plan to prevent Iran from winning over Iraq[/size]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
2 hours ago
The Americans did not trust the ability of Saddam Hussein's regime to defeat Iran, despite having enough weapons.
What is driving Britain to oppose Trump's policy toward Iran to the point that it leads the European effort to enable Tehran to circumvent US sanctions? It is Iran's strategic importance to Britain and the whole West, as revealed by British secret documents.
According to the BBC, the disparity in the British and American visions of Iran dates back to the eight-year war between 1980 and 1988 between Iran and Iraq.
The war ended after Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, agreed to an international resolution on a cease-fire and to negotiate, saying his famous saying on July 18, 1988: "Death and martyrdom are even more humiliating. "He said.
The documents reveal that the United States was obsessed with Iran's victory in the war. I have worked hard, militarily and economically, to prevent this.
Two years before the war ended, the Americans had signs that the obsession could become a reality.
The most important indicators were Iran's seizure of the Al-Faw peninsula in March 1986.
According to the documents, the Americans saw that this military development gave Iran a "psychological momentum" made it "does not indicate that it is ready not to go to war."
The British cautioned the Americans that economic pressure would not help in dealing with the Iranians because they are used to tightening the belt and life of austerity.
This situation continued until the Iraqi army regained the island in April 1988, a few months before the cessation of the war by UN resolution.
On March 19 and 20, 1986, US-British talks on the war took place in Washington. It seemed clear to the British that the Americans planned to intervene in ways, including military power, to prevent Iran's victory.
The position of the British Ministry of Defense is clear, which, according to documents, rejected the American trend and insist on non-participation no matter what the Americans insisted on going.
In a report on the talks, the ministry said: "The visit was very useful. We served our purpose in confirming our fundamental support for US policy in the Gulf, but also expressing our concern about the risks involved in hasty or exaggerated military action."
"We should not, in particular, be forced to support military action that we can not control, or that in the event of a crisis, we may have to disappoint US expectations of support," she said. The British Foreign Office supported this recommendation.
Cause of the dilemma
A month later, a delegation from the Middle East Department visited the British Foreign Office in Washington, and GH Boyce, the head of the administration, wrote about the visit, saying that the Americans "requested a joint military study for the future conflict in the Gulf ... and coordination of security assistance to the Gulf states."
The Americans concluded that the Americans "are increasingly going to believe that Iran will win the war the longer it takes, so the US policy was directed to do everything possible to support Iraq at least until signs of Len's intransigence in Iran."
Boyce said Iraq's political and military status was, from the Americans' point of view, the cause of the dilemma.
He added that the Americans "recognized that in the light of the shortcomings of the political and military leadership in Iraq, what the United States can actually do little, Iraq, for example, has all the weapons it needs, so they (Americans) focus their attention on trying to curb Iran."
How did the Americans see how to achieve this goal?
They first sought to stop arming Iran "so as not to be able to launch larger attacks at a greater pace."
"Although they (the Americans) have had some success in slowing the flow of arms from the black market, arms are flowing from Eastern Europe, North Korea, Syria, Libya and China at an increasing rate to Iran," says the Pewes report.
The document reveals that the Americans thought of military strikes paralyzing Iran.
"On the military side, [the Americans] thought a comprehensive and brilliant air attack on Iran's vital economic facilities could change Iranian behavior," Boyce said, "but Iraq's lack of resolve, military determination, and Iranian political obstinacy made this a very promising option."
"The Americans have not been able to find a reasonable and credible scenario that can ensure Iraq's survival based on an independent weight capable of confronting Iran's power," Boyce said of the difference in thinking between Britons and Americans.
Faced with this extremely difficult impasse, Boyce predicted that his country would be under mounting US pressure to abandon its "balanced approach" in the US effort to curtail Iran and limit its ability to win over Iraq.
About a month later, a high-ranking US military delegation, led by a general, accompanied by four of his aides, visited the British Foreign Office.
The aim was for the delegation to present the results of a long 28-day tour of the region that included Qatar, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan.
A report by the British Foreign Office on the meeting reveals "frustration among the Americans about the lack of response by the Gulf states to America's readiness to cooperate in doing more to defend them" in light of the possible consequences of Iran's victory.
"The Americans are frustrated by their contacts with the Gulf states," the report said, "Their position is still to keep the Strait of Hormuz open."
However, he noted that the Americans "told the GCC states that if they wanted more, they would have to play their part by providing bases at the ports, agreeing to joint exercises and joint contingency planning" for possible US military intervention.
But the British document quoted Americans as saying that "although they (Gulfis) are more clearly concerned now than ever before, the GCC countries did not respond."
A subsequent report by the Middle East Department at the Foreign Office said the Americans' assessment of the military standoff between Iran and Iraq remained very pessimistic.
The British Ministry of Defense warned against dragging Britain into unmanageable US military action against Iran.
The report, which was written after the visit of a British delegation to Washington, outlined the American concerns in the following:
"First, it proved that Iraqi airpower is ineffective, even though, theoretically, it is superior to Iranian capability ... This ineffectiveness may be due to Saddam Hussein's unwillingness to launch comprehensive and effective attacks. Iran's positions have been well drilled, and thirdly, the buildup of forces near Hawar al-Huweizah (the Iraqi stronghold of Iran) has increased fears of a major (Iranian) attack in the next few months. "
This visit underscored the seriousness of American concern over Iran's victory. Washington sought to persuade the British ally to engage in an emergency plan for possible military intervention that would prevent such a victory.
But Britain has not changed its position. She said that, despite careful strategic relations with Washington, such engagement would be against its interests in the region.
Strategic position
According to a document entitled "Iran / Iraq / contingency planning between the United Kingdom and the United States," the British Foreign Office reiterated the need to refrain from any US military plan to intervene in the course of the war.
"While we have strong interests in maintaining our proximity to the Americans - on this issue (the war between Iraq and Iran), in order to keep up with American thinking and try to soften their approach - the British government's policy is to avoid too serious a discussion with the military American plans for operations in the Gulf region. "
The document summarizes the final goal of this position against any possible US intervention aimed at preventing Iran's victory. "Serving our interests in the region would probably be better if the countries of the region do not consider us to be too closely involved in American planning," he said.
The Defense Department, in a report on a subsequent round of talks in Washington, said Britain's support for Washington hurt its interests. "We will probably best serve our interests in the region if the countries of the region do not see us from this angle (the angle of America's participation in military action)," she said.
In a report written in July 1986, the Middle East Department said, "While Iran has greater significance and potential in the long term, better policy is a calm approach that does not attract the spotlight and is neutral to Iran and Iraq, allowing us to have maximum commercial advantage in the region."
The Americans estimated that an all-out military strike against vital installations inside Iran could prompt the Iranians to change their attitude about continuing the war.
After a new round of talks between US and British delegations in London on the "UK and US assessments" of the conflict, the two sides agreed that "the perception is that Iran is a big, important and strategically important country." In the long run, it will be important for the West to have good relations with it.
But the American assessment, according to a British report on the talks, was that Iran "may think that with one more push the Baath regime could collapse under its power and the Shah's regime collapsed," referring to the overthrow of the Islamic regime in Iran.
In this context, the Americans talked about Iran "is now preparing a major attack final .. It will be a major blow to Iraq."
The British understood that they believe that "for this or that reason, there is more than a chance of a possible collapse of Iraq, which makes the Iranians victorious and any expectations of what may happen then become very bleak."
During the talks, the Americans claimed that "they see no contradiction between their short-term policy of starting to put pressure on Iran to avoid the above-mentioned scenario and their supposed belief that it is not in the long-term interest of the West not to have normal relations with Iran."
But during the talks, the British insisted on "making clear that the United Kingdom continues to take a neutral position in the conflict and believes it should have as normal a relationship as possible with each side."
Military power was not the only American means proposed to block any possible victory for Iran and the collapse of Iraq.
The Iranians' capture of the Faw peninsula alarmed Americans over Iran's scenario of victory in the war.
The documents say the US strategy sought to "increase the economic cost incurred by the Iranians to launch this war."
"After their (stalled) efforts to stop the flow of arms to Iran, the United States now (1986) focuses on limiting the expansion of Iran's credit facilities," which helps Iranians to import from abroad, says British Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe in another report.
As the Hao document reveals, the Americans have been in contact with nearly all Western European governments, Japan, Singapore and Turkey.
When the issue of economic pressure on Iran was raised, the Foreign Office recommended that London argue that "pressure on the Iranians to put them in an economically difficult situation will not push them to negotiate and will harm the long-term position of the West."
"Iran's presence in the region and its political behavior are facts of life," says Hao, "meaning that it is a reality that needs to be dealt with." "Our understanding is that this (Iran's existence and behavior) is recognized by most countries Gulf".
As for Saudi Arabia, the British saw it as "preoccupied with its prestige, but others see a need for a temporary settlement with Iran."
Hao pointed to other justifications for the British position, saying that US policy "strengthens the determination of the Iranians to tighten their belts and continue (in the war)." "Iran is flexible (ie able to rise after any stumbling) politically, economically and habitually to austerity."
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Today at 6:45 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee discusses amending the three-year budget
Today at 6:40 am by Rocky
» utube 11/26/24 MM&C MM&C Iraq News-Central Bank Iraq-Monetary Stability Excellent-Budget Law 2023,
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» "Rich Iraq" seeks "money" to combat methane emissions: internal and external obstacles
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Increase in foreign remittance sales at the Central Bank of Iraq auction
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Its area is 2.5 million acres, and these are its details.. Work begins on a "large" residential city
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Finance delivers employees' salary schedule to the federal government
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Beggars are sweeping the streets of Iraq.. Their numbers are "large" and 90% of them receive welfare
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Settling tax trust claims
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Launching the National School Health Strategy
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Approval to implement service projects in Babylon
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» New container handling berths at ports
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Work: Demand for registration in social security
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Reconstruction: Land Bank to be completed next year
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Aiming to enhance services in schools and prevent diseases, the National School Health Strategy for
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Karmian Festival witnesses the conclusion of commercial and industrial contracts
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Focus on the banking sector
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Minister of Trade: Studies Center is a turning point that serves the Iraqi economy
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Economists: Census is a roadmap for development
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Today's newspapers are interested in Al-Sudani's announcement that the population of Iraq exceeds 45
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» International Development Bank: Today's incident was an extortion attempt that did not affect our wo
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» thirty-sixth session, chaired by the Minister of Planning
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Closed meeting of the Parliamentary Finance Committee to discuss seven files
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» The demographic boom in Iraq: an economic opportunity or a social burden?
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms to Russian delegation Iraq's desire to establish a mechanism that brings mutual b
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Parliament holds its session headed by Al-Mashhadani and attended by 168 MPs
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government deducts 1% of the salaries of employees and retirees to donate to Gaza and Leba
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Iran announces its commitment to continuing gas exports to Iraq
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» Iraq, Russia discuss energy cooperation
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» British Home Secretary to visit Iraq tomorrow
Today at 4:35 am by Rocky
» The next parliament will have 450 members.. Officially, Al-Sudani announces that the population of I
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» US Ambassador Warns of 'Frightening Actions': Iraq Does Not Want to Be Drawn into Regional Conflict
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Planning: The announced census results are not preliminary and the number will increase
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Election “hype” begins early.. Al-Maliki insists on holding it and Al-Sudani prepares
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» “No more delays”.. Parliament changes the mechanism of holding sessions: “Controversial” laws are re
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani to the heads of the blocs: I prefer to vote on the general amnesty law before anything
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Iraq ranks 8th in the Arab world in achieving work-life balance in 2025
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Labor announces issuance of more than a quarter of a million national cards for social protection be
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-Chinese research on accelerating combined cycle power projects
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki praises the decision of the International Criminal Court and demands the resolution of the
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani calls for voting on the general amnesty law for the “oppressed” before other laws
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Yazan Mishaan Al-Habouri revolts against his "leak": There are those who obstruct the government's e
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» US Ambassador: Ending the presence of the international coalition in Iraq is being implemented and w
Today at 4:18 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani directs to raise the suspended laws to the Presidency of the House of Representatives
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» "His general situation is unbearable" .. Parliamentarian: Political consensus to keep Iraq away from
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani agrees to launch the “For Her” initiative to support Iraqi women
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Development Bank condemns extortion attempts: It will not affect our workflow
Today at 4:13 am by Rocky
» Iraq-China oil-for-reconstruction deal faltering: A geopolitical shift in the Middle East
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» Planning reveals the next step of the census: We will visit these families
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee calls on the government to expedite sending the budget tables
Today at 4:09 am by Rocky
» OPEC+ may extend oil cuts at its meeting next Sunday
Today at 4:06 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Integrity Committee discusses with the Director of Central Oil the file of contracts a
Today at 4:04 am by Rocky
» Government notice regarding the legal status of foreign workers
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» House of Representatives holds "important" session today.. Expectations of extending the legislative
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» Slight rise in dollar prices against the dinar in Iraqi stock exchanges
Today at 3:59 am by Rocky
» Baghdad "softens" and Kurdistan oil prepares to continue its global journey
Today at 3:58 am by Rocky
» "For 5 million dinars or in installments" .. Iraqi electric cars soon on the streets
Today at 3:57 am by Rocky
» Where did the Intelligence Bill get to in the House of Representatives?
Today at 3:55 am by Rocky
» "Contract Suspicions Series"... What are the loopholes in the Korean air defense system contract in
Today at 3:54 am by Rocky
» MP reveals latest developments in the formation of the new Kurdistan government
Today at 3:51 am by Rocky
» Personal status: imposing a vision or turning Iraq into a copy similar to the Iranian religious regi
Today at 3:50 am by Rocky
» Oral question to the governor.. Parliamentary movement regarding the “Basra, the Economic Capital of
Today at 3:48 am by Rocky
» MM&C 11/25/24 Parliamentarian: We need to extend the legislative chapter to 8 sessions and the bud
Yesterday at 10:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Alaq: The monetary situation in Iraq is excellent and our reserves support the stability of the e
Yesterday at 8:29 am by Rocky
» utube 11/25/24 MM&C MM&C Iraq News-CBI Building Final Touches-Oil Exports-Development Road-Turkey-B
Yesterday at 6:33 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary movement to include the salary scale in the next session
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee reveals the budget paragraphs included in the amendment
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki calls on the Bar Association to hold accountable members who violate professional conduct
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Politician: The security agreement with America has many aspects
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Planning: More than 6 million people live in the region, the oldest of them is 126 years o
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Alaq: Arab consensus on the role of central bank programs in addressing challenges
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Economics saves from political drowning
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Agriculture calls for strict ban on import of "industrial fats" and warns of health risks
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the fourth largest oil exporter to China
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Railways continue to maintain a number of its lines to ensure the smooth running of trains
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Parliament resumes its sessions tomorrow.. and these are the most important amendments in the budget
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Bitcoin Fails to Continue Rising as It Approaches $100,000
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Minister of Planning: There will be accurate figures for the population of each governorate
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Popular Mobilization Law is ready for voting
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Mechanisms for accepting people with disabilities into postgraduate studies
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Government coordination to create five thousand jobs
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Transport: Next month, a meeting with the international organization to resolve the European ban
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Census is a path to digital government
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Calls to facilitate loans and reduce interest rates for the private sector
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» The launch of the third and final phase of the "population census"
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We have accomplished a step that is the most prominent in the framework of planning, deve
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Justice discusses modern mechanisms to develop investment in real estate and minors’ money
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Dubai to host Arabplast exhibition next month
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Al-Tamimi: Integrity plays a major role in establishing the foundations of laws that will uphold jus
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Reaching the most important people involved in the "theft of the century" in Diyala
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Transportation: Completion of excavation works and connection of the immersed tunnel manufacturing b
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Between internal and regional challenges... Formation of the Kurdistan government on a "slow fire" a
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Region Presidency: We will issue a regional order to determine the first session of parlia
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Foreign Affairs announces the convening of the Ambassadors Conference tomorrow, Mond
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq must always be at the forefront
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani: We support the Foreign Ministry in confronting any external interference that affects
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs meeting with Oliver Wyman delegation
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Half a million beggars in Iraq.. 90% of them receive welfare salaries
Yesterday at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Sudanese announces preliminary results of the general population and housing census in detail
Yesterday at 4:26 am by Rocky