[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.]
» Planning makes recommendations to the Council of Ministers to address the market implications of cha
» A decline in the shares of oil companies operating in Kurdistan, following the suspension of oil pum
» Al-Rafidain issued a statement regarding electronic advances
» Hours after its approval, the first appeal against the election law
» In the document, the Minister of Defense addresses the Ministry of Finance to include army officers
» Talk about the price of oil.. Al-Sudanese diagnoses two pathologies related to the different previou
» The Kurdistan Regional Government informs foreign companies to stop exporting crude oil abroad
» Deputy: Al-Halbousi threatened the independents to terminate their membership for trying to disrupt
» The Minister of Health chairs an expanded meeting with the Association of Scientific Offices and str
» The Ministry of Planning discusses the effects of changing the exchange rate on the Iraqi market
» With Sunni and Kurdish support, the independents announce the start of procedures for the dismissal
» Details of an expanded meeting to discuss the impact of changing the exchange rate on the Iraqi mark
» The Electoral Commission in Kurdistan identifies "one obstacle" to conducting the polls on time
» Planning discusses a number of proposals to address the high price of the dollar
» Al-Hakim: Approving the oil and gas law is an "urgent necessity"
» Deputy shows the mechanism of distributing the investment budget between the provinces
» Planning: We will soon present recommendations to the Council of Ministers to address the repercussi
» A memorandum of understanding to achieve agricultural integration between Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and J
» First Bank of Iraq launches global instant money transfer serviceSHARE ON MESSENGER
» Hemn Hawrami: The best solution to the region's oil case is to pass the oil and gas bill in the Iraq
» The Association of Banks reveals expected facilities in granting lending operations
» Expert: The decision of international arbitration closed the doors in the face of Kurdistan regardin
» Chinese companies account for the largest share of Iraq's oil exports in a month
» A new rise in dollar prices in Baghdad and Erbil
» "Breaking promises"... The general amnesty threatens the "state administration" coalition to disinte
» A government plan to distribute electronic POS devices to the local markets
» Association of Private Banks: The volume of lending increased by about 8 trillion dinars at the end
» Sudanese advisor: The government plans to produce 50% of imported medicines within years
» The National Bank: Increasing the capital to 300 billion and opening 11 new branches
» Expert: The volume of investments in the private sector is insufficient.. The government has the sol
» Oil rises as concerns about banking sector turmoil recede
» Al-Rafidain: advances from 5 million to 25 electronically, without a guarantor
» Reuters: Kurdistan closes the oil pipeline between Iraq and Turkey at the request of the Ankara gove
» The House of Representatives addresses the Kuwaiti embassy to stop the London payment
» A Kurdish representative reveals the fate of the 400 billion dinars sent from Baghdad to the region
» The Minister of Justice and the Saudi ambassador discuss strengthening cooperation
» Parliamentary praise for the government's steps: military standards were adopted
» Parliament is "convinced" of the budget and new promises for retirees
» Iraq joins the {Helsinki} agreement for the use of transboundary watercourses
» Experts: Banking companies “violate” the instructions of the Central Bank
» The World Bank renews its commitment to support the automation of financial management in Iraq
» Parliamentary Oil calls for the investment of the Paris Court's decision to increase water releases
» Oil.. Iraq's only card for pressure
» Three files on the table of the Minister of Health
» The region renews its confidence in reaching a comprehensive agreement with Baghdad
» Oil and gas law on the table al-Hakim and Chairman of the Oil Committee
» Report: An American list to fight corruption in Iraq ... and Al-Sudani embarks on a "wider" campaign
» Haider Al-Mulla: The tripartite budget leads to stability... and the "boy" will prevent its passage
» An expert reveals the impact of the French court's decision on exporting Iraqi oil through Turkey
» The Investment Authority intends to "monitor" the work of the service company in Bismayah
» High oil prices.. Brent records 75.32 dollars per barrel
» Noon Agency publishes the provisions of the new election law after the chaos and expulsion of the ob
» At the request of Ankara... closing the oil pipeline between Iraq and Turkey
» Al-Abadi: Dollar smuggling rates during Bremer's time are the highest in Iraq's history
» Agriculture is taking measures to reduce meat prices and protect rare animals
» Temporary solutions to complex files... Iraqi-Turkish relations hostage to the "Kurdistan Workers"?
» Parliamentary finance reveals four resources to bridge the 2023 budget deficit of 64 trillion dinars
» In the weekly periodic meeting … the Minister of Industry and Minerals is following up on the issues
» Representatives: Development funds will be allocated to the poorest and liberated governorates
» November 18 is the date for the regional parliament elections
» More than $7 billion in oil revenues last month
» The Advocacy Front faces “a framework leader’s frustration” and “women’s rebellion” in the sixth att
» A mysterious directive to the chest coinciding with “St. Lego” opens the door to speculation for a p
» Barzani's party commits itself to handing over the region's oil imports to Baghdad..but..!
» “After the Baghdad talks.” Abdullahian: The relationship with Riyadh has returned to normal
» The House of Representatives votes to adopt the electoral divisor 1.7 in St. Lego
» The Presidency of Parliament decides to refer the deputies who object to amending the election law t
» Mawazine publishes the most prominent amendments to the election law
» Mawazine publishes the conditions for running for elections in the new law
» Integrity calls on Al-Ghanmi to provide evidence of suspicions of corruption, which he stated to a T
» By consensus.. Al-Salihi announces the vote on the article on Kirkuk in the election law
» Al-Sudani presides over an (important) meeting
» The World Bank confirms its full commitment to provide support and assistance to automate public fin
» Trade: Marketing outlets are a new experience, and we have prepared a plan to introduce them in all
» A deputy explains the reasons for the disruption of voting on the general budget law in the House of
» The House of Representatives votes to amend Articles 2, 6 and 7 of the Elections Law
» The House of Representatives votes to amend the electoral law and adjourns its session
» Parliament holds a session for it in the presence of 189 deputies
» Deputy: Al-Halbousi threatens to terminate our membership because we object to the election law
» Parliament votes to amend articles and adopts "St. Lego" by election
» The Turkmen Bloc: The Kirkuk file was resolved in the Provincial Council Elections Law
» Parliament votes on an article on "private voting"
» The House of Representatives votes on the third amendment to the election law
» It reaches 25 million.. Al-Rafidain launches new advances for 3 categories
» Al-Hakim stresses the need to work on approving the oil and gas law
» Baghdad.. Al-Sudani chairs an important meeting regarding the four entrances projects
» Malaysian court convicts "Bush" of war crimes in Iraq
» After the decision of the Paris Court.. Baghdad and Erbil are looking for new mechanisms to export K
» Deputy for the coordination framework: The Presidency of Parliament did not include the budget on th
» Parliament is discussing with the World Bank the financing of projects and the shift towards the ele
» Parliamentary condemnation of the series “London Batch” and a call to the Kuwaiti embassy to stop it
» The central bank withdraws a bank leave and three exchange companies
» Trade signs an agreement with the World Food Program to automate the ration card
» The Baghdad loan melts in the mouth of Erbil.. The suffering of the Kurds continues, and the ruling
» Parliamentarians Are Concerned About The 'Chaos' Of Market Prices... A Call To The Council Of Minist
» The Parliamentary Finance Committee Hosts The World Bank Delegation And Discusses With It A Package
» Al-Olayawi Talks About The Tourism File In Iraq: We Need Large Financial Allocations
» The Minister of Oil is discussing with the region's delegation the decision of the International Arb