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| Identifier: | 88BAGHDAD4559 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 88BAGHDAD4559 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Baghdad |
| Created: | 1988-08-22 05:41:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | PREL IZ |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
O 220541Z AUG 88 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDAITE 7958 INFO GULFWAR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 04559 E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR TAGS: PREL, IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI COMMENTARY WARNS AGAINST TILT TOWARD IRAN REF: FBIS JN1808064588 (#) 1. SUMMARY: WE ARE SOMEWHAT PUZZLED BY IRAQ NEWS AGENCY COMMENTARY, ALMOST CERTAINLY COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE PRESIDENCY, ACCUSING "IMPERIALIST POWERS" (I.E., UNITED STATES MOST OF ALL) OF PRESSING IRAN TO ACCEPT UNSCR 598 IN ORDER TO PREVENT KHOMEINI'S COLLAPSE. WE INTERPRET THIS BLUSTER AS SADDAM'S BULLYING WAY OF SAYING WHAT IS PATENTLY TRUE, THAT THE UPCOMING PERIOD WILL BE A TEST OF IRAQ'S RELA- TION WITH THE U.S. AND OTHER EXTERNAL POWERS. END SUMMARY. 2. BAGHDAD TELEVISION, RADIO, AND ALL NEWSPAPERS AUGUST 18 PROMINENTLY CARRIED A VEHEMENT BUT MORE THAN USUALLY INARTICULATE EDITORIAL (REF FBIS), ATTRIBUTED TO THE POLITICAL EDITOR OF THE IRAQ NEWS AGENCY, SHARPLY WARNING WORLD POWERS AGAINST GIVING SUPPORT TO IRAN DURING THE CEASE-FIRE PERIOD. FROM ITS PROMINENCE, IT UNDOUBTEDLY EMANATED FROM THE PRESIDENCY ITSELF. THE COMMENTARY WARNED THAT "SOME IMPERIALIST POWERS" (UNSPECIFIED BUT CLEARLY INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES) WANT TO KEEP ARAB COUNTRIES OCCUPIED IN DISPUTES WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS (I.E., IRAN) IN ORDER TO PROTECT ISRAEL. IT CLAIMED CERTAIN POWERS HAD PRESSED IRAN TO ACCEPT RESOLUTION 598 IN ORDER TO PREVENT KHOMEINI'S COLLAPSE. 3. COMMENT: WHILE WE KNOW THE IRAQIS FEAR THAT THE U.S. WILL RESUME A PRO-IRANIAN POLICY TO THE DETRIMENT OF IRAQI INTERESTS, THE PROMINENCE AND TIMING OF THE EDITORIAL ARE CURIOUS. WE HAVE REASSURAD THE IRAWI AZ A HIGH GEVEL AND THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS THAT WE DO NOT CONTEMPLATE "TILTING" IN EITHER DIRECTION. 4. WE CONCLUDE THAT THIS FORM OF INARTICULATE LASHING OUT SERVES MORE THAN ANYTHING TO DEMONSTRATE IRAQ'S SENSE OF INSECURITY. A NEW ERA IS EMERGING, AND IRAQ IS NERVOUS ABOUT THE DEVELOPING ATTITUDES OF EXTERNAL POWERS. SADDAM'S INSTINCTIVE REACTION IS TO WARN WITH BLUSTERING, UNSPECIFIC THREATS. TARIQ AZIZ AND THE MFA DIPLOMATSSTRESS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SAME COIN, I.E., THEIR HOPE AND DESIRE THAT THE POST-WAR PERIOD WILL WITNESS BROADER AND CLOSER COOPERATION WITH THE USG THROUGHOUT THE REGION. GLASPIE NOTE BY OC/T: (#) OMISSION IN REF. CORRECTION TO FOLLOW.
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