Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
USA Today
May 16, 2007
Pg. 1
Shiites Want An Agency Run By One Of Their Own
By Rick Jervis and Jim Michaels, USA Today
BAGHDAD — Iraq's Shiite-dominated government is attempting to establish an intelligence agency that would rival the U.S.-backed organization created shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
The move has raised concerns that Iraq's government is trying to blunt U.S. influence and bring intelligence gathering under Shiite control. It comes as the U.S. government has accused Iran of backing Iraqi militias that attack U.S. troops.
Officials in Iraq's Shiite-dominated government, such as national security adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie, have downplayed the claims about Iran, a Shiite country that borders Iraq.
The coalition authority created Iraq's National Intelligence Service after the U.S.-led invasion. Gen. Mohammed Shahwani, a Sunni with ties to the Americans, heads the agency.
Shahwani said the move to establish an agency outside his control would damage the country's ability to independently collect and analyze intelligence. "We believe that all the security forces have to be neutral," he said.
"They all have to work for the government, without any religious or party influence," he said. He said the move would be unconstitutional.
Iraq is gradually taking "ownership" of its intelligence network, said al-Rubaie, a Shiite. "It should be Iraqi, not American," he said, but acknowledged that the United States has helped build and pay for Iraq's intelligence network.
Shahwani said the proposal to establish another intelligence organization was debated in parliament but not resolved.
Under the proposal, the new agency would be controlled by National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waili, a Shiite. Iraq also has intelligence departments in the Interior Ministry and the military.
Shahwani is a longtime U.S. ally. His ties to the United States go back to 1991 when he became one of America's "critical partners" in opposing Saddam, former CIA director George Tenet wrote in his new memoir. Shahwani's three sons were tortured and killed by Saddam's regime.
"He's well-liked across the administration," said Bob Baer, a former CIA officer with experience in the region. "They're invested in Shahwani."
The move to establish another agency could complicate American efforts to target Iranian agents, which the United States says are operating in Iraq.
Al-Rubaie said he has told the Bush administration it should release five Iranians detained in Iraq on allegations they supported attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces. Al-Rubaie said Iraq agrees with The United States on most issues, but sometimes disagrees over Iran's role.
Shahwani was "the first senior Iraqi official to identify and speak of Iran's hand in destabilizing the country," Tenet wrote. Tenet notes in his book that recently "Iran and elements of the Iraqi (Shiite) groupings were working to have him removed because of his anti-Iranian stance."
May 16, 2007
Pg. 1
Shiites Want An Agency Run By One Of Their Own
By Rick Jervis and Jim Michaels, USA Today
BAGHDAD — Iraq's Shiite-dominated government is attempting to establish an intelligence agency that would rival the U.S.-backed organization created shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
The move has raised concerns that Iraq's government is trying to blunt U.S. influence and bring intelligence gathering under Shiite control. It comes as the U.S. government has accused Iran of backing Iraqi militias that attack U.S. troops.
Officials in Iraq's Shiite-dominated government, such as national security adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie, have downplayed the claims about Iran, a Shiite country that borders Iraq.
The coalition authority created Iraq's National Intelligence Service after the U.S.-led invasion. Gen. Mohammed Shahwani, a Sunni with ties to the Americans, heads the agency.
Shahwani said the move to establish an agency outside his control would damage the country's ability to independently collect and analyze intelligence. "We believe that all the security forces have to be neutral," he said.
"They all have to work for the government, without any religious or party influence," he said. He said the move would be unconstitutional.
Iraq is gradually taking "ownership" of its intelligence network, said al-Rubaie, a Shiite. "It should be Iraqi, not American," he said, but acknowledged that the United States has helped build and pay for Iraq's intelligence network.
Shahwani said the proposal to establish another intelligence organization was debated in parliament but not resolved.
Under the proposal, the new agency would be controlled by National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waili, a Shiite. Iraq also has intelligence departments in the Interior Ministry and the military.
Shahwani is a longtime U.S. ally. His ties to the United States go back to 1991 when he became one of America's "critical partners" in opposing Saddam, former CIA director George Tenet wrote in his new memoir. Shahwani's three sons were tortured and killed by Saddam's regime.
"He's well-liked across the administration," said Bob Baer, a former CIA officer with experience in the region. "They're invested in Shahwani."
The move to establish another agency could complicate American efforts to target Iranian agents, which the United States says are operating in Iraq.
Al-Rubaie said he has told the Bush administration it should release five Iranians detained in Iraq on allegations they supported attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces. Al-Rubaie said Iraq agrees with The United States on most issues, but sometimes disagrees over Iran's role.
Shahwani was "the first senior Iraqi official to identify and speak of Iran's hand in destabilizing the country," Tenet wrote. Tenet notes in his book that recently "Iran and elements of the Iraqi (Shiite) groupings were working to have him removed because of his anti-Iranian stance."