173. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)0
McGB—
Some of our spies are beginning to get quite worried about risk that Kurdish problem may flare up again to bedevil new Iraqi regime. It’s hard to tell whether talks in Baghdad are going well or badly, but there are many—Turks, Iranians, Nasser, and above all Soviets—who might [Page 382] see a stake in egging Kurds on. We’re warning Iranians especially to keep hands off, but if Shah should decide that new Iraq regime is too cozy with Nasser, he may not take our advice. I’ve urged CIA to raise contingency planning issue in Special Group next time and hope you will support their pitch. Preventive diplomacy is what we need most.
CIA is worried, DIA less so, over growing possibility of Nasser ground strike into Saudi Arabia. State thinks this unlikely on balance (Nasser unwilling to risk break with us), but I see Nasser as testing us. Have urged Pentagon in any case to consider preventive or subsequent military counters. Have also ginned up a proposed third JFK warning to Nasser which should be over shortly. I’m hopeful Nasser won’t escalate this far but we ought to be ready for a painful decision.
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Saudi Arabia, 1/63–3/63. Secret.↩