Iraq 1972


325. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Kissinger summarized for the President a progress report from Helms on the Kurdish Support Operations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 138, Kissinger Office Files, Kissinger Country Files, Middle East, Kurdish Problem Vol. I, June ′72–Oct. ′73. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Tab A is not published.


326. Memorandum From the U.S. Interests Section in Baghdad to the Department of State

Arthur Lowrie of the new U.S. Interests Section recommended that Washington await Iraqi overtures towards improving relations.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, NEA/ARN, Office of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq Affairs, Lot file 75D442, Box 13, POL REL, Iraq-US, 1972. Confidential. A handwritten notation reads “Some very good comments on Iraq.”


327. Telegram 201125 From the Department of State to the Embassies in France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium

The Department related information about renewed persecution of Iraqi Jews, and requested the Embassies to ask their host governments for information and perhaps an approach to Baghdad.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SOC 14 IRAQ. Confidential; Priority. Repeated Priority to Baghdad, Tel Aviv, Tehran, and Beirut.


328. Airgram A–6 From the Interests Section in Baghdad to the Department of State

Lowrie offered a tentative political assessment of the situation in Iraq based on secondary sources and the public media.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 1 IRAQ-US. Confidential. Repeated to Abu Dhabi, Algiers, Amman, Ankara, Beirut, Bonn, Cairo, Dhahran, Jidda, Khartoum, Juwait, London, Manama, Moscow, New Delhi, Oman, Paris, Prague, Rabat, Tehran, Rome, Tripoli, and Tunis. Drafted by Lowrie on December 6; approved by Lowrie. In a letter to Thomas J. Scotes (NEA/ARN), December 18, Lowrie wrote that “it is no exaggeration to say that we are ostracized” by the Iraqis. “The main frustration is therefore, having to rely completely on diplomatic colleagues (of whom only a few are well informed) and the public media.” (NEA/ARN, Office of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq Affairs, Records Relating to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, 1968–72, Lot 75D442, Box 14, POL 17, REPIR, American Personnel, Resumption Consular Relations, 1972)


329. Telegram 92 From the Interests Section in Baghdad to the Department of State

Lowrie summarized two recent official Iraqi editorials expressing concern at U.S., Jordanian, and Iranian collusion against Baghdad.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL IRAQ-US. Limited Official Use. Repeated to Amman, Kuwait, Jidda, and Tehran. In telegram 100 from Baghdad, December 27, Lowrie reported that news of Helms’ appointment to Tehran had been characterized in the press as “indicative of role U.S. is delegating to Iran for execution imperialist plans in area.” (Ibid.)


330. National Intelligence Estimate 36.2–72

The CIA analyzed the extent of the Iraqi role in regional problems in the Middle East.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files, Job 79R01012A, Box 442, 2, NIE 36.2–72, Iraq’s Role in Middle Eastern Problems. Secret.