Russia 'gave Iraq intelligence'

[WUOrevolt]

Russia 'gave Iraq intelligence'

Saddam Hussein's role proved disastrous, the report says
Russia provided Saddam Hussein with intelligence on US military moves in the opening days of the US-led invasion in 2003, a Pentagon report has said.
Russia passed the details through its Baghdad ambassador, the report said. Russia has not commented on the claim.

One piece of intelligence passed on was false, and in fact helped a key US deception effort, the report concluded.

The report also quoted an Iraqi memo which mentioned Russian "sources" at the US military headquarters in Qatar.

"The information that the Russians have collected from their sources inside the American Central Command in Doha is that the United States is convinced that occupying Iraqi cities are [sic] impossible," said the Iraqi document, quoted by the Pentagon report.

Surprise attack

The false intelligence apparently passed on by Russia concerned the date the US was likely to start its main attack on Baghdad.

A document from the Iraqi foreign minister to Saddam Hussein, dated 2 April 2003, and quoting Russian intelligence, said the attack would not begin until the Army's 4th Infantry Division arrived about 15 April.

This reinforced an impression that the US military were trying to create, in order to catch Iraqis by surprise with an earlier attack, the Pentagon report said.


Troop movements towards Baghdad were passed on, the US says

In fact, the assault on the Iraqi capital began well before the 4th Division arrived, and the city fell about a week before 15 April.

The same Iraqi memo said that US troops were moving to cut off Baghdad from the south, east and north.

"Significantly, the (Iraqi) regime was also receiving intelligence from the Russians that fed suspicions that the attack out of Kuwait was merely a diversion," the report said.

The Pentagon report noted that there were Russian business interests in Iraqi oil, and a senior US military spokesman said Russia's actions were being seen as "driven by economic interests".

Saddam 'interference'

The report also said Saddam Hussein's inept military leadership was a key factor in the defeat of his forces.

"The largest contributing factor to the complete defeat of Iraq's military forces was the continued interference by Saddam (Hussein)," it said.

The BBC's Pentagon correspondent, Adam Brookes, says that overall the report portrays Saddam Hussein as chronically out of touch with reality - preoccupied with the prevention of domestic unrest and with the threat posed by Iran.

The 210-page report - Iraqi Perspectives Project - aims to help US officials understand in hindsight how the Iraqi military prepared for and fought during the invasion.

There are both classified and unclassified versions of the report.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4843394.stm

[Janus]

Either Russian intelligence is terrible or the Russians fed misinformation on purpose. This whole report may also have been false as well. I guess we'll just have to wait for Russia to issue a comment if they do so at all.

[TC]

"The information that the Russians have collected from their sources inside the American Central Command in Doha is that the United States is convinced that occupying Iraqi cities are [sic] impossible," said the Iraqi document, quoted by the Pentagon report.

Apparently the Russians had a false sense that American military strategy was rational or realistic.

[WUOrevolt]

Russia has denied the claim

[TC]

er its kinda one of those things that they'd deny whethe it was true or false.

[WUOrevolt]

It seems like the American administration is trying to make Russia look bad for their non involvement in the war.

[FinnMacCool]

Originally posted by WUOrevolt@Mar 25 2006, 01:26 PM
It seems like the American administration is trying to make Russia look bad for their non involvement in the war.

And why in the world would they do that? Seriously whats the point? Most americans don't agree with the war anyways and the Russians don't give a damn about the war either. Obviously, American propaganda efforts are best spent elsewhere.

[dislatino]

Originally posted by WUOrevolt@Mar 25 2006, 06:26 PM
It seems like the American administration is trying to make Russia look bad for their non involvement in the war.

When you say bad, in what way exactly?

[WUOrevolt]

Originally posted by dislatino+Mar 26 2006, 12:26 AM--> (dislatino @ Mar 26 2006, 12:26 AM)

WUOrevolt

@Mar 25 2006, 06:26 PM
It seems like the American administration is trying to make Russia look bad for their non involvement in the war.

When you say bad, in what way exactly? [/b]

That they didnt go to war for reasons other than they knew saddam had no wmds in Iraq.

[dislatino]

Originally posted by WUOrevolt+Mar 25 2006, 08:32 PM--> (WUOrevolt @ Mar 25 2006, 08:32 PM)

Originally posted by [email protected] 26 2006, 12:26 AM

WUOrevolt

@Mar 25 2006, 06:26 PM
It seems like the American administration is trying to make Russia look bad for their non involvement in the war.

When you say bad, in what way exactly?

That they didnt go to war for reasons other than they knew saddam had no wmds in Iraq. [/b]

Oh ok, i think i understand it now, so what will this mean? say it gets proven somehow that the russians were involved, would it have any sort of direct effect on anything?

[razboz]

QUOTE (WUOrevolt @ Mar 25 2006, 08:32 PM)
QUOTE (dislatino @ Mar 26 2006, 12:26 AM)
QUOTE (WUOrevolt @ Mar 25 2006, 06:26 PM)
It seems like the American administration is trying to make Russia look bad for their non involvement in the war.

When you say bad, in what way exactly?

That they didnt go to war for reasons other than they knew saddam had no wmds in Iraq.

Oh ok, i think i understand it now, so what will this mean? say it gets proven somehow that the russians were involved, would it have any sort of direct effect on anything?

It means that the US will have mounting bad relations with vladimir poutines government. It could mean increased US invovlvment with russia, potentially leading to war, or sanctions or some form of US backed coup or civil war in several years.

[dislatino]

Originally posted by razboz@Mar 25 2006, 08:51 PM

QUOTE (WUOrevolt @ Mar 25 2006, 08:32 PM)
QUOTE (dislatino @ Mar 26 2006, 12:26 AM)
QUOTE (WUOrevolt @ Mar 25 2006, 06:26 PM)
It seems like the American administration is trying to make Russia look bad for their non involvement in the war.

When you say bad, in what way exactly?

That they didnt go to war for reasons other than they knew saddam had no wmds in Iraq.

Oh ok, i think i understand it now, so what will this mean? say it gets proven somehow that the russians were involved, would it have any sort of direct effect on anything?

It means that the US will have mounting bad relations with vladimir poutines government. It could mean increased US invovlvment with russia, potentially leading to war, or sanctions or some form of US backed coup or civil war in several years.

I see, well "if" it gets to that stage surely the russians won't stand for it, with the situations that the U.S have gotten themselves into in the past, it looks like force would be thier only option.

[Andy Bowden]

Theres major rivalry between the US and Russia, because Russia is backing regimes in central asia with state-controlled economies, whereas Washington wants them to open up to (American naturally) Capital.

It's basically part of inter-imperialist rivalry, as part of a war of control of the regions gas and oil - fought by proxies like Yanucovich and Karimov.

[piet11111]

Originally posted by Janus@Mar 25 2006, 01:39 AM
Either Russian intelligence is terrible or the Russians fed misinformation on purpose. This whole report may also have been false as well. I guess we'll just have to wait for Russia to issue a comment if they do so at all.

perhaps they orchestrated this in an attempt to make the iraqi regime collapse as fast as possible.
hoping to save lifes by shortening the war as much as possible.

[*PRC*Kensei]

anyway does it mather people ?

sadam lost the war...the inteligence wasnt usefull to him... his army killed like 13 amerikans... great intelligence it must have been... real usefull..