Volume 1 - Iraq Watch

• In April 1999, seven Russian engineers spent threemonths in Baghdad providing technical assistanceto Iraq’s al-Samud liquid-propellant missile program.The group of engineers included a Russianexpert in engines, two experts in guidance andcontrol, an expert in airframes, one who workedon test benches, a lab tester, and one expert in thesupply of machines and parts. Each Russian hadan individual contract for an unknown amount ofmoney for their technical expertise.• The visit also included a $10 million contract forparts and machines such as a flow forming machine,a milling machine, a furnace, and raw materials.These machines and equipment were housed at theAl-Karamah State Establishment.• The MIC arranged and funded the contract with theRussians. The IIS directorate within the MIC, however,oversaw the contract. IIS officers occasionallyattended meetings between the Russians and theIraqi representatives from the Al-Karamah StateEstablishment.• A second letter dated 16 November 2000 to intelligenceagent nr993 of the GMID reads “Sincewe have connections with many Russian andFrench companies that showed its readiness todeal with us in the field of importing equipment ofair defense and its spare material, our company,Al Maymana General Trading Company, Ltd., ishappy to present its services to you in the field ofimporting the materials and the equipment that youneed to serve our great Iraq and from a Russian andEuropean origins.”• A third letter dated 3 March 2001, to IntelligenceAgent nr993 states, “Our Company, Al MaymanaGeneral Trading Company Ltd has done greatefforts to provide the armed forces to serve ourgreat Iraq and its leader Saddam Hussein (mayGod keep him safe). Through our job, a credibleside has proposed the possibility of a Russian AirDefense system, type S-300 PMU (four launchingsites with 36-70 missiles) and entering it to thecountry.”Regime Financeand Procurement• From January to February 2003, a Russian technicalteam reportedly visited Iraq to train Iraqi technicianson upgrading an air defense system. TheRussians conducted the training in Baghdad.2000-2001: Russian Establishment OfferedMilitary GoodsAccording to captured documents, a Russian companyoffered to prepare military air defense equipmentand a written proposal to supply a defensesystem called the S-300.• A letter dated 4 September 2000 from the authorizedManager of the Al Maimana General TradingCo. Ltd., to Intelligent Agent nr993 of theGMID reads, “we are enclosing you the offer of theRussian Lemz Establishment which includes thepossibility of preparing equipment of air defense(radars, communications equipment, land servicesequipment etc).”2001: Offer to Supply Rockets and TechnologySources and documents suggest that Iraq was activelyseeking to obtain the SS-26/Iskander missile fromRussia.• Document exploitation has revealed that FirasTlas, the son of former Syrian Defense MinisterLieutenant Mustafa Tlas, visited Iraq in July 2001and discussed a variety of missile systems andcomponents he could supply through Russia. Firasoffered to sell Iraq the S-300 SAM and the 270kmrange SS-26/Iskander-E short-range ballistic missile,or to provide assistance to help Iraq producethe Iskander. Firas claimed that he had previouslymet with Izakoff, the former Defense Minister ofthe Soviet Union, who told him that his [Izakoff’s]friend owned documents for “TEMPS” missilescalled “Sterlite” in the West. Reportedly, Izakoffsaid the missiles had a range of 1,500 km and werevery accurate. Tlas said Izakoff claimed that themissiles were destroyed by Mikhail Gorbachev, butthat Izakoff could supply the documents so that Iraqcould produce them.277