IIR 2 340 0258 90/USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS (U).

File: 970613_23400258_90d_txt_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 1
[b.2.]






SERIAL:    (U) IIR 2 340 0258 90.


COUNTRY:   (U) IRAQ (IZ); KUWAIT (KU); SAUDI ARABIA (SA).

SUBJECT:     IIR 2 340 0258 90/USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS (U).

WARNING:   (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED
INTELLIGENCE.  

-                       DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


DOI:       (U) 850000.
[b.2.]


[b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)]



SUMMARY:    INITIAL CHEMICAL RELEASE AUTHORITY IS HELD BY
SADAM HUSSEIN.  TO INITIATE CHEMICAL ATTACK, HUSSEIN INFORMS THE
GENERAL STAFF WHICH ISSUES VERBAL ORDERS TO CORPS CDRS AND SHOWS
THEM THE ONLY EXISTING CHEMICAL MAP.  CORPS CDRS INFORM DIVISIONS
TO PREPARE TROOPS FOR CHEMICAL ATTACK FROM OPPOSING FORCES.

TEXT:  1.  [b.1. sec. 1.5.(c)]  


 SOURCE, AT LEAST IN GENERAL TERMS, HAS A FAIRLY ACCURATE
INTELLIGENCE OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN THE GULF AS QF 900807 AND
HAS NUMEROUS RESOURCES AT HIS DISPOSAL TO SUPPORT HIS ASSESSMENTS.

2.         CHEMICAL RELEASE AUTHORITY--DURING THE INITIAL PHASE OF
CONFLICT, RELEASE AUTHORITY FOR USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS WILL REMAIN
WITH SADAM HUSSEIN.  SADAAM HUSSEIN WILL INFORM THE GENERAL STAFF
WHEN IT IS TIME TO UTILIZE CHEMICAL WEAPONS.

3.         COMMUNICATIONS--RADIO COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING THE USE
OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS IS FORBIDDEN EXCEPT UNDER THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS--DIVISION AND CORPS COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO REQUEST
USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS IF THEY ARE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF BEING
OVERRUN OR DEFEATED.  EVEN IN THIS INSTANCE THE USE OF COURIERS IS
PREFERRED.

4.        NORMAL PROCEDURES -- CHEMICAL PLANNING IS AN INTERGRAL PART
ÔOF ALL IRAQI MILITARY OPERATIONS.  WHEN HUSSEIN DECIDES TO USE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS HE WILL INFORM THE GENERAL STAFF.  THE GENERAL
STAFF WILL SUMMON THE CORPS COMMANDERS TO COME TO THE GENERAL STAFF
HEADQUARTERS (HQS) IMMEDIATELY.  ALL COMMANDERS ARE GIVEN A VERBAL
CHEMICAL WARNING ORDER AND ARE SHOWN THE ONLY EXISTING CHEMICAL
MAP.  CORPS COMMANDERS CALL THEIR DIVISION COMMANDERS AND TELL THEM
TO PREPARE THEIR TROOPS FOR AN OPPOSING FORCE CHEMICAL ATTACK.  FOR
EXAMPLE, WHEN IRAQ USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST THE IRANIANS, THE
IRAQI FRONTLINE TROOPS WERE INFORMED THAT THEY COULD EXPECT AN
IRANIAN CHEMICAL ATTACK.  WHEN THERE IS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO
CONDUCT THIS PROCEDURE, THE CHEMICAL WARNING ORDER BYPASSES ALL
ECHELONS AND THE FRONTLINE TROOPS ARE TOLD TO EXPECT AN OPPOSING
FORCES ATTACK.  COURIERS ARE USED TO RELAY THE INFORMATION.

[b.1. sec 1.5(c)]


[b.2.]