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Directorate of Intelligence
v ^ r Memorandum
Counterterrorist Cemer3
Iraq: Baghdad Attempts to Assassinate Former President
Bush(/
Summary
The evidence currently available allows us toonfident analytic conclusion that Iraqi President Saddam Husayn directed his intelligence service to assassinate former President Bush during Mr. Bush's visit io Kuwaitpril. This memorandum briefly outlines the evidence on which this conclusion rests and explains why we believe that the alternative scenarios against which the evidence was tested are implausible. tfPNF NC OC)
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memo randomprepared by Coufllcrwrronn Center, and hat been coordinated within ComroenU and queries are welcome and may be directed toecure. iUl
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Sources of Evidence
The evidence on which our conclusion is based comes from three sources:
Forensic examinations. Government technical experts of equipment and
FBI interviews of theuspects
Intelligence reporting from human sources. ^FNF NC OC) Forcnsics
The forensic evidence in this case is based pnmarily on the FBI's examination of the explosive devices acquired inar bomb and several smaller "cubehe FBIetailed forensic comparison of these devices with two Iraqi devices that had been recovered dsewhere in the Middle lias: in1he Persian Gulf conflict. The FBI has reported the following results:
The same person, or persons of close association, constructed the remote-control fusing systems in the Kuwait car bomb and in the two other known Iraqi devices.
The person, or persons of close associauon. responsible for the additional vviring and components associated with, another known Iraqi radio-controlled car bomb was also responsible for the additional winng and components associated with the radio-controlled car bomb recovered in Kuwait.
The results of chemical and physical analyses of the explosive main charge from the car bomb recovered in Kuwait indicate an explosive known as PE-4A. According to the FBI Laboratory Explosive Unit,lastic explosive was contained in terrorist improvised explosive devices used by Iraqi operatives in1 in Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila.
The results of the chemical and physical analyses of samples from two of theube-shaped explosive devices recovered in Kuwait are consistent with explosive material taken from an Iraq: car bomb recovered in the Middle EastNri
FOB RMASE HTL-MIIIM
Interviews
The FBI's interviews ot the suspects arrested by Kuwaiu authorities produced the following information:
The two main suspects-Iraqi nationals named ai-Asadi and al-Ghazali-siid they received orders in early April from individuals they believed to be associated with the IIS lo carryombing operation in Kuwait and were given explosive material and instructions on its use. The Iraqi recruiters provided the plan, training, and material for the operation.
The suspect al-Ghazali told the FBI onayerson who identified himself as Abu Rafid recruited himpril to assassinate former President Bush.
The suspect al-Asadierson knownim as Muhammed Jawad recruited him onpnl and later instructed him to transport explosives to Kuwait and guide al-Ghazali to Kuwait University. He told the FBIl-Ghazali told him of the plot against Mr. Bush after the operation began. (Al-Asadis recruiter was described by al-Ghaxaii as the individual who assisted Abu Rafid to prepare him for the rmss;on to assassinate PresidentF)
Intelligence Reporting
Testing Other Scenarios
In conducting our inquiry, we tested the foregoing evidence against three other scenarios and concluded that none of these alternatives is plausible.
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Original document.
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