U.S. pursues Iraqis on charges of Saddam-era spying

[maddezmom]

Source: USAToday

By Donna Leinwand
USA TODAY

Federal prosecutors are using documents seized from Iraq's intelligence ministry and other government buildings in at least a dozen spy cases against alleged Iraqi agents operating in the USA during the Saddam Hussein era.

The Justice Department has not brought charges against so many foreign agents from a single nation since the Cold War days, says Ken Wainstein, head of the department's national security division. The quiet prosecutions reveal a little-known aspect of Saddam's regime and his desire to control opposition groups in the USA.

Iraq "had a substantial operation" in the USA, says Patrick Rowan, deputy assistant attorney general for national security. The operation included "sleeper" agents who were told to blend in to American society until they received orders from the intelligence ministry in Baghdad and other agents tasked with collecting information on Iraqi �migr�s, he says.

"They were thinking long term," he says.

None of the cases amounted to classic espionage. Saddam's agents were instructed to spy on opposition groups or to influence U.S. and global policy in his favor, Rowan says.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080303/1a_bottomstrip03.art.htm

[tinymontgomery]

1. "to influence U.S. and global policy in his favor, Rowan says."

aren't they just lobbyist? Guess they didn't pay off* enough.

[PSPS]

2. That's the first thing I thought too

They're really trying the fear angle any way they can when, in fact, these "sleeper cells" of lobbyists are quite common. Shall we call Bandar Bush a "sleeper agent?"

[LynnTheDem]

3. So exactly what US agents are doing today in Iran, Turkey, Syria, etc etc etc etc ...

Only WE get to spy and meddle and "try to influence policy" and torture and invade and and and...

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. "IRAQ pursues Americans on charges of Bush-era spying"

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Something to ponder

[gratuitous]

5. Sheesh

What's next? Prosecutions because other foreign nationals don't say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning?