329. Telegram 92 From the Interests Section in Baghdad to the Department of State, December 19, 1972, 1215Z
TELEGRAM
Department of State
USINT BAGHDAD 92
R 191215Z DEC 72
FM USINT BAGHDAD
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 83
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
AMEMBASSY JIDDA
AMEMBASSY TEHRAN
SUBJ: IRAQI FEAR OF U.S.-JORDANIAN-IRANIAN COLLUSION
1. TWO RECENT EDITORIALS INDICATE GOI INCREASINGLY CONCERNED BY WHAT IT PERCEIVES AS GROWING COLLUSION AMONG U.S., SAUDI, ARABI, JORDAN AND IRAN AIMED OF COURSE AT OVERTHROW BAATH REGIME IN IRAQ.
2. PARTY PAPER ATH-THAWRA ON DEC 12 CITED SAUDI FORMIN SAQQAF'S STATEMENT IN TEHRAN AND OTHER STATEMENTS OF GULF STATES ABOUT FOREIGN DANGER MENACING THE REGION. IT SAYS THEY COULD ONLY REFER TO USSR AND ITS FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH IRAQ. EDITIORIAL SPEAKS OF "ESCALATION IN CONSPIRACIES AGAINST IRAQI REGIME" IN WHICH TEHRAN PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE AND INCREASE IN IMPERIALIST ACTIVITIES IN GULF, ALL OF WHICH REPRESENT "NEW SCHEMINGS OF AMERICAN IMPERIALISM." EDITORIAL RIDICULES THOSE WHO REVIVE OLD SOVIET BUGBEAR FALLACY TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN ENDS.
3. OFFICIAL AL-JUMHURRIYA EDITORIAL DEC 17 ATTACKS IRANIAN- JORDANIAN CONTACTS AND STATES: "WHAT IS NOW GOING ON IS CLOSE COORDINATION BETWEEN TEHRAN AND AMMAN AND SOME OTHER ARAB CAPITALS UNDER OVERALL SUPERVISION OF IMPERIALISTIC INTELLIGENCE SERVICES WITH OBJECT OF LAUNCHING FRESH ONSLAUGHT ON ARAB NATIONAL LIBERATION MOVEMENT AND ON REVOLUTIONARY IRAQ IN PARTICULAR."
4. DEC 19 BAGHDAD OBSERVER UNDER HEADLINE "US ARMS IRAN TO THE TEETH" REPORTS IRAN TO RECEIVE 202 COBRA HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS AND 287 HUEY TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS UNDER NEW ARMS AGREEMENT WITH US VALUED AT 720 MIL DOLS. DELIVERY OF HELICOPTERS TO BEGIN IN 1974 PRECEDED BY MASSIVE US TRAINING PROGRAM.
LOWRIE
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