The US Central Intelligence Agency approached three senior Iraqi military officers when they were in New York last June and offered them money to defect, a newspaper reported yesterday. General Amer Al Saadi, President Saddam Husseinâs science adviser; Jaafar Zia, head of the former Iraqi nuclear programme; and an expert named Mehdi Labidi were discussing with the United Nations a resumption of arms inspections in Iraq, said the Saudi-owned Asharq Al Awsat daily. During their stay at a New York hotel, the CIA never stopped approaching them, with one saying he had been showed a âsuitcase full of dollars,â Asharq said. The newspaper, quoting sources close to the delegation, said the Iraqi government had informed the United Nations about the incident, claiming âharassmentâ.
This story is being carried in several middle eastern papers. Some how I just can't take it very seriously, I mean, who deals with cash these days? Wouldn't the CIA just wire the money to their Swiss bank acounts? |