Chapter 63 Middle East Policy

  Palace of the Republic.

  Saddam's morale is good, as the Southern Military District reports that after the air force's strike, the Iranian armored division's sneak attack was thoroughly crushed, and they were annihilated in an organized manner in the Susangerd swamp. This is the first time since the start of the war that an entire Iranian armored division has been annihilated!

  Since the war situation fell into a stalemate, Iraq's troops had not fought a decent battle. His own youngest son Qusay happened to be in the southern military region and fought such a beautiful battle. Saddam was overjoyed.

  This is a great victory, the Thirty-Fifth Brigade was not afraid of sacrifice and finally made sufficient preparations for the intervention of the air force. In this battle, the Thirty-Fifth Armored Brigade achieved the first success! Saddam Hussein was so delighted that he decided to expand the Thirty-Fifth Brigade into the Thirty-Fifth Armored Division to commend their merits.

  As for the air force, Saddam didn't even mention it, the air force just took advantage of the situation. This time's attack still had many loopholes, we must seriously review our mistakes!

  Saddam's only concern was Kusay's whereabouts.

  Where is Kusai? What has happened to him? No one can answer this question.

  "Mr. President, we have received intelligence from the Southern Military District. Our Kusay has been found," said Defense Minister Adnan, who suddenly came in.

  "What? Kusay has been found? Where is he?" Saddam asked with a changed expression.

  Adnan is the brother of Qusay's mother, Sajida Khairallah Talfah, making him Saddam's uncle. He was close to Saddam and exclaimed: "We all underestimated Qusay; this time he has done a great job!"

  Saddam took the intelligence handed over by Adnan, looked at it and said with joy: "Not bad, worthy of being my son Saddam, worthy of being a great Iraqi people's son!"

  "What has happened to Father and my dear brother?" Uday asked from beside him.

  Sadam handed over the intelligence, "You see for yourself!"

  Kusay took over, and on it was written: Kusay Abdullah, in the Susangerd battle, pre-emptively discovered the Iranian sneak attack, led a small team of more than 30 people, raided the rear logistics supply line of the Iranian armored division, and successfully blew up all the fuel and ammunition supplies of the Iranian armored division, causing the Iranians to lose their logistical support and offensive capability in the July 10th evening attack, and were defeated by our air force on the second day. Afterwards, Kusay Abdullah also captured a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the Iranian Air Force, personally piloted it back to Basra, and saved the lives of several seriously injured soldiers.

  The more Wu Dai saw, the more he felt shocked. If it was said that the last time they shot down an Israeli plane was just a coincidence, then this time, his own younger brother, disregarding danger, personally infiltrated the swamp and destroyed the enemy's logistics base, even capturing one of their helicopters. This was simply incredible! When did he become so capable? With such a big achievement, right, when would he learn to pilot a helicopter?

  "Father, this intelligence from the Southern Military Region is probably incorrect, when will Kusay open a helicopter?" Udai asked cautiously.

  Kusay can't fly a helicopter, so this intelligence is problematic. It's likely that those guys in the military district are playing tricks on themselves and trying to deceive others. No way!

  Wu Dai was overjoyed.

  "The Southern Military Region indeed captured a Chinook helicopter, and in the previous intelligence report, the Southern Military Region only mentioned that they had captured Iranian tanks and armored vehicles, without mentioning this helicopter. It's probably true that it was Kusay." Saddam said affirmatively. "Since the intelligence report says he was driving it himself, maybe he really did drive it back."

  Wu Dai smiled and said, "Not bad, Brother Kusay has made a great contribution this time." But in his heart, he felt a surge of jealousy.

  Kusay, how did you steal all the spotlight?

  "Send a telegram to the Southern Military Region, telling Qusay to return to Baghdad. I want to hold a celebration ceremony for him. This time, the victory in the Su Sang Jir Marshes is his first achievement!" Saddam said.

  "Yes." Adenan made the call himself.

  In the United States, at Langley on the Potomac River's edge in McLean, Virginia, a large organization exists: the Central Intelligence Agency.

  It is an important institution in the vast US intelligence system, mainly responsible for collecting and providing military, political and economic intelligence information of various countries around the world to the US federal government, abbreviated as CIA.

  At this time, in an ordinary office, the current CIA director William Casey was listening to a report from his subordinate in charge of Middle East intelligence.

  "Now, the Iran-Iraq War has fallen into a stalemate, with neither side seemingly able to defeat the other, yet they continue to fight."

  "Hmm, the only way to serve our interests is to let the two giants fight each other. The President's requirement is that whoever is weak we support, and they must keep fighting continuously," Casey said.

  Since World War II, the United States has had four basic policies in the Middle East: 1. Limit Soviet influence in the region and at least contain it within limited bounds; 2. Support Israel; 3. Seek to maintain American political and economic access to Gulf oil as world demand for petroleum increases; 4. Concern itself with the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The first and third goals are more important.

  The most concerning place in the Middle East is the oil buried underground. In today's world where oil is used as energy, the stability of oil is closely related to the vital interests of the United States. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the expansion of the Soviet Union here, and the United States has been sparing no effort to support the armed forces in Afghanistan, which is to prevent the Soviet Union from entering the Middle East.

  Since 1971, the United States has pursued a policy of "two pillars" in the Gulf region, arming and supporting Iran and Saudi Arabia as the "twin guardians" of Gulf defense to maintain American interests in the area. The main consideration behind this policy was that the US had special relations with both countries since World War II. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia were "conservative monarchies", sharing America's concern over Soviet expansion in the Gulf, and Iran's strong military capabilities combined with Saudi Arabia's vast oil wealth made them a powerful tool for the United States in the region.

  The most advanced F-14 fighter jets, all sorts of weapons in the US military arsenal were to be exported to Iran first, with an advanced level that even made Israel envy. As a result, unexpectedly, a coup suddenly occurred in Iran, and everything was taken advantage of by Khomeini, a staunch anti-American figure. The hostage crisis broke out, causing the United States to lose face in the Middle East.

  At the same time, although the United States supported Saddam, this man had a strong sense of national pride and was difficult to control. A powerful Iraq did not conform to American interests.

  Now, the two Irans are locked in a death grip, and the US is delighted to see this.

  It would be best if all the power in the Middle East were to disappear, which would be in the interest of the United States.

  "Recently, Iran and Iraq clashed in Susangerd, with the Iranians suffering a major defeat. Satellite photos show that an Iranian armored division was committed, and it was completely annihilated," said the head of intelligence.

  "Oh?" Casey raised her head, an armored regiment was annihilated, although it wasn't a crushing blow, but it was also the first time something like this had happened.

  Casey handed over the report: "Who was in command of the Iraqi army this time?"

  "He should be the brigade commander of an armored brigade, named Mohammad."

  "Look at the commander of this armored brigade, this guy will make a name for himself in the Iraqi army," Casey said. A victory of this magnitude, if achieved by an armored brigade, would be a major feat.

  As Iraqi planes attacked Iranian armor at the time, a spy satellite in the sky just flew over the orbit, resulting in the satellite not detecting the air force's actions.

  "According to intelligence, Saddam's youngest son Qusay is also in the southern military district. I wonder if he has anything to do with him?" The director said: "The last time Israel's aircraft attacked the nuclear reactor and failed was under Qusay's command."

  "Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?" Casey said: "Have your agents keep a close eye on Kusay and get me a detailed report on him."

  "Yes," replied the director.

  Qusay is still just a teenager under 18 years old, the CIA's main attention was his brother Uday, now it seems that Qusay is even more terrifying.

  After the director left, Casey stared at the report on his desk, feeling a headache. The Middle East was indeed a powder keg! Last time Israel raided Iraq's nuclear reactor, the CIA didn't get any intelligence beforehand, which already made the President somewhat dissatisfied. What made him even more depressed was that afterwards, the US had to cover up for Israel. First, they strongly condemned Israel's actions and suspended the export of various weapons. Then, the Jewish forces at home began to move, and this resolution was cancelled.

  But if Israel succeeds in this surprise attack, although the US will condemn it, the President and Secretary of Defense will secretly applaud. Israel's action was defeated by Khaddafi.

  This guy will be closely watched by the CIA from now on.