ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 28

May 2005
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest :enigma2000-owner@yahoogroups.com

ENIGMA 2000 Article - Iraqi Embassy 21 Queensgate, London SW7 - (1/2)

by PLondon

This article was originally written circa 1997, the Gulf war had occurred in 1990 and events within the Embassy such that the building had moved into a sad state of repair.

In 2005 as I read this article again I realised how out of date it had become thanks to the actions, legal or not, against a Nation that was supposed to have WMD's by the greatest killing force the world has ever known ["We kill all we see" – Gunnery Sgt Hartman in 'Full Metal Jacket' referring to Marines].

A respected academic committed suicide and the British Government was accused of being told what to do by george bush. Our own Prime Minister tony bliar denied all and the buck was pushed from one Government department to another.

Then the free newspaper, the Metro, printed a story on 25/02 on page 2, simply entitled, "Advice on Iraq 'was by No 10'". The first line reads, "Tony Blair was accused of a 'cavalier' approach to war last night. A leak suggested key allies drafted the Attorney General's crucial advice on the legality of invading Iraq."

Now read on…………..

Iraqi Embassy

On the opposite side of Queen's gate and diagonally opposite the Bulgarian Embassy are three very tatty front doors, some with missing brass fixtures. Numbered 20 to 22 they lead into the Iraqi Embassy.

Over 20 Queen's Gate is a CCTV camera, mounted high and directly overlooking the pavement near the steps. The front door is in an appalling state, with lacquer, once highly polished now peeling off. Tarnished brass fixings that can be described as oxidised have recently disappeared.

Iraqi letterhead
Letterhead from the old regime, note embossing of Coat of Arms' carbonised to bring into prominence.

Door 21 is considerably used. While some of the fittings remain a polished brass plate declares "Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan". Underneath this statement is the almost diminutive "Iraqi interests section".

The odd passer-by stops and then raises a camera; the door and its sign committed to posterity.

A working CCTV system and intercom are placed near to the door and any person who has business at the Embassy is interrogated via this medium prior to entry.

Number 22 is also covered by two CCTV cameras but like number 20 the door and surround is in a poor state of repair.

The steps leading up to doors 20 and 22 are coloured grey, whilst those leading to 21 are red in colour.

The width of the Embassy is around 18metres whilst the depth is a respectable 24metres.

Walking a little further down Queen's Gate Elvaston Gardens is encountered. Immediately on the right is Queen's Gates Mews. Walking up the Mews one cannot miss the Public House at number 30, 'The Queen's Arms'. It was in this Public House, it is said, that Freddie Mercury and the rest of the band declared the name 'Queen' as the well-known title for the much remembered band.

Opposite the pub is the car showroom 'Coys of Kensington' that specialises in expensive vintage vehicles. Any enthusiasts with an interest in this field are recommended to take a peek on any visit to the area.

The white painted building was the 'Iraqi Interests Consular.' ~ Note the CCTV installations. During the building clearance many monitors and associate equipment was cast aside. The wiring is appalling! ~ Behind the truck is another part of the Embassy, including attached 'coach house.' ~ These two buildings are in bad shape.
	©PBeaumont14/04/05

At number 6 Queen's Gate Mews the door is guarded by two CCTV units and a sign reads 'Iraqi Interests Consular'. The windows surrounding the door are strengthened, whilst that above the doors has bars horizontally across. At the time of this observation a steaming kettle was in full view.

The Embassy building has five floors throughout. The height of the building is around 21metres and is topped by a log periodic antenna mounted on a 9metre-lattice mast.

	This style of antenna covers 5 to 30MHz and can easily handle RF outputs of 2kW ~ This installation is fixed and weighs around 178kgs. ~ Conversation with someone from the Embassy staff suggested it was never maintained and there was no radio equipment within the building now [1997].
©PLondon1997

This type of log periodic antenna is favoured among embassies. There are three installations near to the Iraqi Embassy that use this design of antenna. They are designed for use between 5 to 30 MHz and are safe with output powers of at least 2kW of RF [PEP]. Average gains for this style are a decent 10dBi. The antenna is around 11 metres wide and perhaps 9 metres long. Being highly directional the antenna points in the general direction of Iraq.

[During the Gulf War complaints were received about the continual emissions that were causing havoc to televisions and other electronic apparatus in the area. No doubt some agency made use of the splendid signals that could have been received without an antenna]!

The building was the most attractive one, set in Queen's Gate, in Iraq's heyday, painted in an off white colour it always had a flag fluttering over the middle doorway, number 21. In the years since the Gulf War the building has become dilapidated and an attempt to clean up the front surround to doorway number 21 really succeeded in highlighting the state of the rest of the building.

Broken windows, some with circular holes where a 'Vent-Air' used to rotate, others have once white, now grey, material hanging. There are others where the window itself has gone and has been replaced by hardboard to fill the resulting hole. Until recently branches that had fallen from the trees in the street that council tree surgeons had been working on remained on the balconies. This general state does not reflect the grandeur and attractiveness that once was the Embassy of Iraq.

The Kingdom of Jordan now administers all business for Iraq and there is a presence of four to six persons working in the building daily. There are a reasonable amount of visitors daily.

A single diplomatic vehicle sits outside daily with an index mark in the series 194Dnnn.

At around 0700 the lights come on inside and four or five persons arrive at the embassy, entering by number 21. Of course more may arrive at the rear, in the Mews, out of sight.

In 1991 at the outbreak of the Gulf action near panic set in when it was realised that some form of chemical or biological weaponry could have been smuggled into the Embassy. It was believed that Iraqi intelligence cells were embedded in the émigré population and that other groups that had been supported by Baghdad may well carry out attacks in return for the previous generous support received.

Eight Iraqi diplomats were expelled along with sixty-seven other persons. The building was entered and searched and to add salt to the diplomatic wound a demonstration also took place, in Queen's Gate, by a Kurdish action group. It is believed the diplomats were members of the Iraqi intelligence service, the Mukhhabarat.

Locally, residents talk of strange comings and goings to a nearby building at peculiar times and also of interference to their tv pictures, presumably from the Embassy transmitters. Whether or not a local interception of these transmissions was made is not known but one can hazard a guess [and I know how I would have done it efficiently]………

[This section is unchanged and refers to the Saddam Hussein era, prior to its removal and the destruction of Iraq]

Iraq as a country covers an area of 116,000 square metres and was once known as Mesopotamia, 'the land between two rivers'. Unfortunately for historians and archaeologists, no longer having access, Iraq is rich in ruins of the ancient Chaldeaen and Sumerian civilisations as well as those of Babylon and Ninevah.

The climate is hot and dry in summer, whilst it is cool with scant rainfall in winter. Chief products [presumably now used for the home population] consist of wheat, barley, maize and beans. There are also oil fields, whose production has been much in the international news.

The country is ruled by an oppressive Ba'ath regime under Saddam Hussein. He is assisted with his cause by the remainder of his close [male] family and many Intelligence agencies exist in Iraq; they can be listed as:

National Security Council/Bureau - [Maktab al-Amn al-Qawmi]
Special Security Committee
Special Security Office (SSO) - [Jihaz al-Himaya al-Khas/ Al-Amn al Khas]
Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS)
General Intelligence Directorate/Department (GID) - [Jihaz al-Mukhabarat al-Amma]
Project 858 - Al Hadi Project

And

Military Intelligence.

Of immediate interest is the Iraqi Intelligence (IIS) or the Mukhabarat.
(Interestingly the word 'Mukh' literally means 'brains').

The IIS is made up of twenty-eight departments, or directorates, and led by Rafi Dahham Al Tikriti. This former ambassador to Turkey took the position on 1st July 1997. The previous director was Mani' abd Rashid Al Tikriti who now resides in Jadiriya, Baghdad.

It is perhaps interesting to note that there is still a family connection, the director's secretary being the nephew of Mani' Abd Rashid, one Captain Muthana Al Tikriti.

The following make up the directorates within the IIS:

D1	The Private Office: The office of the director of the IIS, situated in a building at the entrance of the IIS in the Mansour suburb of Baghdad. Directives are issued from this office and all meetings with senior staff are convened here. Within the office are: Reception and appointments, Dept of Internal and External Co-ordination, The Secretariat, Audit, Security, Salaries and Technical [electronic] facilities.

D2	Administration: All administration matters and affairs are considered in this office located in the IIS HQ complex. Other considerations of this office are: Public enquiry dept, Payments and Gifts, Land and Housing, Registry and Audit. Matters of security are also considered here. The typing pool and secretariat are located here.

D3	D3 Surveillance: This department is located at the National Security Institute in the Jihad district of Baghdad, The operatives specifically target possible recruits, and perhaps, more importantly, suspects. Sub divisions within D3 include Mobile Surveillance who use vehicles for close pursuit. Foot and Stationary Surveillance who view fixed targets or premises use a variety of venues which include houses, shops or sales kiosks.

D4	Secret Service: Located within the IIS HQ complex the duties take place in Iraq and overseas. D4 operatives are infiltrated into Iraqi Embassies of those of countries who oppose Iraq's will. Further infiltration is into Iraqi Government sites and departments, associations, unions organisations and political parties. Co-ordination is with D3, D5, D9, D12, D14 and D18. The Director is Major-General Abdul Aziz Al Qurtan who lives in Al Dora, Baghdad whilst the Assistant Director, who resides in the Officers' Housing Complex at Zeyounna District, Baghdad is Brigadier Mohammed Yasin Al Shammari, originally from Mosal.

D5	Counter Intelligence: Brigadier Sadoon Ali Al Tikriti, originally from Auja, oversees the work of D5 whose duties involve the pursuit and the uncovering of foreign agents. D5 works with D3, D4, D14 and D18. The Assistant Director is Lt Colonel Ahmed Lahij Al Dulaimi, who resides in the Yarmouk District of Baghdad.

D6	IIS Security: This unit is located within the IIS complex and is responsible foe issuing ID papers, passports and marriage sanctions for all IIS employees. Officers and other ranks answer directly to D5 for their conduct. Director is Major-General Abdul Hameed Yaseen Al Ghurairi who resides in the Yarmouk District of Baghdad.

D7	Al Haakimiya (prison): D7 is a large prison building with five floors and five basements. It is located opposite the Passport Office.

D8	Forensics: Inside the IIS HQ complex this department keeps on record all fingerprints of IIS employees. The testing of explosives and other weaponry are conducted in an advanced laboratory. Specialist cameras and Radio Communications equipment is assembled here as well. The Director is an Egyptian, Dr Mohammed Al Masri.

D9	Secret Operations: Wet operations such as sabotage and assassination are carried out by this directorate. Most work is outside of Iraq and is done in co-ordination with D5, D12, D14 and D18. The Director is Major-General Abdul Hameed Khalaf Al Bayati who resides in the Mansour District.

D10	Legal Directorate: The court of the IIS is found here. All prisoners of IIS are subsequently tried and sentenced here. D10 represents the IIS in joint committees. Director is Brigadier Kamel Qurtasi Al Jenabi.

D11	Accounts: All financial affairs and salaries [except D1]. Located in the HQ complex.

D12	Electronic Surveillance: Plants electronic devices in IIS and analyses results. Also involved in forging currency.

D13	Medical: Ongoing medical care of all IIS employees. Located in IIS HQ complex.

D14	Special Operations: The most secret and sensitive, special operations are directed from this department located in Salman Pak 20kM south east of Baghdad. Joint operations are run with the Mujahideen Khalq Organisation [MKO] and is also responsible for the training of personnel selected for special operations. Director is Brigadier Nouri Al Douri [Abu Ibrahim] who resides in Jadriya.

D15	Vehicles: Responsible for maintenance and pooling of all the vehicles of IIS.

D16	Physical Plant: Maintenance, cleaning and servicing of all IIS buildings.

D17	Trains all IIS officers. The building, which is in the Jihad district, also contains the supermarket used by IIS employees.

D18	Iran: Responsible for the MKO, issuing the orders and tasking the MKO for operations in Iraq, Iran and other countries. Director Brigadier Ishan Al Timmimi [Syed Ishan].


D19	Personnel Supervision: Overseas surveillance of IIS employees.

D20	Printing: Apart from printing leaflets and books the printing of forged documents, including passports, is the principle responsibility.

D21	Residency: The monitoring of the residence permits of all non-Iraqis domicile in Iraq. It is located In the Karada District of Baghdad.

D22	Protection: The personal protection of senior IIS officials and visiting dignitaries is the remit of this department.

D23	Southern District: Responsible for all positions and operations in and around the south of Iraq.
	The infiltration of countries in the south and the ongoing monitoring of the political events in the south are of interest to D23, located in Basra.

D24	Northern District: Located in Mosul, with an additional office in Kirkuk, its duties match those of D23, but carried out in the North with the additional duty of infiltrating the opposition in Iraqi Kurdistan.

D25	Western District: Charged with operations and recruitment of agents in Syria and Jordan. Smuggling and Gun running across those borders is co-ordinated from the Directorates office in Ramadi. The offices are situated just past TheWarar Bridge on the road to Baghdad. Co-operation with tribes on both sides of the border is also undertaken.

D26	Eastern District: Based in Karbala the directorate is responsible for operations in the Karbala Governate.

D27	Engineering and Construction: Responsible for the construction of all IIS buildings and houses for senior officers.

D28	Security of the Military Industrialisation Organisation facilities (MIO): Established in August 1995, after the defection of Hussein Kamal, it is responsible for security of all MIO buildings and presumably personnel. The office is located in Palestine Street, Baghdad. Colonel Abdel Hamid Khalifa Al Dulaimi is the Director.

In Part two of this article, PLondon takes a quick look at the Special Security Organisation, Project 858 and concludes

with present day events around the Embassy at Queen's Gate SW7.