US reportedly spied on Iraqi prime minister
Friday 05 September 2008
US agents placed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (photo) under surveillance, according to an upcoming book by Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, famous for his role in helping to uncover the Watergate scandal in the '70s.
Friday 05 September 2008
By Reuters (text)/ M. Amellal and G. HarrisThe Washington Post said on Friday that a book by U.S. journalist Bob Woodward reported that the
"If it is true...it reflects that there is no trust," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.
"If it is true it casts a shadow on the future relations with such institutions," he added, referring to the Central Intelligence Agency and other
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino declined to comment on the report, detailed in Woodward's fourth book on U.S. President George W. Bush, entitled "The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008."
"We have extensive cooperation with Prime Minister Maliki. Our ambassador sees him almost daily," Perino told reporters.
"To the extent that they (the Iraqi government) have any concerns, because we have the good relationship that we have with them -- which is one that's been very open and frank, and we have contact with them every single day -- I'm sure that they'll be talking about it," she added.
Woodward writes that the surveillance of the Iraqi prime minister caused concern among several senior
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05/09/2008 23:04:04 Alert a moderator
Shocked, or truly shocked?
By Sam Thornton - US/Burwell
As anyone who follows these things knows, nations with the technical means routinely spy on their allies as well as their enemies, and just as routinely deny it.
The really interesting question is, why the US Administration decided to release this particular tidbit through Mr. Woodward? To give other things leaked to him added credibility? To play a dominance game with Mr. al-Maliki? Given the Administration's other seemingly inexplicable actions, it's difficult to say. What is easier to say is that the shock value of this revelation is very close to zero.