159. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy0
Here is an interim response to your 18 February query on “what are we planning to do re Iraq?”1
We are going to (1) name an Ambassador shortly, since the new regime reversed Kassem’s policy of expelling ambassadors from those countries recognizing Kuwait; (2) offer technical help if needed; (3) encourage sending more Iraqi students to US military schools (we’ve had about 100 here since 1958 revolution).
But we think it might create the wrong impression on the new regime if we embraced them more fulsomely just now; it’s better to let [Page 352] them come to us. If Iraq needs money, we think IPC will make an advance; over the longer run it has plenty of oil revenue.
Most experts here (and Embassy Moscow) doubt the USSR, despite its obvious unhappiness on the crackdown on Iraqi Communists, will cut its aid, and thus thrust Iraq back toward us. Rather the Soviets will try to salvage as much of their position as they can. We’d also have trouble with MAP for a neutralist Iraq, because of the precedent it would set for other Arab countries and the annoyance to Israel. But we’ll look at military sales if occasion offers.
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Iraq, 1963. Secret.↩
- On February 18, President Kennedy had sent Secretary of State Rusk a memorandum that reads: “What are we planning to do re Iraq? If the Russians cut off their aid, are we planning to make any offers to them?” (Ibid.)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩