Office of the Historian

325. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1 2

Washington, October 5, 1972
[Page 1]

SUBJECT:

  • Progress Report on the Kurdish Support Operations

At Tab A is a memorandum from Director Helms providing information on the current status of our support for Mustafa Barzani’s Kurdish resistance movement. In short, Director Helms reports that:

  • —Money and arms have been delivered to Barzani via the Iranians without a hitch.
  • —More money and arms are in the pipeline, not only from Agency stocks but also [text not declassified] captured Fedayeen ordnance.
  • —Barzani received the first two monthly cash payments of [text not declassified] each for July and August. The payment for September will be made early in October and a fourth payment for October will be made at the end of the month.
  • —The first planeload of ten tons of arms and ammunition included 500 Kalashnikov AK–47 assault rifles, 500 Soviet submachine guns and 200, 000 rounds of ammunition.
  • —By the end of October, the Iranians will have received for onward shipment to the Kurds 222, 000 pounds of arms and ammunition from Agency stocks and 142,000 pounds from [text not declassified]
  • —Director Helms reports excellent cooperation [text not declassified] the Shah.
  • Director Helms also reports that the Baghdad regime and the Soviets are extremely concerned about the independent course being followed by [Page 2] Barzani. Also, according to CIA, all is not well with the Bathist regime.
  • —Reduction of oil revenue is causing fiscal stringencies and some discontent. Barzani’s maintenance of a secure redoubt will continue to pin down two-thirds of the Iraqi army and deprive the Bathists of a secure base from which to launch sabotage and assassination teams against Iran.

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 138, Kissinger Office Files, Kissinger Country Files, Middle East, Kurdish Problem Vol. I, June ′72–Oct. ′73. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Tab A is not published.↩
  2. Kissinger summarized for the President a progress report from Helms on the Kurdish Support Operations.↩