The Twilight War: The Secret History of America's Thirty-Year Conflict With Iran

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The Twilight War: The Secret History of America's Thirty-Year Conflict With Iran Page 87

by David Crist


  and Iranian Mecca plot, 263

  and Khobar Towers attack, 405, 618n20

  Lang briefs, 359

  on Saudi-Iranian air confrontation, 162

  and Saudi minesweepers, 248–49

  and U.S. financial restrictions on Iran, 507

  Basij, 93, 493, 498, 567

  Bazargan, Mehdi, 25, 26, 27, 29, 92

  Beheshti, Mohammad, 20, 26–27

  Bernsen, Harold, 216–17

  and Bridgeton incident, 243–47

  and Brooks’s joint task force, 310

  on bureaucratic opposition to sea-based force, 289–90

  and CIA aircraft, 314

  in Crist’s new command structure, 269

  and Gas Prince convoy, 261–62

  in Iran Ajr seizure, 293–97

  and Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia, 304, 307, 309

  and Iranian mining campaign, 240, 241, 251, 254, 264

  on Iranian will to attack U.S. ships, 218

  and Kuwaiti request to reflag tankers, 215

  plan to meet Iranian threat, 276–82, 292

  relieved of command, 320–21, 610n4

  and Stark incident, 221, 222, 226, 228, 229

  and surveillance over the Persian Gulf, 326

  threats of Iranian attacks on headquarters of, 242

  Berri, Nabih, 123, 126, 127, 155

  bin Laden, Osama, 417, 419, 423, 425, 437

  Bolton, John, 422–23, 430, 442–43, 476, 478, 487, 504

  BQ Tug, 79–81, 82, 373–74, 375, 378

  Bremer, L. Paul, 109, 471–72, 481, 483

  Bridgeton incident, 242–47, 252, 256, 275, 278, 325

  Brooks, Dennis, 270, 271, 295, 310–11, 315, 320–21, 603n42, 610n4

  Brown, Harold, 11–12, 21–23, 36–39, 41, 42, 50

  Brzezinski, Zbigniew:

  on Iranian hostage crisis, 89

  and Iranian Revolution, 16–18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 580n48

  negotiates with new Iranian government, 27

  on Persian Gulf policy, 11, 48, 578n13

  on rapid deployment force, 36–37, 39, 582n23

  Buckley, William, 67, 132, 154–55, 178–79, 181, 182, 382, 388

  Bull, Lyle, 262, 267, 268, 270, 272

  Burns, Nicholas, 478, 488, 489, 501, 504–6, 509, 561

  Burns, William, 456, 457, 509, 540, 548, 549–50

  Bush, George H. W.:

  as CIA director, 428

  and Gulf War of 1990–1991, 386

  improved relations with Iran sought by, 380–85

  and Iran-Contra affair, 176, 198, 382

  and Iran-Iraq War, 98

  on no goodwill to beget goodwill with Iran, 388

  on Persian Gulf as vital to U.S. interests, 372

  on shooting down Iran Air Flight 655, 370

  Bush, George W.:

  Ahmadinejad’s letter to, 500–501

  on aid to Iran after earthquake of 2003, 483

  on “axis of evil,” 439, 440–42, 455

  briefed on possible invasion of Iran, 454

  briefs Obama on Iran policy, 538–39

  and Chalabi, 469

  and Cole attack, 419

  conflicting views on Iran in administration, 442–47, 473–75, 509

  and counterattack against Iranian interference in Iraq, 530–32

  Europe trip of 2005, 488–89

  freedom agenda of, 485–510

  and Iranian nuclear program, 419, 420, 422–23, 444–56, 466, 470, 474–76, 489–91, 495, 504–9, 538, 551

  and Iranian-provided EFPs, 524

  lacks appetite for attacking Iran, 495

  on leaving Iranian issue unresolved, 537

  little interest in Iraq or Iran, 423

  managerial style, 421–22, 442

  military experience in administration, 416

  and National Intelligence Estimate on Iranian nuclear program, 508

  on nation building in Afghanistan, 436

  new plan to deal with Iran sought by, 417–23

  Obama’s Iran policy compared to that of, 561

  oil industry connections of, 428

  and plan to kill al-Zarqawi, 438

  religious beliefs, 421, 500

  and Rice’s negotiations of 2006, 503, 505, 506

  Rice’s relationship with, 421, 487

  on selling weapons to Gulf Arabs, 517–18

  on Sharon, 108

  U.S. consulate in Tehran considered, 502–3

  in U.S. invasion of Iraq, 439, 459, 485, 488, 511–12

  war on terrorism, 427, 540

  Carlucci, Frank:

  becomes national security adviser, 204

  intelligence gathering for sea-based force authorized, 285–86

  Intelligence Support Activity operations suspended, 61

  and Iran Ajr seizure, 296

  on Kuwaiti request to reflag tankers, 212, 214

  new more aggressive policy toward Iran, 323–24

  on Operation Staunch, 205

  and Roberts attack, 336, 350, 354–55

  and Stark incident, 226, 228

  on U.S. as not policeman of Persian Gulf, 364

  on Vincennes to Persian Gulf, 363

  Carter, Jimmy:

  allows shah into U.S. for medical treatment, 27–28

  Eagle Claw operation authorized, 31

  on freedom of navigation in Persian Gulf, 34, 48, 440

  and Iran hostage crisis, 29–30, 34, 49, 89, 401

  and Iranian Revolution, 8, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22

  loses election of 1980, 47

  on oil crisis, 8–9

  Persian Gulf policy, 9, 10–12, 578n13

  rapid deployment force for Persian Gulf created, 33–42

  Reagan contrasted with, 50

  seeks to continue normal relations with Iran, 25–27

  Cartwright, James, 539, 541, 550, 567

  Casey, William, 65–66

  anticommunism of, 66–67

  on attack on U.S. embassy annex in Beirut, 152

  on attack on U.S. marines in Lebanon, 145, 146

  on bringing Iran back into Western fold, 67, 378–79

  and Buckley, 132, 154, 181, 182

  on communist threat to Iran, 67–68

  and counterterrorism in Lebanon, 156, 157–58, 593n34

  on covert operations in Iran, 69

  exiles cultivated by, 76–77, 462

  and Iran-Contra affair, 180–81, 186, 188, 189, 194–95, 200, 202

  on Israeli invasion of Lebanon, 111

  on supporting an Iranian insurgency, 71

  and tanker war, 163

  Cave, George, 26

  in Iran-Contra affair, 189–92, 194, 196–98, 200–201

  on Iranian opposition, 77–78

  on Iraqi response to U.S. intelligence on Iran, 104

  in negotiations with new Iranian government, 26, 27, 87

  on Soviet influence on Iran, 68

  Central Command (CENTCOM):

  Abizaid becomes commander, 513

  on bilateral defense arrangements with Gulf countries, 169–72

  bureaucratic opposition to sea-based force, 289–92

  Crist becomes commander, 164–66

  on dealing with Iranians in Iraq, 512–13

  in defense of Kuwaiti tankers, 215–17, 230–31, 233, 243, 261–62, 266–67

  and Defense Reorganization Act, 173

  on drawing down forces in Persian Gulf, 372

  establishment of, 54–56

  exercises in Persian Gulf in 1995, 398

  Fallon becomes commander, 532

  Franks becomes commander, 417

  intelligence gathering authorized for sea-based force, 285–86

  “invisible hand in reverse” plan, 418, 419

  on Iranian ballistic missile program, 557–58

  and Iranian blockade of Iraq, 168–69

  on Iranian influence in post-Saddam Iraq, 471, 473

  and Iranian mining campaign, 240

  Kingston as first commander, 54, 58r />
  maintains military-to-military ties after Iran-Contra affair, 206

  in Operation Staunch, 102

  plans to overthrow Islamic Republic, 397, 399, 407–9, 418, 454

  recent commanders, 568–69

  regional responses to, 56–57

  revised plan for Soviet invasion of Iran, 59–60, 78

  and Roberts attack, 335–38

  Schwarzkopf becomes commander, 371

  Zinni becomes commander, 406

  Central Intelligence Agency (CIA):

  agents in Iran arrested in 1988, 372–79

  agents in Iran arrested in 2011, 556

  agents killed in U.S. embassy bombing in Beirut, 132

  Ahmadi recruited by, 462–63

  and attack on U.S. marines in Lebanon, 142, 143, 144

  Bush family connections, 428

  and Clinton on overthrowing Saddam Hussein, 391

  covert action budget for, 400–401, 410

  drone flights of, 540, 556–57

  in Eagle Claw operation, 31–32

  Fadlallah assassination attempt, 157–58

  and Hezbollah, 156

  intelligence as key to Iraqi victory, 370

  in Iran-Contra affair, 186–89, 190, 195, 196

  and Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia, 300–303

  in Iranian coup of 1953, 10, 69, 544

  Iranian military officers recruited by, 72–74

  on Iranian nuclear program, 393, 553–55

  and Iranian Revolution, 14, 15, 17, 20

  Iranians discover spy network of, 82–83

  and Iran-Iraq War, 102–5, 588n42

  on Israeli invasion of Lebanon, 109

  and Khobar Towers attack, 409

  kidnappings attempted by, 157

  Kingston’s connections with, 58–59, 79

  on links between Iraq and September 11, 427

  means of communicating with agents, 75–76

  on Mecca uprising plan, 262, 301

  operations in Iran, 65–83

  paramilitary effort in Iran, 78–81, 358

  on al-Qaeda presence in Iran, 437–38

  on reform movement in Iran, 494

  signals collection station at Ilam, 87

  Stinger missiles given to Afghan mujahideen, 302

  surveillance aircraft of, 312–16, 323, 371, 609n39

  Chalabi, Ahmed, 447–48, 469, 472, 502

  Chamran, Mostafa, 91–92, 93, 124

  Chandler, David, 337, 341, 342, 343–46, 347, 351, 355

  Charles, Sandra, 163, 205, 214, 381

  Cheney, Elizabeth, 495, 496, 497, 499, 502

  Cheney, Richard B., 416

  on Abizaid’s Iran strategy, 516

  and George W. Bush’s freedom agenda, 486

  and Chalabi, 447, 469

  on counterattack against Iranian interference in Iraq, 526, 532–34

  on drawing down U.S. forces in Persian Gulf, 372

  on establishing U.S. consulate in Tehran, 503

  and Iranian-provided EFPs, 524, 525

  Iran policy, 444, 445, 474–75

  on overthrowing Saddam Hussein as having positive effect on Iran, 475

  on plan to kill al-Zarqawi, 438

  on Rice’s negotiations of 2006, 503–4

  and “road map” document for normalizing relations with Iran, 479

  and September 11, 2001, attacks, 423

  and war on terrorism, 427

  Chizari, Mohsen, 527

  Clarke, Richard, 405, 408, 618n20

  Clinton, William Jefferson:

  and Cole attack, 417, 419, 619n4

  Iran policy, 389–92, 400

  and Khobar Towers attack, 409, 412, 413

  military officer corps and, 416

  overtures toward Khatami, 411–15, 419

  trade with Iran limited, 399–400

  Cole attack, 417–18, 419, 619n4

  Crist, George B.:

  Bernsen relieved of command, 320

  on bilateral defense arrangements with Gulf countries, 169–72

  and Bridgeton incident, 243, 244, 246, 247

  and Brooks’s joint task force, 310–11

  and Carlucci’s new more aggressive policy toward Iran, 323–24

  as CENTCOM commander, 2–3, 164–66, 371

  and CIA aircraft, 316

  in defense of Kuwaiti tankers, 215–17, 266–67

  feud with Lyons, 268–70, 271

  on Gulf states agreeing to joint operations, 242

  and Iran Ajr seizure, 297

  and Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia, 303

  and Iranian blockade of Iraq, 168–69

  on Iranian “Martyrdom” exercise, 263

  and Iranian mining campaign, 239, 240, 248, 251, 255

  and Lyons’s Window of Opportunity plan, 257, 270

  on maintaining military-to-military ties after Iran-Contra affair, 206

  new headquarters proposed by, 269

  and Roberts attack, 334, 335, 336, 337, 344, 354, 356

  sea-based plan for dealing with Iranians, 275, 276–92

  and slipping Guadalcanal past Strait of Hormuz, 260–61

  and Stark incident, 226, 228, 229

  and takeover of U.S. embassy in Tehran, 28–29

  Crocker, Ryan, 429–30

  on Arab-Persian animosity, 467–68

  negotiations on Iranian intervention in Iraq, 534–35, 536

  negotiations with Iran in Geneva, 429–34, 441, 478, 479

  negotiations with Zarif, 457–59

  Crouch, Jack Dyer “J. D.”, 491–93, 495, 502, 527, 531

  Crowe, William, 172–73

  and bilateral defense arrangements with Gulf countries, 169

  and Bridgeton incident, 244, 245, 246

  and Brooks, 321

  and Carlucci’s new more aggressive policy toward Iran, 323–24

  and CIA aircraft, 313, 316, 609n30

  on communications between U.S. and Iraqis, 231, 232

  and Crist-Lyons feud, 268–69

  and Crist’s plan for dealing with Iranians, 275, 281, 283, 290–92

  on Defense Reorganization Act, 173–74

  Farsi Island seizure urged by, 257

  and Iran Ajr seizure, 296–97

  and Iran-Contra affair, 190

  and Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia, 300, 303

  on Iranian “Martyrdom” exercise, 263

  and Iranian mining campaign, 239, 240, 242–43, 248–49, 252, 253

  and Kuwaiti request to reflag tankers, 215

  and Lyons, 256–57, 266–68, 270–74

  and Roberts attack, 334–37, 354–56

  on shooting down Iran Air Flight 655, 369

  in slipping Guadalcanal past Strait of Hormuz, 259–61

  and Stark incident, 229

  on U.S. Navy conservatism, 233

  cyber warfare, 551–52

  Daqduq, Ali Musa, 530

  Dawa Party (Iraq), 86, 467, 559

  Dawa Party (Kuwait), 154, 155, 200, 382, 386

  Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), 358–59

  on Cole attack, 619n4

  on Free Iraqi Forces, 448

  intelligence given to Iran, 187, 370

  on Iranian attack on Basra, 95

  on Iranian boats at Bushehr, 303

  on Iranian-provided EFPs, 523

  and Iranian Silkworm missiles, 218

  Iraqi military briefed by, 360–62

  and Kingston’s back channel for intelligence, 59

  in planning for invasion of Iran, 45

  in Stark investigation, 227

  Defense Reorganization (Goldwater-Nichols) Act, 173–74, 232, 268, 269

  Democracy Project, 496–98

  Dempsey, Martin, 557, 567, 570

  Denehy, David, 496–97

  Dobbins, James, 433–36, 439, 457

  Donilon, Tom, 540–41, 570

  Dunbar, Charles, 200–201

  Dyer, Donald, 316, 323, 337, 342–43, 348, 351–53, 356

  Eagle Claw, 31–32<
br />
  Earnest Will operation, 229, 240, 243, 268–69, 278, 286, 316, 321, 372, 385, 399, 430

  EFPs (enhanced formed projectiles), 520–25, 527, 530–32

  Egypt:

  anti-Khomeini radio broadcasts from, 77

  Bright Star exercises, 44

  and George W. Bush’s freedom agenda, 487

  Egypt

  in Central Command, 55

  democracy lacking in, 435

  and Iran-Iraq War, 100–101

  and Red Sea mining, 235–36

  U.S. bases established in, 40–41

  Escudero, Stanley, 18–20

  Evancoe, Paul, 283, 297, 299, 304–9

  Fadavi, Ali, 365–66, 367, 368

  Fadlallah, Muhammad Hussein, 127–28, 150, 157–58, 386–87, 591n13

  Fahd, King (Saudi Arabia), 56, 97, 236

  Fahd Line, 162, 607n41

  Fallon, Joseph “Fox,” 532–33, 560, 568

  Feith, Douglas:

  on Chalabi, 448

  on Iran as terrorist organization, 445

  on Iranian influence in Iraq, 470–71, 481

  on overthrowing Saddam Hussein having positive effect on Iran, 452, 453

  on regime change in Iran as part of war on terrorism, 451, 454

  and “road map” document for normalizing relations with Iran, 479

  on Russia and Iranian nuclear program, 623n35

  and September 11, 2001, attacks, 425

  in war on terrorism, 426, 427, 433

  Foster, Paul F. (ship), 406–7

  Francona, Rick, 360, 361, 362

  Franklin, Larry, 430, 449, 450, 453

  Franks, Tommy:

  on broad options for retaliating against Iran, 417

  and Free Iraqi Forces, 502

  “invisible hand in reverse” plan, 418, 419

  on Iranian influence in Iraq, 471, 472, 473

  on overthrowing Saddam Hussein having positive effect on Iran, 455

  on plan for bringing about regime change in Iran, 454

  steps down as CENTCOM commander, 513

  updates Bush on U.S. invasion of Iraq, 439

  Free Iraqi Forces, 448, 502

  Gates, Robert:

  and attack on U.S. marines in Lebanon, 142

  Bush administration continues to share intelligence with Iraq, 385

  on Casey, 66

  concern about being pulled into conflict with Iran, 567

  on conditions for normal relations with Iran, 386

  and counterattack against Iranian interference in Iraq, 528, 533, 535–36

  Fallon fired by, 560

  in Iran-Contra affair, 187

  on Kingston’s CIA connections, 59

  on North, 182

  in Obama administration, 540

  on stationing cruisers in Persian Gulf, 558

  George, Clair, 103–4, 156, 316

  Geraghty, Timothy, 115–18, 120, 132, 133, 135, 136, 138

  Ghadir plan, 238–39, 297

  Ghorbanifar, Manucher:

  claims to have information about Buckley, 178–79

 

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