◆ SpookStack

1631-HQ-1462938 AL-HUMMADI examined a photocopy of HUSSEIN's memorandum responding to the DMI, recognized it as a copy of an authentic document in format and substance, and verified his signature on the document as the Presidential Secretary. Because Generals are not Ministers, they could not correspond directly with HUSSEIN but rather sent correspondence through the Presidential Secretary's Office. Hence, the DMI submitted the referenced March 10, 1987 correspondence to Presidential Secretary AL- HUMMADI. AL-HUMMADI, in turn, presented it to HUSSEIN. HUSSEIN normally wrote his responses or directives on the margins or bottoms of the incoming correspondence. If the matter were urgent and time sensitive, AL-HUMMADI made a photocopy of the correspondence with HUSSEIN's original notes on it, filed the original, and sent the photocopy to the author of the correspondence. On more routine correspondence, AL-HUMMADI transcribed verbatim HUSSEIN's written remarks into a Presidential Secretary Office letter. Such was the case with this March 12, 1987, letter to the DMI. HUSSEIN read the DMI letter, accepted it and authorized the DMI's proposed use of "special ammunition." AL-HUMMADI then prepared HUSSEIN's March 12, 1987 official response memorandum and sent it to the DMI. AL-HUMMADI stated that the phrase "special ammunition" meant chemical weapons, and that HUSSEIN's order that the DMI conduct a study of special ammunition usage, coupled with the order to, “Do the necessary, and notify us”, indicated HUSSEIN knew of and authorized his military commanders' proposed use of chemical weapons. AL-HUMMADI reiterated his certainty that the document and his signature were authentic. [AlL-HUMMADI interview, June 2, 2004] The DMI Third Department, or Sh3, was responsible for handling the Kurdish insurgency. On March 13, 1987, the Director of the Sh3 responded to HUSSEIN’s orders. The Director recommended the use of the air force to carry out the strikes because air strikes would be: > more accurate and effective, > achieves the surprise attack objectives, since using artillery would reveal our intentions, > no doubt, some targets are beyond the artillery and helicopter ranges. [attached as document #XX] In the same report, the Sh3 Director also enumerated "the conditions and requirements for directing the [Special] Aerial Assault to inflict the required damage and make it more