MARCH 2003 : (US OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE THWARTED IRAQI-SPONSORED TERRORISM IN TWO FOREIGN COUNTRIES AS WELL AS PLOTS DIRECTED AT US TARGETS) Other plots thwarted : Iraq's attempt to infiltrate the U.S. came to light as U.S. officials announced they had thwarted Iraqi-sponsored terrorism in two foreign countries, as well as plots directed at U.S. targets. "There are two countries where operations have been compromised, and we have information on plots in other countries," State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said. Department officials declined to say whether the Mexico report had any connection to those Iraqi terrorist plots. In both foreign cases, the operatives were arrested, terrorist material was confiscated and the attacks were not carried out, said another State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher. The U.S. has asked a number of countries to expel suspected Iraqi intelligence officers, based on "the significant threat posed by their presence," Boucher said. - "Iraqis targeted W ranch - Terror team tried to sneak into Texas through Mexico," by JAMES GORDON MEEK With Thomas M. DeFrank , New York Daily News , 3/29/03