[Miss Marple]

If this is true, Putin has shown himself far more duplicitous than I could have imagined. He has made a huge error and effectively stopped what could have been a promising alliance with the west.

However, I have a couple of questions. How did these documents fall into the hands of The Telegraph? Are they authentic, or forgeries?

With so much confusion going on in Baghdad right now, it seems odd that something like this would have been found and taken to a western journalist. It is very mysterious.

[FairOpinion]

"However, I have a couple of questions. How did these documents fall into the hands of The Telegraph? Are they authentic, or forgeries?"

They were found in Baghdad, at the Intelligence office headquarters, in Arabic. I doubt that they are forgeries, in other words, I think they are authentic.

There is ONE slim chance, that may save Putin. It just MAYBE possible, that Putin, while relatively friendly with the Saddam regime, was not aware of the extent of this intelligence sharing and tangible support,that maybe, just maybe, some Russian intelligence officers, who still hate the west were doing it, without Putin's knowledge. Not very likely, but possible.

But Putin better come through with the straight scoop and make amends, or there goes his chance of being part of the prosperous west.

I keep rereading this paragraph and there is no other way of interpreting it, other than not just intel sharing, but supporting ACTION, as in terrorism against Western targets.

"Moscow also provided Saddam with lists of assassins available for "hits" in the West and details of arms deals to neighbouring countries. The two countries also signed agreements to share intelligence, help each other to "obtain" visas for agents to go to other countries and to exchange information on the activities of Osama bin Laden, the al-Qa'eda leader."

[OldFriend]

Every country spies on every other country.

Remember when X42 was worried about some other country hearing his conversations with Monica.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

With so much confusion going on in Baghdad right now, it seems odd that something like this would have been found and taken to a western journalist. It is very mysterious.

Right, this is a major deal, if true! We need to slow down and verify what this is about and whether true!

[MadIvan]

With so much confusion going on in Baghdad right now, it seems odd that something like this would have been found and taken to a western journalist. It is very mysterious.

Actually, I dare say the confusion makes this ideal. Now let's suppose an enterprising Iraqi raids the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the looting. And let's suppose this Iraqi, being a clever chap, finds some documents from Russia that are of interest. Now let's suppose he realises that instead of the furniture in the offices, he's stumbled across something more valuable to sell to the Western Press. And he does.

Under normal circumstances, security would prevent such disclosures - the confusion makes the atmosphere ideal for such disclosures.

Regards, Ivan