Dr. Ludwig de Braeckeleer

Will cease fire stabilize oil prices?

Part 42 – AUGUST 13, 1988 ''People will be less willing to put up with rationing and deprivation after the war. They will look for a grateful state to provide a land fit for heroes, but that will not be easy or cheap.'' - Don Kerr, Analyst for the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London ''If the Gulf War can be resolved, that will greatly relieve tensions within OPEC,'' argues Mehdi Varzi, senior oil analyst for Kleinwort Grieveson Securities Ltd. in London.

Mandela treated for Tuberculosis

Part 41 – AUGUST 12, 1988 "It would be immoral for me to abandon Libya after it had helped the African National Congress to fight apartheid, which had been one of the most brutal systems in the world." - President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, 22 October, 1997 Yesterday, the Iranian government released a 45 rial postage stamp illustrating the downing of Iran Flight 665 by the USS Vincennes on July 3rd.

The man who knew too little

Part 40 – AUGUST 11, 1988 ''While you have been in America, Mr. Giaka, have you encountered someone called Mitty, first name Walter?'' - Richard Keen QC On August 11 1988, Majid Giaka returns to the US Embassy. Giaka will become the super star witness of the Crown in their case against the two Libyans accused of the bombing of Pan Am 103. Curiously enough, the CIA knew all along that Giaka knew absolutely nothing about the tragedy.

Libyan Intelligence operative contacts US embassy in Malta

Part 39 – AUGUST 10, 1988 "Mr Giaka, you are a liar, aren t you? Mr Giaka, you tell big lies and you tell small lies, but you lie, do you not?" - Richard Keen QC [1] On August 10 1988, Abdul Majid Giaka contacted the US embassy in Malta. Giaka was interviewed by a CIA agent to whom he told that he was a member of the Libyan Intelligence Service. A decade later, Giaka will appear at the Zeist trial and testify that two of his former colleagues had planted the bomb that destroyed Pan Am 103.

Iran - Iraq cease fire set for August 20

Part 38 – AUGUST 9, 1988 ''I now call upon the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq to observe a cease-fire and to discontinue all military action on land, at sea and in the air as of 0300 G.M.T. on Aug. 20, 1988.'' - Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar Today, Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar announced that Iran and Iraq will begin a cease-fire on Aug. 20. Direct talks on a permanent peace accord will begin in Geneva five days later.

Tehran accepts plan by Iraq for truce and direct talks

Part 37 – AUGUST 8, 1988 ''Yes, we accepted the proposal of the Secretary General on the face-to-face negotiations after the cease-fire.'' - Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran Foreign Minister According to the Un Secretary General, Ali Akbar Velayati, the Iranian Foreign Minister, has promised to send him a letter formally accepting the compromise proposal put forward by the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein.

Saddam ready to accept cease fire

Part 36 – AUGUST 7, 1988 ''We extend a hand of friendship and peace to the people of Iran in spite of the bitterness we feel deep inside for the aggression that has afflicted us.'' - President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Today, President Saddam Hussein of Iraq announced that he would accept the UN proposed cease fire if Iran agrees to begin direct peace talks immediately after the truce.

Congress opposes Reagan plan to compensate Iranians

Part 34 – AUGUST 5 1988 ''I haven't seen a vote here for you yet. If there was a vote today, you would not get Congressional approval.'' - US Representative Ike Skelton, Democrat of Missouri President Reagan has announced that the United States would compensate the families of the 290 victims who died in the downing of Iran Flight 665 by the USS Vincennes on July 3rd.

Can we know the truth?

Part 35 - AUGUST 6, 1988 ''Aegis is just one of many flawed weapons the United States is buying, weapons often unsuited to a real combat environment.'' - Denny Smith, US Representative and Vietnam War veteran News leaked about the Navy's internal investigation of the destruction of an Iranian passenger jet by the Aegis cruiser Vincennes last month have already created some embarrassment for the administration.

US Administration cautious on Airbus inquiry

Part 33 – AUGUST 4, 1988 ''The news report has proved what we have said until now and in my speech to the Security Council. The United States has full responsibility in this matter.'' -- Ali Akbar Velayati, Foreign Minister of Iran The Reagan Administration reacted cautiously today to a news report that a military investigation would show that mistakes by the crew aboard an American warship in the Persian Gulf were responsible for the downing of an Iranian airbus a month ago.

Inexperience crew blamed for USS Vincennes tragedy

Part 32 – AUGUST 3 1988 "Nerves were shattered, and the training seemed nonexistent." The USS Vincennes Incident [1] US Defense Department officials said that the investigation into the downing of an Iranian airliner by the USS Vincennes on July 3 blames the error on the high level psychological stress of the crew and its inexperience of combat situation.

UN Secretary General to announce cease-fire

Part 31 – AUGUST 2, 1988 ''I express deep regret at the mission's conclusion that chemical weapons continue to be used against Iranian forces and positions.'' --Javier Perez de Cuellar, United Nations Secretary General UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar said that he would declare a cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq war. He added that he will decide on the date based on the recommendations of a military mission sent by the UN in the Gulf.

US and Iran in talks over American hostages

Part 30 – AUGUST 1st, 1988 ''We respect the wish of the PLO, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people to secede from us in an independent Palestinian state.'' King Hussein of Jordan, August 1st 1988 Over the last week, Washington and Tehran have exchanged a few messages through a third party. The message from the US administration is said to congratulate Iran for accepting the cease fire and to seek the help of Iranians officials to secure the safe release of the US citizens held hostage in Lebanon.

July intelligence Summary

Part 29- JULY 31, 1988 ''We must push our people 200 years ahead and away from medieval, reactionary ideas, through education and discipline.'' Tarik Aziz, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister   The first week of the United Nations-sponsored Persian Gulf peace talks ended without much result as Iraq insists on talks with Iran.

Saudis urge Baghdad to accept cease-fire with Iran

Part 28 - JULY 30, 1988 "The last time we choose sides between warring factions in the Middle East, it cost us 241 American Marines." Noel Koch, Head of the Pentagon Counter-terrorism Program Tehran claims that Iranians soldiers have pushed back the rebel troops fighting with Iraqi, after they had penetrated 100 miles deep inside Iran. Speaking from Washington, a spokesperson of the rebel group, known as the PMOI, denied the claim and stated that the PMOI has voluntarily withdrawn from Iranian territory.

Pentagon investigators return to United States

Part 27 - JULY 29, 1988 "We do not consider the poor state of relations between Iran and the United States to be in our interest. We would like to see them improve." Richard W. Murphy, Assistant Secretary of State The six-member team investigating the downing of Iran Air flight 655 left the Persian Gulf for its home base in Tampa, Florida.

Baghdad demands direct talks with Iranian officials

Part 26 - JULY 28, 1988: ''If you sell arms to the Ayatollah, don't expect a pardon from the President of the United States.'' Governor Dukakis, US Presidential Candidate Iraq's Foreign Minister had a first round of talks with Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar this morning.

UN Secretary General holds talks with Iran foreign minister

Part 25 - JULY 27, 1988: ''I have said several times that the United States took a hostile attitude toward Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Direct talks with the United States make no sense as long as this condition exists.'' -- Hojatolislam Hashemi Rafsanjani, Speaker of Iran's Parliament and Acting Commander in Chief of its armed forces

Rumors of High Level US-Iran Direct Talks

Part 24, Monday, July 26, 1988 "Both sides are very cautiously signaling each other that it's time for a rapprochement. Iranians are tentatively interested in such a possibility, and the United States appears to be very interested." --Gary G. Sick, an expert on the Persian Gulf region, National Security Council staff under President Carter On this day in 1988, UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar met twice with Ali Akbar Velayati, Iran's foreign minister, in the first formal talks about a ceasefire for the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq.

Tehran denounces Iraqi use of chemical weapons

Part 23 - JULY 25 1988 "I do not understand this squeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favor of using poison gas against uncivilized tribes." Winston Churchill [1]