Pls Note: I'd like to inform some of my forum users that I've been kicked from spacebattles and alt history for nothing really offensive but they run their site like its a damn prison so i'll be posting here only going forward.
Langley, Virginia — Central Intelligence Agency
January 10, 1962
The winter air outside Langley was cold enough to sting the lungs, but inside the long corridors of the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters the atmosphere was warmer, quieter, and infinitely more tense.
A red folder lay open on the polished conference table.
On its cover were two words typed neatly in black ink.
*SOLDAT ERBIL AHMED HUSSEIN*
Around the table sat twelve men. Some wore military uniforms. Others wore the neutral black suits of government analysts and intelligence officers.
At the head of the table sat Deputy Director Robert Ames, a man whose facial features suggested he had not slept properly in for the past few nights, yet he was still up.
He tapped the file once with a pen indicating to the topic they were all on.
"Gentlemen," he began, "two days ago Iraq experienced what appears to be a decisive internal power shift, again."
He paused.
"Colonel Abdul Salam Arif has resigned. Ali Salih al-Sa'di and his National Guard faction have been eliminated. The man now controlling the Iraqi state is the former Minister of Interior—Soldat Hussein."
Several of the analysts shifted slightly.
Most of them already knew the name. But not all of them understood the problem.Ames gestured to a young analyst sitting halfway down the table.
"Mr. Whitaker you may begin."
The young man opened his own folder, adjusting his glasses.
"Thank you sir, Soldat Hussein," he said, "age twenty-eight. Former infantry officer in the Iraqi army. Political affiliation: Ba'ath Party, though his relationship with said party appears… rather flexible."
A faint murmur passed through the room.
Whitaker continued.
"He first emerged within the political structure following the 1958 overthrow of King Faisal II. Early reports suggest he operated primarily as a military aide to Abdul Salam Arif."
"Over time he gained influence within the military, the civilian government and public support."
He turned a page.
"Approximately two years ago he was appointed Minister of Interior, a rather unimportant office but he had transformed it into something that would make up one of the most performative ministries."
A man across the table leaned back in his chair.
"That position alone doesn't really make him dictator."
Whitaker nodded.
"Normally it wouldn't, nor should it."
He lifted another document.
"But in Hussein's case it allowed him to construct something far more significant."
"The Iraqi Security Bureau."
Several officers in the room exchanged glances.
Whitaker continued.
"Our field reports suggest the ISB operates as both a national security service and an intelligence apparatus."
He hesitated slightly.
"In practice, it functions more like a political enforcement agency, and often times not."
Deputy Director Ames nodded slowly.
"Secret police."
Whitaker didn't disagree.
"Yes, sir."
The analyst flipped another page.
"What concerns us most is the degree of preparation Hussein appears to have invested in this moment."
Ames raised an eyebrow.
"Explain."
Whitaker slid several photographs across the table for the men to review. Photos in shades of black and white but they were clear enough.
Images of Iraqi army units occupying intersections in specific locations. National Guard prisoners being escorted by soldiers.
Crowds gathered outside government buildings.
"Ali Salih attempted a coup on January fifth."
"And within hours the attempt collapsed."
Whitaker pointed to one of the photographs.
"Hussein's forces had already secured communications infrastructure, transportation routes, and government ministries before the militia could move into positions."
A colonel sitting near the end of the table spoke quietly.
"That's not necessarily improvisation, such things need planning and proper coordination to repel."
"Indeed, sir," Whitaker said.
"And that's what he did, Hussein knew all along that Ali Salih would make his move and planned for it ever since ."
---
London — Secret Intelligence Service Headquarters
January 11, 1962
Across the Atlantic, a similar conversation was unfolding inside a quieter, older building along the Thames.
At MI6 headquarters the atmosphere was far less hurried but no less concerned.
Sir Malcolm Harrington stood near the large window overlooking the river.
He held a thin folder in one hand.
Inside were several intelligence cables received from British assets in Baghdad.
Behind him, two analysts sat across a desk.
One of them spoke first.
"Sir, we've confirmed the executions."
Harrington turned slightly.
"How many?"
"One hundred and thirty-five leadership figures. Ali Salih included."
The older man sighed quietly.
"A thorough purge."
"Yes, sir."
Harrington walked slowly back toward the desk.
"Tell me," he said calmly, "how did we thoroughly misjudge and overlooked this man?"
The analysts exchanged glances. Finally one of them answered.
"We believed Ali Salih controlled the stronger faction."
Harrington raised an eyebrow.
"Yes we did , but now?"
"Now it appears we were mistaken." The analyst opened his own folder.
"Hussein spent the last two years building an intelligence network inside the Iraqi government."
"Based on our findings, the ISB?"
"Yes."
"And something else."
Harrington leaned forward.
"Go on."
"A covert organization. No official name."
"Functions include intelligence operations, national security and monitoring efforts, for those thought to be…. enemies".
"A shadow service."
"Yes, sir."
"And we supported the wrong man."
"I wouldn't say so Sir." The man looked towards his chief as he held back to rest of what was also meant to be said.
---
CIA Intelligence Briefing — Continued
Back in Langley the discussion had grown more intense.
Another agent had taken Whitaker's place.
This one was older, with graying hair and a tired expression.
"Gentlemen," he began, "the question before us is not how Hussein seized power."
"That part appears straightforward."
He tapped the file.
"The question is what he intends to do with it."
Deputy Director Ames leaned back slightly.
"Your assessment?"
The analyst spoke carefully.
"Hussein is not behaving like a typical revolutionary."
"Meaning?"
"He isn't dismantling the state."
"Most revolutionary leaders purge institutions. Hussein is doing the opposite."
Ames frowned.
"We get your hint and ?."
"He's operating on the mean of strengthening them."
The analyst flipped to another section of the file.
"Security services expanded."
"Military units reorganized."
"Police forces restructured."
He looked up.
"In other words, he's consolidating the machinery of the state, and he had long been doing so before this recent coupe dispersal."
A colonel spoke quietly.
"The epithets and actions of a man looking to a rule for a long time."
"Yes."
Another officer leaned forward.
"What about ideology, more details would be of better understanding?"
The analyst hesitated
"That's the difficult part."
He opened another report.
"Hussein claims loyalty to the Ba'ath Party though flexible as my companion here explained ."
"But?"
"But his commitment from speeches towards policies do not appear strictly ideological from the little we've observed so far ."
"He pushes heavily for economic development. Military modernization and foreign investment, yet he would seem to still distrust western influence".
He paused.
"In fact, our sources suggest he's already seeking contact with American investors."
The room grew quiet.
Ames spoke slowly.
"He wants American money."
"Yes, sir."
"Why?"
The analyst closed the file.
"Well their Oil of course."
---
MI6 Internal Assessment
Sir Malcolm Harrington sat silently while another intelligence officer delivered his report.
"Hussein's public speeches emphasize national unity and national development across all borders."
"Typical propaganda?"
"Partially."
The officer adjusted his glasses.
"But there is evidence he genuinely intends to modernize Iraq's oil infrastructure."
Harrington nodded slowly.
"That would require enormous capital."
"Yes, sir."
"Which Iraq currently lacks."
"Correct."
Harrington walked toward the window again.
"So he will seek outside investment."
"Yes."
"And we suspect he prefers American companies."
The officer looked rather surprised at that.
Harrington sighed quietly.
"Remarkable."
The analyst looked confused.
"Sir?"
Harrington turned back.
"Most revolutionary leaders spend their first months denouncing Western imperialism."
"Hussein appears to be inviting it after all that's happened."
---
CIA Strategic Discussion
Deputy Director Ames closed the folder.
"Let's summarize." He looked around the table.
"We have a young Iraqi leader who just eliminated his primary rivals."
"He controls the military."
"Their local internal security services, of that sort ."
"And now the presidency." He paused.
"And instead of aligning himself with Moscow, he's signaling interest in American investment." One of the analysts spoke cautiously.
"That may simply be a negotiation tactic."
"Possibly."
Another officer shook his head.
"No."
All eyes turned toward him. The officer leaned forward.
"This man understands power, he understands the importance of balancing and taking risks."
He tapped the folder.
"Everything we've seen suggests he plans several moves ahead."
"And ?"
"It means he would try to play both sides."
The analyst nodded slowly.
"Washington and Moscow."
"Exactly."
Deputy Director Ames looked thoughtful.
"So what's his long-term objective?" The officer answered quietly.
"Regional power."
---
MI6 Final Observation
Back in London, Sir Malcolm Harrington finished reading the final page of the report.
He closed the folder slowly.
"One more question."
The analysts looked up.
"How dangerous is this man?"
Neither of them answered immediately.
Finally one spoke.
"Extremely dangerous there no doubt about this one, his predecessors have shown to have sidelined and made their disdain clear for British influence in the region and he would be no different ."
Harrington nodded slowly. He placed the file on the desk.
"Intelligent."
"Patient."
"And ruthless."
He looked toward the window where the grey waters of the Thames flowed quietly past.
"Gentlemen," he said calmly.
"I believe Iraq might've just acquired a very capable ruler." He paused.
"And we may have just created a very capable enemy."
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