A Pentagon intelligence report has concluded that many bombings against the US-led coalition in Iraq, and the more sophisticated guerrilla attacks in Falluja, are organised and often carried out by members of Saddam Hussein’s secret service, who planned the insurgency even before Baghdad fell.The report says officers of the Special Operations and Antiterrorism Branch, known as M-14, are responsible for planning roadway improvised explosive devices and some of the larger car bombs that have killed Iraqis, Americans and foreigners.The report also cites evidence that one suicide attack was carried out by a woman who was an M-14 colonel.Its findings were based on interrogations of high-ranking M-14 members who are in US custody, and on documents translated by the Iraq Survey Group. While the report cites evidence, other assessments made by intelligence agencies have been proved wrong.The report provides a portrait of the insurgency. In the past, US officials have described the insurgents as a rudderless guerrilla movement of foreign fighters, Islamic jehadis and former Baathists. It does not address the question of how broad-based their support is.Officials who have read the study say it concludes that in Falluja an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 hard-core insurgents, including members of the Iraqi Special Republican Guard who melted away under the US-led offensive, are getting tactical guidance and inspiration from these former intelligence operatives.‘‘They carefully laid plans to occupy the occupiers,’’ said a US official who has read the report. ‘‘They were prepared to try and hijack the country. The goal was to complicate the stabilisation mission, and democratisation.’’ — NYT
