In another message, a resident of Vienna, Austria, told
Saddam in a July 27 message that Americans are "arrogant,"
and that should the United States attack Iraq, "you
need only send a ticket and I will come to Iraq to fight
the Americans. I am a good shot, and I am serious about
my offer."
Saddam's inbox also contained several solicitations from
American companies hoping to do business with Iraq -- despite
U.S. prohibitions and United Nations trade sanctions. On
Aug. 16, the CEO of a California wireless technology-maker
e-mailed Saddam to request a meeting. According to the CEO's
message, the two could discuss "technology improvements
and exporting of rich technology abroad." In a press
release dated Sept. 13, the company said it has developed
"4G" wireless technology capable of being used
"as a weapon to ignite large sections of the atmosphere
and incinerate all living creatures within its pre-selected
coordinates." The press release also called for the
resignation of President Bush. In a telephone interview,
the CEO said he attempted to contact Saddam to obtain permission
to place a wireless communications antenna in Iraq. "No
way would we ever give the weapon-of-mass-destruction technology
to Mr. Hussein," the executive said.
On Aug. 14, the proprietor of a Las Vegas company e-mailed
Saddam "looking for someone to talk to about selling
my fire retardant for the army over there. We have a great
product for the army."
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The business owner replied to
an e-mailed interview request, and was informed how his message
had been read. The man confirmed it had been sent from his
address, but that it had been a joke by a friend. He also
stressed that he would never sell products to Iraq. Joke or
not, such deals with Iraq are legally risky -- if not outright
illegal.
A 1990 U.S. executive order prohibits transactions between
American companies and Iraq, according to Joseph Wilson, former
deputy chief of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and an adjunct scholar
with the Middle East Institute. The U.N. sanctions imposed
in the wake of Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait further restrict
trade of "militarily useful items" with Iraq, Wilson
said. An excerpt from a U.N. document known as the Goods Review
List (PDF) containing a list of chemicals, biological agents
and other prohibited items was repeatedly e-mailed to the
Iraqi president's account from several Uruklink users over
a one-week period in mid-August. A file attached to the messages
was infected with what appeared to be a variant of the Yaha
computer worm.
The presence of strict U.N. controls didn't stop the chairman
of one London company from e-mailing Saddam on Aug. 9 with
an offer to mediate Iraq's purchase of unspecified products
from western Europe. "Please consider this letter as
secret ... I ensure you absolute secrecy," the e-mail
stated. A Buenos Aires businessman repeatedly e-mailed Saddam
in early August offering technology "stolen from the
National Transportation Safety Board of United States"
and designed to "enlarge the security of flight in helicopters."
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