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THREAD (1/__) I've been spending some of my free time going through @CIA records of Nazi war criminals. More specifically, one war criminal: Amin al Husseini, an arch Nazi collaborator and Palestinian leader who has been hailed as a "pioneer" by current PA President Abbas.
Husseini helped raise SS regiments in the Balkans, was active in the Nazi propaganda apparatus, toured Nazi death camps, plotted a genocide in the Middle East of Jews in the event of a Nazi victory, and spent decades murdering rivals, Jews, and British officials
At the end of WWII he was indicted as a war criminal by Yugoslavia and was largely distrusted by many of his former Arab allies. Nonetheless, he escaped punishment, dying in 1974 in Beirut--45 years ago this month, as it happens.
Yet, there is a misconception that Husseini--who definitely reached the height of his power and influence in the 1930s until 1945--ceased to be a big, or important influence. This, I think, is vastly simplified
His efforts with the World Muslim Congress, as well as his post-war contacts in both Pakistan & with anti-Sha/pre-Khomenei clerics and activists in Iran, have received some attention. Ditto for his role in the assassination of King Abdullah of Jordan in 1951.
But the @CIA docs tell a different story--one that is at odds with the perception of the Grand Mufti ceasing to be a force or an influence in the post-WWII Middle East.
The Mufti, who had murdered numerous rivals,continued to plot against Jordan's Abdullah in the post-war era. This was reciprocated. Abdullah may have sent assassins after the Mufti. Regrettably for him, they were unsuccessful cia.gov/library/readin…
Indeed, Al-Husseini feared assassins from the Hashemite Kingdom more than he did those from Israel. cia.gov/library/readin…
The Mufti still managed to recruit terrorists to commit and carry out attacks against Israel, including "the Brothers of Peace" cia.gov/library/readin…
To fund these attacks, the Mufti initially relied on Nazi money that he had stowed away in Switzerland and elsewhere. This money, of course, had been taken from Jews. By 1950/51, it had started to dry up and was completely exhausted by 1959
Initially sponsored by the monarchy in Egypt, the Mufti later relied on money and support from the Ba'athists in Iraq and Syria, as well as funds which were raised abroad. cia.gov/library/readin…
By 1951, the Mufti had formed his own intelligence apparatus. But even before than he was regularly receiving briefings on terrorist attacks against Israelis, as seen here in this captured CIA doc cia.gov/library/readin…
The Mufti himself constantly pressed the Syrian Army to work with and include Palestinians and, by several accounts, had a more favorable opinion of Damascus than Cairo or, of course, Amman cia.gov/library/readin…
The British and the Americans were warned about a "possible terrorist campaign" being led by the Mufti, in 1951. The Mufti was closely linked to the Muslim Brotherhood by this point, having also cooperated with them in the previous years. cia.gov/library/readin…
In July 52, the Brits and the Americans received other warnings about the Mufti possibly preparing attacks--albeit less credibly, with Communists (whom he largely disdained) cia.gov/library/readin…
The Mufti continued to receive visitors and top Arab officials, in his post WWII residences France, Egypt, and Lebanon cia.gov/library/readin…
And his henchmen regularly commuted between Cairo Damascus and Beirut raising money and monitoring recruitment for his various terrorist groups cia.gov/library/readin…
His relations with Egypt's Farouk were initially good, but hit some rocks. Similarly, he initially enjoyed good relations w Nasser, although this too faded cia.gov/library/readin…
Eventually, spurred by Nasser's crackdown on the Brotherhood and his reliance on the Soviets, there was a split. And Nasser sent assassins after al-Husseini cia.gov/library/readin…
Al Husseini responded by getting closer to Iraqi Ba'athist leaders cia.gov/library/readin…
But Iraq eventually yielded to pressure from Nasser, and the Mufti became largely reliant on the Saudis--something which would lead to a split with his chosen successor cia.gov/library/readin…
But he continued being a globe trotter--largely uninhibited by his past crimes and activities. Just as in the early 1920s, al-Husseini was still--by the mid 1960s--traveling and making connections--even in Somalia cia.gov/library/readin…
Where he was protected due to fears of assassination by Nasser
As late as 1965, @CIA was warning that Husseini "has instructed key followers" in Jordan to "reactivate" old units for actions against Israel. They were even using weapons from 1948--many of which were likely purchased w Nazi money cia.gov/library/readin…
By this point, however, the Mufti and the Hashemites had reached a detente of sorts. In early 1967, he was allowed by King Hussein to visit Jerusalem. cia.gov/library/readin…
By 1968-1969, al Husseini had largely anointed Yasser Arafat of the Fatah movement as his successor. Arafat was a distant cousin. Shortly thereafter, however, Husseini grew disappointed with his leadership
He didnt like Arafat's association with Nasser's Egypt and was suspicious of his ties to the Soviets. Instead, al-Husseini believed that the Saudis were the answer. Amazingly, he betrayed Arafat's plans and thinking to Hussein of Jordan--the man whose grandfather he murdered
see here cia.gov/library/readin…
By the time that he died in 1974, al-Husseini really was a has-been. But for decades after WWII he remained influential: having intelligence networks and terrorist groups and considerable funds and power at his disposal
The picture that emerges from the @CIA docs that I viewed (having read at least 100 different cables, assessments, etc) is of someone who continued to connive and plot against the U.S./British and Jews for decades after he should've been brought to justice.
That's it for now, but i'll probably throw in a few discoveries on this thread at later dates
Here is another doc relating how the Grand Mufti betrayed Arafat by feeding King Hussein info cia.gov/library/readin…
Sorry folks: the thread seems to have been disconnected. It can be found here
@CliffordDMay you might find this thread interesting as well.
