WHY WAS TWA FLIGHT #847 HIJACKED?

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R000301250021-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2010
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: June 19, 1985
• Content Type: MISC

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WHY WAS TWA FLIGHT #847 HIJACKED?
TIMING
Although barring hard intelligence it was impossible to ascertain pre-
cisely what type of American target would be attacked,the sponsorship
by radical countries of some spectacular act being launched now against
U.S. interests in the Middle East,was highly predictable.This in light
of the following factors:
Strategic consideration:
There has been a marked intensification of anti-American activities
sponsored by Libya,Syria and Iran in recent months.This because of the
shared perception that Washington has concoted a "new imperialist con-
spiracy" for the area.Accordingly,elements of this conspiracy include:
l.The rapprochement between Egypt and Iraq and between Egypt and Jordan.
2.The resumption of U.S.-Iraqi diplomatic relations and the trips to
Washington undertaken recently by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia,Egypt's
President Mubarak and Jordan's King Hussein.
3.Talks between King Hussein and Yasir Arafat on formation of a joint
delegation for possible peace negotiations with Israel.
Combined these developments have confirmed in radical eyes the reality
of an imprialist plot to establish an American sponsored axis in the
Middle East aimed at containing and isolating their regimes.Radical states
have reacted to this prospect with remarkable vehemence pledging coord-
inated efforts to foil this imperialist plot.Consequently,in fact,there
has been a sharp escalation in radical efforts to undermine regimes frien-
dly to America in the Middle East,as well as directly target America's
presence in order to expel its influence from the region.The hijacking
of the TWA plane is only the most recent in a series of such radically-
motivated activities which have also indluded:
-Placing of bombs in Saudi Arabia (18 May)
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-A Libyan/Syrian plot to blow up the U.S. embassy in Cairo (scheduled
to have'taken place on 22 May)
-The attempt on the life of the Amir of Kuwait (25 May)
-Attacks'on Jordanian installations abroad,including reports of a wide-
spread plot to overthrow the monarchy which,allegedly,forced Hussein
to cut short his visit to the U.S. and cancel his trip to Spain.
-Abduction of U.S. citizens in Lebanon (29 May,9 June)
-Reports of the uncovering of a new plot against Bahrain.
Second,it is impossible to ignore the potential beneficial effect which
this act could have on rekindling of revolutionary zeal,a galvanization
of sorts,inside Iran.This at a time of growing dissatifaction with the
ongoing war with Iraq,which had recently led to mass demonstrations in
Tehran and other Iranian cities.
Tactical considerations:
l.Undoubtedly,the timing of the attack was influenced by the recent
release by Israel of more than a thousand terrorists in exchange for 3
Israeli POWs.This swap,which interestingly enough took place with
a more extreme element within the PLO (Ahmad'Jibril'-'s PFLP-GC),was-
apparently perceived as an indication of current Israeli weakness which
the radicals have sought to exploit publicly.Publicizing Israel's ret-
reat under radical pressure,is regarded as entailing promising consequ-
ences in terms of its impact on moderate Arab regimes in the Middle
East.
2.The timing of the attack was also influenced by the Muslim celebration
of the Ramadan,which has been:. marked by intensified religious instigation
against the U.S. and Israel.
3.It would seem reasonable to assume that the Shi'as are also utilizing
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the hijacking as an alibi against any rumors of tacit cooperation with
Israel which their recent campaign against the PLO in Beirut has brought
about.
MOTIVATION
There should be no confusion as to the real target of the hijacking.What-
ever the results of the "negotiations" over the Shia detainees in Israel,
the principal aim of the hijacking was to harm American interests at least
in-the Middle East.The identity of the target of this operation is reve-
aled by the following considerations:
l.An American plane was selected for purposes of communicating the radical
message.
2.An American navy man was murdered because of him representing the U.S.
military.
3.The terrorists' communique spoke of "administering blows against imp-
erialism".
4.The American media has been extensively used to drive the radical mess-
age home--the U.S. is under attack in the Middle East.
From this perspective it is safe to acertain that radical countries hope
to achieve the following results from the attack:
l.Intimidate U.S. allies by demonstrating America's inability to defend
its own assets let alone its friends.
2.Force the U.S. to diminish its involvement and influence in the region,
to allow further radicalization of the area.
3.Convince Middle Eastern and other audiences of the power of radicalism
and revolution.
4.Derail U.S. policy by insitigating Arab-Israeli tensionsi,perhaps via
large-scale Israeli and/or American reprisal.
5.Drive a wedge between the U.S. and Israel.
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IMPLICATIONS
The main implication of the above analysis is as follows:The more is
the U.S. perceived to increase its regional influence,be it via sponsor-
ing a peace plan or establishment of military bases,the higher the pro-
bability of an intensive radical campaign designed to undermine if'not
uproot this influence.Thus it is foolhardy for the United States to
assume that policies which are domestically viewed as contributing to
peace prospects,and thus enjoy wide support,would be viewed as of lesser
threat when it comes to members of the radical entente.It is a policy
failure of the first order for the United States to pursue one course
without at the same time take effective measures to contain,if not com-
bat,the likely radical countermeasures.There will be no real and durable
progress toward peace in the Middle East unless America simultaneously
acts,even forcefully,to remove the threat of the radical entente from
this and other regions.
Failure to comprehend this simple fact could be extremely costly as it
will:
l.Expose regional aliies.collaborating with U.S. policies to acute da-
ngers.
2.Repeated American failures to cope with the radical challenge are likel-
y to_enhance?its attractiveness for the Soviet Union which is seeking
to slow the U.S. down strategically and divert its resources.This pro-
cess in fact has-been underway'for-the past 18 months,as a new Soviet
.activist policy increasingly seeks to utilize the radical entente to
;undermine the U.S. position globally while-building up a counter-front
in Central America.
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