INFORMATION REVIEW & RELEAE (IRR) NEWS FOR 28 JUNE - 02 JULY 2004 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05578047
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: April 2, 2019
• Case Number: F-2010-01471
• Publication Date: July 2, 2004

Approved for Release: 2019/03/27 C05578047
AL USE ONLY
Information Review & Release (IRR) News for 28 June - 02 July 2004
Executive Summary
Future Planninz Calendar
(UNCT1717) 14 July 2004: Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP): Next Liaisons' meeting
at NARA in Washington, DC.
(U/htlf513) 27 July 2004: Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP): Next Principals'
meeting at EEOB in Washington, DC.
(U/M+140) 31 December 2006: The Automatic Declassification Date per Executive Order 12958, as amended.
Overview of IRR Activities--Last Week
(U//A4Ef)) FOIA Requests
(U//4413.0) Researching the "Popov Case"
(U//M1115) A FOIA requester writes: "In the course of research for an article, I saw a reference in the book
Battlefield Berlin to two CIA publications relevant to my article. The documents were cited as: 'Popov: the
Conformist That Failed,' undated monograph, CIA-HRP, and 'The Popov Case,' 22 September 1980, CIA-HRP.
May I obtain a copy of each of these documents which the authors of Battlefield Berlin list as 'released by
CIA/CSI/HRG?"
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� The FOIA case manager conducted a successful search of the MORI database, and sent both HRP (Historical
Review Program) documents to the requester.
Editor: The first document states that Major Pyotr Semyonovich Popov worked for the CIA from 1 January
1953 through November 1958 as an agent within the GRU �the USSR's military intelligence service �serving
first in Vienna, and then in Berlin. Popov established a record for longevity and distinguished himself as one
of the CIA's most productive Soviet sources. On one occasion, he observed that "From the very
beginning.. .you [CIA] were never concerned about what I would bring, but you always stressed that I should
be careful about my own security. For this Jam very grateful.... With us [GRU] , of course, the individual is
nothing, and the Government interest is everything."
(UHA-117(3)-Lingering Interest in a Meeting of Two Presidents
(U//O) The National Security Archive is seeking records pertaining to the "late April 1987 (approximately April
27) meeting of Syrian President Hafez Assad and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in Jordan. The meeting was
arranged by Jordanian King Hussein. Among the issues discussed were Iraqi-Syrian relations and the Iran-Iraq war."
� The FOIA case manager accepted the case,/
(U/M-Wfa) CBS News Seeks "Mohammad al-Qahtani" Records
(U//_'0) CBS's 60 Minutes producer has submitted a FOIA request for information on Mohammad al-Qahtani�
"who is believed by some government officials to have been the planned 20th hijacker during the September 11,
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2001, terrorist attacks. This individual was refused entry into the United States shortly before the 2001 terrorist
attacks while going through immigration at the Orlando airport. We would like to have any documents pertaining to
his alleged ties to terrorist organizations. Furthermore; please provide any photographs or video pertaining to this
individual's attempt to gain entry into the US, if such material exists." The requester adds: "I intend to file an
administrative appeal if your agency's response is not satisfactory to CBS News."
(UThirtgla) CIA Declassification Center
(U//A-1134) From The Archives:
(U/ Soviet Reaction to US Nuclear Accident
(UNA-111151 An April 1979 Central Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) reports on the Soviet reaction to the accident at the
Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in the United States. Initially, the Soviets said little�but gradually they began
emphasizing the importance, and absolute safety, of Soviet nuclear power reactors in an effort to stem potential
domestic concerns. The First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Utilization of Atomic Energy claimed
that Soviet safety standards ruled out the possibility of any accident that would lead to radioactive leaks. CIA's
comment was that "Soviet designers believe they employ a conservative design philosophy but their safety measures
are not as rigorous as those in the US...and...compliance with recognized safety standards is at best haphazard." For
these reasons, "an accident at a Soviet nuclear power station would probably have severe results."
� Comment: Almost exactly seven years later, the Soviets experienced the worst nuclear power accident in
history at Chernobyl. The accident destroyed the fourth offour reactors at the plant. Many brave persons
assisted with a massive containment and cleanup effort, but, ultimately, the accident required the resettlement
of more than 200,000 people�and its consequences continue to this day.
(Ullitlif344) For One Cambodian-Disillusionment and Death
(U//AIU0) Ford Library: A 15 April 1975 "Information Items" memorandum from National Security Advisor
Henry Kissinger to the President contains an article titled "Cambodian Letter Comments on US Withdrawal." It
states, "Sink Matak, high counselor to the President of the Khmer Republic [Lon Nol], and one of the seven leading
figures condemned to death by Prince Sihanouk and the Khmer Communists, refused [US] Ambassador Dean's offer
of evacuation on April 12. He replied by sending Dean a hand-written note, the text of which follows:"
"Dear Excellency and Friend:
I thank you sincerely for your letter and for your offer to transport me towards freedom. I cannot, alas, leave in
such a cowardly fashion. As for you, and in particular for your great country, I never believed for a moment that
you would have this sentiment of abandoning a people which has chosen liberty. You have refused us your
protection, and we can do nothing about it. You leave, and my wish is that you and your country will find
happiness under this sky. But, mark it well, that if I shall die here on this spot and in my country that I love, it is
too bad, because we are all born and must die one day. I have only committed this mistake of believing in you,
the Americans. Please accept, Excellency and dear friend, my faithful and friendly sentiments."
� Comment: Prince Sink Matak (cousin to Sihanouk) and General Lon Nol deposed Sihanouk on 10 March
1972. Sihanouk aligned himself with the communists, exiling himself to North Korea. Sirik Matak stayed in
Phnom Penh and was executed by the Khmer Rouge when they entered the city on 17 April. The Khmer Rouge
then proceeded to carry out a program of mass murder that took the lives of over 1 million Cambodians.
Sihanouk returned to Cambodia, but managed to escape his Khmer Rouge "allies" in 1979. He again returned
when a UN-managed peace was arranged in 1991, and has since been declared King Sihanouk According to
press reports, the 81-year-old King is now again in a North Korean palace waiting out a constitutional crisis
in Cambodia, but uses his website to join the political debate.
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(U/h4413/4) "Group of Four"�Terrorist Wannabees
(UHALLIL)) Carter Library: "Too Dumb to be a Terrorist?" (5 March 1980)�"Early in February, after a shootout
connected with a housebreaking episode, police arrested Werner Soffel, a man with a long criminal record. Soffel
and three cohorts have comprised the 'Group of Four' (Vierergruppe), considered to be a terrorist sympathizer
'organization.' Soffel claimed to have contact with Astrid Pro11 and Vera Barzel of the Red Army Faction (RAF)
terrorist organization of West Germany. The Group of Four also has had contact with Red Help, another terrorist
support organization, and with the Frankfurt Prisoner Committee. The Four provided logistical support for the
Prisoner Committee, using theft and other criminal acts. In spite of such assistance, however, not one of the Group
of Four was allowed to be a permanent member of any of these organizations, as they all have limited mental
capacity. This problem was exemplified when the Four attempted to steal a car by short-circuiting the ignition and
then realized, after the arrival of the police, that the car was on blocks and without tires."
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