Volume One
Section D Arms and Defence-Related Exports to Iraq
Chapter 2 Applications of The Guidelines in the period
December 1984 to August 1988

Excerpt:
Specific Cases - (xx) Computer Systems

D2.403 A number of applications for licences to export a variety of computer systems to Iraq were made by International Computers Ltd (ICL). Nearly all these ELAs were assessed by the MODWG ‘A(Nil)’ and licences were accordingly granted. Three cases are, however, worth comment.

D2.404 An AWP application for supply to Iraq of “ASMA and INDEPOL Command and Control System” was made by ICL on 18 August 1987. At its meeting on 21 August 1987 the MODWG assessed the application as ‘A(I)’. *576 But at the IDC meeting on 28 August, the application was, at the request of FCO representatives, marked ‘Pending’ in order that the FCO might give further consideration to the application. *577 At the IDC meeting on 26 November 1987 the IDC recommended approval of the AWP application. 578 The recommendations made at the IDC meeting were submitted to FCO Ministers and MOD Ministers for approval.

D2.405 FCO Ministers endorsed the recommendations made at the IDC meeting on 26 November, *579 but Lord Trefgarne, the Minister (DP), called for more information on two items, one of which was ICL’s AWP application. 580 In a Note to the Minister dated 26 January 1988, Mr Barrett provided the following information:

“...ASMA (Air Staff Management Aid) is an ICL system which the RAF is keen to replace. INDEPOL is another ICL system (for intelligence, defence and police) which uses old technology hardware similar to ASMA and has commercially available software. The military assessment is that its acquisition by Iraq would not significantly enhance her capability.” *581

After perusal of Mr Barrett’s Note, Lord Trefgarne approved the IDC recommendation regarding the ASMA and INDEPOL Command and Control System. *582

D2.406 On 27 May 1988 ICL applied for a licence to export to Iraq an ICL Series 39 Computer System together with ASMA Software. The intended ultimate user was the Iraqi Air Force. The “Precise purpose” for which the computer system would be used was stated to be “Command control of the Airforce resources”. The ELA was copied to FCO/MED but not to the MOD. No objection to the export was raised and the licence was granted. *583

D2.407 The second case relates to ELA 3G/45337/87. This ELA, dated 19 October 1987, sought a licence for the export to Iraq of Model 341 Computer Systems and Work Stations. The ultimate user named in the ELA was the Iraq Ministry of Defence. The “Precise purpose” for which the goods were to be used was described as “Distributed Office Systems for general data processing applications.” *584

D2.408 At its meeting on 17 November 1987 the MODWG marked the ELA “R(Sy)” and the IDC on 26 November recommended refusal. *585 The recommendation was approved by FCO Ministers and by MOD Ministers. *586 ICL was informed of the refusal of the ELA but, by a letter to the DTI dated 19 February 1988, gave additional information about the computer system to which the ELA related and requested reconsideration of the ELA. The additional information was as follows:

“1) The Iraq Ministry of Defence has been a very important customer of ICL in Iraq for the past 5 years, and several major Export Licences have been issued during this period (including as recently as last December), as follows:

- 3G/00982/84, issued 16.03.84

- 3G/06115/84, issued 08.06.84

- 3G/17046/87, issued 07.08.87

- 3G/43291/87, issued 06.12.87

Copies of these licences, all of which specified the Ministry of Defence as end user, are attached...

2) The present request is for a number of relatively low power ICL DRS300 Terminal Systems intended to be attached to the ICL 2966 mainframe computer systems originally approved for export in 1984, to enhance the distributed processing capability of these mainframes.

3) The DRS300 equipment will not provide any significantly greater computing capability than is already installed, and the equipment cannot be considered to be strategically sensitive in its own right (note that similar such systems are regularly approved for export to the Eastern Bloc).” *587

After consideration had been given to the information contained in the ICL letter by DIS, the MODWG at its meeting on 11 April 1988 revised its assessment to ‘A(I)’ and on 27 April the IDC recommended the grant of the ELA. *588 MOD Ministers and FCO Ministers approved the recommendation and the ELA was accordingly granted.

D2.409 The third case concerned an AWP application by ICL relating to the export to Iraq of “Software for Staff Trainer”. On 18 March 1988 the MODWG recommended refusal of the application which was marked ‘R(Sy)/R(Enh)’. *589 The IDC, too, at its meeting on 23 March, recommended refusal. The Summary Record of the IDC meeting recorded the discussion as follows:

“The MOD recommended that this equipment should be refused. Although suitable for training purposes only, this equipment, essentially an advanced computerised war simulator, represented a significant enhancement of Iraq’s military capability, and a security risk. The IDC agreed to recommend refusal.”*590

The IDC recommendation was accepted by MOD and FCO Ministers.

D2.410 It is interesting to compare a comparable AWP application made by ICL Defence Systems on 19 December 1988 (i.e. after the ceasefire) relating to “Computer Assisted Staff College Trainer”. The ELA was on 10 January 1989 marked ‘A(I)’ by the MODWG but with the added comment: “Subject to threat data and software plan being vetted by MOD.” *591 The IDC, at its meeting on 18 January 1989 was content to recommend approval of the AWP application but subject to the same reservation as had been made by the MODWG. *592 The recommendation was accepted by MOD and FCO Ministers.

Endnotes
*576 - MOD/13.2.251 at 269

*577 - FCO/2.5.72 and MOD/13.2.289 and MOD/13.2.305 578 MOD/13.3.233 and MOD/13.3.251

*579 - FCO/2.6.343 580 MOD/13.3.291

*581 - MOD/15.1.65 at paragraph 2(e) item (2)

*582 - MOD/15.1.91

*583 - DTI/162.3.1.12246 et seq

*584 - DTI/35.4.904 et seq.

*585 - MOD/13.3.167 at 173; MOD/13.3.233 at 241

*586 - FCO/2.6.343; MOD/13.3.291

*587 - DTI/35.4.896

*588 - MOD/15.2.113 and 137; FCO/2.6.215

*589 - MOD/15.1.239 and 245

*590 - MOD/15.1.309

*591 - MOD/24.1.73 and 93

*592 - MOD/24.1.193 and 217

* The Full report is available from The Stationery Office Ltd., PO Box 276, London, SW8 5DT.