Iraq 1960
According to the Church Committee report, the CIA plotted to assassinate Iraqi prime minister Abd al-Karim Qasim with a poisoned handkerchief. The report included, "In February 1960, the Near East Division sought the endorsement of what the Division Chief called the "Health Alteration Committee" for its proposal for a "special operation: to 'incapacitate' an Iraqi Colonel believed to be 'promoting Soviet bloc political interests in Iraq'." The Division sought the Committee's advice on a technique, "which while not likely to result in total disablement would be certain to prevent the target from pursuing his usual activities for a minimum of three months," adding: "We do not consciously seek subject's permanent removal from the scene; we also do not object should this complication develop."
"In April, the Committee unanimously recommended to the DDP (Deputy Director for Plans, Richard Bissell) that a "disabling operation" be undertaken, noting that the Chief of Operations advised that it would be "highly desirable". Bissell's deputy, Tracy Barnes, approved the action on behalf of Bissell.
"The approved operation was to mail a monogrammed handkerchief containing an incapacitating agent to the colonel from an Asian country . Scheider testified that, while he did not now recall the name of the recipient, he did remember mailing from the Asian country. during the period in question, a handkerchief "treated with some kind of material for the purpose of harassing that person who received it."
During the course of this Committee's investigation, the CIA stated that the handkerchief was "in fact never received (if, indeed, sent)." It added that the colonel: "Suffered a terminal illness before a firing squad in Baghdad (an event we had nothing to do with) after our handkerchief proposal was considered."
Read more about this topic: CIA Activities In Iraq