U.S. Goes After Iraqi Secret Agents

March 5 -- The United States is launching a campaign, code-named Imminent Horizon, to disrupt and rattle Iraqi intelligence agents around the world, intelligence sources told ABCNEWS. These are people the United States suspects are trying to engineer terrorist attacks against American interests overseas.

The United States is secretly asking for help from more than 60 countries — nations ranging from Bahrain, Yemen and Egypt to Italy and Japan. Intelligence sources say the United States has a list of about 300 suspected Iraqi agents.

The domestic part of this operation has already swung into action in New York. Sources say the United States is expelling two Iraqi diplomats from the Iraqi mission to the United Nations. The diplomats — both attachés — are named Nazih Abul Latif Rachman and Yehia Naeem Suaoud. They have until Friday, March 7, to depart the United States.

‘Shaking the Tree’

Overseas, sources say most of the suspected Iraqi agents are also hidden in their embassies, using diplomatic jobs as cover. The United States will ask host nations to expel them, just as it is doing in New York.

A much smaller number of suspected agents are said to be posing as businessmen or students. The United States will ask that they be arrested.

If there is no cooperation, sources say the United States will mount its own harassment campaign — letting suspected Iraqi agents know they are now being watched.

In law enforcement terms, it's called "shaking the tree," — creating doubts, trying to rattle potential terrorists.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said he believes there is a definite threat — of increasing magnitude — from Iraqi agents overseas.

"It is more likely that something will take place in another nation involving Americans or American institutions than in this country," said Rockefeller, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "I will say this, that our agencies are on top of it."