<http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/context.jsp?
item=AnabasisOpsTrainingInNV#AnabasisOpsTrainingInNV>

Summer 2002

The CIA begins bringing exiled Iraqi fighters into the US to begin
training for the Anabasis project (see (Late November 2001 or December
2001)). Some of the Iraqis are flown in on secret flights using the
same planes that are involved in the CIA's extraordinary renditions
(see After September 11, 2001) Other exiles enter the US with CIA-
provided passports. [Isikoff and Corn, 2006, pp. 155]

Entity Tags: Central Intelligence Agency

Timeline Tags: Events Leading to Iraq Invasion
-----------------------------------------------------------
(September 2002)

The CIA's Anabasis operatives begin training in the Nevada Desert at
the Energy Department's nuclear test site. About 80 Iraqis take part
in the training. They name their squad Scorpions 77 Alpha after a
special forces unit Saddam had disbanded. A second team comprised of
about 15 Arab fighters, mostly Egyptians and Lebanese, also train at
the site. [Isikoff and Corn, 2006, pp. 153-156]

Entity Tags: Anabasis, Central Intelligence Agency

Timeline Tags: Events Leading to Iraq Invasion
---------------------------------------------------------------
January 2003

The CIA's Iraq Operations Group flies the Anabasis team from their
Nevada training site to Jordan to wait for a green light from the
White House. If the signal is given, the team-comprised of more than
100 members-will be flown to an isolated Iraqi military base near the
Saudi border where they will announce a coup on the radio and call on
other military units to join them. Then, when Hussein flies his troops
south to quell the insurrection, the US Air Force will shoot them down
for violating the no-fly zone. The confrontation will then be used as
a pretext for full-scale war (see also (Late November 2001 or December
2001)). But the operation will be opposed by General Franks, and the
Anabasis team will never receive the signal (see After January 2003).
[Isikoff and Corn, 2006, pp. 166]

Entity Tags: Anabasis, Central Intelligence Agency

Timeline Tags: Events Leading to Iraq Invasion