House International Relations Committee - October 10, 1996 - 104Th Congress; 2Nd Session

FINAL REPORT OF THE SELECT SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE U.S. ROLE IN IRANIAN ARMS TRANSFERS TO CROATIA AND BOSNIA ("THE IRANIAN GREEN LIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE")

House International Relations Committee - October 10, 1996 - 104th Congress; 2nd Session

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

On May 8, 1996, the United States House of Representatives voted to establish and fund the Select Subcommittee on the United States Role in Iranian Arms Transfers to Croatia and Bosnia (the "Select Subcommittee"). The Select Subcommittee was authorized to investigate and report on all aspects of United States government policy regarding shipments of arms and other assistance from Iran to the countries of the former Yugoslavia from September 21, 1991 until June 1996, the period in which an international arms embargo was in effect for the region. The scope of the investigation included the impact, if any, of such policy upon the safety and presence of United States troops stationed in and around Bosnia, the relations between the United States and its allies, and upon United States efforts to isolate Iran.

In addition, the Select Subcommittee was authorized to investigate and report on communications and representations to the people and the Congress of the United States regarding such policy, the international arms embargo and United States participation in the international arms embargo. Finally, the Select Subcommittee was authorized to determine what actions were taken to review any of these matters or, conversely, to cover up such matters. In order to report its findings, the Select Subcommittee was empowered to review all relevant deliberations, discussions, and/or communications within the United States Government as well as all communications between the United States Government and other governments, organizations, or individuals.

The following Minority Views to the report of the Select Subcommittee are based upon a thorough review of thousands of pages of classified and unclassified materials made available by the Departments of State and Defense (including the National Security Agency), the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council as well as press reports, materials prepared by Congressional Research Service, and other material in the public domain. In addition, the staff of the Select Subcommittee interviewed and deposed approximately seventy current or former employees of these agencies as well as two foreign nationals. The Minority wishes to thank the individuals who were deposed and interviewed as well as the many employees of the United States Government agencies who spent countless hours identifying and making available relevant documents. In addition, the Minority wishes to thank the investigators detailed to the Select Subcommittee by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their invaluable assistance.

Select Subcommittee Organization and Structure.

Legislative History.

On May 2, 1996, the Committee on International Relations (the "Committee") reported House Resolution 416 creating the Select Subcommittee of the Committee on International Relations to Investigate the United States Role in Iranian Arms Transfers to Bosnia and Croatia. The Committee also reported House Resolution 416 which, as amended, established a budget of $995,000 to be used either until the Select Subcommittee ceased to exist or immediately before noon on January 3, 1997, whichever first occurs. (564)

Legislative Mandate.

House Resolution 416 charged the Select Subcommittee with investigating the following:

(1) The policy of the United States Government with respect to the transfer of arms and other assistance from Iran or any other country to countries or entities within the territory of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (the "FRY") during any period that an international arms embargo of the former Yugoslavia was in effect.
(2) The nature and extent of the transfer of arms or other assistance from Iran or any other country to countries or entities within the territory of the FRY during the period that an international arms embargo was in effect.
(3) Any actions taken by the United States Government to facilitate or impede transfers described in the preceding paragraphs.