A high-level U.S. spy agency is conducting an aggressive surveillance operation against key U.N. Security Council delegates as part of the Bush administration?s campaign to win approval for its planned invasion of Iraq.

A January 31 National Security Agency memo leaked to the British newspaper The Observer orders staff to intercept telephone calls and e-mail messages from Security Council delegates who have not yet indicated their position on the Iraq situation. The spy agency, according to the report, is ?mounting a surge? designed not only to provide information on how countries such as Mexico, Guinea, Chile, and Angola intend to vote on a second Iraq resolution, but also to reveal ?policies,? ?negotiating positions,? ?alliances? and ?dependencies??the ?whole gamut of information that could give U.S. policymakers an edge in obtaining results favourable to U.S. goals or to head off surprises.?

The memorandum was circulated by Frank Koza, chief of staff in the NSA?s Regional Targets section, which monitors countries of strategic importance to the United States. Koza suggests that both office and home telephones of U.N. delegates be bugged and orders staff to also ?pay attention to existing non-U.N. Security Council Member U.N.-related and domestic comms [office and home telephones] for anything useful related to Security Council deliberations.?

The surveillance operation, requested by Bush?s National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, comes at a time when the administration is fiercely lobbying Security Council members to support its invasion plans.

Related Link:

• http://www.observer.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12239,905936,00.html