In the buildup to the Iraq War in late 2002 and early 2003, Israel proposed joining the U.S.-led coalition. Per John Kiriakou, the United States refused, fearing the move would cost it the cooperation of Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia — and even Syrian overflight clearance. Soon afterward, major communications towers across the western Iraqi desert — three-legged structures between 500 and 1,000 feet tall — began mysteriously tipping over, felled by explosives placed on one leg of each tower.[1]
The CIA’s denial
When someone told the New York Times the towers were being toppled by an Israeli sabotage team, the paper approached the CIA to ask whether the agency was working with Israel on the operation. Per Kiriakou, the CIA denied any Israeli involvement and instead suggested the Iraqis were blowing up their own towers so they could later blame the United States.[2]