Assassination Attempt: George H. W. Bush – 4/13/1993

Assassination Attempt: George H. W. Bush – 4/13/1993 This document, released in 2019, is a USCENTCOM Monthly Terrorist Threat Message 05-93, dated May 15, 1993. It's notable for detailing an assassination plot against former President George H. W. Bush, who visited Kuwait from April 14 to 16, 1993. The document was released through a Freedom of Information Act request, processed by the Defense Freedom of Information Policy Office. The case number is 12-0231. USCENTCOM Monthly Terrorist Threat Message 05-93 Mr. John Greenewald, Jr. Dear Mr. Greenewald, UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF 7115 SOUTH BOUNDARY BOULEVARD MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA 33621- 5101 23 January 2013 The Defense Intelligence Agency referred two documents to United States Central Command to review and provide a direct response to your Freedom of Information Act request. Your request seeks all documents pertaining to an assassination plot against President George H. W. Bush. After conducting a thorough review, I am partially releasing all 10 pages of information. The classified, non-responsive information is withheld pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552 (b)(1) Classified Information, applying Executive Order 13526 sections 1.4(a) military operations and 1.4(d) foreign activities. USCENTCOM Monthly Terrorist Threat Message 05-93 TO: All Commanders and Units SUBJECT: USCENTCOM Monthly Terrorist Threat Message 05-93 (U) RMKS: This message is in two parts. The first part has the current CINCCENT terrorist threat assessments, by country, for the USCENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR). The second part contains brief comments, an assessment, and administrative remarks. PART ONE: CINCCENT Terrorist Threat Levels for CENTCOM AOR Countries NOTE: Threat levels are intelligence estimates. They give commanders the threat information they need to select appropriate anti-terrorist measures. These protective measures are contained in the threat conditions (THREATCONS), established by the Senior Military Officer or Commander in each country or deployed command. CENTCOM POC for THREATCON is CCJ3-0G in coordination with CCPM. Threat levels by themselves without accompanying justification are unclassified. A. (U) AFGHANISTAN - MEDIUM B. (U) BAHRAIN - MEDIUM C. (U) DJIBOUTI - LOW D. (U) EGYPT - MEDIUM E. (U) ETHIOPIA - MEDIUM F. (U) FRM - MEDIUM G. (U) IRAQ - MEDIUM H. (U) JORDAN - HIGH I. (U) KENYA - LOW J. (U) KUWAIT - MEDIUM K. (U) OMAN - LOW L. (U) PAKISTAN - HIGH M. (U) QATAR - LOW N. (U) SAUDI ARABIA - MEDIUM O. (U) SOMALIA - HIGH P. (U) SUDAN - MEDIUM Q. (U) UAE - LOW R. (U) YEMEN - HIGH PART TWO: Comments, Assessment, and Administrative Remarks A. (U) Comments/Incidents (1) (U) No changes to threat levels from last month. (2) (U) AFGHANISTAN [A] On 23 April 1993, three European drug liaison officers, a British, a Dutch, and a German, were abducted near Spinboldak in southern Afghanistan. They were abducted and held by the Norzai Afghan tribe, whose leader demanded that Pakistan release two imprisoned tribe members in exchange for the Europeans. The kidnap victims had been in Quetta, Pakistan for a foreign narcotics officer conference. Their reasons for entering Afghanistan are unclear. Following negotiations and Pakistani refusal to grant concessions, the three were freed unhurt on 7 May 1993. [B] This incident demonstrates the danger and instability remaining in Afghanistan. These circumstances are not likely to change in the near future and the significant terrorism threat will remain. (3) (U) EGYPT [A] On 8 April 1993, police defused a bomb found at Al-Tahrir Square Bus Station near Arab League Headquarters in Cairo, where Arab foreign ministers were meeting to discuss the Mideast peace talks. There were no injuries. Islamic Group is believed responsible. [B] There were reports of an 18 April attack on a tour bus carrying Americans in the Assiyut Province, but the U.S. Embassy and Egyptian officials were not able to confirm that such an incident occurred. (4) (U) ERITREA (ER) [A] Following a national referendum, Eritrea announced their independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993. The United States formally recognized the sovereignty of Eritrea on 28 April 1993. [B] USCENTCOM/J2)JC T has begun tracking terrorism issues within Eritrea and will report them as appropriate. A terrorism threat level for Eritrea has not yet been established. (5) (U) IRAQ [A] On 26 April 1993, Kuwaiti officials announced the arrest of a group of individuals, mostly Iraqi, who reportedly had plans to assassinate former President Bush during his visit to Kuwait 14-16 April 1993. Further details are listed in Para (6) below. While it is still unclear what the exact target intentions of