Biznes z terrorystami. Brudne interesy wywiadu wojskowego PRL z bliskowschodnimi organizacjami terrorystycznymi
Business with Terrorists. The Polish Military Intelligence’s Dirty Deals with Middle Eastern Terrorists Organizations

Summary/Abstract: The declassification of the archives of the Polish Military Intelligence services (Zarząd II Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego) proved that this institution had maintained secret relations with some Middle Eastern terrorist organizations du- ring the Cold War period. In my paper, I describe the ties between the Polish Mili- tary Intelligence, Abu Nidal’s Organization (ANO), and Monzer Al-Kassar’s group. Their mutual contacts were based on different agendas, among whose those linked to international politics and arms trade were of utmost importance. The members of ANO received scholarships to Polish universities, and could conduct business there. Their company – „S.A.S. Investments Trading Company” was located in Warsaw and was used by the Polish government as arms dealers. Thanks to good relations between ANO and chronologically: the regimes in Iraq, Syria and Libya, those dictatorships were interested in signing contracts to pur- chase Polish military equipment. ANO got commissions from executed contracts and it was one of their major profits, which later was spent on various terrorist purposes. The chief of ANO network in Poland – Samir Najmeddin – had very good relations with the Polish staff from the Central Engineering Board (Cenzin) – a state company responsible for export of Polish weapons and military advisors. This institution was secretly controlled by the Military Intelligence and Counterin- telligence services. ANO was also used as a provider of embargo goods for Polish secret services. That is why the members of Abu Nidal group were “untouchable” in Poland. Despite the fact that civilian services tried to put them under surveil- lance, the military services supported and protected terrorists. The relations with Monzer Al-Kassar’s group were based on economic grounds. During the 80s, he was one of the biggest arms dealers in the world. Together with Samir Najmeddin from ANO, they were the most important individual brokers for Cenzin. Kassar’s influence and connections with many Middle Eastern go- vernments was so significant for the Polish government, that Cenzin established a joint-venture company with him. Two Poles delegated to work with Kassar’s associates were undercover Polish Military Intelligence officers. “Alkastronic” company operated in Vienna from 1983 to 1985. The company was responsible for illegal arms trade and even took part in “Iran-Contras” affaire. Kassar’s group was also involved in terrorist activity, but it was not a problem for the Polish Mi- litary Intelligence. In my paper I describe the dynamics of the secret relations between Polish Mili- tary services and ANO and Kassar’s group in the 80’s, I demonstrate how Ameri- cans pressured the Polish government to break off contacts with the businessmen terrorists and, finally, I attempt to answer the question why Polish secret services agreed to cooperate with terrorist organizations and who was the main beneficia- ry of this collaboration.

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