The Challenge Project was an insurgency plan orchestrated by
Directorate 14. Special Operations, a branch of
Iraqi Intelligence Service
:
The Iraqi Intelligence Service (Arabic: جهاز المخابرات العراقي, ''Jihaz Al-Mukhabarat Al-Eiraqii''), full name in Arabic language , Arabic]: جهاز المخابرات العامة العراقية "Jihaz almukhabarat aleama ...
. The Challenge Project was
Saddam Hussein, Saddam Hussein's pre-US invasion (see
Iraq War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
) backup plan for establishing a long-term insurgency designed to inhibit the American occupation of
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
.
On the eve of the US-led invasion of Iraq, Directorate 14. Special Operations was instructed to establish a network of intelligence agents who specialized in
guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or Irregular military, irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, Raid (military), raids ...
. These agents were instructed to wait until the American military was fully entrenched in the occupation of Iraq before starting insurgent activities.
Sources
Duelfer: Iraqi Intel Trained Iraqis, Other Arabs at Salman Pak ''NYT''
Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)
{{Iraq-stub