In 2002, it provided intelligence on Iran's secret efforts to enrich uranium, which led to United Nations sanctions against Iran and a confrontation with the West that continues today.
The Obama administration has said it provided its best intelligence on the attack, and amended that explanation as further information emerged.
It might provide its own intelligence on Iraqi weapons development, and might also give a green light for the Tehran-based Iraqi opposition to collaborate with any American plan for "regime change".Iraq's third big neighbour, Saudi Arabia, was meanwhile put on the defensive by a barrage of accusations in Washington that it is soft on terrorism.
But Masoud Barzani, head of the Iraqi Kurds' semi-independent enclave, insists that the claims are real and has angrily called for an immediate end to the Turkish offensive.America, which has backed Turkey in its battle against the PKK (it shares satellite intelligence on the rebels), is getting nervous.
Israel acted because it had precise intelligence on Dr. Rantisi's movements and no civilians were traveling with him, said one Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was discussing operational details.
Ed Husain, of the Quilliam Foundation, who has advised both Labour and the Conservatives on extremism, said: "It is gathering intelligence on people not committing terrorist offences".
What is certain is that independence movements, from the Basques' ETA to the Scottish Nationalists, have an extraordinary durability.The Economist Intelligence Unit, which provides the country forecasts for The World in, already says it offers "business intelligence on 203 countries", a number that includes a few microstates.
It doesn't insult our intelligence; on the contrary, it flatters it.
It didn't demonstrate intelligence on McCain's part and it just didn't reflect well in general on him".
Moreover, because Uzbekistan maintains an intense security apparatus over its citizens, it also has gathered intelligence on suspected Islamic terrorists or sympathizers from interrogations.
