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Operations
Deployments
US Policy
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

• Commando Solo allows Baghdad broadcast AFPN 23 Jan 2003 -- The citizens of Iraq received a taste of democracy in action as a Jan. 22 news briefing by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers was broadcast via Commando Solo aircraft to Baghdad.
• COALITION FORCES DROP LEAFLETS TO DISCOURAGE COMMUNICATION REPAIRS 23 Jan 2003 -- Coalition aircraft dropped informational leaflets over southern Iraq today

Deployments

• 1st FSSG custom-tailors units in Kuwaiti desert USMC 23 Jan 2003 -- In just a few short days, what was once an empty desert quickly became the rallying point for the 1st Force Service Support Group's portion of the largest Maritime Prepositioning Force offload in the history of the Marine Corps since the Persian Gulf War.

US Policy

• White House Daily Briefing White House 23 Jan 2003
• Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz Speech on Iraq Disarmament 23 Jan 2003 -- "In Iraq's case, unfortunately, the situation is the opposite. U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 gave Saddam Hussein one last chance to choose a path of cooperative disarmament, one that he was obliged to take and agreed to take 12 years ago. We were under no illusions that the Baghdad regime had undergone the fundamental change of heart that underpinned the successes I just mentioned. Nevertheless, there is still the hope -- if Saddam is faced with a serious enough threat that he would otherwise be disarmed forcibly and removed from power -- there is still the hope that he might decide to adopt a fundamentally different course. But time is running out"

• Senator John Kerry Remarks at Georgetown University January 23, 2003 -- "The Bush Administration has a plan for waging war but no plan for winning the peace. It has invested mightily in the tools of destruction but meagerly in the tools of peaceful construction. It offers the peoples in the greater Middle East retribution and war but little hope for liberty and prosperity. What America needs today is a smarter, more comprehensive and far-sighted strategy for modernizing the greater Middle East. It should draw on all of our nation's strengths: military might, the world's largest economy, the immense moral prestige of freedom and democracy - and our powerful alliances."

• What Does Disarmament Look Like? 23 Jan 2003 -- On September 12, 2002, President Bush called on the United Nations to live up to its founding purpose and enforce the determination of the international community - expressed in 16 UN Security Council resolutions - that the outlaw Iraqi regime be disarmed of its weapons of mass destruction. [PDF 108 Kb]

• "Why We Know Iraq Is Lying," by Condoleezza Rice Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- Eleven weeks after the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution demanding - yet again - that Iraq disclose and disarm all its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, it is appropriate to ask, "Has Saddam Hussein finally decided to voluntarily disarm?" Unfortunately, the answer is a clear and resounding no
• Daily Press Briefing State Department 23 Jan 2003 -- Secretary Powell's Attendance at Briefing for Members of the Senate / Secretary's Telephone Calls to European Leaders / Differences of Opinion with Allies/ Secretary Rumsfeld's Comments / View of Resolution 1441 / Inspectors' Report/ Next Steps/ No Need for Second Resolution/ Iraq's Defiance / Disarming Iraq/ Credibility of Security Council / U.S. Officials Meeting in Northern Iraq/ Supporting Inspectors with Information / Sharing Information with Security Council Members / Unchanged Relationship with Iraqi Opposition / Summit on Iraq / Prince Bandar's Comments Regarding Cooperation with the United States / Commercial Contracts with Iraq
• What Does Disarmament Look Like? 23 Jan 2003 -- On September 12, 2002, President Bush called on the United Nations to live up to its founding purpose and enforce the determination of the international community - expressed in 16 UN Security Council resolutions - that the outlaw Iraqi regime be disarmed of its weapons of mass destruction.
• U-S / IRAQ WRAP VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- A diplomatic dispute among key members of the U-N Security Council appears to have deepened. The dispute is over whether military force should be taken against Iraq, if as expected, U-N weapons inspectors report next week that Baghdad has failed to account for all of its banned weapons of mass destruction. The United States and Britain appear to be increasingly isolated on the Iraq issue even as they warn that time is running out for a diplomatic solution
• N-Y/WOLFOWITZ VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz (Thursday) says Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has threatened Iraqi scientists not to talk to U-N Weapons inspectors. Mr. Wolfowitz also warned that time is running out for Iraq to disarm
• Text: U.S. Officials Did Not Meet with Kurdistan Workers' Party Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- Following is the official answer to a question taken at the January 23 regular State Department briefing; the answer was posted later in the day
• U.S. Wants to Work in Concert with Allies on Iraq Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- Top Bush administration officials said January 23 that President Bush wants to work in concert with U.S. allies to resolve the Iraq issue peacefully but that if Iraq does not disarm, as required by the United Nations, the United States will act with a coalition of partners to disarm it
• Powell Confident of Strong "Coalition of the Willing" Against Iraq Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- In a press conference with U.K. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in Washington January 23, Secretary of State Colin Powell reaffirmed U.S. determination to see Iraq disarmed, saying that "if the UN should fail to act - and I hope that is not the case - then the United States reserves the right to do what it thinks is appropriate to defend its interests, the interests of its friends, and to protect the world."
• Powell Says Other Nations Would Support Use of Force Against Iraq Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says if military action is required to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, he is confident that other nations will join the United States and Britain, despite indications of currently flagging domestic and international support
• Iraq Still Unwilling to Disarm, Wolfowitz Says Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- Saddam Hussein "has not made the fundamental decision to disarm" and until he does, the threat posed by his chemical, biological, ballistic and nuclear weapons programs will continue to grow, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said January 23.
• "Time is Running Out" for Saddam Hussein, Wolfowitz Says Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- "Time is running out" for Saddam Hussein to make the "fundamental change of heart" to fully and voluntarily disarm, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said January 23.
• The Opposite of Disarmament Is Occurring In Iraq, Official Says Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- A senior U.S. administration official says "the opposite of disarmament" is occurring in Iraq
• EDITORIAL: BUSH ON IRAQ VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- Saddam Hussein possesses some of the world's deadliest weapons. He has used poison gas against the Kurdish minority in Iraq. He has fired ballistic missiles at Israel, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia and coalition forces during the Persian Gulf War

United Nations

• Tracking the Inspections 23 January 2003RFE/L 23 Jan 2003 -- Six inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) returned to the Al-Shaykhali warehouses (see inspections report for 20 December) belonging to the Iraqi Atomic Energy Organization located in Al-Tuwaythah.
• UN / IRAQ / FRANCE VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- The United Nation's chief arms inspector Hans Blix is preparing the much anticipated report to be submitted to the Security Council next Monday on the search of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Key members on the Security Council continue to disagree about how to deal with Saddam Hussein
• Blix meets with Commissioners ahead of his briefing to Security Council next week UN News Centre 23 Jan 2003 -- The College of Commissioners of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) met today at UN Headquarters in New York with Executive Chairman Hans Blix to review the work of the inspectors on the ground in Iraq.
• IRAQ / INSPECTIONS VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- A senior Iraqi official has told reporters in Baghdad he does not expect an upcoming report by U-N weapons inspectors to be completely positive or negative. The official also said his government is having difficulty convincing Iraqi scientists to agree to be interviewed in private
• Byliner: Finding a Smoking Gun in Iraq Not the Objective Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- The following editorial by former United Nations weapons inspector David Kay first appeared in The Washington Post January 19. Permission has been granted for distribution and further republication, in English and in translation abroad and in the local press outside the United States
• Bush Confident Europe Will "Heed the Call" on Iraq, White House Says Washington File 23 Jan 2003 -- It is important to dismiss the notion that any military action against the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq would be unilateral, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters January 23 at his early morning meeting with them.
• UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq UNMOVIC/IAEA 23 January 2003

Foreign Reactions

• SAYARI - TURKEY VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- In the past, although this party is relatively new but it has its origins in the Islamist movement in Turkey, that movement has been quite strongly against the West and against the United States. They have changed their tune recently, but still obviously there are elements within that party which is in government that does not look with a great deal of enthusiasm to a war in Iraq. So, there is that concern.
• BUSH / PUTIN VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday discussed possible military action against Iraq. Russia, France, China, and Germany have all repeated their opposition to a war in Iraq at this time
• TURKEY / IRAQ / CONFERENCE VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- Foreign ministers of six leading Islamic nations called on Iraq Thursday to show more active cooperation with U-N weapons inspectors and to do its utmost to restore regional stability. The gathering held in Istanbul is a last ditch effort by Middle Eastern nations to head off a possible war between Iraq and the United States-led forces
• Remarks with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw State Department 23 Jan 2003 -- many conversations on the issues of the day. We will be having more conversations after this press conference, but we have spent some time talking about the situation in North Korea as well as the situation with respect to Iraq
• CHINA IRAQ FRANCE VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- China turned up the diplomatic heat on the United States over the Iraq crisis Thursday, saying Beijing's position was close to that of France, whose president says everything must be done to avoid war
• RUSSIA / U-S / IRAQ VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has told President Bush a U-N report expected next week should be the key to a decision on future action on Iraq. The two leaders spoke by phone Thursday. Meanwhile, Deputy U-S Secretary of State Richard Armitage is holding talks with Russian officials in Moscow
• BRITAIN / HUMAN SHIELDS VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- Anti-war protesters in Britain are preparing to leave for Iraq to volunteer to be so-called "human shields" at key Iraqi installations in case of a U-S-led war
• U-S/IRAQ/BRITAIN VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw warned Thursday that the credibility of the United Nations is at stake in coming decisions on Iraq. Mr. Powell says Iraq's cooperation with U-N inspectors has been "flawed, incomplete and inadequate."
• TURKEY / CONFERENCE VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- Senior officials from several Middle Eastern countries have opened talks in Istanbul on ways to prevent a war against Iraq. As Amberin Zaman reports, the foreign ministers from the participating countries will be joining the talks later in the day.
• FRANCE / GERMANY / IRAQ VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- Germany and France Thursday reaffirmed their opposition to war with Iraq, with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder saying the two European nations will do all they can to prevent a conflict

News Reports

• Center training civilian journalists AFPN 23 Jan 2003 -- Air Mobility Warfare Center instructors here began training 60 journalists Jan. 20 during Joint Service Media Orientation and Training.

• WILL SADDAM GO? VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- Regional leaders are reported to be trying to convince Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to go into exile. According to news reports, officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey hope that Saddam Hussein will step down if he is offered immunity from prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity. U-S officials have voiced support for the effort. "To avoid war," said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, "I would personally recommend that some provision be made so that the senior leadership in Iraq and their families could be provided haven in some other country." Can Saddam Hussein's neighbors persuade him to step down?
• NORTH KOREA / IRAQ THREAT VOA 23 Jan 2003 -- As the United States builds up troops in the Persian Gulf for a possible war against Iraq over weapons of mass destruction, Washington and its allies are trying diplomacy to resolve a stand-off with North Korea over nuclear arms. Many experts believe North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his nuclear program may ultimately pose a greater global security threat than the partially-disarmed Saddam Hussein.