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Operations
Deployments
US Policy
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

• COALITION FORCES TARGET AIR DEFENSE COMMUNICATION FACILITY 24 Jan 2003 -- response to Iraqi hostile threats against Coalition aircraft monitoring compliance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH Coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons today to target an Iraqi air defense command and control communication facility. The facility was located approximately 5 miles southeast of Al Haswah. The strike occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. EST
• COALITION FORCES DROP LEAFLETS TO DISCOURAGE COMMUNICATION REPAIRS 24 Jan 2003 -- Coalition aircraft dropped informational leaflets over southern Iraq today
• 3/7 supports Operation Enduring Freedom USMC News 24 Jan 2003 -- Marines and Sailors from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment left the Combat Center this week for an undisclosed destination in the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

Deployments

• Amphibious Task Force East Deploys on Short Notice Navy News Stand 24 Jan 2003 -- Seven ships homeported in Norfolk, Va., recently departed on short notice for possible service in the Central Command area of operations in support of the global war on terrorism.
• Military Cargo Ship Loads in Corpus Christi Military Sealift Command 24 Jan 2003 -- A civilian-crewed, non-combatant U.S. government-owned cargo ship, MV Cape Taylor is in Corpus Christi to load U.S. Army cargo as part the repositioning of U.S. forces in support of the global war on terrorism and to prepare for future contingencies as may be directed. Two other Ready Reserve Force ships have also been ordered to the port and are scheduled to load at a later date.

US Policy

• White House Daily Briefing White House 24 Jan 2003
• Daily Press Briefing State Department 24 Jan 2003 -- Inspectors' Report / Iraq Cooperation / Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Hidden in Syria? / Foreign Secretary Straw and Secretary Powell's Discussions about with the Security Council / Iraq is Failing to Disarm Peacefully / Russia Set Against Security Council / U.S. Reaction to Istanbul's Comments on Iraq / Article 98 Agreement / Secretary Powell's Meeting with President Guelleh of Djibouti
• Transcript: Background Briefing on Oil as a Weapon of Terror 24 Jan 2003 -- "...there are a variety of intelligence sources that leave us with the impression and, in fact, belief that Iraq and specifically the regime has a capability and, in fact, an intent to cause damage or destruction to their oil fields. We see that as a real potential crisis. And as we have crafted our -- a variety of plans, we have taken that into consideration in a fashion that would allow us to preserve and protect that natural resource, that economic future for the Iraqi people at some point in the future. And then it's also important to understand that the nations surrounding Iraq are also vitally interested in what happens to those oil fields. Whether it's an economic impact or an environmental impact, destruction of the oil fields will have significant effects on the neighbors of Iraq and we would like to try to preserve that from happening as best we can. (...) Destruction of the oil fields truly would be an act of terror."
• CJCS discusses possibility of war USAFE News Service 24 Jan 2003 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took time out to talk to troops about the volatile situation in the gulf here Jan. 19, prior to meeting with Turkish leadership in Ankara, Turkey
• CONGRESS / IRAQ VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- More than 100 members of Congress have sent a letter to President Bush urging him to exhaust all diplomatic means before taking military action with allies against Iraq
• PENTAGON/IRAQ VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- If there is a new war with Iraq, the Bush administration expects Saddam Hussein to order the destruction of his country's oilfields, creating an economic and environmental disaster
• EDITORIAL: THE IRAQI THREAT VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- Few current dictators have shown the same willingness and ability to use weapons of mass destruction as Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. As President George W. Bush said, "Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave and gathering threat." Iraq is a danger to its neighbors and to international peace and stability
• CONGRESS / IRAQ VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- More than 100 members of Congress have sent a letter to President Bush urging him to exhaust all diplomatic means before taking military action with allies against Iraq
• BUSH IRAQ VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- President Bush says it is "unacceptable" that Iraq is refusing to allow scientists to meet privately with U-N weapons inspectors. Iraq says its scientists are on their own refusing to meet with the inspectors
• U.S. Plans To Secure Iraqi Oil, If Need Be, From Regime Sabotage Washington File 24 Jan 2003 -- A senior Defense Department official says military planners are conducting contingency planning on how to secure Iraqi oil fields from acts of sabotage by an unstable or vengeful Iraqi regime -- should conflict occur anytime in the future
• White House: Iraq Must Allow Private Interviews with Scientists Washington File 24 Jan 2003 -- Iraq's refusal to permit its scientists to be interviewed in private by United Nations inspectors is "unacceptable" to President Bush, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters January 24
• Senator Hagel Sees "Imperative for Coalitions" in U.S. Foreign Policy Washington File 24 Jan 2003 -- U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel believes "America must not forget the role that coalitions play in bringing international support and legitimacy to (U.S.) policies, especially to the use of force."
• EDITORIAL: ARMITAGE ON IRAQ VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- The discovery in Iraq of sixteen empty chemical weapons warheads raises some questions. Where are the other warheads that Saddam Hussein has never accounted for? Where are the artillery shells filled with mustard gas? Where are the other chemicals and the anthrax that the United Nations says the Iraqi regime possesses?

United Nations

• Tracking the Inspections 24 January 2003RFE/L 24 Jan 2003 -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry noted in its daily briefing that the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) asked to interview Iraqi scientists on 25 January, adding, "The National Monitoring Directorate [NMD] informed them personally and encouraged them to conduct the interview in accordance with Article 7 of the statement which the two sides agreed upon on 20 January."
• IRAQ / INSPECTIONS VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- United Nations weapons inspectors in Iraq continued their search for banned weapons on Friday. The search on the Muslim day of rest, follows a meeting Thursday of regional foreign ministers who urged Iraq to cooperate with the inspectors in order to avoid war
• IAEA / LABORATORY VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- Scientists at an International Atomic Energy Agency laboratory near Vienna have analyzed eleven chemical samples taken from Iraq, for the report that is to be submitted to the U-N Security Council on Monday
• UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq UNMOVIC/IAEA 24 January 2003

Foreign Reactions

News Reports

• U-S-Expatriates Warning VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- In an unusual move, the United States is advising expatriate citizens around the world to be prepared for possible emergency evacuations from their countries of residence because of conflict, terrorist attacks, or other unforeseen circumstances
• Anti-War Demonstrations VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- Last Saturday, people around the world demonstrated against President Bush's plan to take military action against Iraq. Protests took place in the United States, Japan, Pakistan, Syria and Egypt. There were other demonstrations in Russia, France, Britain, Argentina and Mexico
• OIL PRICE THREAT VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- Crude oil prices in New York were up sharply Friday amid increasing signs that the United States may be moving towards a war with Iraq. Some analysts worry a rising oil price could tip the weak global economy into recession.
• OIL AND IRAQ VOA 24 Jan 2003 -- Some people say that oil is the main reason that the United States and other countries are concerned about Iraq. In fact, as U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said, "the problem with Iraq is not oil; the problem with Iraq is [its possession of] chemical and biological weapons today and the danger of nuclear weapons tomorrow."