February - Iraq Special Weapons News

08 February Iraq Special Weapons News

COALITION FORCES TARGET IRAQI MILITARY AIR DEFENSE COMMAND AND CONTROL FACILITY 08 Feb 2003 -- In response to Iraqi threats to Coalition aircraft monitoring compliance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH Coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons today to target an Iraqi military mobile command and control facility. The facility was located near Al Kut, approximately 95 miles southeast of Baghdad. The strike occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. EST.
COALITION FORCES DROP LEAFLETS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ 08 Feb 2003 -- Coalition aircraft dropped informational leaflets over southern Iraq today. Coalition forces dropped leaflets at approximately 5:00 a.m. EST at several locations near An Numaniyah, Al Kut, Al Amarah and Al Qurnah. The Coalition dropped a total of 480,000 leaflets over the locations, between An Numaniyah, which is located approximately 70 miles southeast of Baghdad, Al Kut which is 95 miles southeast of Baghdad, Al Amarah which is located approximately 165 miles southeast of Baghdad and Al Qurnah which is located approximately 200 miles southeast of Baghdad.

CIVIL RESERVE AIR FLEET STAGE I ACTIVATION ANNOUNCED 08 Feb 2003 -- The Secretary of Defense has given authority to the commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to activate Stage I of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) to provide the Department of Defense additional airlift capability to move U.S. troops and military cargo. This measure is necessary due to increased operations associated with the build-up of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region. CRAF aircraft are U.S. commercial passenger and cargo aircraft that are contractually pledged to move passengers and cargo when the Department of Defense's airlift requirements exceeds the capability of U.S. military aircraft.

Text: Rumsfeld Urges Nations to Prepare for War with Iraq Washington File 08 Feb 2003 -- The international community should begin preparing for war with Iraq in the face of that country's continued defiance of U.N. resolutions to disarm itself of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), according to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Text: Bush Says Iraq Defying U.N. Calls to Declare Weapons, Disarm Washington File 08 Feb 2003 -- Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has continued to violate United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a full declaration of his weapons programs and full cooperation in the disarmament of his regime, President Bush said in his radio address to the nation February 8.
BUSH/IRAQ VOA 08 Feb 2003 -- President Bush says the U-N Security Council must stand behind its resolutions demanding that Iraq disarm. The president again said he would welcome a second U-N resolution, but is prepared to act without one.
RUMSFELD/IRAQ VOA 08 Feb 2003 -- U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has urged the world to unite behind the U-S threat of military action against Iraq, saying delaying preparations for war can only send a signal of weakness to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Mr. Rumsfeld told a security conference in Munich that 12 years of diplomacy, economic sanctions and limited military strikes have failed to disarm Iraq.

Annan stresses unity, exhausting all avenues of peace in dealing with Iraq UN News centre 08 Feb 2003 -- Stressing the importance of a united Security Council as it ponders the next steps in dealing with the disarmament of Iraq, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today reiterated his belief that all possibilities of a peaceful settlement should be exhausted before resorting to the use of force.
IRAQ / INSPECTORS TALK VOA 08 Feb 2003 -- Top United Nations weapons inspectors say the first round of disarmament talks with senior Iraqi officials Saturday were useful and substantial. The talks could shape a report to the U-N Security Council next week.
IRAQ/INSPECTIONS VOA 08 Feb 2003 -- The top two United Nations weapons inspectors arrived in Baghdad Saturday for talks with Iraqi officials, in an effort to seek further concessions to avoid a possible war. The two-day talks come ahead of a key report next week by inspectors to the U-N Security Council.
UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq UNMOVIC/IAEA 08 February 2003
Tracking Inspections in Iraq RFE/L 08 Feb 2003

POPE / IRAQ VOA 08 Feb 2003 -- Pope John Paul the Second said Saturday that efforts must be intensified to avert war in Iraq. His call for peace was the latest in a series made by the Pope, who has said in the past that war is always a defeat for humanity.
AUSTRALIA / IRAQ VOA 08 Feb 2003 -- One of Washington' staunchest allies, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, left for the United States Saturday for talks on Iraq. Before his departure, the prime minister said the situation was moving decisively towards war, and called on the United Nations to assume responsibility for disarming the Iraqi regime.
CHINA / U-S / IRAQ VOA 08 Feb 2003 -- China's President Jiang Zemin has told President Bush that the United Nations Security Council's authority must be protected when dealing with Iraq. China is sill aligned with the French position on Iraq - supporting inspections instead of war - although President Jiang's comments suggest he might ultimately accept a new U-N resolution allowing the use of force.

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