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Operations
Deployments
US Policy
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

• COALITION FORCES TARGET IRAQI COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, AIR DEFENSE FACILITY 03 mar 2003 -- In response to Iraqi hostile actions toward Coalition aircraft monitoring compliance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH Coalition aircraft used precision-guided weapons yesterday to target four Iraqi military communications facilities and an air defense facility. The Coalition struck the targets at approximately 6 p.m. EST.
• Coalition Aircrews Target Iraqi No-Fly Zone Violations AFPS 03 Mar 2003 -- While world attention focuses on the looming possibility of war with Iraq, American and coalition aircrews patrolling the Northern and Southern No-fly zones over that country face potential conflict with the Iraqi military every day.

• Briefing on Chemical and Biological Defense Readiness 03 Mar 2003 -- "Today we're going to host a -- what's called -- we call a roundtable, but it's an opportunity for some very trained and professional individuals to talk to you about Army training and readiness in nuclear, biological and chemical defense."
• U-S TROOPS / CHEM BIO DETECTION VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- U-S military analysts say the biggest risk American troops would face in a war against Saddam Hussein is the possibility that the Iraqi leader could use chemical and biological weapons. Chemical and biological detection teams are standing by in northern Kuwait for possible deployment to the battlefield.
• U.S. Forces Said Prepared to Defend Against Chem-Bio Weapons Washington File 03 Mar 2003 -- A U.S. Army official says Iraqi President Saddam Hussein may have "some grave reservations" about ordering his troops to use chemical and biological weapons against U.S. forces in the case of an Iraq war because the capability of his troops to defend against their use "is extremely limited."
• Defending Against Iraqi Chemical Biological Threats AFPS 03 Mar 2003 -- If Saddam Hussein decides to use chemical or biological weapons against U.S. forces, he may well kill or injure more of his own forces than Americans.

Deployments

• FIRST TEAM RECEIVES DEPLOYMENT ORDERS 03 Mar 2003 -- The First Cavalry Division, stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas has received deployment orders to reposition forces as required to support the President's global war against terrorism.
• VMAQ-1 deploys to support Southern Watch USMC 03 Mar 2003 -- Several hundred Marines from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 and a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 detachment deployed to support Operation Southern Watch Feb. 15.

• MPs in Kuwait train for guarding EPWs Army News 03 Mar 2003 -- To prepare for what may come, soldiers in Kuwait are learning how to deal with enemy prisoners of war. Internment and resettlement training was conducted by the 3rd Military Police Battalion (Provisional) Feb. 17 and 18 in preparation for possible future operations.
• Four killed, two injured in Kuwait Army News 03 Mar 2003 -- Four soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash and two others injured in separate training accidents in Kuwait last week.

US Policy

• White House Daily Briefing White House 03 Mar 2003
• U-S MILITARY / EUROPE VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The top U-S military commander in Europe says being able to invade Iraq from Turkey would be strategically advantageous but that the Turkish parliament's refusal to allow U-S troops to be stationed on its territory will not derail U-S plans. General James Jones also says he wants to overhaul the U-S network of bases in Europe and make them more responsive to new challenges like terrorism.
• PENTAGON / IRAQ VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Bush administration planning for a possible conflict with Iraq is so comprehensive that working groups have been established for virtually every aspect of the country's civil administration in the post-war period.
• USEUCOM Defense Information Group Press Briefing 03 Mar 2003 -- As you know, the European Command is supporting the Central Command in these issues so General Franks is the overall military commander for whatever happens with regards to the situation with Iraq. I wouldn't want to speculate on what his recommendation might be in what we might do and not do in that event and I think we'll just wait and see what happens.
• BUSH / TURKEY VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The White House says both Ankara and Washington are reviewing their options following the vote in the Turkish parliament to reject the deployment of U-S troops. The Bush administration had planned to use those forces to invade northern Iraq in the event of war.
• US / TURKEY WRAP VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The Bush administration said Monday the Turkish parliament's refusal to allow the basing of U-S troops on Turkish territory would not affect the outcome of a possible U-S-led war with Iraq. But officials acknowledged the unexpected parliamentary decision will complicate military planning.
• BUSH / IRAQ VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The White House says Saddam Hussein will be ousted from power if President Bush opts to disarm Iraq by force. Officials say the destruction of more banned missiles by Baghdad is not enough, and Saddam Hussein must completely disarm now.
• Discussions with Turkey on Troop Deployment to Continue Washington File 03 Mar 2003 -- The United States is keeping "in close touch with the Turkish Government as they decide how they wish to proceed" given the March 1 vote in the Turkish parliament that narrowly rejected a measure to permit U.S. combat troops to use Turkey as a base in a possible war against Iraq, says State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher.
• White House Report, March 3: Turkey, Pakistan/Al Qaeda, Iraq Washington File 03 Mar 2003 -- Asked about the vote by Turkey's parliament over the weekend that would keep U.S. ground forces from using its bases for an invasion of Iraq, White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said March 3 that the outcome was a surprise but that there are other options and alternatives available to the United States.
• EDITORIAL: ANSAR AL-ISLAM VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- On February 27th, a suicide bomber killed himself, two soldiers of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, or P-U-K, and a Kurdish civilian at a military checkpoint outside Halabja, in northern Iraq. The bomber was reportedly a member of the Ansar [ahn-sahr] al-Islam terrorist group.

United Nations

• UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq UNOMVIC/IAEA 03 Mar 2003
• Tracking Inspections in Iraq RFE/L 03 Mar 2003
• Iraq destroys six more banned missiles, to give UN VX and anthrax details UN News Centre 03 Mar 2003 -- Iraq destroyed six more banned Al Samoud 2 missiles today, bringing the total to 16 since the 1 March deadline set by United Nations chief weapons inspector Hans Blix for starting the destruction.
• U-N / IRAQ VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- The United States and Britain are working behind the scenes to find the votes they need to gain U-N backing for a resolution that would effectively endorse military action against Baghdad, if it refuses to disarm.
• IRAQ /MISSILES VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- U-N officials say Baghdad has agreed to submit a detailed report on the alleged destruction of its stocks of anthrax and V-X nerve agent. The announcement comes on the heels of an Iraqi warning that it may stop destroying its Al-Samoud-Two missiles.

Foreign Reactions

• ARABS / SADDAM HUSSEIN VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Top officials from three Gulf states have expressed support for a proposal calling on Saddam Hussein and his government to quit and leave Iraq. But some political analysts in the region say it is risky for Arab leaders to make such a call in a region that is dominated by various forms of dictatorship.
• TURKEY / U-S VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Turkey's fragile economy on Monday began feeling the effects of the parliament's rejection of a measure to allow U-S combat troops to be deployed in Turkey.

News Reports

• War fears contribute to lower UN forecast for US, European economies UN News Centre 03 Mar 2003 -- The increasing possibility of war with Iraq has cut up to half a percentage point from already modest projections for Western economic growth, according to the latest survey by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).
• The War Debate: Kurdish Americans VOA 03 Mar 2003 -- Debate continues among Americans over a possible war against Iraq. While peace activists have been quick to oppose the use of force against Iraq, others, including many Kurdish Americans, support a military action to topple the Iraqi regime.