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Operations
Deployments
US Policy
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

• COALITION FORCES TARGET IRAQI MOBILE RADAR SYSTEM 07 Mar 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 a mobile target acquisition radar system, located approximately 230 miles west of Baghdad. The strike occurred at approximately 11:10 p.m., EST.

Deployments

• Joint STARS takes off for second deployment AFPN 07 Mar 2003 -- Two E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft and several dozen airmen here answered the call of duty March 5 as they headed to a forward-operating location to support operations in Southwest Asia.
• Regional Commander Impressed by Seabees Navy NewStand 07 Mar 2003 -- Brown had just finished a tour of facilities within the base and was remarking on the ability to meet and exceed the Chief of Naval Operations' primary focus for his commanding officers - mission accomplishment. She emphasized that as of late, NCBC Gulfport (Seabees in particular) were certainly fulfilling their mission requirements.
• Mine Watch: The First Line of Defense Navy NewStand 07 Mar 2003 -- Since the Revolutionary War, naval warships have sailed in fear of an "unseen" weapon. As technologically advanced as the Navy is today, it still haunts the oceans and seas, lurking below the water's surface, quietly waiting for just the right time to strike.
• Fox weathers storm; near 70-mph gusts recorded USMC News 07 Mar 2003 -- Fourteen Marines sustained minor injuries and more than 109 billeting and work tents were blown down here following a wind storm last night. The storm left some wondering what happened and others joining together to rebuild.
• Deploying with MAG-13 unique experience for British pilot USMC News 07 Mar 2003 -- For one member of Marine Aircraft Group-13 from Yuma, Ariz., the opportunity to deploy aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom is a unique one.
• Ordnance drills for success, VMA-211 Marines adapting to ship exercises USMC News 07 Mar 2003 -- Ordnance Marines aboard USS Bonhomme Richard began loading and offloading drills with BDU-45 practice bombs Feb. 13. The Marines, part of Marine Aircraft Group-13 from Yuma, Ariz., are part of a seven-ship amphibious task force deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
• Black Knights saddle up for deployment AFPN 07 Mar 2003 -- A jet engine mechanic with the 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here, Hughes is among a number of 19th Air Refueling Group airmen who received deployment orders recently.
• West Coast ships offload in Kuwait Army News 07 Mar 2003 -- A joint-service, multi-national force has been offloading combat equipment from seven ships at Camp Patriot, Kuwait.

US Policy

• White House Daily Briefing White House 07 Mar 2003
• U.S. PLANS TO PRESERVE IRAQ'S OIL FOR IRAQI PEOPLE 07 Mar 2003 -- In light of past acts of eco-terrorism by the regime of Saddam Hussein, the Department of Defense has developed plans to extinguish oil well fires and to assess damage to oil facilities that might occur in Iraq in the event of hostilities.
• Powell Discounts Need for U.N. Security Council Summit to Deal with Washington File 07 Mar 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says the United States does not see a need for the heads of state or government of the countries that sit on the U.N. Security Council to meet in an effort to resolve the impasse over what to do about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
• Powell Tells UN "Clock Continues to Tick" on Iraq Washington File 07 Mar 2003 -- Calling U.N. weapons inspectors' reports a "catalogue of non-cooperation," U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said March 7 that the Security Council must face up to the fact that Iraq has not made the fundamental, strategic decision to disarm.
• State's Dobriansky, Exiled Iraqi Women Discuss Reviving Iraqi Society Washington File 07 Mar 2003 -- Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky has told a group of exiled Iraqi women that the United States will support the Iraqi people's -- and in particular Iraqi women's -- efforts to develop democracy in Iraq.
• U.S., Britain, Spain Propose Deadline for Iraqi Compliance Washington File 07 Mar 2003 -- Reports from the two chief U.N. weapons inspectors March 7 have failed to resolve the fundamental differences among the veto-holding members of the Security Council about Iraqi disarmament.
• POWELL / IRAQ / U-N WRAP VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- The United States and Britain said Friday they are willing to amend their draft U-N resolution to give Saddam Hussein a short deadline to fully comply with U-N inspectors or face being disarmed by force. The proposal, drawing an immediate veto threat from France, followed a report to the Security Council by chief U-N weapons inspector Hans Blix .
• EDITORIAL: IRAQI OPPOSITION MEETING VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- For years, Saddam Hussein has brutally oppressed the Iraqi people. And by refusing to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, his regime has become a danger to the region and the world.
• CONGRESS IRAQ VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- The U-S Congress is divided over the timing of a possible U-S-led war against Iraq, and the importance of U-N Security Council backing for a resolution authorizing use of force to disarm that country.
• Iraq Not Complying With U.N. Resolution, Powell Says AFPS 07 Mar 2003 -- Iraq has not made the strategic decision to disarm and cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors, Secretary of State Colin Powell told the U.N. Security Council today.
• POWELL / IRAQ VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- The United States and Britain are proposing a March 17th deadline for Iraq to comply with United Nations disarmament demands. Secretary of State Colin Powell is also rejecting a suggestion from France that heads of state meet to try to overcome differences over Iraq that were again on display at the Security Council Friday.
• EDITORIAL: STALIN AND SADDAM VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- Fifty years ago this month, the death of Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin was announced. After decades of brutal oppression and economic deprivation, the people of the Soviet Union could start to breathe a little easier. It would still be decades more before Russia and the other former Soviet republics would break free of Communism, but the worst was over.

United Nations

• UN Press Release SC/7682 07 Mar 2003 -- UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS REPORT TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON PROGRESS IN DISARMAMENT OF IRAQ, Security Council 4714th Meeting (AM)

• Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America: draft resolution Provisional, 7 March 2003 -- "Decides that Iraq will have failed to take the final opportunity afforded by resolution 1441 (2002) unless, on or before 17 March 2003, the Council concludes that Iraq has demonstrated full, unconditional, immedia te and active cooperation in accordance with its disarmament obligations under resolution 1441 (2002) and previous relevant resolutions, and is yielding possession to UNMOVIC and the IAEA of all weapons, weapon delivery and support systems and structures, prohibited by resolution 687 (1991) and all subsequent relevant resolutions, and all information regarding prior destruction of such items;" [PDF 13 Kb]

• "THE STATUS OF NUCLEAR INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ: AN UPDATE" by Mohamed ElBaradei, IAEA Director General 07 Mar 2003 -- "When I reported last to the Council, on 14 February, I explained that the Agency's inspection activities had moved well beyond the "reconnaissance phase" - that is, re-establishing our knowledge base regarding Iraq's nuclear capabilities - into the "investigative phase", which focuses on the central question before the IAEA relevant to disarmament: whether Iraq has revived or attempted to revive its defunct nuclear weapons programme over the last four years." [PDF 36 Kb]
• Oral introduction of the 12th quarterly report of UNMOVIC by Executive Chairman Dr. Hans Blix 07 Mar 2003 -- "Inspections in Iraq resumed on 27 November 2002. In matters relating to process, notably prompt access to sites, we have faced relatively few difficulties and certainly much less than those that were faced by UNSCOM in the period 1991 to 1998. This may well be due to the strong outside pressure."

• UK proposes 17 March deadline for Iraq to comply with UN disarmament demands UN News Centre 07 Mar 2003 -- The United Kingdom, along with Spain and the United States, today introduced a revised draft of a resolution that presents Iraq with a 17 March deadline to cooperate fully with Security Council demands to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction.
• Several Security Council members call for more inspections in Iraq UN News Centre 07 Mar 2003 -- Several Security Council members today called for the continuation, enhancement and acceleration of inspections in Iraq after hearing reports from two top United Nations disarmament officials on efforts to rid the country of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
• UN biological weapons teams carry out more inspections in Iraq UN News Centre 07 Mar 2003 -- As the Security Council met today to hear an update of the inspection process in Iraq and wrestled with how to proceed with the disarmament of the country, United Nations monitors continued their activities on the ground.
• Blix welcomes accelerated cooperation by Iraq, but says unresolved issues remain UN News Centre 07 Mar 2003 -- Top United Nations weapons inspector Hans Blix told the Security Council today that over the past month Iraq has displayed "active" or even "proactive" cooperation, which has allowed the inspection process to make significant progress, although a number of key disarmament tasks remained to be resolved.
• IAEA sees progress in identifying Iraq's nuclear capabilities, Security Council told UN News Centre 07 Mar 2003 -- Monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have made important progress over the last three months in identifying what nuclear-related capabilities remain in Iraq, the head of the Agency told the Security Council today, noting that the last three weeks in particular have seen Baghdad be more forthcoming it its cooperation with the Agency.
• UN begins daylong discussions on Iraq inspections UN News Centre 07 Mar 2003 -- The United Nations began day-long discussions on Iraq today with Secretary-General Kofi Annan meeting the Foreign Minister of France ahead of a Security Council session to hear the latest reports from weapons inspectors on Iraq's compliance with demands that it rid itself of weapons of mass destruction.

• UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq UNOMVIC/IAEA 07 Mar 2003
• Tracking Inspections in Iraq RFE/L 07 Mar 2003
• U-N / IRAQ VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- U-N weapons inspectors say Iraq is being somewhat more cooperative with U-N disarmament efforts. But the United States is not convinced of Iraq's intentions, and is looking for a new Security Council resolution on using military force against Iraq. The U-S will have a hard time getting an endorsement from a deeply divided Security Council.
• Iraqi Cooperation Improved, Blix, ElBaradei Say AFPS 07 Mar 2003 -- Iraq has improved cooperation with U.N. weapons inspectors, but questions remain, the two men in charge of inspections reported to the U.N. Security Council today.

Foreign Reactions

• RUSSIA / IRAQ VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Mamedov says Russia would consider a new Security Council resolution on Iraq, if it is aimed at finding a political settlement, and does not automatically authorize war.
• U-N /IRAQ / FRANCE VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin says France will not support a revised U-N draft resolution presented by the United Kingdom. The draft would set a March 17th deadline for Iraq to comply with U-N disarmament resolutions or face war.
• BRITAIN / IRAQ / MILITARY VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- The head of Britain's armed forces says British troops are ready to invade Iraq, if they are called on to do so. General Michael Jackson says war is not inevitable, but his soldiers are prepared to go now, if they are given the order.
• BRITAIN / IRAQ / U-N VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- In an effort to win support for a second U-N Security Council resolution on Iraq, the United States and Britain are proposing a compromise that could allow Iraq more time to comply with disarmament demands. Analysts in Britain say the compromise is aimed at securing the votes of Security Council members wavering over war on Iraq - and helping British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

News Reports

• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 6, Number 9 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 7 March 2003 -- SUICIDE BOMBING KILLS FOUR IN NORTHERN IRAQ / PUK MISTAKENLY KILLS FIVE / IRAQI PRESIDENT MEETS GOVERNORS, OFFICIALS / IRAQI OPPOSITION TO SEEK TALKS WITH U.S., TURKEY / BARZANI WARNS TURKS ABOUT ENTERING IRAQI KURDISTAN / IRAQI LEADER CUTS SALARIES OF OVERWEIGHT WORKERS / IRAQI EDITORIAL ASSAILS GULF INITIATIVE / IRAQ REPORTS ON U.S., U.K. SORTIES / IRAQI LEADER ADDRESSES PEOPLE ON NEW ISLAMIC YEAR / SPAT BREAKS OUT AT OIC SUMMIT / TURKISH PARLIAMENT DENIES U.S. REQUEST TO PLACE TROOPS IN TURKEY / TURKISH MILITARY SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT / TURKISH COMMANDER SAYS HIS COUNTRY READY TO COUNTER THREATS IN NORTHERN IRAQ / ARAB SUMMIT CONCLUDES WITH PLAN TO CONVEY ANTIWAR POSITION / GCC MINISTERIAL COUNCIL DISCUSSES U.A.E.'S IRAQ INITIATIVE / KUWAITI DEFENSE MINISTER ON U.S., PENINSULA SHIELD FORCES / AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTED TO TURKISH MILITARY BASE NEAR IRAQ BORDER / BADR BRIGADES BUILDING UP BASE IN NORTHERN IRAQ / JORDAN PREPARES FOR REFUGEE INFLUX / UNMOVIC CHIEF GIVES 'PREVIEW' OF 7 MARCH BRIEFING / UN SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS 'MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.' / UN SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS UNMOVIC/IAEA PRESENTATION WILL BE OPEN / IRAQ MEETS UN DEMAND TO DESTROY MISSILES / UN WORKERS LEAVING IRAQ / UNMOVIC CHIEF REPORTS INSPECTIONS HAVE HAD 'LIMITED RESULTS.' / U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS IRAQ NOT DISARMING / U.S. EXPELS TWO IRAQIS / BRITISH PRIME MINISTER SAYS IRAQ RESOLUTION WILL PASS... / ...BUT U.K. PROPOSING COMPROMISE AT THE UN / DIVIDED HOUSE OF COMMONS BACKS MILITARY ACTION IN IRAQ / BRITISH, FRENCH REACT TO MISSILE DESTRUCTION / FRANCE, RUSSIA AND GERMANY WILL NOT SUPPORT ANOTHER UN RESOLUTION / END NOTE: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE IRAQI OPPOSITION CONFERENCE
• AFRICA URANIUM VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- The head of the U-N nuclear agency says allegations that Iraq recently attempted to import uranium from Niger are unfounded.
• KRAWCIW-IRAQ VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- And now joining us retired Army Major General Nicholas Krawciw. He's President of the Dupuy Institute here in Virginia, a military history research center.
• Iraqi Americans: Post-Saddam Iraq VOA 07 Mar 2003 -- Many Iraqi-Americans are already planning for a new Iraq without Saddam Hussein.