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Operations
Deployments
US Policy
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Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

• COALITION FORCES TARGET IRAQI COMMUNICATIONS SITES 10 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 today to target three unmanned, underground military communication sites. The communication sites enhanced Iraqi forces' ability to command and control air defenses that threaten Coalition aircraft.
• COALITION CONTINUES INFO CAMPAIGN; DROPS NEARLY 1 MILLION LEAFLETS 10 Mar 2003 -- Coalition aircraft dropped nearly 1 million informational leaflets in southern Iraq today. The drops were part of an ongoing effort to protect Iraqi lives and deter Iraqi aggression by providing relevant, factual information to both Iraqi civilians and military troops.
• Coalition drops more leaflets in Northern Iraq USAFENS 10 Mar 2003 -- Coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone in northern Iraq dropped informational leaflets near Iraqi anti-aircraft-artillery batteries at approximately 9:25 a.m. European Standard Time March 10.
• COALITION FORCES TARGET IRAQI MOBILE RADAR SYSTEM 10 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 target acquisition surface-to-air radar system, located approximately 230 miles west of Baghdad, and south of Ar Rutbah. The strike occurred at approximately 9:00 a.m., EST.
• COALITION FORCES DROP LEAFLETS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ 10 Mar 2003 -- Coalition aircraft dropped informational leaflets today over Southern Iraq.
• Coalition Drops Leaflets in Northern Iraq 10 Mar 2003 -- Coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone in northern Iraq dropped informational leaflets near Iraqi anti-aircraft-artillery batteries at approximately 9:25 a.m. EST.
• Coalition Strikes Targets, Drops Leaflets AFPS 10 Mar 2003 -- Coalition aircraft have conducted a series of strikes in the Southern No-fly Zone since March 8, U.S. Central Command officials said today.
• U-S TROOPS / BIOCHEMICAL GEAR VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- The U-S military's preparation against possible Iraqi chemical and biological attacks includes specially-designed protective suits and masks.
• U-S TROOPS / IRAQI CIVILIANS VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- In Kuwait, U-S troops preparing to fight a war in Iraq are also focused on how to deal with the millions of displaced Iraqi civilians they are likely to encounter.

Deployments

• 101st airborne soldiers land in Kuwait Army News 10 Mar 2003 -- The soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) claimed their piece of the ground in Kuwait last week by raising their brigade banner, and they are now learning how to operate in the arid climate.
• Seabees Celebrate Birthday in Qatar Navy NewStand 10 Mar 2003 -- The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 (NMCB-3) celebrated their 61st birthday March 6 with a dinner at the 3rd United States Army dining facility here, a cake cutting ceremony at the camp cantina, 'The Oasis,' and the showing of the movie "The Fighting Seabees."
• Airmen continue to flow into RAF Fairford USAFENS 10 Mar 2003 -- Approximately 400 airmen arrived here March 7, bringing the number deployed to more than 800.
• Decon teams active;drill challenges Camp Fox units USMC News 10 Mar 2003 -- With the threat of potential war looming here, the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines and sailors of the Marine Logistics Command stayed prepared by conducting a Mock Chemical Casualty Decontamination Drill March 5.

US Policy

• White House Daily Briefing White House 10 Mar 2003
• Straw, Powell Question Latest Iraqi "Disarmament" Moves AFPS 10 Mar 2003 -- The items that Hans Blix reported as progress to the U.N. Security Council are the same items British Foreign Minister Jack Straw cites as examples of Iraqi noncooperation.
• Bush Administration Says Saddam Must Live Up to Disarmament Obligations Washington File 10 Mar 2003 -- A senior Bush administration official said on March 7 that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 is "very clear" about what is required of the Iraqi regime, and that the March 17 deadline was implemented to "help to accommodate the concerns of some who wanted a deadline."
• U-S /IRAQ / WRAP VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- France and Russia, two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, are stepping up threats to veto a U-S-U-K-Spanish draft resolution that would clear the way for a U-S-led war to disarm Iraq. Washington, meanwhile, is stepping up a lobbying campaign among Security Council countries for passage of the draft. A vote in the Security Council is expected later this week.
• U-S-IRAQ-DIPLOMACY VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Despite French and Russian veto threats, the Bush administration mounted an intensive diplomatic drive to win backing for a U-N resolution in effect authorizing war with Iraq. Administration officials expressed a willingness to amend the U-S-British-Spanish draft to get more support, but say they are firm on a March 17th deadline for Iraq to accept full disarmament or face the use of force.
• BUSH / IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- President Bush is making an all-out effort to win support for a U-N Security Council resolution that could pave the way for military action to disarm Iraq. The White House says it is hopeful Russia and France will not veto the measure.
• "Two Potent Iraqi Weapons: Denial and Deception," by Steve Hadley Washington File 10 Mar 2003 -- After World War II, western intelligence agencies estimated that the Soviet Union would possess nuclear weapons by the mid-1950s. In 1949, the Soviets detonated a nuclear bomb. The world thought it knew the scope of North Korea's nuclear efforts -- until U.S. intelligence discovered a covert uranium enrichment program.
• "Why We Need a Second U.N. Resolution," by Senator Joseph Biden Washington File 10 Mar 2003 -- France, Russia and Germany are engaged in a game of dangerous brinkmanship at the United Nations. Some in the Bush administration have responded in kind. Together, they threaten to drive the interests of our countries over a cliff. There is still time to pull back from the precipice and disarm Iraq without dividing the Atlantic alliance and debilitating the Security Council. That will require real leadership on both sides of the Atlantic.

United Nations

• UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq UNOMIVC / IAEA 10 Mar 2003
• Tracking Inspections in Iraq RFE/L 10 Mar 2003
• UNMOVIC IAEA Press Statement on Inspection Activities in Iraq UNOMIVC / IAEA 10 Mar 2003
• Security Council Vote Pushed to Later in the Week Washington File 10 Mar 2003 -- The United States will not ask the U.N. Security Council to vote on its draft resolution on Iraq until later in the week, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said March 10.
• Diplomatic Process Continues on Iraq Resolution, White House Says Washington File 10 Mar 2003 -- The exact content of the resolution on Iraq to be voted on soon at the United Nations Security Council in New York "remains a matter of consultation and discussion among various nations," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters March 10.
• Fleischer Calls Russia U.N. Veto "A Possibility" Washington File 10 Mar 2003 -- Asked about news reports that Russian officials are threatening a veto in the U.N. Security Council on the amended resolution on Iraq before the council, Fleischer noted that Russia's foreign minister "has indicated that that is a possibility."
• UN / IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- France and Russia have indicated they will vote against a Security Council draft resolution on disarming Iraq that was proposed by the United States, Britain and Spain. The resolution would set a March 17th deadline for Iraq to disarm or authorize military force
• Annan appeals for Security Council unity, peaceful resolution to Iraq crisis UN News Centre 10 Mar 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today appealed for a peaceful solution to ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, stressing that war must "always be a last resort" and that the UN has "a duty to search till the very end for the peaceful resolution of conflicts."
• U-N / SECURITY COUNCIL VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- The debate over Iraq has deeply split the United Nations Security Council. Some analysts and diplomats question to what degree the United Nations' authority -- in particular that of the Security Council -- is being undermined by the current crisis.
• FACT SHEET: Historic Review of UNMOVIC's Report on Unresolved Disarmament Issues U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE March 10, 2003 -- This fact sheet carefully reviews UNMOVIC's report (the "Cluster Document") delivered on March 7 before the UN Security Council concerning the Iraqi government and its refusal to carry out full and complete disarmament of its weapons of mass destruction. The report demonstrates that Iraq and its leadership have pursued a consistent strategy of concealing its weapons of mass destruction and deceiving inspectors in direct violation of its international obligations. Iraq's weapons of mass destruction remain a direct and active threat to their neighbors and to the international community.
• U-N / IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan is warning that any military action against Iraq, without the backing of the Security Council would call into question its legitimacy and be outside the U-N charter.
• U-N / POST WAR IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- President Bush says, if the United Nations does not follow up on its commitment to disarm Iraq -- even if that means war -- the international body will become irrelevant. But will the Bush administration find the world body relevant for assisting in post-war reconstruction?
• IRAQ / WAR VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Iraq says it destroyed more banned Al-Samoud-Two missiles Monday even as a senior Iraqi official said Baghdad believes war will occur no matter what Iraq does. However, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says military conflict can still be averted if Saddam Hussein provides absolute proof Iraq no longer possesses weapons of mass destruction.

Foreign Reactions

• FRANCE / IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- French President Jacques Chirac said France would veto, if necessary, any resolution authorizing war against Baghdad in the present circumstances. The French President has also ruled out French participation in military action against Iraq outside the United Nations framework.
• FRANCE / AFRICA VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- The French foreign minister is visiting the African nations that currently have seats on the U-N Security Council to lobby for their votes against a new resolution on Iraq. Britain's top official for Africa, meanwhile, also plans to visit the three countries, hoping to win support for the resolution.
• RUSSIA / EURO / IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Russia has toughened its stance against an effort by Britain, the United States and Spain to win Security Council approval of a new resolution authorizing war against Iraq. Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov says if the proposed resolution comes up for a vote, Russia will vote against it.
• PALESTINIANS / IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- As the possibility of U-S-led war against Iraq draws nearer, concerns are mounting in Israel and the Palestinian territories about its possible impact. Israelis fear they could be targets for Saddam Hussein, and they have warned their citizens to prepare for the worst. But Palestinians are worried about a different kind of side effect
• BRITAIN / IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Britain says the time has come for the U-N Security Council to meet its responsibilities and disarm Iraq, even if it must be through military force. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw issued the challenge as the diplomatic showdown builds over how to deal with Iraq.
• IRAQ / WAR VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- A senior Iraqi official says Baghdad faces war regardless of whether it can prove it has disarmed, but the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says Saddam Hussein could still take action to avert war.
• RUSSIA / EURO / IRAQ VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has said for the first time that Russia will use its veto to block passage of a new United Nations Security Council resolution paving the way for war against Iraq.
• MALAYSIA IRAQ NAM VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Malaysia is urging six members of the U-N Security Council who belong to the Non-Aligned Movement to vote against any war on Iraq.
• BRITAIN / SHORT VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- A senior member of the British government is threatening to resign if Prime Minister Tony Blair joins a U-S-led war against Iraq without United Nations approval. The threat from International Development Secretary Clare Short comes at a crucial time for Mr. Blair
• BRITAIN / SHORT VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he remains focused on getting a U-N resolution that could pave the way for war against Iraq, despite the threatened resignation of a senior Cabinet officer. The international development secretary has blasted the Blair policy on Iraq as "reckless."

News Reports

• Media Coverage of Military: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly AFPS 10 Mar 2003 -- The U.S. military is the best-trained, best-led and best-equipped force in the world, a senior defense official said today, and the American taxpayers deserve to see "just how professional that force is."
• OSCARS / WAR VOA 11 Mar 2003 -- The producer of the Oscars says the Hollywood award show will go ahead as planned March 23rd, regardless of whether war breaks out in the Middle East. Some worry that world events will overshadow the celebration.
• FEDERAL DEFICIT VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- With the prospect of a war with Iraq looming ever closer, several American papers are beginning to place the costs of military action in a broader perspective. They worry that the growing federal deficit, reversing a trend of federal surpluses in recent year, may seriously accelerate when the full costs of a war, and post-war rebuilding are known.
• On-Line Petitioning VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Americans are deeply divided over the prospect of going to war with Iraq. The most recent opinion polls suggest fifty-nine percent are in favor of an invasion. But one quarter of those people are reluctant to start a war without U.N. support, and thirty-seven percent of Americans are opposed to war outright. All this disagreement has resulted in an increased number of petitions. many of them circulating on the internet.
• WALTER CUTLER VOA 10 Mar 2003 -- Joining us to talk about all of this, the Iraqi situation and the diplomacy at hand, Ambassador Walter Cutler, President of the Meridian International Center and a former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and an experienced diplomat who served as a special emissary of the U.N. Secretary-General, conferring with lots of world leaders on peacekeeping issues.