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Operations
Deployments
US Policy
United Nations
Foreign Reactions
News Reports

Current Operations

• Afghan Rockets Miss U.S. Troops; More Leaflets Fall as Iraq Countdown Wanes AFPS 18 Mar 2003 -- While much of the nation's focus has been on the prospect of war with Iraq, U.S. military forces in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom are still the target of hostilities.

Deployments

• FH Pensacola Deploys in Support of 'Operation Enduring Freedom' Navy NewStand 18 Mar 2003 -- Fleet Hospital (FH) Pensacola, the contingency arm of Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla., received orders and has now deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
• Soldiers hone skills on Desert Storm battlefield Army News 18 Mar 2003 -- While the United States grows closer to war with Iraq, elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., sharpen their skills on what was once the battlefield of Operation Desert Storm.
• Patriot crews ready to defend desert sites Army News 18 Mar 2003 -- What seemed routine a few months ago can now mean the difference between life and death for air defenders deployed to the Persian Gulf region to aid in Operation Enduring Freedom.
• PENTAGON/IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- The are signs some Iraqi troops are interested in surrender even before U-S forces launch an expected invasion.
• PENTAGON / ATTACK VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- U-S military forces are poised to unleash what one senior Pentagon official describes as a massive attack on Iraq.
• Incirlik CES readies for possible contingency USAFENS 18 Mar 2003 -- It is taking a total team of permanent party and deployed U.S. Air Force members, plus military members from sister services and civilian contractors to complete multiple construction projects throughout the base here in preparation for a possible contingency operation.
• Desert Storm Warriors reunite USMC News 18 Mar 2003 -- It's been said, "it's a small world." Twelve years ago, they lived in underground holes on the Saudi and Kuwait border as young lieutenants. Not only did they come from different sides of the globe, cultures and religions; but also belonged to different military services.
• 'Black Knights' lift off as 26th MEU's ACE USMC News 18 Mar 2003 -- Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-264 departed New River, March 5, as the Aviation Combat Element of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).
• Kitty Hawk Sailors Practice Good OPSEC Navy NewStand 18 Mar 2003 -- As USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) operates in the Arabian Gulf, operational security, or OPSEC, becomes more vital for the safety of the ship, its crew and its mission.
• IRAQ / APACHE HELICOPTERS VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- A war against Iraq would be the first battlefield test for the Army's Apache Longbow attack helicopters, considered the most lethal and sophisticated helicopters in the world.
• Getting Comfortable on Comfort Navy NewStand 18 Mar 2003 -- Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) has added approximately 800 Sailors to the crew who have been on the ship since its departure from Baltimore in January, bringing Comfort to its full operating status. The ship is now able to care for 1,000 patients at a time.

US Policy

• White House Daily Briefing White House 18 Mar 2003
• Powell Hopes Possible War against Iraq Will Be Short with Minimal Harm Washington File 18 Mar 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says if military action is needed to deal with Iraq, the United States and its partners will make every effort to keep the war short and to minimize damage to the infrastructure and harm to the Iraqi people.
• Boucher Announces Coalition for Disarmament of Iraq Washington File 18 Mar 2003 -- Thirty countries have agreed to be part of the coalition for the immediate disarmament of Iraq, and several more countries are offering other forms of military and post-conflict support, said State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher.
• BUSH / IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- President Bush is involved in "last minute planning" for military action against Iraq, which has rejected a U-S ultimatum that Saddam Hussein give-up power by Wednesday or face war.
• EDITORIAL: REMEMBERING HALABJA VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- There is no doubt that the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons. The regime has used such weapons against the Iraqi people. This month marks the fifteenth anniversary of the terror faced by the citizens of Halabja.
• CONGRESS / IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Bush administration officials are assuring skeptical U-S lawmakers that the United States will have a broad international coalition in a looming war to disarm Iraq.
• EDITORIAL: SADDAM HUSSEIN MUST LEAVE IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- With these words, President George W. Bush put Saddam Hussein on notice: his possession of weapons of mass destruction --and his dictatorship -- are coming to an end
• U.S. Could Open Strategic Petroleum Reserve Washington File 18 Mar 2003 -- The policy on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is that the reserve will be released in the event of an emergency such as a severe disruption of supply. So, at this moment, it's impossible to anticipate, predict whether or not there would be a severe disruption of supply. Those determinations will be made by the experts based on the circumstances on the ground in terms of what supply conditions look like.
• White House Still Hopes Saddam Hussein Will Choose Exile Washington File 18 Mar 2003 -- The White House said March 18 it still hopes that Iraq's Saddam Hussein will take seriously President Bush's ultimatum and leave Iraq voluntarily so that Iraq can be disarmed peacefully of its weapons of mass destruction.
• Armitage Emphasizes "Iraq Belongs to Iraqis" Washington File 18 Mar 2003 -- "Iraq belongs to Iraqis," Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage emphasized to Middle East listeners of Radio Sawa March 18.
• USAID Planning Iraq Humanitarian Response Washington File 18 Mar 2003 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has assembled the largest-ever U.S. humanitarian rapid response team to assist the people of Iraq in the wake of military action in that country, according to a February 24 USAID press release.
• Historic meeting brings world leaders to Lajes USAFENS 18 Mar 2003 -- President George W. Bush flew here March 16 for a summit with three allies marking an historical chapter in Lajes history on the eve of a possible war with Iraq.

United Nations

• U-N / POSTWAR IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- President Bush says the United Nations could play a major role in the aftermath of a war, although the world body has not lived up to its responsibility to disarm Iraq. But how the international community gets involved in Iraq's reconstruction may be affected by the acrimonious debate that took place in the Security Council.
• As UN pulls staff from Iraq, Security Council prepares to hear inspectors' report UN News Centre 18 Mar 2003 -- Even as the United Nations withdrew its last weapons inspectors from Iraq today, several Foreign Ministers were planning to attend an open meeting of the Security Council tomorrow to hear from the two top inspectors on the key remaining disarmament issues for Baghdad to resolve.
• Probe for Iraqi weapons should have continued - Blix UN News Centre 18 Mar 2003 -- Speaking on the day the last United Nations weapons monitors were withdrawn from Iraq, the top inspector, Hans Blix, today said he feels the inspections should not have been stopped at this stage.
• U.N. Steps Up Planning to Aid Iraqi Civilians Washington File 18 Mar 2003 -- As more than 300 U.N. staff are evacuated from Iraq, U.N. officials at headquarters in New York March 18 stepped up contingency planning for how the international organization, best known for its effectiveness in providing humanitarian assistance, can help after expected military action ends.
• Iraq: UN refugee agency has initial contingency plans for 600,000 in case of war UN News Centre 18 Mar 2003 -- The United Nations refugee agency has initial contingency preparations for 600,000 refugees flooding out of Iraq in the event of conflict and is calling on all Baghdad's neighbours to keep their borders open and provide temporary protection and assistance, the agency spokesman said today.
• IRAQ/INSPECTORS VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- U-N weapons inspectors have arrived in Cyprus after being evacuated from Iraq Tuesday, as war appears imminent in Iraq. Other U-N personnel are also being evacuated after President Bush gave Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to get out of Iraq or face an attack. Some of the weapons inspectors said they were disappointed they were not able to complete their mission.
• IRAQ / U-N / AID VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- United Nations aid agencies say they are still far short of funds needed to avert a humanitarian crisis in Iraq in the event of war. Still they say they are trying to prepare as fully as possible to assist the Iraqi people.
• TURKEY: UN agencies prepare for possible emergency IRIN 18 Mar 2003 -- Turkey could prove an important humanitarian springboard in the event of a war on Iraq, as UN agencies in the Turkish capital, Ankara, firm up contingency plans to deal with a possible emergency. The country’s well developed port facilities and road infrastructure could play a critical role in rapidly supplying food and other relief items to Iraq.
• IRAQ: IRIN interview with Andre Laperriere, UNICEF Coordinator for northern Iraq IRIN 18 Mar 2003 -- The United Nations and NGOs are formulating a contingency plan to prepare for up to 600,000 Iraqi refugees if war breaks out. A similar or greater number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) may also be on the move in the event of conflict.

Foreign Reactions

• TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP ADDRESS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA 18 Mar 2003 -- "This morning I announced that Australia had joined a coalition, led by the United States, which intends to disarm Iraq of its prohibited weapons of mass destruction. The government has now authorised our defence forces, which were predeployed to the gulf to acclimatise and contribute to the campaign to persuade Saddam Hussein into compliance, to take part in coalition operations."
• Anti-war protests slated throughout USAFE USAFENS 18 Mar 2003 -- As the potential war with Iraq looms closely ahead, anti-war protests are occurring throughout Europe and the world.
• BRITAIN / IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- The British Parliament has voted to give Prime Minister Tony Blair approval to send British troops on an invasion to disarm Iraq. The vote came after lengthy and emotional debate Tuesday.
• GULF / AUSTRALIAN TROOPS VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard has committed Australian troops to join U-S and British coalition forces in the Gulf region. Two-thousand Australian soldiers are in the region and reports their reaction from As-Sayliyah camp outside Doha.
• BRITAIN / IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called on a reluctant parliament to support his decision to participate in an attack on Iraq. Mr. Blair wants that support even if there is no U-N authorization if Saddam Hussein and his sons do not leave the country by Wednesday night.
• IRAQ / SABRI VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Iraq's foreign minister has rejected President Bush's ultimatum that the Iraqi leadership leave the country, saying it is Mr. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair who should leave office. Iraq's top diplomat, Naji Sabri, spoke at a news conference late Tuesday.
• BUSH-IRAQ REACT VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Iraq has rejected President Bush's ultimatum that Saddam Hussein and his sons leave the country by mid-week or face a U-S led invasion.
• IRAQ / JORDAN ECONOMY VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Jordan is already taking measures to offset any negative economic impact of war in neighboring Iraq. The country is heavily dependent on Iraqi oil imports and business leaders fear investors will shy away from a region in turmoil, as they did after the first Gulf war.
• ISRAEL / IRAQ / PUBLIC OPINION VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Opinion surveys show that Israelis, perhaps more than any other people on earth, view Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as a real threat to peace and security.
• IRAQ/REJECT VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and one of his sons are defying President Bush's ultimatum for them to leave Iraq by early Thursday or face attack, saying they will stay and fight.
• POWELL-COALITION VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says 45 countries are supporting the United States in the coalition that may soon go to war against Iraq. Thirty were listed by the State Department Tuesday. What is being termed the "Coalition for the Immediate Disarmament of Iraq" is said to rival in size the coalition that fought the Gulf War in 1991.
• ISRAEL / IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Israel has told its citizens to prepare sealed off rooms as safe havens against a possible chemical weapons attack by Iraq.
• FRANCE / IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- French President Jacques Chirac has condemned President Bush's 48-hour ultimatum for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave his country or face war.
• CHINA / IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- China's new prime minister is calling for an all-out effort to avoid war with Iraq. The appeal for peace comes as U-S forces prepare to launch a military strike against Baghdad.
• RUSSIA / IRAQ VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Russian officials say they do not believe the time for diplomacy on Iraq is over.
• IRAQ / ARAB LEAGUE VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- A last Arab attempt to avert war in Iraq has been called off.
• ASIA IRAQ REACT VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Across Asia, opinion is split about the ultimatum issued by President Bush to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to step down from power. The Indonesian government is criticizing the United States for acting alone - while Japan is offering its support.
• PAKISTAN HUMAN RIGHTS VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Human-rights activists in Pakistan are warning they believe a U-S led military action against Iraq is likely to fuel extremism and repression in Pakistan.

News Reports

• IRAQ WRAP VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has rejected President Bush's ultimatum to leave the country within 48 hours or be toppled by an U-S-led invasion. Both the United States and Iraq are preparing for war as the deadline for the Iraqi leader's departure -- set for Wednesday evening Washington time -- draws near.
• ANTI-WAR PROTESTS VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- As the war with Iraq nears, anti-war demonstrators in the U-S capital and other cities are stepping up their campaign of non-violent protest.
• IRAQ / TERROR VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- U-S officials have announced a series of steps to shore up security at borders, airports and seaports, bracing for terrorist attacks in the event of war with Iraq.
• BUSH ULTIMATUM VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- President Bush's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave the Iraq within 48 hours or be prepared for an attack has riveted the attention of the U-S press.
• Oil Prices Down VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Financial markets were again mostly higher Tuesday and oil prices fell very sharply for the second straight day. Traders are anticipating a short and successful U-S military campaign against Iraq.
• IRAQ/LESSONS OF HALABJA VOA 18 Mar 2003 -- Survivors of Iraqi government chemical attacks on Kurdish cities in the 1980's are concerned about the safety of Kurdish populations in northern Iraq. Testimony by Kurdish exiles on Capitol Hill came amid reports of Iraqi Kurds fleeing farther into northern areas to escape possible retribution by troops loyal to Saddam Hussein.