Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Communication Objective: Highlight Return to Normalcy

Addressed in Media:

(+) FBIS Translated Text]
The [Kuwaiti] Mobile Telecommunications Company [MTC] last week signed a contract with the US Central Command to build a telephone network covering the area from the Kuwaiti borders to Baghdad. This was announced by MTC General Manager Sa'd Hamad al-Barrak, who said that the contract comes within the framework of the first stage of agreements under which the MTC will provide telephone services in Iraq. The US Army signed the contract with the MTC last week to expedite launching the project as part of reconstruction efforts and to bolster humanitarian operations in Iraq. Telephone stations will be built under the supervision of the US forces. Customers can enjoy the service of buying [telephone lines], whether inside Kuwait or at sales offices in Iraq. The company had signed a similar contract with the British Army to provide the same services to the area stretching from the Kuwaiti borders to the southern region, which includes the cities of Basra, Al-Nasiriyah, and Al-Amarah.
[Description of Source: Baghdad Al-Manar in Arabic -- ]

(+) Coalition forces say that they will soon release Iraqi prisoners except for about 300 to 500 high-ranking military officials of the former regime. (Voice of Mujahidin)

(-) The United States will need to commit at least 100,000 troops to Iraq for at least a year, the former Army Secretary Thomas White said in an interview released Tuesday. White, who left the Defense Department after a series of disagreements with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, insisted that the United States will now need a long term presence in Iraq. He told the USA Today newspaper that senior US officials "are unwilling to come to grips" with the scale of the commitment that the United States must now make to Iraq after invading to bring down Saddam Hussein.

(-) With the Iraqi army abolished, the once-proud soldiers of Saddam Hussein are today struggling to survive in a harsh climate of total defeat and bitterness. Group Captain Laith Hamid Al-Saadun, like so many other officers, has not come to terms with the sudden disappearance of the old regime and the US decision to scrap the army. A new small force, purged of politics and the Baath Party, is set to be built by the US-British coalition. "Everything collapsed so quickly," said the air force pilot, admitting he was still "in shock at the defeat" he described as "an unprecedented debacle". Baghdad fell to invading US troops on April 9 after a campaign that lasted just three weeks and saw little in the way of major fighting. "As soldiers, we carry out orders, we are not to blame," for the regime's policies, he said.

(+) Baghdad's international airport, which has been closed since the U.S.-led attack on Iraq began in March, may reopen in July, the U.S. military said Tuesday. The airport, known until recently as Saddam International Airport, has been turned into a giant military base. Its runways remain pitted by bomb strikes and the main passenger terminals have been made into barracks for U.S. troops. But a statement released Tuesday by Central Command said that coalition forces had "contracted 350-400 Iraqis to begin work at the International Airport, tentatively planning on resuming commercial traffic in the next month."

(+) Also Monday, the British military reopened the first functioning prison in postwar southern Iraq. The first inmates at the Basra facility will be the 70 people British forces picked up after the war for a variety of serious infractions, such as murder, major theft or looting that damages the infrastructure the occupiers are trying to repair.

Communication Objective: Highlight HA Operations

Addressed in Media:

Communication Objective: Encourage Support for Coalition military authority

Addressed in Media:

(+ / -) Coalition forces issue an order appointing Subhi Faraj Ayish as new security chief in Baghdad. (Voice of Mujahidin)

(+) Coalition forces raid the offices of SCIRI in a town near Mosul, confiscate their contents, and arrest a number of officials who were holding a meeting at the office. (Voice of Mujahidin)

(-) Commentary: Five thousand Basra residents protested the appointment of a British officer to rule Basra. Demonstrators raised placards saying: We are able to run our affairs by ourselves. A demonstrator said: We demand an Iraqi governor who is elected by the Iraqi people. The attempts to appoint a British governor for Basra is an indication of the attempts by the United States and Britain to confiscate the Iraqis' right to rule themselves. What happened is that Saddam's dictatorship has been replaced with US-British dictatorship. (Voice of Mujahidin)

(-) The US administration is insisting on staying in Iraq and managing that country for its own political and economic benefit. It is also insisting on stripping Iraq of all the ingredients of a State. By doing so, the US administration is pushing things in the direction of escalating the confrontation with the Iraqi people who are carrying out heroic operations of resistance to the occupation forces. This resistance has escalated to the point where US helicopters are being shot down at averages that are higher than the averages that prevailed during the war between the US and Iraqi forces. The occupation forces should realize that they cannot continue to rule Iraq for long and that they cannot build the political and economic life of Iraq in the way they want contrary to the culture and will of the Iraqi people. The occupation forces should also realize that it is the Iraqi people who will eventually determine who will rule them. If the occupation forces realize all these things, they would spare themselves, the Iraqi people and the region a great deal of suffering. In other words, Iraq should be left for the Iraqis to rule. (Cairo Al-Ahram)

Communication Objective: Communicate picture of the future of Iraq:

Addressed in Media:

Communication Objective: Discredit former Regime

Addressed in Media:

(+) Chief weapons inspector Hans Blix says that weapons inspectors can resume their work in Iraq within 15 days if requested to do so by the UN security Council. (Voice of Mujahidin)

(-) After insisting for months that weapons of mass destruction allegedly held by ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime posed an immediate threat, the Bush administration today faces a serious credibility crisis due to lack of proof, experts say. US Secretary of State Colin Powell denied those allegations Monday, saying that US credibility remained "intact". "Everybody knows that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction," Powell told ABC News, in an interview from Egypt. Both the US and British governments are facing accusations they distorted intelligence reports to exaggerate the threat posed by Saddam. Australia, which as a partner in the so-called "coalition of the willing" that toppled Saddam's regime also sent troops to Iraq, is also facing scrutiny.

(+) Text of report unattributed report entitled: "Mass graves in Al-Mahawil contain remains of Iraqis and Egyptians", published by Iraqi newspaper Al-Ittihad on 14 May
Three more mass graves have been discovered in Al-Mahawil. In statements to Al-Ittihad, the Babil governor said that hundreds of people had been found in these graves. He added: The way these people were killed really shocked us. They were killed with angle grinders. The graves contain the remains of young men.

Communication Objective: Illustrate Unity of Coalition efforts

Addressed in Media:

* Communication Objective: Continue to Fight the Global War on Terrorism

Addressed in Media:

Notable Quotes:

Lt. Col. James Schrote, a Black Hawk pilot from the newly arrived 1st Armored Division, pointed down at cars jumping over curbs and medians to avoid a huge traffic jam at a downtown intersection, and radioed details to troops on the ground.
"We're essentially observers, looking out for something that doesn't seem right," said Schrote, of Alexandria, Va. "That's all part of our duty - to make sure nobody is carrying firearms, to monitor traffic and gas lines and make sure the guys down there don't get too unruly." "These helicopters can cover much more ground than ground troops can," said Col. Lawrence David, commander of the 4th Brigade, which groups the 50 rotary-wing aircraft in the division's inventory. It consists of 18 anti-tank Apaches, 16 UH-60 Black Hawk utility choppers, and 16 Kiowa light reconnaissance craft.
(AP, 03 JUN 03)

Retired Major General Edward Atkeson, a former US Army intelligence officer, now a consultant with the Institute of Land Warfare, says that the weapons of mass destruction question "was just an excuse." "The main thing they wanted to do is was to change the regime. That became pretty clear," said Atkeson. "They probably had an idea that they wanted to change it" even before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Atkeson suggests that the terror strikes "provided an opportunity to carry out their policy." (Washington Post, 3 JUN 03)

A U.S. soldier was shot and killed while on patrol in central Iraq early Tuesday, while the military reported that four U.S. soldiers and five civilians were blindfolded and interrogated by Iranian authorities after being taken off boats in the waters between Iran and Iraq. Tuesday's shooting occurred near the town of Balad, 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of the capital, said Maj. William Thurmond, a spokesman for the U.S. Army's V Corps. Thurmond said he had no further details. He said the soldier's name was being withheld pending notification of his family. (AP, 03 JUN 03)

* NEW COMMUNICATIONS OBJECTIVE

ARTICLES:

Document ID: GMP20030603000184
Entry Date: 06/03/2003
Version Number: 01

Region: Near East/South Asia, The Americas, West Europe

Sub-Region: Near East, North America, West Europe

Country: Iraq[0], United States, United Kingdom

Topic: DOMESTIC ECONOMIC, DOMESTIC POLITICAL, INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC, INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL

Source-Date: 06/03/2003

Selection List: Iraqi Press 03 Jun 03

GMP20030603000184 Iraq -- FBIS Report in English

[FBIS Report]
1. Baghdad Al-Manar 1 Jun:

A. A mobile telephone company signs contract with the US Central Command to provide telephone services from the Kuwaiti borders to Baghdad. (180 words; FBIS plans to text this item)

B. Najim al-Rubay'i addresses a letter to Paul Bremer protesting the appointment of foreigners to oversee Iraqi affairs. (p 6; FBIS plans to process this item)

2. Baghdad Al-Istiqlal 1 Jun: Open letter from Hamid al-Maliki to Paul Bremer. (p 3; 1,400 words; FBIS plans to text this item)

3. Baghdad Tariq al-Sha'b 1-7 Jun: Article by Rida al-Zahir criticizes remarks made by UK's John Sawyers on Iraq. (p 6; 800 words; FBIS plans to text this item)

4. Baghdad Al-Muwajahah 1 Jun: Paper introduces itself to readers. (p 3; 600 words; FBIS plans to file text)

5. Baghdad Al-Jaridah 31 May: Exclusive interview with Former Iraqi Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi on Resolution 1483, other issues. (p2; 2,500 words; FBIS plans to text this item)

6. Baghdad Al-Bayda 1 Jun:

a. Article by the chairman of the board of directors of the newspaper. In its first issue, the newspaper calls for beginning the process of rebuilding Iraq with national reconciliation. (600 words; FBIS plans to text this item)

b. Article in English entitled "Our New Relations with the Americans." (p 8; 375 words; FBIS plans to process this item)

7. Baghdad Al-Naba 31 May: Article by the chief editor entitled "Occupation of Iraq." It discusses the reasons, in the writer's opinion, for which the United States occupied Iraq. (p.1; 250 words; FBIS plans to text this item)

8. Baghdad Al-Adalah 2 Jun: Editorial criticizes US forces for failing to restore order in Iraq. (p 1; 600 words; FBIS plans to text this item)

9. Baghdad al-Ahali 28 May: Opinion poll shows majority of Baghdad, Mosul residents favor stay of US forces in Iraq. (p 1; 300 words; FBIS plans to text this item)

10. Negative selection:

-- Baghdad Al-Majd 31 May

-- Baghdad Sada al-Hall 30 May

-- Baghdad Al-Tadamun 1 Jun

-- Baghdad Al-Amal 1 Jun

-- Al-Najaf al-Baqi 30 May

-- Baghdad Al-Hadaf 1 Jun

-- Baghdad Al-Shams 31 May

-- Baghdad Al-Tajammu 31 May

-- Baghdad Al-Ahrar 2 June

-- Baghdad Sumar 29 May

-- Baghdad Al-Shira 2 June

-- Baghdad Al-Ittijah al-Akhar 31 May

-- Baghdad Al-Manar 2 Jun

-- Baghdad Al-Bayan 2 Jun

-- Baghdad Al-Sa'ah 31 May

THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.

Source-Date: 06/01/2003

Iraq: Paper Urges Good Relations With Americans

GMP20030603000159 Baghdad Al-Bayda in Arabic 01 Jun 03 p 8

[FBIS Report]
Baghdad Al-Bayda in Arabic, published by the Iraqi National Coalition, on 1 June carries on page 8 an editorial in Arabic and English, on Iraqi-US "new" relations. The following is a transcript of the editorial as it appears in English

"Our New Relation with The Americans

"Americans have occupied Iraq after an unequalized war in which they won the military phase. The reasons of this military victory will not be mentioned here because they are known for all people like the existence of salt in food. So, Iraq has entered a new era in which hard feelings expropriate it's citizens; do people welcome the troops who have come from the greatest state in the world? The state which succeeded to break the usual law of polarity on which life bases; the state which enforced the new status qoue of the unique pole. Do Iraqi people fight this kind of state?

"In every time when mind is taken into consideration, it seems that dealing with the Americans and the call to let them stay in Iraq are the best solutions to keep the security, stability, and the calmness of people. These might be enhanced by the fact which says that the American soldier is the ideal in his good dealing and cooperation with the citizens in the enforcement of the order and in chasing criminals whose number increases in hard circumstances swarmed with the bribe and the absense of the law.

"One of the reasons that causes the Americans to invade Iraqi lands- as known by all people is the suppression of the freedom of opinion used by the former regime since 1968 which enhanced by the violence adopted by that regime especially this kind of suppression had not confront by any kind of resistance.

"The other reason for this invasion is secure the great strategic interests which the United States wants to achieve by using all the possible military an economic means as well as those used in the information media.

"Reconcile with the Americans and friendly dealing with them are necessary because the Americans themselves gave their hands to us and they have coveted eagerly not to harm the religion, honour, and money of any Iraqi citizen until now. So, why we haven't declared that the Americans are our friends until they, themselves, prove that they are our enemies and we respect their good deals for us since they show this kind of respect and endeavor to keep the Iraqi lands united?"

[Description of Source: Baghdad Al-Bayda in Arabic -- ]

THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.

Highlights
from Kuwait Arabic press June 3, 03

News:

--All newspapers: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Sheikh

Mohammed Al-Sabah: "It was President Bush who wanted to visit Kuwait and it

was also the President who asked to postpone it for several considerations."

Dr. Mohammed added, however, that Kuwait "understands" these considerations.

When asked if Kuwait was upset that Qatar was on the President's itinerary,

Dr. Mohammed said that "Kuwait and Doha are one and in the Gulf region we

deal as one country within our GCC framework. President Bush is welcome

wherever he goes and his visit to Doha is a compliment to the GCC at large."

When asked about a possible visit by Abu Mazen to Kuwait, Dr. Mohammed said

he had no knowledge of such a visit. (Front page)

--Al-Anba: The Kuwaiti navy brought back four American soldiers and three

civilians who had disappeared on board two small boats yesterday. A

security source told Al-Anba that the US 5th fleet had announced that the

boats went missing on their way from Bakr port in Iraq to Shatt Al-Arab.

(front page) On the same note, Al-Rai Al-Aam: published that Iranian naval

forces handed over three American soldiers, five American civilians, and one

Indian to a joint American-Kuwaiti force. According to sources, Iranian

naval forces intercepted the two boats near Khoor Abdullah where they

stopped the Americans who were also accompanied by two Iranians. Members of

the group were questioned for 29 hours before the Americans and the Indian

were released, but the Iranians were kept in custody. (Front page)

--Al-Qabas: published a full page feature story on US reservists who

participated in the war in Iraq and their views on Kuwait. (Page 8)

--Al-Anba: The Director General of the Kuwait Ports Authority, Dr. Sabah

Al-Ahli, asked the British army to shift their shipments from Shuwaikh port

to Shuaiba port in an effort to solve the overcrowding problem in Kuwaiti

ports. (Front page)

SECTION:International News

LENGTH: 848 words

HEADLINE: From the air, looking down: U.S. helicopters keep the peace from the Iraqi skies

BYLINE: By SLOBODAN LEKIC, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: ABOVE BAGHDAD, Iraq

BODY:
The half-dozen Apache and Black Hawk helicopters clattered above this sprawling capital, hovering over intersections and crisscrossing paths as they banked over palm-lined avenues and the winding Tigris River.

Lt. Col. James Schrote, a Black Hawk pilot from the newly arrived 1st Armored

Division, pointed down at cars jumping over curbs and medians to avoid a huge traffic jam at a downtown intersection, and radioed details to troops on the ground.

"We're essentially observers, looking out for something that doesn't seem right," said Schrote, of Alexandria, Va. "That's all part of our duty - to make sure nobody is carrying firearms, to monitor traffic and gas lines and make sure the guys down there don't get too unruly."

The division - normally based in Wiesbaden, Germany - has extensive experience in peacekeeping from Kosovo and Bosnia. It is gradually assuming responsibility for security in and around Baghdad from the 3rd Infantry Division which led the ground assault on the capital.

The Pentagon recently announced that the 3rd Infantry Division will remain in Iraq indefinitely, and a former Army secretary said defense officials need to admit that U.S. troops will be there for a long time. Thomas White, who left his post in May, told USA Today on Monday that more than 100,000 troops will be needed for at least a year.

"It's almost a question of people not wanting to fess up to the motion that we will be there a long time," he told the newspaper.

Commanders of the 1st Armored say they plan to introduce a number of changes into the way Baghdad has been policed since April. This includes increasingly relying on their choppers for reconnaissance missions to help troops on the ground and the Iraqi police force maintain order and provide security in the city of five million people.

"These helicopters can cover much more ground than ground troops can," said Col. Lawrence David, commander of the 4th Brigade, which groups the 50 rotary-wing aircraft in the division's inventory. It consists of 18 anti-tank Apaches, 16 UH-60 Black Hawk utility choppers, and 16 Kiowa light reconnaissance craft.

The helicopters also remain on the lookout for Saddam loyalists and other militants who have mounted a series of hit-and-run attacks on U.S. troops in Baghdad and elsewhere since ground combat ended in mid-April.

"If the soldiers on the ground get into trouble in some areas where they can't see who's shooting at them, we can quickly give them a description or even take out the bad guys," said Spec. Aaron Hardin, of Rock Hill, S.C., a crew chief and door gunner.

The 3rd Infantry has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent the breakdown in law and order that followed Saddam's ouster, which escalated into the wholesale looting of government buildings, museums and other institutions.

Although the rampage has died down in recent weeks, many Baghdadis say the damage inflicted was greater than that sustained during the coalition bombardment of key military installations during the war.

Viewed from the air, the damage caused by bombing appears to have been localized, confined almost exclusively to communications centers, ministries, and buildings within the grounds of Saddam's sprawling palace complexes.

Some of the targets, such as government office towers that appear nearly untouched from street level, have neat round holes in their roofs indicating where guided bombs penetrated. Others, like the Republican Guard headquarters, were pulverized into a jumble of collapsed concrete roofs.

U.S. tanks and armored vehicles now surround the Martyrs Monument and its two massive, semi-elliptical turquoise domes that stand out starkly from the dominant khaki of the city. The monument's wide approach avenue is now used as a military parking area.

During a one-hour mission, the Black Hawk ranged over the entire capital, crossing from the slums of al-Thawra - once known as Saddam City - to the central business district and the upscale Mansour area of mansions with empty, dust-covered swimming pools.

Helicopter pilots say flying at low levels over the city is difficult because it is hard to visually make out potential hazards such as communications masts, electricity pylons and high-tension wires. Although these are painted in red and white, this year's sandstorms have covered them with dust, blending everything into the tan facades and unpaved alleyways.

"I cannot tell you how difficult it is to fly in an urban environment like this," David said.

Still, the pilots and their crews enjoy the experience of flying outside the murky, confined skies of Northern Europe. They say the new missions offer unique opportunities to perfect their skills.

"We fly as much as we can every day," Schrote said after landing, as he took off his heavy, sweat-drenched bulletproof vest and flight helmet.

He said the most serious problem 4th Brigade's pilots had encountered so far was the unrelenting heat, particularly since their overhead windows allowed the sun to beat directly down upon them in flight.

GRAPHIC: AP Photos BAG102-103

LOAD-DATE: June 3, 2003

In other developments:

* Retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, director of the postwar Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, quietly left the country Sunday. Garner had been pushed into a second-tier role after Bremer was named the top administrator in Iraq last month.

* Electricity supplies continue to improve across Iraq and have now reached 50% of prewar levels in Baghdad, said John Sawars, Britain's senior official in the reconstruction effort.

* Iraqi political leaders met to consider how to respond to Sunday's U.S. decision to abandon a plan to let a national conference of hundreds of Iraqis select an interim government. Instead, occupation authorities will appoint 25 to 30 Iraqis to a political council to serve as an interim administration.

-30-