TFIZ01 SITUATION REPORT NO. 004 AS OF 0530 EST

S E C R E T STATE 072951 INFORM CONSULS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2013 TAGS: PREL PINS AEMR MARR CASC IZ SUBJECT: TFIZ01 SITUATION REPORT NO. 004 AS OF 0530 EST THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2003 CLASSIFIED BY R ERDMAN, COORDINATOR. REASONS 1.5 B AND D. ¶1. (U) SADDAM APPEARANCE ON IRAQI TV: APPEARING ON STATE TV THREE HOURS AFTER THE START OF MILITARY OPERATIONS, SADDAM TERMED THE U.S. STRIKES "SHAMEFUL CRIMES AGAINST IRAQ AND HUMANITY" AND CALLED FOR RESISTANCE. IT WAS NOT CLEAR IF THE BROADCAST WAS LIVE. (CNN) ¶2. (C) REPORTS OF IRAQI MISSILES HITTING KUWAIT: EMBASSY KUWAIT REPORTS THAT TWO SCUDS WERE LAUNCHED FROM IRAQ AND THAT BOTH WERE SUCCESSFULLY DESTROYED BY PATRIOT MISSILES. KUWAITI MINISTER OF DEFENSE SEPARATELY STATED THAT TWO IRAQI MISSILES LANDED ON THE KUWAIT-IRAQ BORDER. KUWAIT TV REPORTED THEY WERE NOT CARRYING UNCONVENTIONAL WARHEAD. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THESE WERE SEPARATE INCIDENTS. (REUTERS, TASK FORCE-EMBASSY KUWAIT TELCON) ¶3. (C) OPEC WILL MAKE UP ANY OIL SHORTAGE: OPEC PLEDGED TO MAKE UP ANY OIL SHORTAGE, USING SPARE OUTPUT CAPACITY TO ENSURE SUPPLY CONTINUITY. INDONESIA'S ENERGY MINISTER SAID OPEC WAS READY TO ADD 5-6 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY TO THE MARKET IF NEEDED. MEANWHILE, SOME OIL SHIPPING COMPANIES ARE BECOMING RELUCTANT TO ENTER THE GULF. (REUTERS, TASK FORCE-EMBASSY KUWAIT TELCON). ¶4. (S) GOK APPROVAL OF ENTRY OF FORCES TO KUWAIT: THE GOK AUTHORIZED NEW COALITION FORCES TO ENTER KUWAIT WITHOUT A SIGNED STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT, PROVIDED THEY ARE UNDER U.S. COMMAND AND SOFA NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING. (KUWAIT 1004) ¶5. (U) IRAN CLOSES BORDER WITH IRAQ: IRAN CLOSED ITS BORDERS WITH IRAQ SHORTLY AFTER THE US STRIKE BEGAN, ACCORDING TO IRAN'S DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER. THE OFFICIAL STATED THAT ANY IRANIAN ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES WOULD BE CARRIED OUT ON IRAQI SOIL. (IRNA) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. POWELL