Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03STATE72951
2003-03-20 11:12:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:
TFIZ01 SITUATION REPORT NO. 004 AS OF 0530 EST
how-toO 201112Z MAR 03 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS IMMEDIATE SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM IMMEDIATE SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6843 AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE IMMEDIATE USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE USCINCSO MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE USCINCJFCOM NORFOLK VA IMMEDIATE USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE HQ DA WASHDC//DAPE:PRO// IMMEDIATE HQ DA WASHDC//DAPE-PRR-C// IMMEDIATE HQ DA WASHDC//DAPE:MO// IMMEDIATE HQ DA WASHDC//DAMO-AOC-CAT//PCC// IMMEDIATE DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1898 DIA WASHINGTON DC//TWC// IMMEDIATE JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3165 JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3:JOD// IMMEDIATE JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-1//J-3:JOD// IMMEDIATE SECDEF WASHDC//USD:SOLIC// IMMEDIATE XMT AMCONSUL AUCKLAND AMEMBASSY BELGRADE AMCONSUL STRASBOURG AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
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.
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
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