TFKU01: SITREP NO. 3: IRAQ/KUWAIT TASK FORCE:

S E C R E T STATE 255195 TOSEC 140301 E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ KU US SUBJECT: TFKU01: SITREP NO. 3: IRAQ/KUWAIT TASK FORCE: SITUATION AS OF 1600 EDT ¶1. SECRET-ENTIRE TEXT. ¶2. EMBASSY KUWAIT CONTINUES TO ADVISE AMERICANS TO STAND FAST; THE EMBASSY IS WORKING ON A DRAWDOWN PLAN, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE A THREE STAGE EVACUATION. THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS INSTITUTED A CURFEW AND HAS BANNED ALL TRAVEL. THERE CONTINUES TO BE NO REPORTS OF AMERICAN CASUALTIES. EMBASSY KUWAIT/TFKU01 TELCON ¶3. CHARGE WILSON MET WITH IRAQI MFA UNDER SECRETARY HAMDUN TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE FATE OF AMERICAN OIL FIELD WORKERS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY IRAQI TROOPS. THE AMERICANS, WHO WERE WORKING IN THE RUMAYLAH OIL FIELD, ARE EMPLOYED BY SANTE FE INTERNATIONAL. HAMDUN WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE WILSON THE NAME OF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF KUWAIT. EMBASSY BAGHDAD/TFKU01 TELCON ¶4. THE ARAB LEAGUE MEETING REMAINED IN SESSION AFTER 11 HOURS. IRAQ AND YEMEN ARE BLOCKING A CONSENSUS FOR A STRONG STATEMENT; IRAQ ALSO CHALLENGED KUWAIT'S CREDENTIALS. EGYPT, WITH SAUDI AND JORDANIAN HELP, SUPPORTS THE KUWAITI RESOLUTION, ALTHOUGH THIS "EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION" MAY ALLOW THE AL TO DISCARD ITS NORMAL REQUIREMENT FOR A CONSENSUS, EMBASSY CAIRO BELIEVES THAT A RESOLUTION, IF PASSED TONIGHT, WILL BE FAIRLY WEAK. IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT THE SESSION WILL BE RESUMED TOMORROW, AFTER A RECESS. EMBASSY CAIRO/TFKU01 TELCON ¶5. A SAUDI MFA OFFICIAL TOLD A BRITISH DIPLOMAT THAT THE GCC FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL DEPART CAIRO TOMORROW AND TRAVEL TO JEDDAH, WHERE THEY WILL ISSUE A STRONG STATEMENT AGAINST IRAQ. RIYADH 6070 ¶6. KING HUSSEIN REPORTEDLY IS EN ROUTE TO BAGHDAD, AFTER MEETING WITH THE DEPUTY IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER IN EGYPT. EMBASSY AMMAN/TFKU01 TELCON ¶7. AN ATTORNEY FOR BECHTEL HAS PASSED ON AN UNCONFIRMED RUMOR THAT AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS STAYING IN BAGHDAD HOTELS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE AL RASHED HOTEL. TELCON WITH TFKU01. KIMMITT