TFKU01: SITREP NO. 5: IRAQ/KUWAIT TASK FORCE:

S E C R E T STATE 255577 TOSEC 140323 E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ KU US SUBJECT: TFKU01: SITREP NO. 5: IRAQ/KUWAIT TASK FORCE: SITUATION AS OF 2300 EDT ¶1. (S) KUWAIT CITY IS QUIET, EXCEPT FOR A SERIES OF LOUD EXPLOSIONS, REPORTEDLY AN ARTILLERY VOLLEY, WHICH COMMENCED AT 0400 LOCAL. EMBASSY BELIEVES THIS WAS AN IRAQI SCARE TACTIC. EMBASSY KUWAIT HAS OUTLINED A PLAN FOR ORDERED PERSONNEL DRAWDOWN WHEN FEASIBLE. (KUWAIT 4430, 4431) ¶2. (S) CBS HAS REPORTED A MOVEMENT OF IRAQI FORCES TOWARDS SAUDI ARABIA. INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS IN WASHINGTON BELIEVE THIS MOVEMENT IS RELATIVELY SMALL AND POSSIBLY RELATED TO CONTINUING KUWAITI RESISTANCE AT CERTAIN OIL FACILITIES. (TASK FORCE) ¶3. (C) IN UNSC CONSULTATIONS IN NEW YORK, AMBASSADOR PICKERING FOUND GENERALLY POSITIVE REACTIONS TO OUR PROPOSAL TO MOVE TOWARD BROAD SANCTIONS. SOVIETS, CANADIANS AND FINNS WERE FAVORABLE. FRENCH AND BRITS WERE CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE. PRC WAS NOT SUPPORTIVE, PREFERRING TO GIVE ARABS A CHANCE TO ACHIEVE RESULTS. (USUN/IO TELCON). ¶4. (LOU) ALL TELEPHONE CONTACT WITH EMBASSY KUWAIT HAS BEEN LOST. AT&T BELIEVES CALLS TO AND FROM THE EMBASSY ARE BEING BLOCKED INTENTIONALLY, PRESUMABLY BY IRAQI AUTHORITIES. VOICE COMMUNICATION IS BEING MAINTAINED THROUGH TACSAT. (AT&T/WATCH TELCONS) ¶5. (S) IRAQI AUTHORITIES HAVE ALSO CUT OFF DIRECT DIALING CAPABILITY TO AND FROM BAGHDAD. CHARGE WILSON MADE A STRONG REQUEST TO THE MFA FOR RESTORATION OF SERVICE. HE RECOMMENDS AGAINST USE OF TACSAT AT THIS TIME, SINCE THE IRAQIS KNOW THE EMBASSY HAS TACSAT CAPABILITY AND HAVE DENIED PERMISSION TO USE IT. (BAGHDAD 4435, 4436) EAGLEBURGER