US embassy cable - 90STATE255577TOSEC140323

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