US embassy cable - 03STATE73981

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TFIZ01 SITUATION REPORT NO. 005 AS OF 1530 EST THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2003

Identifier: 03STATE73981
Wikileaks: View 03STATE73981 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Secretary of State
Created: 2003-03-20 22:44:00
Classification: SECRET
Tags: PREL PINS AEMR MARR CASC IZ
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
O 202244Z MAR 03
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS IMMEDIATE
SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM IMMEDIATE
SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6879
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
USCENTCOM 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 1899
DIA WASHDC//TWC// IMMEDIATE
JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3202
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3:JOD// IMMEDIATE
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-1//J-3:JOD// IMMEDIATE
SECDEF WASHDC//USD:SOLIC// IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 
XMT AMCONSUL AUCKLAND
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMCONSUL STRASBOURG
AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG
AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
S E C R E T STATE 073981 
 
 
INFORM CONSULS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2013 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, AEMR, MARR, CASC, IZ 
SUBJECT: TFIZ01 SITUATION REPORT NO. 005 AS OF 1530 EST 
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2003 
 
CLASSIFIED BY W STANTON, COORDINATOR.  REASONS 1.5 B AND D. 
 
AIT UPDATE 
 
1.  (S) A TOTAL OF FOUR IRAQI MISSILES HAVE HIT KUWAIT 
SINCE THE START OF MILITARY ACTION.  THERE WAS ALSO AN 
UNIDENTIFIED EXPLOSION NEAR CAMP COMMANDO.  NO CASUALTIES 
HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THESE INCIDENTS, AND THERE HAS BEEN 
NO EVIDENCE THUS FAR OF CBW.   (IRAQ TF-EMBASSY KUWAIT E- 
MAILS AND TELCON) 
 
ANTI U.S. DEMONSTRATIONS, U.S. EMBASSY CLOSURES 
 
2.  (C) DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY ANTI-WAR 
DEMONSTRATIONS TOOK PLACE AT 55 POSTS.  FORTY-FOUR POSTS 
ARE CLOSED OR HAVE REDUCED OPERATIONS.  (IRAQ TF-DS 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMAND CENTER TELCONS AND E-MAILS) 
 
GOT SAYS TURKS WILL BE IN NORTHERN IRAQ 
 
3.  (S) TURKISH MFA U/S ZIYAL TOLD AMBASSADOR PEARSON THAT 
TURKEY DOES NOT ACCEPT THE USG POSITION ON A TURKISH 
PRESENCE IN IRAQ.  ACCORDING TO ZIYAL, THE U.S. NEEDS TO 
ACCEPT THAT TURKEY WILL HAVE A PRESENCE IN NORTHERN IRAQ 
AND THE LENGTH OF TIME IT WILL REMAIN THERE "IS A QUESTION 
FOR THE TURKISH MILITARY."  ZIYAL AGREED ON THE NEED TO 
DISCUSS WITH US THE NATURE OF THE PRESENCE.  MEANWHILE, THE 
TURKISH PARLIAMENT HAS VOTED TO ALLOW COALITION USE OF 
TURKISH AIRSPACE.  (ANKARA 1794, CNN) 
 
OIL WELLS ON FIRE; MARKETS UNFAZED 
 
4.  (S) IMAGERY CONFIRMS THAT IRAQ HAS BLOWN NINE OIL WELL 
HEADS SOUTH OF BASRA; AT LEAST THREE ARE ON FIRE.  REPORTS 
OF THE WELLS BURNING SOUTH OF BASRA DID NOT FAZE OIL 
MARKETS, WHERE CRUDE PRICES HAD FALLEN TO USD 28.15 AT 1400 
EST.  KUWAITI REFINERIES REMAIN OPERATIONAL, PROTECTED FROM 
IRAQI MISSILES BY PATRIOT BATTERIES, ACCORDING TO EMBASSY 
KUWAIT.  TO REASSURE MARKETS, OPEC LEADERS STATE SUPPLIES 
ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO MEET NEEDS.  MEANWHILE, THE 
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION ACTIVATED 
CONTINGENCY PLANS TO REROUTE CIVILIAN AIR TRAFFIC IN THE 
REGION.  (IRAQ TF-EB TELCON, IRAQ TF-EMBASSY KUWAIT TELCON, 
FOX NEWS, NIMA) 
 
5.  (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED DUSHANBE, KHARTOUM, KABUL. 
 
 
POWELL 

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