Today's Early Bird Brief

White House Says War Is ‘On Track’

[New York Times, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] The Bush administration accused Saddam Hussein of using death squads to intimidate Iraq citizens and force them to fight. It also warned Syria and Iran against interfering with allied operations and mounted a concerted effort to counter impressions that the war has not proceeded as expected.

U.S. Forces Fight To Protect Supply Lines Massive Bombs Strike Baghdad; Iraq Says Market Blast Kills 58

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] U.S. and Marine units engaged Iraqi soldiers and paramilitary forces across southern Iraq as pockets of resistance continued to threaten coalition supply lines.

U.S. Teams Seek To Kill Iraqi Elite Covert Missions Target Hussein’s Inner Circle

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] Covert American forces are operating in Iraqi urban areas, hoping to kill members of Saddam Hussein’s inner circle, including Baath Party officials and Special Republican Guard commanders.

2 Views Of The War: On The Ground And At The Top

[New York Times, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] U.S. generals and their field commanders offer sharply differing accounts of the war in Iraq. Commanders on the ground report unexpectedly stiff resistance from Iraqi troops and Baath Party irregulars, and say removing Saddam Hussein’s regime will take longer than thought. Gen. Tommy Franks, on the other hand, says the war is going as expected.

IRAQ

Rumsfeld Cautions Iran And Syria On Aid To Iraq

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] Secretary Rumsfeld accused Syria and Iraq of interfering with war effort in Iraq. He said the Syrian government would be held accountable, the first time anyone in the administration has suggested the conflict could be broadened to include state that provide aid to Iraqi forces.

U.S. Warns Of Interference In Iraq Syria Accused Of Violating U.N. Embargo; Iraq Said to Be Training Rebel Group

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 19] Syria and Iran got stern warnings from Secretary Rumsfeld. He said the U.S. would hold them accountable for interfering in the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The warning to Iraq came because the Tehran government is training and supporting the Badr Brigade, an Iraqi exile combat unit that began crossing into northern Iraq in small numbers earlier this year.

Suicide Bomber Kills 5 In Northern Iraq

[New York Times on the Web, March 29, 2003] A suicide bomber killed five Americans in an attack north of the city of Najaf. The victims were part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

Iraqis Fire On Their Own In Basra Paramilitaries deter hundreds trying to flee, British troops say. The chaos further delays aid.

[Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2003] Iraqi paramilitary forces fired on citizens trying to leave Basra. The violence and turmoil continued to prevent British troops from delivering humanitarian aid the city.

U.S. POWs Held By Saddam’s Inner Circle

[Washington Times, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] Seven U.S. POWs have been taken from southern Iraq to Baghdad and are being held by people close to Saddam Hussein. Marines Find Remains Of 4 Soldiers Lost In Iraq Ambush [New York Times, March 29, 2003] Marines found the bodies of four U.S. soldiers in a shallow grave in the battle-worn town of Nasiriya.

U.S. Is Preparing To Try Prepare Iraqis For Crimes Against Humanity

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] Administration officials are gathering evidence in Iraq about war crimes, including the execution of Americans held prisoner and deceptive use of white flags. The evidence will be used to prosecute Iraqis after the war in military tribunals.

Airstrikes Continue As Allies Consider Timing Of A Thrust

[New York Times, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] Skirmishes with irregular Iraqi forces continue to plague U.S. and British troops who are preparing for large-scale attacks on Republican Guard division outside Baghdad.

Iraqi Defiance Renews Debate Over Air Power War Experts Differ On the Effectiveness Of Coalition Strategy

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 25] Some Air Force officers and air power experts want a more aggressive air campaign against Iraq that would accept a greater risk of damage to civilian property.

British Commanders Question War Strategy

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 25] British field commanders did not anticipate the level of resistance from Iraqi soldiers and the population at large in southern Iraq, where the British effort is concentrated.

Kurds And GIs Rout Militants In North

[New York Times, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] U.S. and Kurdish forces swept through a mountain valley in northeastern Iraq, capturing a series of villages from a militant Islamic group and restoring a swath of border territory to Kurdish control.

Guerrillas Routed In U.S.-Kurd Assault

[Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] Supported by U.S. Special Forces and B-52s, more than 6,000 Kurdish troops defeated a group of Islamic militants with alleged links to al Qaeda. The battle was a rout of Ansar al Islam, whose guerrilla forces have retreated into caves in the snowy mountains along the Iranian border.

Kurds Voice Suspicion Of U.S. Troops Townspeople Complain That Presence of GIs in Schools Is Posing a Danger

[Washington Post March 29, 2003, Pg. 27] U.S. Special Forces troops have taken up residence in five schools in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq. Citizens fear the troops’ presence could make the town of Ain Kawa a target for artillery or terrorists.

B-2 Hits At Iraqi Communication Center

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] A B-2 dropped two bunker-busting bombs on a communications center in central Baghdad, opening a new phase of the war to destroy Iraq’s ability to send orders to commanders and troops in the field.

A Flotilla Of Army Helicopters Join Attack On Karbala

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 23] More than three dozen Apache attack helicopters struck targets around the city of Karbala as part of what the U.S. Army called a coordinated assault with Navy, Marine, Air Force and British warplanes.

Allied Force May Be Quicker To Fire Troops are being ambushed by Iraqi irregulars dressed as civilians. Rules of engagement could change as a result.

[Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2003] U.S. commanders are reviewing the rules of engagement as troops struggle to contain hit-and-run guerrilla attacks by Iraqi irregulars dressed as civilians.

Lawlessness Spreads In Villages As Bandits Rove, Allied Forces Are Blamed for Not Enforcing Order

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] Banditry and lawlessness is spreading through some southwestern Iraq areas as British troops sweep the countryside for remnants of Iraqi forces and remain at stalemate with fighters in Basra.

British Cargo Vessel Carrying Relief Supplies Docks At A Southern Iraqi Port

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] A British ship loaded with food and medical supplies docked at the port in Umm Qasr, the first vessel to arrive since the port and nearby city were captured a week ago.

Arms Outstretched In Desperation Aid Handout Unravels Amid Iraqis’ Fears of Walking Away Empty-Handed

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 19] Iraqis lined up to receive 1,500 boxes of food and water near the town of Safwan don’t believe Saddam Hussein can be destroyed. Even so, they risked being identified as coalition supporters as they struggled to obtain the limited relief supplies provided by the Kuwaiti Red Crescent.

Upbeat Tone Ended With War Officials’ Forecasts Are Questioned

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 1] The optimistic attitude nurtured by the Bush administration became less so when the war began and it turned out to be different than planned.

The ‘Whens?’ Of War Blow Up A Storm Gulf commander’s lone comment about an underestimated enemy and the time needed to defeat it prompts White House to defend plans.

[Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2003] Lt. Gen. William Wallace, commander of all Army forces in the Persian Gulf, questioned how long the war will last. His comments forced the White House to refute any suggestion that Pentagon battle plans may be in trouble and that the war could go on longer than expected.

Military P.R. Force Wages A Battle To Stay On Message Briefers Focus On Iraqi Abuses, Not U.S. Problems

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 23] U.S. Central Command public relations officials work hard to deliver upbeat messages about how well the war in Iraq is doing.

Facts Are Hidden Behind The Podium Of Truth

[London Times, March 29, 2003] The “podium of truth” at Central Command in Qatar is where senior officers brief reporters on the war’s progress. But they won’t provide casualty numbers, nor have they said how many Iraqis have been buried or are getting medical treatment.

Mobilization Of Iraqi Exiles Falls Short The $90 million effort to equip up to 3,000 has trained only 74. Officials doubt the group will have much of a role in a post-Hussein nation.

[Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2003] The Free Iraqi Forces trained by U.S. troops in Hungary don’t amount to much. They only total 74 and the entire idea could be deep-sixed because Iraqi dissident groups have not provided enough candidates to undergo training.

France Hopes For U.S. Victory

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 29] Paris wants the U.S. to win the war in Iraq.

Coalition Members Redefine What They Are Willing To Do

[WSJ.com, March 28, 2003] As coalition casualties increase, U.S. allies are cautiously redefining their roles to appease angry opponents at home. Antiwar sentiment at home has officials carefully outlining what they are prepared to do, and what they won’t do, to further the war effort.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT

Rumsfeld Insists War Plan Is Sound Top Defense Officials Dismiss Critics’ Claims U.S. Underestimated Iraqis’ Willingness to Fight

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 24] Secretary Rumsfeld disputed critics who are second-guessing the Iraqi war plan. He said the military has no intention of launching a broader, more indiscriminate bombing campaign and insisted that the attack plan was vetted and approved by a large number of uniformed officers.

Rumsfeld Shows The Strain As He Comes In The Line Of Fire The Defense Secretary is a changed man, and no longer the national hero of September 11.

[London Times, March 29, 2003] Defense Secretary Rumsfeld appears to be a changed man. No other American official has invested so much in the war on Iraq and the strain is starting to show. His briefings are no longer pithy and often humorous. They now show a man clearly frustrated with events not turning out as he had planned.

Perle’s Resignation Not A Cure, Group Says Ethical Dealings of Advisory Boards Government-Wide at Issue, Watchdog Says

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 2] The resignation of Richard Perle from a key Pentagon advisory board presents just one example of ethical concerns that plague the influential Defense Policy Board.

Pentagon Requests Extra Blood And Plasma Supplies

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 7] DoD requested blood suppliers to provide limited amounts of blood and plasma to supplement the military’s supply.

2 States Halt Smallpox Shots Pentagon Reports First Post-Inoculation Fatal Heart Attack

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 7] Illinois and New York suspended small pox immunizations. Florida postponed inoculations until volunteers could be updated on new safety measures relating to heart risks.

Spy Agency Agrees With NASA To Take Shuttle Photos

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] NASA will work with the National Imagery and Mapping Agency to take photos of space shuttles in orbit to check on their condition, an option not pursued for the ill-fated flight of shuttle Columbia.

New Cruise Missile Passes Flight Test

[Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2003] A new cruise missile, the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, flew more than 190 miles, passed through a window and destroyed a two-story test house at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

ARMY

Voyage Delays Key Equipment For Troops Heavy tanks aboard ships are rerouted after Turkey refused to accept force

s [Baltimore Sun, March 29, 2003] Army leaders near Baghdad want more tanks and artillery. But the nearest heavy armored division is still at least a week away---its soldiers are flying in from Texas but its equipment is forced to sail around the Arabian Peninsula headed for Kuwait.

MIDEAST

Explosion, Said To Be From Missile, Empty Mall In Kuwait

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] An explosion rocked an empty shopping mall in Kuwait City. A missile that had landed in the water nearby was responsible. There were no reports of injury.

ASIA/PACIFIC

Envoy Urges ‘Bold’ U.S. Approach To North

[Washington Times, March 29, 2003, Pg. 8] South Korea urged Washington to pursue a breakthrough opening with North Korea, similar to President Nixon’s bold approach to China in the 1970s. The Bush administration said that could happen only after resolving the nuclear and proliferation issues that have plagued ties with Pyongyang for years.

PHILIPPINES

Reds Target U.S. Troops

[Philippine Star, March 29, 2003] Philippine terrorists promised to attack U.S. troops entering areas where communist guerrillas operate.

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Figure Sent To U.S. Facility In Cuba Unannounced Transfer Comes After Karzai an Others Had Called for Release

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 11] The U.S. is transferring Naeem Koochi, an Afghan tribal leader, to Guantanamo Bay. The transfer could increase tensions between the U.S. military and some Afghans in the important border regions near Pakistan.

UNITED NATIONS

Council Approves U.N. Role In Meting Aid To Iraq

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 32] The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution authorizing the U.N. to take over the distribution of more than $10 billion worth of humanitarian aid purchased with Iraq oil revenue.

Powell Sees Major Role For U.N. In Postwar Iraq

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] Colin Powell the U.S. would try to counter global antiwar sentiments by seeking a major role for the U.N. in a democratic postwar Iraq, move aggressively to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and reach out to “friends with whom we have been having some difficulty.”

RUSSIA

Putin Calls Iraq Worst Crisis Since The Cold War

[International Herald Tribune, March 29-30, 2003] Russian President Putin said the war in Iraq is the most serious crisis since the end of the Cold War.

TERRORISM

Terror Plots Thwarted, U.S. Officials Say Iraqi Agents Arrested, Explosives Found in Yemen, Jordan; Other Nations Warned

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 31] Authorities in Jordan and Yemen spoiled plans by Iraqi agents to bomb Western targets in those countries. The U.S. has warned 10 other nations to be on the outlook for similar Iraqi operations.

CONGRESS

Pentagon Strokes Lawmakers Every Morning, And They Seem To Like It

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] Every weekday morning finds Pentagon and State Department on Capitol Hill, providing legislators with top-secret briefings on the war for any member of Congress who wants them.

POLL

In Poll, Support For War Is Firm Trimming Tax Cut Has 65% Backing

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 19] War news from Iraq has not shaken public support for the war. Nearly three out of four Americans continue to back actions to take down Saddam Hussein’s regime.

BUSINESS

Adviser To U.S. Aided Maker Of Satellites

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] Richard Perle advised a major American satellite maker, Loral Space and Communications, as it faced government accusations that it had improperly transferred rocket technology to China.

Italy And Germany Agree On EU Satellite System

[International Herald Tribune, March 29-30, 2003] European Union plans to develop a rival to the U.S. satellite navigation system got a major boost when Germany and Italy ended a dispute over who should lead the Galileo project.

OPINION

Hussein’s Enforcers At Work David Ignatius

[Washington Post, March 29, 2003, Pg. 17] Saddam Hussein’s goons are threatening Iraqis who won’t fight against coalition forces with death. Most Iraqis are so terrified of Saddam’s killers that even the death of a popular local chieftain failed to engender more than a few mild protests---reports about a popular uprising were certainly exaggerated. Saddam’s main thugs have taken on the dregs of Iraqi society tto enforce regime rules.

EDITORIAL

Supplying The Enemy

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] Russia is entitled to oppose the war in Iraq. But supplying arms to Iraq is another matter. That is a clear violation of U.N. orders and poses a lethal threat to U.S.-led troops. Vladimir Putin, whether he acknowledges the arms sales to Iraq or not, must put a stop to this practice.

Under The Armor

[New York Times, March 29, 2003] The reality of war is coming forth in Iraq. It takes armor and young soldiers to complete a war. High-tech weaponry takes a toll on the enemy, but the young men and women who fight on the ground remind us all that war has not changed since the dawn of time.

On The Humanitarian Front

[Washington Times, March 29, 2003, Pg. 12] Allied forces opened the humanitarian front in the war with Iraq. Some 200 tons of humanitarian supplies were delivered to Iraqis through the Umm Qasr seaport. Some media referred to the humanitarian supply effort as a gesture, failing to realize that troops still face threats even as they deliver life-saving supplies.