DEBKAfile Intelligence Summary
War To Begin 24 Hours After Azores Summit
17 March 2003
Washington advises UN arms inspection teams to begin leaving Iraq
Iraq war commander General Tommy Franks in Kuwait Monday to inspect troops designated for two invasion routes: Overland to Nasariyah and landing from sea at Shatt al-Arb and Faw Peninsula for Basra
Missing Trans-Israeli Highway project surveyor turns up safe at site near Iron junction in Wadi Ara
In advance of US presidents address to American Monday night, nonessential US diplomats and embassy dependents are ordered to leave Kuwait, Israel and Syria.
Same order issued to British nonessential personnel and citizens. UN arms inspection team in Iraq is progressively reduced.
Israeli authorities will decide on civil defense instructions to public after Bush address
Israeli hospitals told to complete sealing process of wards and facilities by Monday morning. Sunday noon, Israels First-Aid rescue service Magen David Adom moved command and communications centers to bomb-proof shelters
DEBKAfiles Military Sources: Full-scale US-British offensive against Iraq is scheduled to begin Monday, 24 hours after Azores summit
First stage: Combined bomber-missile strikes against strategic targets, including government centers, military and civilian communications systems, radio and television broadcasting centers, transport hubs.
Preparations wind up Sunday night to fly and parachute ground troops into Iraq from launching bases in and outside Middle East. US 82nd Airborne Division will be flown in from Afghanistan
At Azores summit, Blair promised Bush British 1st armored division would take part in assault on Basra, vitally augmenting allied southern advance
World has another 24 hours to see if diplomacy will work Bush at end of Azores summit Sunday with British and Spanish prime ministers. Three leaders declared Security Council Resolution 1441 provided last opportunity for Saddam Hussein to disarm or face serious consequences.
Blair pledges protection of Iraqs territorial integrity. He declared natural
resources will remain property of people of Iraq
DEBKAfile Exclusive from Iraqi underground sources: Attempt on life of Saddams
elder son Uday was made on March 8 at al-Jadariya Boating Club on Tigris River.
He is believed to have escaped with injuries from this second assassination
attempt, but his three bodyguards were killed.
DEBKA-Net-Weekly reveals: Also on March 8, former Lebanese president Gemayel took US colonel to Saddams palace on secret mission to persuade him to leave and prevent war:
If you dont leave, well target you, said US Colonel. Saddam replied:Ill send you home in a box and Im not afraid to die. Read resume of conversation and Gemayel mission below
Saddam puts Iraq on war footing day Bush meets British and Spanish premiers for emergency summit in Portuguese Azores. Takes personal command of air and surface-surface missile forces. Four military districts ordered to destroy any foreign aggression. Younger son Qusay in command of Baghdad
High terror alert prompts Israels closure of Palestinian areas Saturday midnight, 24 hours before Jewish Purim festival begins night of March 17