From the World-Wide Resourses of the Western Australia Reserch Senter(*) OIL THE NEWS THAT FITS MY VIEWS #23 =============================== In the Run-Up to World War III, Reliably Reporting the News Relevant to Extreme Right-Wing Democratic Socialists Everywhere (validated for RiteThink(tm) by the Office of Our Man in Can-berra). Visit Our Home Page At: http://www.chickenhead.com/loserscopes/0103.asp See the Undeniable Evidence At: http://www.evil-doers.org/evidence Kindly Archived At: http://www.kymhorsell.com/BOZO/archives/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Selecting latest news stories and other data for you... ------------------------------------------------------------ Ka-BOOM!! KA-boom!! Ka-BOOM! -- US Tomahawks visiting S Baghdad, 1.45 pm 20 Mar 2003, AEDT. ---------------------------------------- Wed, 19 Mar 2003. Bush's case for war leaves key questions unanswered Coalition of the not-so-willing Blair pins career on Iraq Iraqi war to cost at least $A168 bn War is illegal: Iraq Preparations for war Neighbours warn of war consequences Turkey to present motion on troops, talks continue A dirty bomb may not kill but it sure would hurt US launches domestic security operation Terrorists destroy 56 homes Breakthrough in IDing mystery respiratory illness Deadly pneumonia strain not an epidemic: AMA Dengue outbreak Tram hit by lightning Dust storms hit Vic US troops hit by sandstorm in Kuwaiti desert Bridge blown up Iraq unlikely to use chemical, bio weapons: Blix Iraqi civilians unable to leave their country A divided AUS heads to war Nowhere to hide behind the letter of the law Blair wins backing for force against Iraq Oil prices fall on "quick war" hopes Question time cancelled, Opp'n claim "Gestapo tactics" Rules of engagement will be clear: Hill Terrorism risk has not increased: PM War support could mean better deal for beef Wheat suffers as aid program suspended Senate snubs Howard's call to arms Police arrest 3 nr London airport Markets Bush's case for war leaves key questions unanswered Op/Ed (USA Today). A resolute Pres Bush delivered a clear and unequivocal warning to Saddam Hussein on Mon that the Iraqi dictator has one last chance to change his mind. Bush's message in his address to the nation: Give up and get out within 48 hrs or face the wrath of the US military. The 14-minute speech also is likely to be Bush's last chance to make his case to the American public before war begins. The president seized the moment to make a passionate argument that Saddam's ouster is vital to US and world security. And he offered his most honest assessment yet of the heightened threat to Americans from terrorists bent on retaliation. Yet Bush provided little new substance about the war costs, goals and sacrifices that may lie ahead. That's unlikely to worry the 58% of Americans who stand squarely behind the president's war plans, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll conducted last weekend. But it leaves lingering questions for the 41% of Americans who have not found Bush's arguments convincing enough to back the war and the president. Changing those minds, not Saddam's, is important. Indeed, ensuring the deepest possible support of the American people for a cause they understand is a prerequisite for a successful military campaign under the ''Powell Doctrine,'' the sensible rules Sec of State Colin Powell developed following his bitter experience as an Army officer in the Vietnam War. While all wars spark high emotion and controversy, a public united at the onset of a military venture is more likely to accept the longer commitment, steeper cost and greater sacrifice that wars inevitably entail. Traditionally on the eve of battle, pollsters have observed, the public is listening most carefully to what the president has to say. To this attentive audience, Bush presented a powerful, if familiar, case for why Saddam needs to go. The president noted that the Iraqi tyrant has accumulated an arsenal of lethal weapons to dominate the oil-rich Persian Gulf region and support terror groups. Bush also spoke persuasively about why force is needed. He cited Saddam's 12 y of defying UN demands to disarm, including the last chance the UN gave him in Nov. Left unaddressed were Bush's reasons for ruling out a few more weeks of diplomacy if that would gain valuable support from the world community. Rather, he suggested that giving Saddam more time amounts to dangerous appeasement. Other govts ''share our assessment of the danger, but not our resolve to meet it,'' he said. In choosing to act now with a narrower coalition, Bush acknowledged the risk of increased terror attacks on the US and said the govt was taking additional steps to protect the country. But he only hinted at the costs and sacrifices that war will require. Among the questions unanswered: * Have military risks been adequately addressed? Though the US has a vastly superior military with precision weapons, Saddam could unleash chem and bio weapons and draw US forces into high-risk street fighting in Baghdad. That risks high military and civilian casualties. * How will costs be paid? The administration is requesting $80 billion to $100 bn from Congress for the 1st year. And that's not a one-time payment: A new report from the Council on Foreign Relations expects costs up to $20 bn annually for US occupation forces y after a war. But the US won't have a large coalition as during the 1991 war to help pay the tab. * How will war change the region? Bush has sketched a bold blueprint for rebuilding Iraq and creating democratic institutions that could be a catalyst for spreading political freedoms throughout the Middle E. Yet he ignored the problems that war could trigger in the region. Saddam's ouster could spark civil strife among ethnic and religious factions, leading to a wider conflict. Iraqis could balk at an extended US presence and stage a resistance. The bottom line: With war likely hrs away, Americans still don't know enough about what they're getting into. That's not the way to build deep support or change minds. It invites a damaging public backlash if war proves more difficult than confident US generals are predicting. Bush spoke of the importance of uniting against Saddam. This is the moment Americans are most likely to do so. But 1st they need greater candor about the commitments they are being asked to bear. Coalition of the not-so-willing Washington (AP). US Pres George W Bush's "coalition of the willing," which stretches from Albania to AUS, is a conflicted alliance: leaders want to help disarm Saddam Hussein by force, but many of their people want no part of it. As war loomed with Saddam's rejection of a Bush ultimatum giving him until tomorrow night to leave Iraq or face attack, at least two dozen countries were standing firm behind the US with offers of moral or military support despite strident public opposition. "I'm sure Saddam is a bad guy, but you don't need an army to swat a fly," said Peter Illes, 49, a parking ticket inspector in Hungary, where 3 in 4 people say they're against an American-led war and their govt's pledge to help. US Sec of State Colin Powell said today that by his count, 30 nations considered themselves coalition members and another 15 had quietly promised their support. However, some of the countries Powell named, such as Japan, have said they'll offer only post-conflict help. Others, such as the Philippines, have not yet approved basic support such as US over-flights. At least one Powell mentioned -- Afghanistan -- wasn't even asked to send troops. Powell's list included Colombia, which responded with a mixed messages, before finally saying this evening it would back a US-led attack. It also included anti-war Belgium, which said it was allowing the use of its territory for military transports mainly to show Washington that it is important for nations to work together. A US-led force of more than 250,000 troops, roughly 1,000 combat aircraft and a naval armada is in the Gulf region, ready to attack Iraq on Bush's orders. Brit, the US' chief war ally, has sent 45,000 troops and its largest naval deployment since the 1982 Falklands War,and Brit PM Tony Blair won a crucial vote in Parliament today on his policy. Even France, vilified by Americans for blocking a UN resolution authorising force, made it onto Powell's "B" list for opening its airspace under treaty obligations and offering more help if Saddam uses bio or chem weapons. Despite fierce public opposition in AUS, PM John Howard said his govt would commit 2,000 military personnel already on standby in the Middle E, along with 14 Hornet fighter jets, transport ships and aircraft and other firepower. Poland said it would commit 200 troops. Turkey's govt said it would ask parliament to grant the US overflight rights for military jets, though it would not immediately ask the legislature to vote to allow in US troops. Italy has continuously expressed its solidarity, though it has no plans to send troops and surveys suggest 75% of Italians oppose a war. The Italian Parliament was expected tomorrow to debate a govt request to authorise the use of bases and airspace. Spain, the US's staunchest ally after Brit, seemed unlikely to play a significant military role. The govt on Tue ruled out sending any troops but said it would provide military personnel and equipment in a support capacity and offer aircraft to defend Turkey. Spain's unshaken pro-US stance has proved deeply unpopular. All opposition parties oppose a war, and recent polls show more than 80% of Spaniards do, too. The Netherlands has contributed 3 Patriot missile batteries and 360 men to operate them and defend Turkey in case of an Iraqi counterattack. But PM Jan Peter Balkenende said Dutch troops were out of the question "given the resistance in society". The NATO alliance -- deeply divided over the prospect of war -- will not play a direct military role in a strike on Iraq, but has sent specialised units to Turkey to defend it. Some of the most spirited, albeit largely symbolic, offers of help have come from unlikely countries. Tiny Albania, which is mostly Muslim and among Europe's poorest nations, has offered a small non-combat army unit of 70 soldiers. It has also made available its airspace, land routes, territorial waters and training facilities. Bush dashed off letters of thanks to Albania and neighbouring Macedonia this week, assuring them that America "will not forget those who have stood with us". Romania has opened its airspace to alliance planes, contributed 278 non-combat nuclear, bio and chem decontamination specialists, military police troops and de-mining units, and offered the use of strategic ports on the Black Sea. "It's not about supporting an intervention, as we don't even have the means to do it. It's about meeting certain obligations as allies," Romanian Pres Ion Iliescu said. Elsewhere in formerly communist E Europe, backing for US-led engagement has eroded, as govts have vexed the public with repeated pledges of support. Hungary's leaders have angered many citizens by opening airspace, roadways and railways to US forces and providing a base for the US to train Iraqi dissidents for non-combat support roles and postwar administration. "I think it is terribly wrong to attack Iraq," Tunde Dobos, a 27-year-old office worker in Budapest, said today. "I haven't seen any evidence that it's a danger to America. Bush wants a war. There's nothing more to it than that." Opp'n has also grown in neighbouring Slovakia and the Czech Republic, both of which have deployed special anti-chemical warfare units to Kuwait. Marcela Kosinova, 64, a Prague businesswoman, is among the few who support the move. "Now that things have gone so far, I think we should support America," she said. "After all, we're allies, and America has the right to expect us to be loyal." London. BLAIR PINS CAREER ON IRAQ! PM Tony Blair has told a rebellious parliament that failure to act against Iraq could have disastrous consequences for the world. Blair told MP's that if the world backs away from the confrontation now then future conflicts will be infinitely worse and more devastating in their effects. Parliament is to vote later today on Britain's participation in an attack on Iraq. Blair is facing the biggest crisis of his 6-y rule over his pro-US stand on disarming Iraq. War to cost America $A168 billion Washington (AFP). Pres George W Bush is expected to ask Congress for about $168 bn to pay for a US-led invasion of Iraq, US lawmakers said today. Republican Sen Pete Domenici, a former chairman of the Senate's budget committee said short-term spending on the war was estimated at around $151 billion, but could go slightly higher. "We are still going to have a budget something like this," he said. The Senate is currently debating Bush's $3.76 trillion budget proposal for fiscal y 2004, which begins Oct 1, 2003. That proposal excluded the cost of war in Iraq, and so far the White House has refused to say how much it will ask for. Democrats have accused Bush of hiding the cost of the war to build support for his tax cut plan, which is expected to cost $1.22 trillion over 11 years. An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that a formal budget request for war in Iraq could come "toward the end" of the week. Baghdad. WAR IS ILLEGAL: IRAQ! Iraq says the US-led invasion is "illegal, immoral and unjustifiable" and a "crime against humanity". The Iraqi Info Min asked reporters how could an ignorant man such as Pres Bush Jr becomes Pres of such a clever people as the Americans. Elsewhere, Spain has refused to give troops to the Coal'n. Pres Aznar has previously been a staunch supporter of the US-led action. But about 80% of the Spanish population is against war with Iraq. Turkey also has failed to allow US over-flights, although the US is still negotiating, using the carrot of $bns in loans and aid to obtain permission to use Turkish airspace to launch missiles from the Med, and -- later -- use Turkish bases to launch a land invasion of Iraq. In Europe, the Danish PM has been showered with red paint by a demonstrator after he offered a submarine and a ship to support the US effort. In Brit, the govt rebellion was smaller than expected. While Tony Blair was able to get 2 motions supporting the war passed easily, with Tory support, more than 1/2 his back-bench voted against him. The motion on "using force against Iraq" passed 412 to 149. It's seen as a major victory for Mr Blair. 3 Mins and 5 ministerial aides have already resigned over his strong pro-US stance. The rebels didn't have the numbers to get a war amendment of their own up. The numbers men said 138 Labour MP's voted against the govt, just 16 more than rebelled earlier this m. Some had predicted up to 160 MP's would cross the floor against the war motions. PM Blair may have won the Commons, but outside 100s of anti-war demos clashed with police. In AUS, Coal'n MP's have fallen in behind PM Howard. But some are still complaining that war is not their answer. LP back-bencher Peter Lindsay, formerly a critic of military action, told Parliament he's been forced to toe the party line. Meanwhile, critics have expressed concern for the health of Iraqis in the S from DU ammo to be used by the US. AUS troops may be also be exposed to its effects. N Iraq. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR! The Kurds of Arbil are trying to escape N Iraq, fearing another chem attack from Iraq as soon as war starts. Brit troops nearby are expecting 200- 300,000 refugees. Aid workers have erected 2 camps with a capacity of 50,000 ea. Reps say they have the luxury of knowing ahead of time a disaster is coming, but they're not really sure how many people will be displaced in N Iraq and trying to cross the border when the shooting starts. "It could be big", said one rep. KL. NEIGHBOURS WARN OF WAR CONSEQUENCES! Malaysia has warned AUS that it's support for a US-led invasion of Iraq is "dangerous". The Malaysian For Min says Australia may be supporting the action because it doesn't like Muslim countries. In Indon several Islamic groups have also warned Aussies to leave the country and stay out after the war starts. Tony Abbott has also told Parliament that the Iraqi was increased the risk of terrorist attack on Aussies. Although we were always on the radar, he added. PM Howard says he hasn't seen any intel requiring a further upgrade of security for Aussies. But the security at dozens of local installations has been increased after the US ultimatum. Def Min Hill says the security wasn't increased because of an increased security threat. Security services have been embarrassed by people chaining themselves to the PM's gate. Like the 2 demonstrators climbing up the Opera House roof to paint a giant "No War" sign in red paint, the demonstrators at Kiribilli say they had no problem with security. Last y, Greenpeace demonstrators had even managed to attach a solar water service to the residence, in protest at the govt's opposition to the Kyoto protocol. Meanwhile, legal experts have been amazed at a comment from Mr Howard. The PM said he was amazed that people are concerned that Saddam gets a fair trial at the ICC. Turkey to present motion on troops, talks continue Ankara (Reuters). Turkey said on Wed it would ask parliament to grant a US request to set up a N front against Iraq from its soil but said talks with Washington on the deal were continuing. Turkey's new govt had already agreed with the US to allow the use of its airspace for US military overflights to Iraq, a govt rep said, but he added Ankara wished to present that request in the motion on troops. Ankara would present parliament a motion allowing tens of 1000s of US troops to attack Iraq from its soil as early as Wed provided talks with the US reached a satisfactory conclusion, govt rep Cemil Cicek said. With US troops making final preparations to invade Iraq, a top-level meeting on Mon in Ankara revived flagging hopes in Washington of using Turkey as a launch pad to open a "northern front" that could accelerate a victory over Baghdad. Sec of State Colin Powell said on Tue Washington had asked Turkey to at least allow overflights for an attack on Iraq and might make a financial offer if Ankara agreed to a new deal. But overflights alone would not justify compensation, added a senior State Dept official, who asked not to be named. At the Pentagon, Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld and Turkish Defence Min Vecdi Gonul held talks on Tue but defence officials did not immediately provide details of the meeting. Powell spoke to Turkish For Min Abdullah Gul about a new arrangement on Mon and the Turkish govt worked to cobble a deal together on Tue. A dirty bomb may not kill but it sure would hurt Vienna (Reuters). After Sep 11, 2001, nuclear experts realized the danger of handling deadly radioactive material would not deter suicidal maniacs who could hijack a plane and ram it into a skyscraper. They asked what would happen if al Qaeda got one of the world's 1000s of lost radioactive sources, attached an explosive like dynamite and exploded it in a major urban centre. Brit said in Jan it had evidence that al Qaeda, widely thought to be behind the attack that toppled NY City's World Trade Centre, had tried to develop such a bomb in the 1990s. Wolfgang Weiss, head of radiation hygiene at Germany's Fed Office for Radiation Protection, prepared a hypothetical case study to show what would happen if a radiation dispersal device -- popularly known as a dirty bomb -- exploded in Munich. The results, based on an imaginary bomb made with weapons-grade plutonium placed in Munich's Olympic Stadium, were superficially reassuring: There would probably be no deaths and the number of severely contaminated victims would be small. Severe contamination would likely occur at the centre of the explosion in the stadium, which has a capacity of almost 70,000. He said that at 3 miles from the stadium, radiation levels would drop by a factor of 100, resulting in only mild exposure levels. Disregarding damage from the explosion itself, Weiss said exposure for someone nr the bomb "would require emergency medical treatment, but it would not lead to death." If the radioactive material was caesium, a common easy-to-disperse radioactive powder used in medicine and agriculture, victims would be exposed to quite low levels. But the bomb would cause panic, and it would be crucial for political leaders to behave calmly, to speak honestly and in clear, easy-to-understand language about the attack. Failure to handle the situation properly could turn a manageable crisis, which emergency response teams should be capable of managing, into a disaster. But Weiss said specific case scenarios were not a good basis for preparing a govt on how to respond to an attack. Dirty bombs hit the headlines in May 2002, when US authorities captured Jose Padilla, an American al Qaeda operative, in Chicago and prevented a dirty bomb attack. But there has never been a dirty bomb attack, so scientists and policymakers still have no actual case to examine. This is why Weiss and others look closely at a tragedy in S Brazil considered to be the benchmark dirty bomb scenario. This case shows that while the number of deaths may be low, the long-term effects of such an attack could be severe. On Sep 13, 1987, 2 men in Goiania, Brazil were looking for scrap metal at a partly demolished medical clinic. They found a radiation therapy machine containing a small canister of highly radioactive caesium powder. Unaware of what it was, they sold it to a junkyard dealer, who took the canister apart. Within 2 weeks, local children discovered the glowing blue powder. Some even used it as body paint. This quickly led to a catastrophe that was 2nd only to the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. A total of 249 people were exposed, 10 were seriously injured and 4 died. The long-term socio-economic effects were devastating. Goiania suffered a 20% drop in gross domestic product, which took five y to return to normal levels. Tourism in the tropical town dropped to zero and Goiania found itself the victim of economic discrimination, as demand for food and other products from the area plummeted. "We need to take into account Murphy's Law -- whatever can go wrong, will go wrong eventually," said Chris Schmitzer of the Health Physics Division from Austria's ARC research laboratories in Seibersdorf, referring to the possibility of a dirty bomb attack. According to the UN's nuclear watchdog agency, there have been more than 280 confirmed cases of illicit trafficking in radioactive materials since 1993, though the agency suspects the actual number may be much higher. Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the threat of a dirty bomb attack was real and urged speedy improvements in the security of radioactive sources and border controls to keep them out of the hands of terrorists. Caesium, which ravaged Goiania, is one of many deadly radioactive sources that have fallen out of regulatory control through loss or theft across the former Soviet Union, the world's hotspot for illicit trafficking in radioactive material. US launches domestic security operation Washington (AP). From airports to cattle feedlots to nuclear plants, the govt began tightening security Tue to fortify America against terror. The plan, called "Operation Liberty Shield," goes far beyond the govt's previous responses to threats of terror because officials believe war with Iraq increases the possibility of attacks on US soil or against US interests abroad. It envisions close cooperation among fed, state and local govts, as well as private businesses such as chem plants and banks. Homeland Security Sec Tom Ridge said individual Americans could play a part as well by staying vigilant and prepared while avoiding panic. The nation's terror alert status was raised from "elevated" to "high" Mon night after Pres Bush said the US military was ready to attack Iraq unless Saddam Hussein and his sons left the country by Wed night US time. Intelligence and law enforcement officials believe the al-Qaida terror network, while weakened, and its sympathisers remain the primary threat to mount terror attacks against America. There also is uneasiness about Iraqi agents or surrogate groups, as well as individual extremists or others. Part of the homeland security plan requires that anyone seeking political asylum in the US from 33 countries with known terrorism presences, including Iraq, be detained while the govt considers claims they face political persecution at home. Last year, 577 people from those countries -- including 348 from Iraq -- claimed asylum out of more than 58,000 who sought entry in the US, according to immigration officials. The goal of detention is to prevent terrorists or spies from using America's willingness to accept refugees as a pretext for entering the country. Much of the plan is geared toward protecting the nation's transportation system, including random searches of cars at airports, restricted airspace over certain cities, police or National Guardsmen protecting railroad bridges, enhanced identification checks for truckers who haul hazardous materials and more Coast Guard escorts of ferries and cruise ships. The Coast Guard also is providing greater protection for petroleum and chem plants nr large cities. The General Accounting Office, which is the investigative arm of Congress, said in a report Tue that some of these 15,000 plants "may be attractive targets for terrorists intent on causing massive damage." The report noted that 9 m ago, Bush administration officials agreed on the need for mandatory security plans for such facilities, but no such plans have been proposed. Security also is being increased at nuclear power plants, electric grids, subway systems and govt buildings including the White House. In addition, the govt is stepping up its tracking of the Internet for signs of terrorist activity and boosting security at financial markets, banks and other major parts of the economy. Monitoring of the food supply also is being enhanced, including more inspections of imported food and Agriculture Dept action to encourage greater scrutiny of feedlots, stockyards and storage areas. A separate GAO report issued Tue found possible gaps in food supply security because guidelines for the industry are voluntary, not enforced or monitored by the Agriculture Dept or the Food and Drug Administration. The Health and Human Services Dept has a corps of doctors, nurses and other staff on alert in case of disease outbreak and is urging state and local officials to report any unusual diseases or disease patterns. Meanwhile, the FBI and other police agencies are implementing a broad anti-terrorism plan that includes diverting 1000s of FBI agents away from regular duties to focus solely on the terror threat. FBI-led joint terrorism task forces will be manned 24 hrs a day, 7 days a wk during any war and perhaps longer. That plan includes monitoring of individuals linked to terrorism, FBI interviews with 1000s of Iraqis and others in this country and continued investigation of the financial apparatus used by terror networks to pay for their activities. Jakarta. TERRORISTS DESTROY 56 HOMES! A team of Indon police has been dispatched to Kerinci Nat'l Park in Sumatra, to investigate a recent elephant rampage that destroyed 56 houses. Indonesia's Antara news agency reports that elephants from the park stampeded the settlement in Kerinci, 580 km NW of Jakarta, on Mar 13, with no human casualties reported. Kerici police chief Dwi Hartono says it's likely the elephants acted in response to illegal logging and infringement of their foraging grounds by illegal farms in the park area. Breakthrough in IDing mystery respiratory illness HK. Researchers have made a breakthrough in their battle to ID a mystery respiratory illness that has now killed at least 6 people, possibly as many as 13, and caused a global health scare. Researchers from HK's Prince of Wales Hospital and Chinese University have identified the infection as being part of a known family of viruses. But doctors say further studies are needed to establish whether the illness was a new virus within the family, and whether it was curable. Meanwhile, health authorities have confirmed that none of the people admitted to hospital in AUS with respiratory illnesses are likely to have the mystery pneumonia spreading through Asia. The illness has infected dozens of people in HK, Vietnam, Singapore and Taiwan. Several people with symptoms of the syndrome have been placed under quarantine in AUS hospitals, including one person in CBR. But the Fed Health Dept says all the patients who were under investigation yesterday are likely to have unrelated respiratory infections. Officials say they will continue to check on people with the symptoms defined by the WHO. Deadly pneumonia strain not an epidemic: AMA Canberra. The AUS Medical Association (AMA) says a deadly strain of pneumonia which is causing the world's health community concern is not an epidemic. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has been linked with 9 deaths throughout the world, with 21 cases of the infection being investigated by AUS health authorities. The AMA's Infectious Disease rep, Dr Michael Whitby, has called on people to stop inundating doctors wanting the flu injection because the vaccination will not protect against the disease. Dr Whitby says there is no need for the AUS public to panic. "The cases that have been described in countries other than these three, HK, China and N Vietnam, have all had close contact with people thought to have this disease," he said. "It doesn't appear to be something that is spreading widely." Townsville. DENGUE OUTBREAK! The number of confirmed cases of dengue fever in Cairns has reached 85. The Tropical Public Health Unit's Rose Spencer says the mosquito-born disease is still confined to the inner city and N beaches. There are more suspected cases and it's not known if dengue action groups have been able to stop the disease spreading further afield. Melbourne. TRAM HIT BY LIGHTNING! A MEL tram has been evacuated after it started smoking when it was struck by lightning in the city's SE. The Route 67 tram was city bound on Glen Huntly Rd in Glen Huntly, when it was hit by lightning about 10 am. No one was injured. M)Tram rep Andrew Cassidy says all passengers were asked to leave the tram, which was taken to the depot to be checked. Mr Cassidy says he's never heard of a prev lightning strike on a tram. Tram services on the route were held up for 30 mins. Melbourne. DUST STORMS HIT VIC! Gale force winds have whipped up dust storms in NW Vic and carried debris across the state, cutting visibility from Mildura to Albury and MEL. NW centres Mildura and Ouyen had visibility reduced to 20 m at 1 pm as a blanket of red dirt settled on people, cars and buildings, driven by winds of up to 100 kph. The Bur of Met says because of the drought, soil is easily picked up from W district farms and dropped across the state. Some reports say they were the worst dust storms for 20 y. What record? US troops hit by sandstorm in Kuwaiti desert N Kuwait. US forces poised to invade Iraq have been hit by a fierce sandstorm in the Kuwaiti desert. Visibility has been cut to just a few metres. US commanders say the weather could play a role in the timing of any attack. Desert storms cut visibility and force sand into delicate equipment, but also provide cover from enemy observation. Cotabato. BRIDGE BLOWN UP! Suspected guerrillas from the largest Muslim separatist group in the Philippines have blown up a key water pipeline in the S, disrupting supply to about 100,000 residents. Gunmen believed to be from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front fires 2 rocket-propelled grenades at the water reservoir plant in Perez district in Kidapawan city, destroying the main pipeline. The MILF has stepped up attacks on govt installations after the military captured a key rebel camp last m. Iraq unlikely to use chemical, bio weapons: Blix NY. The chief UN arms inspector, Hans Blix, says Iraq would probably not use chemical or bio weapons against coalition troops, even if it has them. Mr Blix says concern about world opinion would probably hold Saddam Hussein back. "They have never used biological weapons in the battlefield before," he said. "They have used chemicals, ostensibly. We have not seen delivery means, but they are capable of producing delivery means of building their own warheads so they could. It is theoretical possibility." Iraqi civilians unable to leave their country Baghdad. Ordinary Iraqis are making frantic preparations for the coming assault. Many have been trying to flee W, only to be blocked at the Syrian border. Since Tue midday Iraqis have been unable to leave their country through Syria. There were conflicting explanations on the border about why this was the case. But from speaking with Iraqis waiting to be let in and officials on both sides, it appears that Syria decided to close its border to Iraqis after an influx in the morning. The Iraqi side then decided not to process anymore passports of travelling Iraqis. An Iraqi Customs official expressed his anger at the Syrian decision. He said they were turning back families with women and children at a time when their lives were at risk in Iraq because of impending war. A divided AUS heads to war Canberra. It was a day of drama, without the element of surprise. Pres George Bush called PM John Howard just after 6 am to formally invite AUS to war. Cabinet said yes some 3 hrs later. Call it charade, call it process. Everyone knew what would be asked and what the answer would be. The reality will hit when the bombs start to rain down later this week. Now AUS has made its participation official, it finds itself a minor player in an extraordinarily small club of nations launching a pre-emptive military strike that could send unforeseen reverberations through the international system. Apart from Middle E and other states providing bases, this "coalition of the willing" includes only America, Brit and AUS, plus a handful of bio and chem warfare specialist troops coming from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. When the American tilt at Iraq began last year, it was pretty clear AUS, despite its distance from the region, would join the action. It was not so obvious that we would be so isolated in our support, or in such stark defiance of the balance of world opinion. Not since Vietnam have we thrown in our lot so dramatically with our powerful friend for the sake of the alliance. Contrast AUS's participation in the attack on Afghanistan, which had UN endorsement, more countries in the coalition, and bipartisan backing at home. The same applied in the 1st Gulf War. Although the PM insists this war is very different to Vietnam -- and he's right -- there are parallels. We are in this up to our ears for the same reason we got in so deeply there -- because of the strength of a conservative govt's belief about what the alliance requires. The alliance also was important in AUS's commitment on the Afghanistan attack and Gulf War I. But the difference is we were under wider international "cover"; also, they were much less contentious. Here, we are right back to the days of "all the way" with the American president, pre-eminently driven by the fear that the US is the only effective protector in a world full of (new) danger. How they cast the requirements of the alliance is now a massive divide between the Howard Govt and the Crean Opp'n. Crean says AUS has "joined as an aggressor in war not because of any decision it has been prepared to take on its own or through the Sec Council but because the US asked it to". He reaffirms Labor's backing for the alliance ("we have supported it for over 50 years") but adds: "There is a fundamental difference between supporting the US alliance and being subservient to it." Bush's 48-hour ultimatum to Saddam Hussein -- America's declaration of war - takes the world into a new, highly uncertain era. We know the US will blast out Saddam. Beyond that, there are only questions. How long and how difficult will the war be? Will it trigger terrorist attacks? What are the consequences for the Middle E? And further on, where will the Americans' doctrine of pre-emptive strike take them, and possibly us? What about Iran? Will a moment of truth come with N Korea? And if this US juggernaut rolls on, will AUS ever feel the need to get off? And could it? In the Iraq war, AUS will be in the thick of the military onslaught, but without control over anything but its immediate force. Howard has led his country into a conflict deeply opposed by the public because it does not have UN sanction. Yesterday's Newspoll found 68 per cent still against such a war. But now he has done it, the politics moves into a fresh phase. Much will depend on the campaign's progress, the community's reaction to having the troops fighting, the disappearance of the UN option, and Howard's ability to argue his case. Most immediately, the PM is seeking to convince the public the war is legitimate, just, and necessary. He is particularly anxious to underpin his argument that military action is legal, based on the authority of previous UN resolutions. After saying on Mon he would not table the Govt's (in-house) advice, yesterday he did so. But experts are split; those for or against war can find lawyers to justify their point. And, for what it's worth, UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan said this month: "If the US and others were to go outside the (Security) Council and take military action, it would not be in conformity with the (UN) charter." The case for the war being necessary rests on a risk assessment. Bush and Howard dwell on the danger of terrorists getting weapons of mass destruction from rogue states. Bush said yesterday: "Instead of drifting along towards tragedy, we will set a course towards safety." Another way of putting this is that America's tolerance for uncertainty has nr evaporated since Sep 11 -- and the Howard Govt is willing to embrace the American mood vicariously. Both Bush and Howard are also using the plight of the Iraqi people to buttress their case for the justness of the invasion. Labor, after getting into a bog earlier over whether war would be legal (foreign affairs rep Kevin Rudd said no, former Beazley staffer Michael Costello said yes, and Crean wasn't sure), the Opp'n Leader now says: "I do not believe the argument is whether this is legal or not; it is just that it is wrong." Crean's message has been honed to: "The PM has committed us to war because the US Pres has asked him to. It's not in AUS's national interests, and there is an alternative (peaceful) way." Military action should not be outside the UN, and the PM "has failed to make the case as to why war is the only option". We'll never know whether the non-war route would have succeeded -- whether the French especially, much reviled including by the AUS Govt, were right in thinking it could, if only the world had stuck with the UN. We soon will know how the war and its immediate aftermath work out, and that will determine the local political winners and losers. It may take quite a while longer for final judgements about the American action. By then, the politics in AUS probably will have moved on again. Nowhere to hide behind the letter of the law Canberra. John Howard has committed AUS troops to a war in Iraq on the basis that this can be justified under international law. However, the legal case for unilateral pre-emptive action against Iraq is weak. The failure, despite several attempts, to gain a further Sec Council resolution authorising the use of force means that an attack will breach international law. According to its charter, the UN was formed to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, and its overriding aim is to ensure that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest. International law prohibits the threat or use of force by one state against another. This is subject to 2 exceptions. First, force can be used with the authorisation of the Sec Council, which is charged with determining what action should be taken in response to threats to the peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression. Second, a state can use force in self-defence. The lack of evidence of an imminent attack by Iraq explains why Howard has chosen to rely on the 1st of these exceptions. The argument is that Sec Council resolutions 678 and 687, dating from the Gulf War, provide a basis for the use of force in Iraq today. They suggest that since the early 1990s the US and other countries have been in possession of a blank cheque enabling them to use force in Iraq whenever they believe that Iraq has failed to comply with the directions of the Sec Council. A reading of the resolutions shows that this argument is untenable. Resolution 678 was made after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. It authorised member states, co-operating with the Govt of Kuwait (an important limitation), to use force against Iraq. Resolution 687 transformed the cessation of hostilities into a permanent ceasefire. Of all the provisions in that ceasefire resolution, only one paragraph authorises the ongoing use of force. It does so only in the context of guaranteeing the Kuwait border, and then only by the Sec Council and not by individual states. The key to the Govt's legal view is that Iraq's actions have somehow negated the basis of the 1991 ceasefire as expressed in Resolution 687. It has been argued the ceasefire declared by Resolution 687 was conditional on Iraq fulfilling the conditions required of it. However, the resolution makes clear the ceasefire will come into effect if Iraq simply accepts the terms of the resolution. The resolution states that it is then up to the Sec Council to take such further steps as may be required for the implementation of the resolution. No state or coalition of states acting outside the authorisation of the council retains the right to use force, even to punish Iraq for breaches of the resolution or to compel its compliance. Hence, a further resolution of the Sec Council is required. The closest we have come to this is resolution 1441 of Nov last year. It speaks in strong language of Iraq's obligations to disarm and to co-operate fully in this process. It also states that this is the final opportunity for Iraq to comply. However, in the event of non-compliance by Iraq, the resolution does not authorise the use of force. Instead, in the event of a material breach by Iraq, the Sec Council should convene immediately to consider the situation. It also reminds Iraq that serious consequences will follow. Such consequences cannot be visited upon Iraq by the US or any other country in the absence of the Security Council stating what those consequences shall be and who can enforce them. AUS will breach international law if we engage in military action in Iraq as part of a US-led coalition. The use of force has not been authorised by the Sec Council. It may be that international law will adapt after the event to provide a retrospective justification for war. This may occur if our actions are seen in hindsight to have been in the common interest of the international community. However, to enter a war based on this expectation sees us revert to the "just war" theory. In doing so, we fall into precisely the trap the UN was established to avoid. The decision to wage a just war is based upon an appeal to dangerously subjective standards of morality and the belligerents' conviction that their cause is right. After 2 world wars, the dangers of this approach are obvious. AUS will be better served by adherence to the international rule of law. Blair wins backing for force against Iraq London. Britain's Parliament has backed a motion that PM Tony Blair's govt should use "all means necessary" to ensure the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, in a vote of 412 ballots to 149. But minutes earlier, 217 Brit parliamentarians out of a total of 659 voted for an amendment which stated that the case for war with Iraq had "not yet been established", in a blow for Mr Blair. Over 130 deputies from the ruling Labour party are believed to be among the parliamentarians who voted for the amendment, submitted by rebel Labour lawmakers. Even though the amendment was defeated, the size of the rebellion is being reported as an embarrassment for Mr Blair's stance in leading Brit towards a US-led war on Iraq without a fresh UN resolution. Opening the debate, Mr Blair had begged members to back him on the brink of battle. He even hinted he would resign rather than back down, saying that if parliament voted against military action, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein would be left immeasurably stronger. The support of opposition Conservatives ensured he would not have to back up that threat. Oil prices fall on 'quick war' hopes Sydney. There has been a further plunge in world oil prices amid expectations a war against Iraq will be quick and without a significant impact on supplies of crude. N Sea Brent traded in London has slumped, down more than 10% at one stage. In NY, W Texas crude has dropped more than $US3 a barrel since this time yesterday, to be sitting at $31.61 a barrel around 7 am AEDT. Meanwhile foreign oil companies have stopped buying Iraqi crude after the UN suspended its "oil-for-food" program Oil traders in London say companies are not buying Iraqi oil because the contracts could no longer be financed through the UN-supervised humanitarian program. An oil expert said the US would be the 1st to suffer from the halt in Iraqi exports because it is the biggest buyer, taking about two-thirds of Iraq's sales last month. Question time cancelled, Opp'n claim 'Gestapo tactics' Canberra. The Fed Opp'n has accused the govt of engaging in "Gestapo tactics", by cancelling question time for the 2nd day in a row. The leader of govt business Tony Abbott has told the Parliament the continuing debate over committing troops to a war in Iraq should take precedence over all business, including question time. But Labor's Wayne Swan says it means there is no opportunity to question the PM about the decision. "Aussies today are watching this Parliament, they are watching it because they want to see that their parliamentarians are looking after their national interests," he said. "They don't want to see some sort of Gestapo tactics that we're getting in this house today from this Govt, that is not prepared to be accountable." Rules of engagement will be clear: Hill Canberra. The Defence Min says he is hopeful the different rules of engagement for US and AUS troops will not lead to problems on the battlefield in Iraq. Robert Hill says each country understands the other's rules and will work together effectively. Sen Hill says AUS will comply with its international obligations if AUS personnel are asked to support any operations that use banned cluster bombs or anti-personnel mines. He Hill says AUS aircraft will not bomb civilian areas, but there is a "grey area" if Iraqi troops or equipment is hidden within civilian targets. "That's why you need people on the ground who can make sound judgements and who can ensure that nevertheless the decisions in accordance with AUS law and the rules of engagement have been set," he said. "But basically if they are civilian targets with some incidental military benefit then they wouldn't be targeted." Terrorism risk has not increased: PM Canberra. The PM says he has not been advised of an increased risk of terrorism because of the looming war against Iraq. Employment Min Tony Abbott has warned one of the risks of an attack on Baghdad is the greater likelihood of a terrorist strike in AUS. But Mr Howard says there is no intelligence suggesting AUS should move to a higher level of security alert. "It was generally heightened after the 11th of Sep, there was a general terrorist warning given late last year," he said. "We haven't as I speak been given any intelligence requiring a further upgrade. Obviously, if we did well we would take the appropriate action." Defence Min Robert Hill has also disagreed Mr Abbott. Sen Hill says there is always the danger Saddam Hussein will order reprisals, but he has not been advised of an increased likelihood of terrorism. "I haven't seen anything that leads us to ID an increased risk." War support could mean better deal for beef Canberra. There's strong speculation that the US is supporting free trade negotiations with AUS as pay-back for the decision to support its action in Iraq. The US chief trade negotiator has refused to buy into the speculation at a briefing in CBR this morning, but AUS's peak body for cattle producers says it's already noticed its US counterparts are softening their hostile attitude towards a deal. Cattle Council president Keith Adams says AUS's support for US-led military action in Iraq is not going to do any harm, when it comes to the push to get a better deal for AUS beef exports. Mr Adams says he's also spoken directly to representatives from the powerful American lobby group, the National Cattleman's Beef Association, and he says they've indicated a change of heart when it comes to a free trade deal with AUS. But the National Cattleman's Beef Association says there's been no change of policy. Association trade advisor Greg Doud says there's still no way they'll support a free trade deal with AUS. Wheat suffers as aid program suspended Canberra. The UN has suspended its Oil for Food program overnight, which puts a stop to AUS's wheat trade with Iraq. The aid program is the only way Iraq can buy wheat, and it's a contract worth 800-million dollars to AUS. Two shiploads of AUS wheat are now stranded in the Persian Gulf, but Darryl Hockey from wheat exporter AWB, says the ships will only be moved out if conditions become dangerous. He says the AWB is used to exporting in difficult circumstances, and it's expecting the suspension to be only short term. "The Americans have already publicly announced just in the last couple of days that the program will continue in some shape or form, it mightn't be called the Oil for Food program, but I'm sure you'll see something else very similar which will operate and, and also that Kofi Annan from the UN has said that the continued supply of food to the country is an absolute priority to the UN and they're going to make sure that happens. So, you know, we're very confident that in one way or another we'll be able to deliver the wheat to the people who need it." Senate snubs Howard's call to arms Canberra. The Senate will not endorse the Govt's decision to commit AUS troops to a war with Iraq, insisting it is not in AUS's national interest. Instead, it is likely to support an amalgam of Labor, Democrat and Greens amendments that Iraq must disarm under the authority of the UN. "The Senate believes [that] in the absence of an agreed UN Security Council Resolution authorising military action against Iraq there is no basis for military action to disarm Iraq, including action involving the AUS Defence Force," the amendment says. The Govt says it does not need parliamentary approval. The leader of the AUS Democrats, Andrew Bartlett, called on the Governor-General, Peter Hollingworth, as AUS's commander-in-chief, to refuse to sign the order for the commitment of troops. He called on the public to express its opposition to "the Govt, the Cabinet and its gutless bunch of backbenchers", but was ordered to withdraw the unparliamentary remark. The National Party leader, Ron Boswell, said it was the most difficult decision Mr Howard, the Govt and parliament had had to make. "The easiest thing to do in this world is to do nothing ... But this isn't the AUS way." The Deputy PM, John Anderson, told the House of Representatives: "You have to take resolute action against dictators and tyrants if you are to avoid more costly action later on." He accused France and Germany of engaging in "pretty cheap anti-Americanism" by opposing military action. It was a delusion the UN weapons inspections process was working, he said. The deputy leader of the Opp'n, Jenny Macklin, said Iraq could be peacefully disarmed. She said it was rare for AUS to go to war without bi-partisan support and accused Mr Howard of dividing the nation by failing to make the case for war. The Treas, Peter Costello, rejected Labor's demands that Iraq be given more time to disarm. "If Saddam Hussein ... had any intention of disarming himself he would have done so before 2003," he said. The For Min, Alex Downer, said the world's future was now at stake. Disarming Iraq was the "unfinished business" of Gulf War I, he said, and every effort would be made to win the war quickly and minimise casualties. He committed AUS to helping with Iraq's recovery, and emphasised that the aim was to liberate the country, not occupy it. Police arrest 3 nr London airport London. Brit police say they have arrested 3 men under anti-terrorism laws in an apartment building nr Gatwick International Airport, S of London. Police could not immediately provide further details or confirm media reports that explosive devices had been found. They say the arrests were made in Crawley, Sussex. "Three European nationals have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. Police continue to deal with the incident in conjunction with other agencies," a Sussex police rep said. Brit is on heightened alert against the threat of a terrorist strike with tens of 1000s of its troops preparing in the Gulf to launch an attack on Iraq. Anti-terror police have arrested dozens of people in recent months, but the pace has quickened since the discovery of traces of the lethal poison ricin in a N London flat in Jan. Brit police recently launched an unprecedented advertising campaign that urges the public to report any suspicions about possible terror activity. Sydney (close). MARKETS! The All Ords closed up 10 pts to 2,814. A raft of data out today showed the AUS economy is slowing but still performing well. The FTSE was down o'night, but the Dow was up. The Nikkei closed 88 pts up today. The AUD is trading at 59.2 US cents, declining as the USD strengthens. Gold is $US339/oz, and oil also continues to decline at $US31.51/bbl. ---------------------------------------- Thu, 20 Mar 2003. Markets UN still meeting NASA gives up? Coalition expands Sandstorms clearing Washington calling Red Cross attacked US predicts chem warfare AFL launch cancelled Saddam may try "Somalia" tactic Terrorism at SYD airport Aziz is alive Aussie shields stay put 13 die in rain Air strikes US attacks Iraqi installations Airliner gets fighter escort Human rights call US orders staff out of Pakistan Brit issues terror alert PM to justify war again Opinion polls Iraqis surrender Iraqi spies expelled Israelis told to carry gas masks Troops get allowance Former ADF chief worried about war WWI vet dies Crean against war Air raid sirens in Baghdad (1.45 pm, 20 Mar 2003) AUS TV goes on war footing PM announces war The govt may be charged with war crimes War Peaceniks attacked by police US goes after Iraqi leadership Bush addresses the nation Explosions heard across the border Another attack Students go on strike Bob Brown hopes troops come home PM announces military briefings Afghan operation Explosions continue in Baghdad Saddam addresses Iraq Is saddam wounded? Spontaneous protest Protests Political assassinations may be illegal: Downer Aid agencies pledge support US to bail out Israel National strike in Zimbabwe Aussie wheat diverted from Iraq Govt to re-intro ASIO bill Killer flu Bushfires contained Aussie sentenced PM addresses the nation Markets Saddam shoots back Unmanned plane attacks US troops NY (6 am). MARKETS! With 2 hrs to trade, the Dow, Nasdaq, oil, gold and AUD are all down. A bad report from Oracle drove down many s/w and chip stocks 1-2%. Following Pres Bush's ultimatum, the price of oil has gone into free-fall. [Later reports say the Dow closed up 72 pts, for the 3rd session in a row]. NY. UN STILL MEETING! While the US plans its first attacks on Iraq, the UN Sec Council is still meeting to try last-min diplomacy. Missing in action among the Council's permanent members were Jack Straw and Colin Powell. Dr Hans Blix delivered another report, indicating some progress was still being made as the inspectors pulled out yesterday. He told the Sec Council he regrets inspections could not be given more time after they'd put in a relatively successful 3.5 months of work. Florida. NASA GIVES UP? NASA says the reason for the Columbia disaster may never be found. In other reports, the Columbia flight recorder was found nr Huntsville, TX today. NY. COALITION EXPANDS! In a surprising move, Germany has opened its airspace to US warplanes. German officials previously said they would take no part in the war on Iraq. Meanwhile, Italy says it won't take direct part in the war. Elsewhere, in a repeat of the NSA fiasco in NY, phone bugs have been found at EU offices in France and Germany. The EU president told whomever was responsible the EU was a transparent organisation and did not keep its views hidden. Instead of tapping the phones whomever could just read the web sites. N Kuwait. SANDSTORMS CLEARING! Sandstorms in Kuwait are clearing, with reporters saying they can now see the moon. But light at night won't stop plans for an attack, say US military reps. Analysts say the first logical night for an attack is expected to be Sat. But the US could go earlier, even before the midday deadline today. Meanwhile, bombs for the B-52's at RAF Fairford have been delivered. Elsewhere, the US has dropped 2 mn more leaflets, calling on Iraqis not to fight the invading US forces. London. WASHINGTON CALLING! Pres Bush and PM Tony Blair talked for 20 min by phone o'night. It's also understood Mr Bush rang AUS PM John Howard. Ivory Coast. RED CROSS ATTACKED! 4 Red Cross workers have been found dead in Ivory Coast. No other details are immediately available. NY. US PREDICTS CHEM WARFARE! The US military and some analysts are warning that Iraq is preparing for chem warfare. Military officials say intel suggests chem warheads are being handed out to front-line Iraqi cmdrs nr Baghdad. One analyst suggests roads and bridges t'out Iraq could be traps for US troops. He told NBC that roads could dusted with chem or bio agents to slow down the US advance. He also warned that roads might be "slimed" with VX nerve agents, especially near bridges that had been destroyed by retreating Iraqi forces. In other reports, coal'n troops at some Kuwaiti stations have been told to put on their chem suits because a "rogue Iraqi general" is prepared to use chem or bio weapons to repel invaders. Melbourne. AFL LAUNCH CANCELLED! The AFL has cancelled its season launch for fear it will coincide with anti-war rallies. Canberra. SADDAM MAY TRY "SOMALIA" TACTIC! Some analysts say Saddam could try a "Somalia" strategy to win the war against the US. Recalling how US public opinion not only sent US troops into Somalia, but pulled them out again after they got caught in the crossfire between local warlords, some observers say Saddam might simply drag the war out, and kill a few Americans in suicide attacks. He would hope that US opinion -- in favour of the war now -- would turn strongly against the US-led invasion. In Somalia, US public opinion forced the withdrawal of US troops after several were killed by followers of one warlord, and their bodies dragged through the streets on US TV. Sydney. TERRORISM AT SYD AIRPORT! Baggage handlers have used an incident involving some abandoned phials of liquid to protest about the handling of terrorist scares at SYD airport. Emergency services swooped on SYD airport this morning following the discovery of phials filled with a substance that turned out to be harmless. Qantas group general manager of security, Geoff Askew, says authorities removed 27 phials contained in a box left at the Qantas domestic terminal. Baghdad. AZIZ IS ALIVE! Iraqi Dep PM Tariq Aziz has appeared on TV to dispel a rumour he was shot trying to defect to the West. US-based observers say the rumour may have been a plan from US war-makers to bring the Iraqi leadership out into the open so it can be tracked in the final hrs before an attack. Baghdad. AUSSIE SHIELDS STAY PUT! Aussie human shields in Baghdad are still refusing to leave ahead of an imminent attack. Appearing on morning Aussie TV they're reportedly starting to dig a bunker in their house in the N suburbs of Baghdad. The daughter is one "shield" is upset her mother has broken her promise to be back in AUS by Mar 14. In other reports, a group of human shields has chained themselves to a tree opposite a military site in Baghdad. While almost all TV journalists have been pulled out, there are also about 100 print media still in the capital. DFAT says 16 Aussies are still in Iraq. Bogota. 13 DIE IN RAIN! At least 13 people have been killed, 17 injured and some 20 more are still missing after torrential rain triggered landslides in W Colombia. The 13 died when landslides buried their homes in towns in Caldas dept. 9 of the victims came from the regional capital Manizales where many poor neighbourhoods are build on steep hillsides. 3 children are among the dead, and rescue teams are searching for 20 people still missing. Washington. AIR STRIKES! Officials say the US and Brit have conducted wide-ranging air strikes in S and western Iraq. They've bombed long-range artillery and a surface-to-surface missile system that threatens the invading coal'n forces poised in Kuwait. The warplanes struck 9 targets over 10 hrs as the 48-hr deadline approaches for Saddam Hussein to leave his country of face war. N Kuwait. US ATTACKS IRAQI INSTALLATIONS! US war planes have struck Iraqi artillery bases at 6.30 am AEDT. Later reports said a total of 12 targets were hit in the Iraqi no fly zone nr allied forces in N Iraq. Expecting imminent attack as Pres Bush's 48-hr deadline approaches, observers say it was std operation, similar to 1000s carried out of the past 12 y. Analysts say pre-emptive defence has been used as the pretext for m's to take out Iraqi positions. In separate reports, there's said to be a firefight involving special forces of Brit and US nr Basra, in S Iraq. It's believed the US is preparing sites for amphibious landings. O'night, allied troops moved into the Iraq/Kuwait DMZ, in preparation to a land invasion of S Iraq. Meanwhile, Baghdad has gone quiet. There's no traffic on the main streets, when it's been bumper-to-bumper in the mornings in recent wks. Schools and offices are closed. Reporters say many locals have left Baghdad in recent days. Key West. AIRLINER GETS FIGHTER ESCORT! A Cuban airliner has landed in Key West under US military escort. Cuban officials say they suspect the plane was hijacked. The FAA says the DC-3 had 35 people on board when it landed at Key West Int'l Airport. All the passengers were released about 30 mins later. A rep for the FAA says air traffic controllers at Miami Int'l Airport spotted the plane on radar about 15 mins before landing and were unable to make voice contact. London. HUMAN RIGHTS CALL! Amnesty Int'l has appealed to Pres Bush, PM Blair and Pres Aznar to ensure human rights are fully upheld in any war on Iraq. The London-based human rights organisation also directed the same appeal to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The appeal was made in an open letter to the 4 leaders by AI's Sec Gen Irene Khan. Washington. US ORDERS STAFF OUT OF PAKISTAN! The US State Dept has authorised the voluntary departure of non-emergency staff and diplomats posted in Pakistan, ahead of an expected backlash in the country to the US invasion of Iraq. The dept also says private US citizens currently in Pakistan should consider leaving. London. BRIT ISSUES TERROR ALERT! Britain has issued a global terrorism alert as its troops are poised with US forces to attack Iraq. The FO says the risk of terrorist attacks in public places -- incl tourist sites -- will be especially high during military action in Iraq. It advises Brit nationals to be vigilant, take precautions, be aware of local sensibilities, monitor the media and check travel advice for the country they live in or plan to visit. Canberra. PM TO JUSTIFY WAR AGAIN! PM John Howard will address the nation tonight to explain his reasons for committing troops to a pre-emptive attack on Iraq without UN backing. The address is due to be broadcast more than 7 hr after the deadline set by Pres Bush Jr for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq. Meanwhile, Labor leader Simon Crean has written an open letter to Aussie troops in the Gulf, reassuring them of his support. The ALP's argument was with the govt, he told reporters, not with our troops. Canberra (Ch 7). OPINION POLLS! The opinion polls are giving mixed results on support the for war. A prev Newspoll showed 25% of Aussies support an Iraqi war without UN sanction. But a majority still want PM Howard for the leader. A new Newspoll shows Opp'n leader Simon Crean is seen as more in-touch with Aussies and more caring. But PM Howard is seen as stronger and more decisive. The poll finds 49% (down 9 pts) of Aussies see Mr Howard as "in touch", while 51% (even) see Mr Crean as more in touch with the Aussie community. 73% of respondents see Mr Howard as "decisive", while only 43% (down 8 pts) see Mr Crean as decisive. N Kuwait. IRAQIS SURRENDER! A military source in Kuwait says 18 Iraqi border guards have crossed the border and surrendered to US troops. The military sources says 2 border guards entered Kuwait first, followed by a 2nd batch of 16. A US officer earlier said 15 Iraqi soldiers had surrendered. The US officer said the Iraqis who turned themselves in to US troops were handed over to Kuwaiti police. Earlier in the wk Iraqi soldiers had attempted to surrender to US forces, but had been turned away and told the war hadn't started yet. Prague. IRAQI SPIES EXPELLED! The Czech govt has expelled 4 Iraqi diplomats on suspicion of spying. PM Vladimir Spidla says the diplomats were asked to leave the country within 48 hrs. In BBC interview For Min Cyril Svoboda indicated the reason for the expulsions was spying. Prague has long been considered a hub of Iraqi espionage. Tel Aviv. ISRAELIS TOLD TO CARRY GAS MASKS! Israel has warned its citizens to carry gas masks with them at all times. Children have been told to carry masks to school, and adults have been told to take their gas masks to work. Citizens have been told to wait for further instructions ahead of the US-led invasion of Iraq. Meanwhile, some Israelis continue to seal up their homes and appts with plastic sheeting and duct tape. Israel says it issued the warning based on Pres Bush Jr's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein. 100s of Israelis have fled the seaside city of Tel Aviv to avoid a feared repeat performance of the Gulf War I when Saddam launched 39 Scud missiles at Israel in an attempt to drag it into the war. Canberra. TROOPS GET ALLOWANCE! Aussie troops involved in the Iraq invasion will receive a $200/day tax-free allowance on top of their regular salary. Def Min Robert Hill says they'll also receive extra leave once the war is over, a service medal, as well as compensation and rehabilitation coverage. He says all AUS Def Force personnel involved in combat operations inside Iraq -- including Iraqi territorial waters and airspace -- will receive a tax-free internat'l campaign allowance of $200/day. Canberra. FORMER ADF CHIEF WORRIED ABOUT WAR! The former chief of the AUS Def Force, Gen Peter Gration, says it's a major worry that war against Iraq lacks crucial public support. But he's told ABC radio whatever people's views, it's vital Aussies communicate their support to troops in the Persian Gulf. He urges all sides of politics and the community to let the troops on the ground know that having been committed for better or for worse, they've got the country behind them. Meanwhile, 2 veterans of Gulf War I handed back their medals at Parliament House as debate on Iraq entered its 3rd day. They say they're disgusted with the govt decision to invade Iraq against public opinion and without UN support. Earlier, a former Navy officer burned his uniform in protest outside Parliament. Brisbane. WWI VET DIES! Eric Abraham, one of AUS's oldest war veterans, has died aged 104. ABC radio says he died in Brit this morning. Mr Abraham enlisted with 2 of his brothers when he was 15. He convinced his mother to sign his papers for the AUS Imperial Forces, saying he was 18 and 1/2. He sailed from SYD to Cairo in 1916 where he was transferred from the infantry to work for the Signal Engineers in London. He later went on to witness the bloody trench warfare in the Somme. Mr Abraham is survived by his partner and children. His death leave only 7 surviving Aussies that fought in WWI. Canberra. CREAN AGAINST WAR! Opp'n leader Simon Crean can't catch a trick. This afternoon he gave a speech to the Nat'l Press Club, replying to a prev speech by PM Howard who tried to justify his decision to commit to a US-led war on Iraq. But Mr Crean's speech on Sky News was pre-empted by an announcement of a US attack on Baghdad. In his address, Mr Crean produced a long-awaited legal opinion he says shows the war is illegal. While Mr Crean says the govt is committing a crime by invading Iraq without explicit UN sanction, he also says AUS troops themselves will not face legal action. Mr Crean said the war was wrong and would make AUS a terrorist target. It was a sad day for the world and a tragic day for AUS, he said. The AUS govt had committed AUS to "a war we should never have been in", Mr Crean said. While he blames the fed govt for its decision, Mr Crean also says he would speak out for the troops if anyone criticises them for their involvement in the war. Mr Crean says that was a lesson left over from the Vietnam war. Given the news of the start of the war, most of Mr Crean's speech was lost on the audience. He was criticised by some observers that he didn't say he wanted the allies to win. Baghdad (1.45 pm). AIR RAID SIRENS IN BAGHDAD! Air raid sirens sounded in Baghdad just after dawn, local time, followed by a series of large explosions over a period of several minutes. One blast raised a large fireball in the S of the city, according to TV reporters. The attack was followed by several minutes of AAA fire. CBS also says there were some explosions during the night. The blasts are believed to be a "target of opportunity" attacked by Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from US ships. The Whitehouse has confirmed the attack on Iraq is underway. Reporters in Qatar say military reps say they will brief reporters on the attacks in a couple of hrs. [Later reports say 1 private home was among the targets, a location where it was believed Saddam's inner circle was meeting. Iraq later showed injured civilians, incl at least one child, allegedly victims of the attack. 1 civilian was allegedly killed]. Melbourne (2 pm). AUS TV GOES ON WAR FOOTING! In a replay of the days after the 9/11 attack, commercial TV channels in AUS have begun non-stop US coverage of the war in Iraq. Ch 7 is piping NBC and CNN, Ch 9 is showing CBS and CNN. SBS is showing BBC, and ABC is providing its own coverage. Ch 10 is showing its regular programming. Canberra. PM ANNOUNCES WAR! Just as an air strike got underway in Baghdad, PM John Howard told the Parliament that war on Iraq has begun. The announcement was greeted with a cry of "shame, shame". The House of Reps then descended into chaos, with insults thrown from one side of the Chamber to the other. The Speaker was forced to his feet -- normally a sign that the Chamber should immediately come to order -- and tried to urge the members to come to order, but he was largely ignored. In an extraordinary attack on Opp'n leader Simon Crean For Af Min Alex Downer said Mr Crean was behaving like a school child. Melbourne. THE GOVT MAY BE CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES! More than 40 church and community groups have lodged a complaint with MEL law firm Slater & Gordon, who have promised to take the Fed Govt to the ICC in the event that AUS becomes involved in war atrocities, incl targeting of civilian areas. In a press conf, the company announced it had sent a letter of warning to PM John Howard saying he could personally face the ICC if the US commits war crimes. A MEL QC told reporters he hoped no war crimes were committed although, he said, a war of aggression was itself a war crime. Legal opinion is still divided on the declaration of war against Iraq. While the Fed Govt has tabled legal opinion from its own officials that says the war is legally justified, a range of critics, incl academic and practising experts in internat'l law, say it is not. Some point out the UN Sec Council itself is a final authority on its own decisions, and Kofi Annan has said the US is ignoring the UN Charter in invading Iraq. Washington. WAR! The Whitehouse says war on Iraq has begun, and Pres Bush Jr will address the nation shortly. Explosions have rocked Baghdad as jets roared overhead, Iraqi AA batteries opened up and air raid sirens sounded. Whitehouse rep Ari Fleischer says the opening stages of the disarmament of the Iraqi regime have begun. LA. PEACENIKS ATTACKED BY POLICE! About 300 anti-war demonstrators descended on Wiltshire Blvd after the US attack on Baghdad was announced. News footage shows several protesters were attacked by baton-wielding police. Several protesters were arrested. Washington (2 pm). US GOES AFTER IRAQI LEADERSHIP! According to a Whitehouse statement, the US has launched surgical strikes on Baghdad, targeting the Iraqi leadership. Some reports suggest the US believed a key meeting was taking place in Baghdad this morning, and observers speculate the "target" may have been Saddam Hussein. It's been confirmed the weapons used were a combination of about 40 cruise missiles and Lockheed F-177's "stealth" fighters, each carrying a 900-kg bomb [some reports said "laser guided"; others said they were satellite-guided JDAMS]. The missiles were launched from a ship and a sub in the Red Sea and another ship in the Gulf. US armed forces psy-ops took over the local radio channel, apparently from an aircraft in the area, telling the citizens of Baghdad in Arabic this was the day they'd been waiting for. [Later reports confirmed the "target" was 5 Iraqi leaders, incl Saddam Hussein. A press statement says US bombers struck a command bunker in Baghdad which the CIA had ID-ed]. Washington (2.15 pm). BUSH ADDRESSES THE NATION! In a televised address to the world, Pres Bush Jr says he's launched the opening stages of a preventative war on Iraq. If the US doesn't fight Iraq now, it will have to fight terrorism on its own streets later. He says 45 countries had joined the coalition against Saddam Hussein. Mr Bush says the Iraqi regime had immorally hidden military assets in civilian areas. The Pres warns the campaign will not be one of 1/2-measures. He says the US is engaged in a "campaign of peace" that will bring freedom to others. The Pres also warns the campaign will take longer than many people have been saying. Iran. EXPLOSIONS HEARD ACROSS THE BORDER! Reports from Iran say 3 large explosions were heard from across the border early this morning. It's not known what targets were struck, and no statement from the US military has confirmed the reports. Jordan (5.30 pm). ANOTHER ATTACK! Jordanians say they've heard explosions across the border in Iraq. Reporters say the target was apparently Iraqi fuel storage. It's also reported major highways are badly cratered, and local people are still afraid to go outside. Sydney. STUDENTS GO ON STRIKE! 1000s of students around AUS have downed pens in protest at their country's role in the war against Iraq, which is now underway. A group called Books Not Bombs, has encouraged school, university and TAFE students to walk out of class as air raid sirens ring out in Baghdad. Students are being urged to walk out and congregate at various points around the country -- incl Town Hall in SYD, Fed Sq in MEL, King George Sq om Bris and Garena Place in CBR. Canberra (3.15 pm). BOB BROWN HOPES TROOPS COME HOME! Vocal critic of Gulf War II, Sen Bob Brown, hopes the 2,000 Aussie troops "good and true" will come home safe after the war on Iraq has finished. Blaming John W Howard for putting Aussie troops in harm's way at the behest of Pres George W Bush, Sen Brown says, he'll continue to push for them to come home ASAP. He says the 26 mn Iraqi people are now trapped between Saddam Hussein and George W Bush. Sen Brown hopes the war will be over ASAP, but fears the human toll will be enormous. But he hopes Saddam and his leadership are amongst the casualties. The "imperial war" launched by the US is illegal and unjustified, he said, with better alternatives even now still available. Sen Brown says there are 2 superpowers in the world -- the US and world public opinion -- and he's backing the latter. He says Mr Howard has done the wrong thing by AUS and the world. Canberra (3.30 pm). PM ANNOUNCES MILITARY BRIEFINGS! In a press conf, the PM has confirmed Aussie forces are in action in Iraq. Refusing to comment on the 2,000 special forces, he says RAF F/A-18's are doing escort duty. The PM announced there would be regular 11 am military briefings and says he won't comment on operational matters. Mr Howard played down an increased terrorist threat, saying he'd have more to say about that in his address to the nation this evening. He says he has no worries about the legality of his actions, noting statements from ALP leaders during Gulf War I. The PM says his decision to pre-deploy troops has allowed them to become acclimatised to local conditions and complete vital training before they have to go into action. Bagram. AFGHAN OPERATION! The US army says an American military operation is underway in S Afghanistan. A rep says it's in the area of Kandahar, the former spiritual HQ of the Taliban. About 1,000 US troops have been searching villages and suspected hideouts of Al Qaeda after an increase in attacks on Afghan govt posts in S Afghanistan. The authorities blame remnants of Taliban, Al Qaeda, and loyalists of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar -- a renegade cmdr labelled a terrorist by the US. Sky News says there were radio intercepts in the area, possibly from caves nr the villages. They say the US action came only minutes after the attack on Baghdad, indicating a co-ordinated effort to get the leadership of Iraq and Al Qaeda. Baghdad. EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE IN BAGHDAD! Sporadic explosions continue to rock the outskirts of Baghdad, after US air strikes began "Operation Iraqi Freedom" to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Reuters corresp in the city C say it appears a dawn wave of jet aircraft attacks hasn't been repeated, suggesting that later blasts have been caused by missiles. US officials said stealth fighters and long-range cruise missiles have been used in the attack. They say it's a limited strike and Washington has not yet launched the huge 3,000-bomb aerial attack which it's calling "A-Day". In Baghdad, radio stns are saying Pres Saddam will shortly talk to Iraq to announce a response to the US-led attack. Baghdad (4.30 pm). SADDAM ADDRESSES IRAQ! Appearing in military uniform, the Iraq Pres has addressed his nation following a cruise missile attack on Baghdad. Wearing glasses and reading from notes, Saddam Hussein said God will grant him victory over his enemies. He said the latest attack by "Bush the careless" is just added to the list of previous crimes against Iraq and humanity. He said all those who have made promises must do what they have said. Saddam called on all good people to do what was to be done to defend "this good nation" from the "American-Zionist plan". Iraq was incapable of crimes like the US and its allies, he said. Saddam said the infidels are the enemies of humanity and God. "Long live Jihad, and long live Iraq & Palestine", he concluded. Observers say the transmission would be of interest to US intel, to determine whether Saddam was reacting to the attack, and where he might currently be located. AUS-based commentators said the address may have been pre-recorded some time ago because it made no specific reference to the limited cruise-missile attack, referring only to the "shameful crime this day". They say it appears he was talking about the much-touted "shock and awe" attack, not the limited cruise missile attack today. But CNN commentators pointed out Saddam referred to the date at the top of his speech, Mar 20, indicating the address may have been recorded hrs earlier. A print journalist for The Age, still in Baghdad, says Saddam never wears glasses in public, and argues his TV appearance was authentic and probably hurried. Baghdad (5 pm). IS SADDAM WOUNDED? The Iraqi Info Min, in military uniform, has given a press conf in which he called the US "stupid", "killers" and "criminals". He says the whole world has seen the US are criminals because they support political assassination. He acknowledged the US attack at dawn today had targeted a command bunker of Saddam Hussein. But commentators noted he didn't deny a suggestion from reporters that Saddam Hussein may have been injured in the attack. Iraq has also reported 1 civilian was killed in the US raids in Bagdad today, with several civilian casualties. Sydney (5 pm). SPONTANEOUS PROTEST! About 20,000 people have appeared outside SYD's Town Hall, demonstrating against the war that's just begun. Most of the crowd have come out from nearby offices, but others have arrived from the suburbs. Anti-war groups have also zero-ed in on the CBR and will arrange a march later today past the US Embassy. Organisers predict much larger crowds will attend a demo that's organised for 12.30 Sun in Belmore Pk. They say the govt is continuing to ignore the majority of Aussie opinion. The latest polls continue to show about 70% of Australians do not support military action against Iraq without UN sanction. In later reports, protests apparently turned violent, with scuffles at the US Embassy. Prem Bob Carr's car was splashed with red paint. He's an anti-war protester himself. Melbourne (5 pm). PROTEST! 10s of 1000s are demonstrating outside the State Library against the war, mostly people coming out of work, bringing the CBD to a standstill. 1000s of school students who were demonstrating in Fed Sq have marched up Swanson St to join the main protest. Mums and Dads have also travelled into the city to show a unified voice to make the conflict as short as possible. Hollywood stars are also reportedly in the crowd. Speakers are calling for Aussie troops to be brought home immediately. Later reports said protesters stretched for 2 km in Bris, with an angry Mayor Jim Soorly addressed the crowd. In Perth, the US Embassy was the focal point for 100s of protetsers. In Adel the demonstrations were more low-key. KL. PROTESTS! While the Coal'n of the Willing has tried to justify their positions, the decision to bomb Baghdad hasn't been met with universal acclaim in the other 90% of the population. In Malaysia, PM Megawatti has called for the UN to reconvene to sanction the US for its aggression against Iraq. She said it was a "dark day in history". China -- an opponent of the UN resolution to sanction the war -- has called for an immediate halt to US military action. Russia says the US has made a "serious mistake". In the Philippines, demonstrators burned pictures of Pres Bush and Pres Arroyo were burned. They said the first, second and the last bomb on Iraq would be illegal. In Indon, demonstrators burned pictures of who the called the "real devil", Pres Bush Jr. Similar protests were seen in Pakistan, which has been a luke-warm supporter of the US Admin. Canberra. POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS MAY BE ILLEGAL: DOWNER! AUS For Min Alex Downer has conceded that Australian involvement in targeted assassination of foreign leaders may not be legal. Commenting on the US missile attack on Baghdad today, Mr Downer told a TV audience that AUS had never before taken part in an action to target a foreign leader. He conceded it may not be legal according to international law. But he said the US Pres had the right under US law to sign off on requests for the US military to target individuals in the event of war. Mr Downer said Saddam Hussein was therefore a legitimate military target. Observers say the For Min has apparently failed to understand he is seeking to validate the assassination of the political leadership of US, Brit, and AUS govt officials, incl himself. Sydney. AID AGENCIES PLEDGE SUPPORT! Aid agencies have promised to support the Iraqi people with food, shelter and health care, fearing an humanitarian catastrophe from the outbreak of war. The UN has estimated around 1/2 mn Iraqis will be killed or seriously injured in the first few wks of fighting, and at least 600,000 will become refugees. AUS aid workers are poised to lead response teams positioned in Jordan to deliver aid across the border and quickly assist the expected flood of refugees. Jerusalem. US TO BAIL OUT ISRAEL! Israeli public TV says the US has promised a $A17 bn package to help it out of its worst economic crisis in 50 y. It says the package was pledged by the US Nat'l Sec Adv Connie Rice to Fin Min BB Netanyahu. It will reportedly incl $A15 bn in military assistance. Israel already receives $A5 bn pa in US aid, mostly in military h/w. Harare. NATIONAL STRIKE IN ZIMBABWE! Police say there were a series of explosions outside food shops in C Zimbabwe as a nat'l strike against the increasingly authoritarian govt shut down businesses for a 2nd day. There's no indep confirmation of the blasts which police rep Wayne Bvudijena says occurred in the town of Kadoma. He says there were no reports of injuries. He says 33 people, incl an opp'n politician, were arrested in connection with the explosions. Melbourne. AUSSIE WHEAT DIVERTED FROM IRAQ! Australia's wheat exporter, AWB Ltd, says 2 container ships carrying wheat to Iraq have been diverted to Oman. The 2 vessels are carrying 100,000 tonnes of wheat. An AWB rep says the exporter can either hold the wheat and then unload it in Iraq after the war, or sell it to another country. He says at this stage, it's likely the wheat will still go to Iraq, but the situation could change. AWB shipped 1.8 mn tonnes of wheat to Iraq last y and has a contract to ship 1 mn tonnes this y, with UN approval. Iraq is AUS's biggest wheat buyer. But the monopoly AWB is the target of US free trade negotiators who claim the single desk distorts the market. US wheat farmers are also likely to gain an advantage in the re-organisation of Iraq following the US-led war. Canberra. GOVT TO RE-INTRO ASIO BILL! The fed govt will re-introduce its controversial ASIO bill to parliament today, but its' likely to be voted down in the Senate by the minor parties. The proposed new laws for the domestic spy agency are in limbo after a marathon 27-hr sitting of parliament ended late last y without a resolution. The proposed changes would let ASIO detain and question adults and children as young as 14 for up to 48 hrs without legal representation. The Aus Democrats and Aus Greens are opposed to any laws toughening ASIO's powers. Geneva. KILLER FLU! The WHO says an outbreak of a new killer strain of flu that's sparked world-wide alarm is being brought under control, at least outside Asia. The disease has been linked to up to 14 deaths and put 100s of people in intensive care around the world. WHO officials say prompt action by local health authorities appear to have limited the spread in EU and N Am. In AUS, health authorities are still investigating 20 suspected cases, but no cases are expected to be confirmed for SARS. HK. KILLER FLU! As a breakthrough is made in HK, SARS has now claimed 14 lives world-wide, with 145 people in HK affected. In Taiwan, people are buying vitamin C tabs for protection, and local face-mask companies say they're ramping up production to meet demand. The cases in AUS are now not thought to be SARS. In other reports (SBS) the flu has been tracked to the HK Metropole Hotel where a Chines doctor stayed. He reportedly infected 6 people before he died. Melbourne. BUSHFIRES CONTAINED! Rain o'night has helped contain a bushfire burning out of control nr Gembrook, E of MEL. But there's still a total fire ban over most of Vic. Lightning yesterday spared the blaze which burned through 350 ha of parkland in the Gembrook State Forest. The Bunyip State Park fire is still out of control. Dept of Sust and Env rep Mike Leonard says about 7.5 mm fell on the area early this morning, helping douse the flames. Residents of the tiny townships of Bunyip, Tynon and Nar Nar Goon were yesterday placed on alert. Hanoi. AUSSIE SENTENCED! Vietnam has sentenced an AUS women to life in prison for heroine trafficking. Canberra. PM ADDRESSES THE NATION! PM Howard has appeared in a 9 min address to the nation, pre-recorded in his CBR office. In a 2nd attempt to justify his decision to commit Aussie troops to an invasion of Iraq, the PM says the relationship between AUS and the US will grow more important in coming y. He indicated that it was to Australia's advantage to support our most important ally, indicating US assistance would be required to deal with the threat of N Korea. Mr Howard said the threat of Saddam's WMD must be eliminated before he could give them to terrorist organisations that he had been linked with for many years. The PM says his action has reduced the theat of terrorist attack in AUS, contrary to the opinion of others. He went on to catalogue the many crimes of Saddam Hussein, culminating in a story from the Times that one of Saddam's methods of executing dissidents was a human shredding machine. In other news, the govt has revealed it has budgeted more than $43 mn to reconstruct post-war Iraq. It has spent a similar amount assisting in the re-building of Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. Sydney. MARKETS! The All Ords closed up 20 pts at 2,866 on news that war has broken out with Iraq. The markets fell back slightly on actual news of the first bombs landing in Baghdad. It was another case of buy on the rumour, sell on the fact. Oil was down a little this evening. Across Asia, markets were mostly up today. The Nikkei closed at a 2 y high. The FTSE opened lower based on oil stocks. The price of oil fell to a 3 m low. It's presently below $US30/bbl. The USD was volatile, also easing after the bombing. Overall, it lost ground against the Euro today. The AUD advanced slightly due to the weakening USD. Kuwait City (9.30 pm). SADDAM SHOOTS BACK! Air-raid sirens are going off for the 2nd time in 30 mins. It's reported a suspected Iraqi missile has been fired into the desert nr US troops in the N desert. It's not know whether the missile is a Scuds, nor how many missiles have been fired. One of the missiles was reportedly (SBS) hit by a Patriot missile. Warning sirens are now sounding in Kuwait City, and reporters are putting on gas masks. They're supposed to put on mask in 9 sec. Many Kuwaitis don't have gas masks. 200,000 were distributed yesterday -- about 10% of the population. Everyone else is supposed to build safe rooms in their homes. As befits Ch 7, while the reporters in Kuwait City were still talking after about 60 sec, they cut to a very important Ad. [Later reports say there were 3 separate unguided Scud attacks, with some attacks containing more than 1 missile. At least one missile was shot down by multiple Patriot missiles, but at least one managed to explode nr Kuwait City]. Kuwait City (11 pm). UNMANNED PLANE ATTACKS US TROOPS! There's a report of a "small plane" that took off from Iraq and landed nr US troops in the Kuwait desert. It's unknown what effect it may have had. Some observers speculate it is one of the unmanned drones that could spray troops with chemical weapons. ---------------------------------------- Fri, 21 Mar 2003. Bombardment of S Iraq Rumsfeld confirms leader targeted Turkey gives overflight rights Missile attack We didn't do it Forward US or coalition? 2nd night of attacks US moves to cut links Brits on the move Divisions in the EU MOAB hits Basra Kuwait (2.30 am). BOMBARDMENT OF S IRAQ! BBC World News says that following the launch of 6 "Scud like" missiles from S Iraq into Kuwait there has been a "considerable bombardment" of S Iraq by Coal'n warplanes and missiles. There are no other details to hand. BBC says the media briefing centre in Qatar is presently closed down and the Whitehouse is also closed to media comment. Apparently the deafening silence is a result of the failure of yesterday's attempted assassination of the Iraqi leadership to hit their mark, apart from some civilian collaterals. Washington (3 am). RUMSFELD CONFIRMS LEADER TARGETED! US Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld has confirmed the Iraqi leadership was targeted in the first attacks on Baghdad. It was the first but would not be the last attempt to assassinate Saddam Hussein and top Iraqi officials, he said in a press conf. Mr Rumsfeld said the first strike was still being assessed. It's understood only civilians were killed and injured. The Def Sec repeated went on to repeat the main points from prev statements of Pres Bush Jr. He warned the main attack was yet to come. It would be a massive attack never seen before in history of the world, said Mr Rumsfeld. He called on Iraqi troops not to fight or obey the orders of the Iraqi leaders. Mr Rumsfeld particularly urged Iraqi forces not to take part in the destruction Iraq's oil assets, that would be used to pay for past-war reconstruction. He also warned Iraqis not to blow dams or use weapons of mass destruction. Mr Rumsfeld indicated such acts would be treated as war crimes, and criminals would be tracked down and prosecuted after the West wins the war. In an attempt to head off continuing criticism the US is acting alone, the Def Sec said the Coal'n of the Willing was larger than during Gulf War I. Although some countries didn't want to publicly acknowledge their involvement, he said, the Coal'n included 35 countries and the number was growing. Mr Rumsfeld also warned Americans and allies not to leak secrets to the enemy. Forgetting the Coal'n for a moment, such leaks put American lives at risk, he said. Chair of the Join Chiefs, Gen Richard Myers, told reporters the leadership was a legitimate military target during war. It's not clear Gen Myers understood he was indicating it was valid for opposing forces to now target the leadership of Brit, AUS, or any of the other 35 Coal'n countries for assassination. Reporters asked Mr Rumsfeld about reported oil well fires in S Iraq. The Def Sec agreed that those who set fire to 3 Iraqi oil wells were war criminals as previously described. Mr Rumsfeld also said there was "good evidence" prev calls for Iraqis to turn against the Saddam regime were working. He didn't elaborate immediately. Following other questions the Def Sec added he often tried to put himself in the shoes of other people. If he was a republican guard or someone closer to the regime, said Mr Rumsfeld, he would betray his leader at this time. Mr Rumsfeld said the attack on Baghdad didn't take anything away from the war on terrorism. Gen Myers denied the latest Afghan attack was linked with the first attack on Baghdad. They were completely separate operations, said Gen Myers, and the timing was "coincidence", he said. Ankara (3.30 am). TURKEY GIVES OVERFLIGHT RIGHTS! The Turkish Parl has voted to give the US rights to Turkish airspace. But rights to refuel or allow troops through its territory to a N front were not granted. Instead, the Parl have OK-ed the entry of Turkish troops into N Iraq. This is a worrying development for Kurds in the area, and also the US. The Parl gave 2 reasons: to stop Iraqi refugees coming across the order into Turkey; and to find the remnants of the banned Kurdish group the PKK. It seems Turkey is set to open up its own front to contain rebel Kurds that have sometimes fought against Ankara from S Turkey and N Iraq for an indep homeland or political independence. In what was described by analysts as a "major mistake", the US Admin has not "configured" the relationship between Turkey and Kurdish Iraqis. The Bush Admin had not taken the enmity between the 2 groups seriously in their calculations. Now there is the prospect the US will have to act as a referee between its 2 key allies in the region. Although overflight rights are important to the US strategy, allowing missile strikes on Iraq from ships in the Med, the Pentagon has made alternative arrangements since the Turks thwarted its initial plan of co-operation. US forces would be choppered from the Med directly into N Iraq, the Pentagon has announced. The money offered as compensation for the first deal is also off the table, says Sec of State Colin Powell. Kuwait City. MISSILE ATTACK! 9 missiles have reportedly exploded nr US troops in N Kuwait. Brit reporters with troops waiting to advance across the Iraqi border say they've had to put on gas masks 7 times in the attacks. Baghdad. WE DIDN'T DO IT! The Iraqi Oil Min has denied reports that oil wells nr Basra were set alight by Iraqi troops. The Kuwaiti media says 3 wells are still on fire nr the Iraqi port city. Iran media says US warplanes have been bombing the oil fields nr the S Iraqi city, and may have set the wells on fire. N Kuwait (4 am). FORWARD! The ground assault on S Iraq is underway, with US troops in the N desert firing on Iraqi positions across the border. Reporters on the scene say a sustained rocket attack was fired off before the forces moved out. They say it must be the "shock and awe" phase of the operation. The Americans are "really starting to use overwhelming firepower", said on reporter. The barrage was sent forth by the 3rd Inf Div using rocket launchers and howitzers. It lasted for at least 10 mins, said reporters. There's currently a pause in the firing. Elsewhere, Brit troops are reportedly staying put. Reporters say Iraqi missiles have landed nearby. A huge column of US vehicles and tanks is reportedly now on the move N. Washington. US OR COALITION? In continued sensitivity over criticism of "unilateralism", Whitehouse mouth Ari Fleischer tried to list the growing coalition of countries. Mr F said the Coal'n incl every race and religion. It had a combined GDP of $US21 trillion, and incl a total population of 1.18 bn people, he said. He went on to give a partial list, in alphabetical order, and quickly got to Turkey. Breaking off his list, Mr F said that Turkey had just granted overflight rights "to the US ... er ... the COALITION". You can't script such asides. Later, reporters say the Bush Admin often cites irrelevant detail when it's under pressure from critics. They said Fleischer had earlier given what he said was the exact number of questions the Pres has answered since his inauguration, following criticism about the President's openness to the press. Observes also say the Whitehouse is now citing the "Coalition of the Willing" as though it has the legitimacy of the UN or EU. Baghdad (5 am). 2ND NIGHT OF ATTACKS! There is a new missile attack on Baghdad. With AA batteries firing tracers into the sky, sirens went off about 5 mins ago. Reporters say they hear the sound of explosions, but no flashes were initially seen. Later, missiles or bombs fell in C Baghdad nr the Foreign Ministry. Reports said there was a pall of white smoke over city, and fires were seen raging around city at 5.30 AEDT. The Planning Ministry is ablaze in C Baghdad, where foreign journalists had been working just hrs before. Elsewhere, the Red Cross confirms Iraqi reports that 1 person was killed and 14 injured in the first US attack on Baghdad, last night. Washington. US MOVES TO CUT LINKS! The US has moved to cut links between the Iraqi regime and the rest of the world. In a move to de-legitimise Saddam's regime, Washington is planning to ask nations around the world to close Iraqi embassies and expel diplomats. AUS expelled Iraqi diplomats last wk on a request from the US. In other reports, the US is also reported to have frozen the foreign assets of Saddam Hussein. N Kuwait (5.30 am). BRITS ON THE MOVE! Brit forces in N Kuwait are now reportedly on the move N. Brussels. DIVISIONS IN THE EU! An EU economic forum is meeting in Brussels today, but it's likely the war will figure in most discussions. Of particular interest to reporters are the divisions between EU members that are opening up due to support and opposition to the US-led war on Iraq. Brit PM Tony Blair will be in Brussels representing the pro-war lobby. French Pres Chirac is heading the peace lobby. Earlier this wk, the sniping opened up with Blair saying Chirac had put Brit troops in danger with his anti-war behaviour. There's "a divergence of views" between the 2 sides on all issues. There's division over new members from E Europe, that are broadly pro-US and pro-war. Chirac has called them badly brought up children who should know when to shut up. Even on post-war Iraqi reconstruction there's disagreement. The Brits say the rebuilding will recover from y of Saddam's mis-management. Chirac says rebuilding will recover from the bombing presently underway, and years of US-backed sanctions beforehand. While Brit sees the US as a partner and guarantor of freedom, France sees the US as a bull in a china shop, that needs to be restrained. Basra (12.47 pm). MOAB HITS BASRA! It's just been reported a huge fireball has been seen over the S Iraqi pt city of Basra. It's believed the US has dropped the first MOAB in military action. No other details are available. Later reports (13.15) say up to 30 huge blasts have been seen nr Basra, where Brit land forces are reportedly moving. ======================================== (*) Who is responcible for W.A.R.S? A small group of dedicated sandgrubbers, bannana-lickers and 5th columnists on the run from support payments and sundry legalese in their home countries. Mention us at any Uncle Harry's Suburban Bunker and get a 10% discount on cop-killers! All speling macroizated for correctitood by Mcrosotf Speelchek. *** HAS ANYONE SEEN MY DUCT TAPE? ***