*EPF307 03/19/2003
Coalition Forces Drop Nearly 2 Million Leaflets Over Iraq
(Central Command Report, March 19: Iraq Operational Update) (410)

Coalition aircraft dropped 1.98 million informational leaflets over 29 military and civilian locations in southeastern Iraq March 19 in the largest airdrop to date, says the U.S. Central Command.

"The leaflet drops were part of an ongoing effort to protect Iraqi lives and deter Iraqi aggression by providing relevant, factual information to both Iraqi civilians and military troops," a statement from Central Command (CENTCOM) said. "The leaflets dropped today expressed a variety of messages. Some stressed that Coalition forces do not wish to harm innocent Iraqis. One message informed Iraqi citizens they could be the victims if Saddam Hussein uses chemical weapons. Another message encouraged the Iraqi military to refrain from using weapons of mass destruction or burning oil fields."

Coalition forces use the flyers and Commando Solo, the Air Force's airborne radio broadcasts into the country, to get daily uncensored news and information to Iraqi citizens, including information about U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime. Saddam Hussein controls all other aspects of information in the country.

An English translation of one of the leaflets says, "Coalition forces are prepared and well-equipped to defend themselves against chemical weapons attack. Your comrades and innocent Iraqi people will be victims if Saddam uses chemical weapons."

The leaflets dropped March 19 brings the total number to 17 million that have been dropped this year over Iraq, CENTCOM said.

The airdrops have continued as 250,000 U.S.-led coalition air, sea and land forces have massed along Iraq's borders and in the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. President Bush gave Saddam Hussein until 8 p.m. EST (0100 GMT, 4 a.m. local) March 19 to leave Iraq along with immediate family members or face military hostilities.

Headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, U.S. Central Command is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands assigned operational control of U.S. combat forces worldwide. CENTCOM Commander, Army General Tommy Franks, reports directly to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who in turn, reports to President Bush.

A Unified Combatant Command is composed of forces from two or more armed services, has a broad and continuing mission, and is normally organized on a geographical basis into regions known as "Areas Of Responsibility" (AORs). CENTCOM's area stretches from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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