U.S. General in Baghdad Nearly Faints

Associated Press | April 17, 2004

[HAL9000]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq appeared to briefly lose consciousness during a news conference Saturday, bumping his face into a podium microphone. He left the room for a period but returned smiling and answered more questions.

There was no immediate explanation for the apparent fainting spell suffered by Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the deputy head of operations in Iraq, who delivers daily briefings to Baghdad-based journalists alongside the top U.S. coalition spokesman Dan Senor.

Kimmitt had left the podium for a few minutes earlier in the press conference, which was broadcast live internationally. He returned, looking pale, to take more questions.

Just after answering a question, Kimmitt leaned toward Senor and whispered, "I gotta go."

Senor nodded and said, "OK," and then told reporters the next question would be the last.

As he listened to the question, Kimmitt's eyes rolled upward and he began leaning forward into the podium. The podium's small black microphone struck him on the right side of the mouth. After a few seconds leaning against the microphone, he slumped backward but remained standing.

Senor stepped toward him and said, "You all right?"

"No, I'm not," Kimmitt mumbled. Two aides approached the podium and led him out a side door.

Senor continued answering questions. About 15 minutes later, Kimmitt returned again and resumed answering questions. When one reporter prefaced a question by saying, "I hope you're feeling better," Kimmitt smiled but offered no explanation. </blockquote.

[A CA Guy]

It's all the negative energy from the press.

[Rome2000]

I think he's been doing a fantastic job.

Based on what?

Don't let your support for the President and the troops blind you to the fact that this guy Sadr was so scared of Saddam he left the country.

He apparently isn't very scared of the US military.

That situation needs to be corrected, and "negotiating" with the enemy isn't the way to do it.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Fish is one of the most common dishes to receive food poisoning from, and the US troops in Iraq are eating a lot of fish and shellfish. If it is left in the sun just a little too long it spoils and no amount of preparation in the kitchen can prevent you from getting sick. Fortunately, its ill effects are usually short lived.

[Wolfhound777]

Saddam had the Shiites in fear for their lives. The US command will be doing its job when the Shiites are again in fear for their lives.

Sadr wouldn't have set foot in Iraq if Saddam was in power,he would have been killed on sight.

The US should have killed him weeks ago, without regard to any "consequences" or threats from Iran, terrorists, the DNC, or the Washington Post.

Its really that simple.

You are absolutely correct and will get no argument here. But the General needs the SECDEF and the Pentagon to give the go ahead to end the cease fire and brutally crush the uprising. He can not just make up his own ROE.