U.S. admits hardest day, slams prisoner pictures

Reuters | 3/23/03

[kattracks]

U.S. admits hardest day, slams prisoner pictures

AS SAYLIYA CAMP, Qatar, March 23 (Reuters) - The United States said on Sunday that fighting around the city of Nassiriya was the "sharpest engagement" of the four-day war in Iraq so far, but it still expected to near Baghdad soon.

"It's the toughest day of resistance that we've had thus far. We understand that there may be other tough days ahead of us but the outcome is still certain," U.S. Army General John Abizaid told a news conference at Central Command headquarters.

He said 12 U.S. service members were missing in the Nassiriya area and said "less than 10" were killed.

"United States Marines defeated an enemy attack there while sustaining a number of killed and wounded in the sharpest engagement of the war thus far," Abizaid said.

"Also in the vicinity of Nassiriya a United States army suppply convoy was ambushed by regular Iraqi forces,"he added.

"A number of American service members were wounded in that action and as a result of that action 12 U.S. service members are reported missing."

"We are not over-confident in this endeavour," the general said in response to a question about U.S. optimism. "We will arrive in the vicinity of Baghdad soon," he said.

Abizaid said Iraqi troops were using "ruses" to kill U.S. troops invading their country, on one occasion dressing as civilians to ambush them.

"There were several incidents reported today in which there were types of behaviour that I can only describe as ruses that were perpetrated by the enemy."

He said that in one incident an apparent surrender was followed by artillery fire.

"In another incident there were troops dressed in civilian clothes that appeared to welcome the forces and then ambush them," he said. "So there are a number of incidents occurring to the rear of the main combat forces."

He said it would take a long time to ensure that Iraqi "regime support elements" are brought under control in cities like Basra and Nassiriya.

"I think all of us should understand that in these very large urban areas it will take a long time to ensure that various regime support elements are brought under control.

"And I think that we have done quite well actually in all the areas we have passed through," he added. "You also have to understand that we are not looking to go in and fight house-to-house in all of these areas either."

Iraqi television pictures of killed and captured U.S. troops were "disgusting," the general said, but they would not weaken American resolve.

He attacked Arab satellite news channel Al Jazeera for having broadcast the pictures which were shot by Iraq television and urged other networks not to display them.

"I would say the pictures were disgusting. I don't think that these pictures will damage either the psychology of our soldiers, the morale of our soldiers or the steadfastness of ur government or the resolve of our people. We're a pretty tough people."

Abizaid added when questioned by a reporter from Al Jazeera that "I'm very disappointed that you would portray those pictures of our servicemen."

"I saw that and I would ask others not to do that. I regard the showing of those pictures as absolutely unacceptable," the three-star lieutenant general told the briefing at Central Command headquarters in Qatar.

In the United States, President George Bush said the Iraqi footage of U.S. troops was an "interesting contrast" with U.S. pictures showing Iraqi troops surrendering "gleefully, happily."

A British military spokesman also condemned the TV pictures.

The CNN network said it had taken an editorial decision not to show the images.

[The Great RJ]

Listening to this briefing, I think the General was a bit too lenient to the Al Jazerra reporter. They should have hauled his a** to the brig to await trial for war crimes.