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CENTCOM briefing, Mon. Mar. 24:

Gen. Tommy Franks:

"Our special forces are conducting direct action and strategic ops. (across country)."

"Progress towards our objectives has been rapid and in some cases dramatic."

"Ships are loaded and will begin to deliver hunmanitarian (aid) in the next few days."

Brig. Gen. Vince Brookes:

Graphics of allied strikes: "All of these have been done from the air....precision guided."

They struck a MIG being towed away....found a number of MIGs, including near a cemetary -

Airfield command bunker complex in E. Iraq -

Armored personnel carrier in a defensive position in central Iraq-

Tank in a similar position, central Iraq -

Another tank in central Iraq.

(BIG booms)

Series of before and after pics to show effectiveness of precision targetting:

Complex for the Special Security Facility, post-strike shows attacks hit four buildings within compoung - rest intact.

Iraqi Intelligence Service, post-strike: surrounding area intact, only targetted buildings destroyed.

Palace Guard Facility, barracks and office complex, post-strike: hit many individual target within. Rest intact.

We remain committed to minimizing the effect on civilians.

Coalition Spec. Ops continue throughout Iraq...on track...hunting for WMD, etc.

One helicopter down. Rest safely back. Land component secured Basrah airport, Najal (sp) oil field. Map shows south of Basrah, securing waterway for humanitarian aid.

Communicating as much as possible with the Iraqi people, and Iraqi military. Have released over 28 mill. leaflets, targetted to specific areas. i.e.:abandon equipment or your equipment will be destroyed, not to destroy their resources - oil etc.

Initial ops to secure oil field, ops were successful. The few wells lit by the Iraqis.. .only 7 fires lit out of a country with 700 oil wells.

Questions from press:

Gen. Franks:

"I think our enemy POW count is in the area of 3000." "We are in contact with a number of Iraqi unit leaders as we speak."

"The fate of the crew is uncertain right now." We have a two-man crew missing.

"Will fight this on our terms." "In a great many places in Iraq (will find enclaves of resistance)." We know where they are. Anytime you place non-combatants close to military targets, you're abusing your people. WE'LL choose the time.

"This platform is not a platform for propaganda. It's a platform for truth."

"It doesn't mean that we're going to be Holy and 100% successful. You know we're not and I know we're not...but we'll do our best." (close paraphrase)

"I actually ahve seen no surprise here...our people on the ground have not seen a surprise."

"There are people in the Iraqi army..that have a lot of allegiance to this regime." Term Don Rumsfeld used, "you're going to come across some 'dead-enders'." "We've come across some 'dead-enders'."

"Anyone in my profession involved in a war fight will expect casualties in a war, so yes, I expect casualties in the days ahead."

Chines reporter repeating (BBC?) propaganda claiming farmers shot down 2 copters. Gen. Franks says no!

"There are a great many areas under coalition control. We have every expectation that some of the para-military...will fight. I think what you'll find is that the people of Basrah will have more access to food (and water) than they've had decades." Will happen in a few days.

"There's nothing at all unexpected that's happened so far up to this date."

"UK, Aussie and US Spec. Ops are about there business from left to right and top to bottom...they have accomplished some wonderful things out there."

"We probably have received several handfuls...of info over the last couple of days about WMDs...some in areas we control, some in areas we haven't gone into. We're now 5 days into this. We're concerned with taking down this regime..(and getting the WMDs)." "It's a bit early." This is work called SSE - Sensitive Sight Exploration. 'It would not surprise me if there were chemicals in that plant. It would not surprise me if there weren't because I have access to something you do not.. (lots of bits of info).

"Command and control within the country is much less robust than it was 5 days ago." Does not mean that they won't find ways to communicate...radio, courier...limited means.

"Fear. The practice of this regime over long periods of time. It has to do with fear." "Fear tactics are still being applied in many of these locations..and that will change over time."

"There are a lot of opinions about that, and so, what will be the reaction to that? I think people will believe what they believe...there will be some who believe, some who will not...."as for our overall operations, it doesn't make any difference."

"Our people are well-trained and they're also highly motivated. I think that's imortant...the highly motivated part."

Re. embedded reporters..."I think all of us ( in this room) would have to agree..motivation has been very high." "Embedding permits the viewership (etc) of the various nations...to get a sense of what's going on on this battlefield. I'm a fan (of embedding)."

"I've seen speculation in a number of places where a coalition will take action when action is necessary to (secure captives)."

Re. the Patriot missile. "We like the technology. We'll continue to use them.."

Re, friendly fire: "We understand in the nature of war....we will have these blue on blue, or friendly fire incidents."

"I'm not aware of a single embedded journalist who has been harmed on this battlefield. Were it possible to keep journalists absolutely safe I think all of us (would do it..but jorunalists go after own story)."

"I did not know the response had not been given (to Red Cross - about seeing our prisoners)." "We'll do our part and we'll take care of the prisoners."

"Nahsaria (sp) is a crossroads community." We've been there a couple of days and we'll remain there. "That's the best I can tell you about Nahsaria."

"We don't know whether the regime will use these weapons." Our message is to those with their fingers on those weapons (WMDs). "Our message to them, Don't do it."

"Many orders that have been given...have not been obeyed (by Saddam's regime)."

"We know for a fact that the forces on this battlefield are the most capable I've ever seen."