Replies

SOD Rumsfeld:

"With each passing day the Iraqi regime is losing more control of the country."

"Their defeat is certain."

"This war is an act of self-defense, to be sure, but it is also an act of humanity."

To the family of those (captured), our thoughts and prayers are with them and we will do all we can to bring them home.

Bad guys using Red Cross vehicles to courier military instructions. These are serious violations...

"To the Iraqi people let me say this, by now you have seen and know that (our battle) is not aimed at you."

"A regime that starved its own people so its dictator can built more and more palaces.."

"Do not lead your men into battle to die for a condemned regime. Lay down your arms and you will be spared."

Gen. Myers:

"On the ground our forces are nearing Baghdad...200+ miles in less than 5 days...our plan is on track. " Flew nearly 1000 sorties over Iraq yesterday...have secured the port of Umm (whatever)

Videos:

GPS weapon used to destroy the last GPS jammer they can find.

Destroyed a patrol boat in S. Iraq

500 lb bomb destroyed RG So. of Baghdad.

SOD Rumsfeld:

"I don't know how anyone outside of the government think they know what my views are..."

"The plan is a plan that has been approved by..(Myers, etc.)

"Forces increase in the country every minute of every hour, every day...and that will continue to be the case."

"Equipment loaded...personnel trained, equip. moved in place...regular basis.

Gen. Myers: "We're on track. It's a plan everybody agrees to...Put together by Gen. Franks and his commanders. It's a brilliant plan. We've been at it for about a week...Very well thought out. Will play out as we expect."

Rummy:

Re. Basrah popular uprising: "I have not seen these reports....What's going on is that coalition forces came in from the south, essentially bypassed Basrah...the British forces essentially have the task of" (handling Basrah). Saddam "terrorists" Fedayeen (sp) do not represent a threat to this operation. Iraqi people have been repressed by the regime of Saddam Hussein. These are Saddam Hussein's people shooting them if they try to escape. Anyone involved in an escape have a whale of a lot of courage and I hope they (succeed)."

"There is no way people can effect what people say. We have a free country..."

"It seems to me that anyone with any sense recognizes the complexity of this task."

"This is a sizeable military that the coalition is up against."

"This is a tough business. Wars are unpredictable."

Gen. Myers: "If you look at the big scope of things, we're on the right track...forces are still flowing to the region."

SOD Rumsfeld:

"In WWII people didn't have TV.....

"It leaves people with the impression that it's been going on for days and weeks...it's been since Friday that the air war has begun."

"RG groups are military and that's where the difficult task begins. It is starting w/ the Medina division S. of Kabala."

"There's no love lost between Iran and Iraq...on the other hand, both are states that have sponsored terrorism. Thus far, Iran has done...(nothing to make it more difficult) in Iraq."

Re. raising expectations that the war would end soon. "Not by me and not by Gen. Myers." "Is it possible that someone might have said something that lead people to (believe this? Yes..why would we say that knowing the hundreds of thousands of people and complexity of this task?)..

Re. our captives, killed: "Clearly what we expect from the Iraqi regime is to treat any POWs (according to Geneva Convention). Red Cross should have access. "Of course we're concerned about our POWs and MIAs."

Gen. Myers: "There are plans that Gen. Franks has put together to address that situation." (re. if Saddam's regime uses WMDs)

"Given the fact that we're 200+ miles inside Iraq, nearing Baghdad...we haven't yet engaged the RG...

"Analysts say what they say. They seem to me to be all over the lot. "It's NOT knowable."

"If people have a tendency to gravitate toward some analyst that may be unreasonable, I would not follow that analyst and (would isntead) listen to what we say..."

Gen. Myers: "I think we think the 51st HAS surrendered...some of their equipment may be used by Feayeen...have seen no evidence...reliable that the 51st had reconstituted."

"There are no negotiations with military leaders in Iraq."

"We're a day or two away from Gen. Franks declaring the waterway clear. (for humanitarian aid getting in).

"One of the things keeping humanitarian aid from the people in the south is the Iraqi regime itself."

"The military coalition forces have brought in massive humanitarian aid. They are bringing in food and medicine and water ...and the embedded reporters should know that."

"The last count of refugees was several hundred...not tens of thousands....why is that? That is because there is not a humanitarian disaster going on in those places (where we are)"

"The American people have a very good idea of what's going on there. Some analysts might not...but I don't think that it's effecting the judgement of the American people who are (seeing for themselves)."

SOD R: "It's not air superiority, it's air dominance. They have yet to put an airplane up."

Re. British help in Basrah: "I guess those of us my age remember uprisings in E. Europe in the 50s when they rose up and then were slaughtered...I am very hesitant to encourage people to rise up...until you're arranged so you can go to those cities...unless you are ready to deal with that...people WILL rise up...but I hope and pray that they'll wait until there are sufficient forces to protect them."

Gen. Myers: "I've never talked about a timeline, I don't think...because it is unknowable."

Re. Saddam's regime in Baghdad: "If I looked south and saw a US army division on the horizon I would be concerned." (closely paraphrased)