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CENTCOM - Tues. Apr. 1:

Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks:

"The plan remains sound and effective."

Pics/videos: strikes:

Regime C&C near Al Kut -

Regime C & C nr. Tikrit, 2 strikes -

Iraqi tanks at El Amara (sp) -

Tank at El Assad -

Logistics targets :

Ammo storage facility nr. Baghdad -

Fuel truck nr. Al Kut

Nasariah - Spec. Force Ops destroyed numerous bldgs...including hq...

Several raids on the bad guys w/ help from locals...1st Marine. Exp. Forces nr Nasiriah...~ 100 locals joined in attack...remove explosives, caught bad guys, intel...no casualties for us -

Brits continuing nr. Basrah - Recovery of 2 Kenyan men who were held captive

Nr. Al Hillah, Karbala attacks...captured Iraqi general, hit airfield...

Broadcasts continuing (across Iraq)...recent captives of enemies suggests broadcasts are effective and popular...

We invited people who used to work at the port (Umm Qasr) to come back and work...

Civil affairs team w/ free Iraqi members pic...

Video: Civil affairs guys in s. village handing out food, water, were escorted to bldgs w/ weapons, chem. masks. ammo (carried outside and dstroyed) ..found in former hospital...the population assisted in carrying out weapons, locating...

Questions:

Re. check points :"We always maintain the inherant right of self defense." 'Our check points have to remain alert and vigilant. We ahe not had a change of rules...increased vigilance..." Recent example: mulitple vehicles approaching, one w/ civilians - "when their's a loss of potential non-combatants, investigation begins."

"I am not aware of any reports of human shields."

Asking how to win hearts and minds of the people..AGAIN. "Our efforts are to remove the regime. We believe that the people will be satisfied (after)...We think we're doing very well at that. We know the regime would like to see as much difficulty put (between them and our efforts..they will put civilians in the way.)"As the regime is removed, they (the Iraqi people) are very satisfied." "There are a variety of countries that have over the years provided (military to Iraqi). There aren't any surprises (as to what we're finding out there)...

"We have 5 diff. radio frequencies..all hours of the day..all over Iraq...TV..leaflets..."The most important message is that the regime will continue to put them at risk..and they should do what they can to protect themselves..."

Re. erroding C&C: "If we're aware of particular system..that's used to communicate...network that moves info to Iraqi regime areas...we may seek to sever those links. We have a variety of methods...facility that houses those...this regime is very effective at buiilding redundant means....that isn't as good as primary means (which we know out and hurt their redundant means (sorry...early)!" Why no more surrenders? "The regime won't let them... they have pressures brought on (them by the) regime, we have more surrenders (as the Iraqi people see our success). There's tremendous danger in that (Iraqi military leaders surrendering - for them)...

Re. compensation for families - we have immediately compensated people for civilian deaths in past...not specific...

Twit reporter 'couldn't you doing better>" "We're comfortable with the forces that have been made available.." "I know that there are a variety of opinions out there and that is fair. ( dang, good quote about how their's only one (group) carrying out the plan, right now.)

"We know that we're working with a regime that shoots babies in the back...(we have multiple operations going on all over..) "It is indeed a force that will liberate..while we regret the loss of lives...they remain ...as they ahve throughout history...

Daily question on why we haven't found WMDs: "Where we find opportunities at the tactical level...we follow (discovering weapons caches, etc, no WMDs yet)..that's one of the objectives of this operation" ...to locate and destroy WMDs..."that will take time...

"We are very aware of the religious sites...very aware of that indeed." "We've seen the regime be far less willing to protect those." Deliberately places military near mosques, etc., Re. doctors w/o borders report that embeddeds are being mistreated. "I certainly don't support any comments that (the reporters) are being mistreated."

RG: "We expect them to fight...they're reinforced by Baathist death squads that are insuring that they fight...RG forces ...we're doing a number of things to...(intel, attacks, ) "We'll attack at a time and place of our own choosing."

RG: "We are seeing some movements...reinforcements...we have a good awareness of what is being done physically on the ground..." They are aware of the rpessures that are being brought to bear on them. We try (as much as possible) to preserve (our) security.." "We're comfortable with our position" (the RG don't know what's coming - mine))

"Any one of these events does not have tactital significance." Re. suicide bombers. "Psychologically, it can have (impact)...vigilance. I can't speak for the views of the people up on the line. (I would guess that they have a heightened awareness)..Our forces are disciplined, well-trained...(they will act)...(the regime is using women and children...can't say these (those killed by our guys) were human shields..investigating...

"We have coalition Spec. Ops thoughout Iraq...some working closely w/ Kurdish groups in the north....(no solely Kurdish ops ongoing)...

Again on the checkpoint killings, how come reports on deaths vary? (shoot that reporter) "Fog of war...initil reports are often wrong." "We'll find the ultimate truth when it's at the end of the course of the investigation, not at the beginning."

We're working w/ tribal leaders and members. "Where we can find an access point or someone interesting in (helping us)..we will pursue it..."We think we're going to see a whole lot more of those in the coming days....people are seeking freedom for themselves (as we're succeeding)...

'The training area we suspect was used by 'death squad' (PMS) was captured by a 5th squ. division nr. Najaf...was small battle.."We are reaching all of Iraq w/ radio broadcasts...we do have very good coverage. "We remain in a position to talk to Iraqi military...enemy prisoners....very successful."

If we don't target civilians, explain death of hundreds of civilians.."We are very satisfied with the precision of the work (we've done)...(can't account for the numbers being spouted by reporter...reminds dumb reporter that the Iraqi regime is placing civilians around military, vice versa)..."If there's a question of morality it really should go back to the regime."

Yet ANOTHER question re. civilian casualties: "We don't make a ratio..you can join any numbers together...our job is to minimize civilian casualties as much as we can...we believe that our efforts (our the best in history)..Baathist Party members are threatening, shooting people on the sight...they have nothing to do with coalition action...Iraqi regime is contributing to a tremendous number of those (civilian deaths) whatever they might be....'We also want to drive the number of our own casualties down to zero."

Re. reports of POWs: "The brutal and unacceptable films that were shown early on...reports of remains being found...sent out a mortuary team...mobile capability team...their results have not come in yet...we do know that there some confusion in the reports...don't know whether they were US service members...

What was the rush to Baghdad? (GRRR) Gen. Franks. plan...deliberate work that requires patience, skill..and w/support of people ( in towns)...moved quickly to hit those who threaten the most (Baghdad)...instead of by town to town...while minimizing losses to forces and civilians...

Have we given any thought to non-lethal force? "The entire spectrum of warfare is engaged as we continue..." We use many options to engage as (potential threats increases)...non-lethal means include contacts...(re. Halt, who goes there, etc our "force is well-trained and well-capable"...

Helen Thomas little tells Gen. Brooks how to run his war again...re. check points. "There are always recalibrations to use a term that you supplied...on a daily basis. "Those are the approaches that a military operation would take." 9but what if the poor fleeing people didn't hear your messages? Gee, the Gen. wouldn't think of that, Ma'am...you're obviously far more compassionate than those willing to risk their lives to protect your heiny.) "Were these fleeing? I don't know. I don't think we can ever say. We've not seen large flows of people from their homes...we think that's at least (partly) because of our messages."