PENTAGON Briefing - Apr. 2:
Torie Clarke and Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal
"Our forces air and ground are performing superbly. Some of the toughest fighting may lay ahead."
PFC Jessica Lynch...is in good spirits and being treated for (her ) injuries...(Video of rescue)...we salute the army, navy , air force and marines...
Re. pleas from "Saddam" for Muslims to rise up against us..."We must not forget that this regime has a history of killing Muslims..." We are showing respect for the Mosque..."The regime forces are using and abusing the mosque as a military (fortress)" It's not just mosques...they stash weapons in schools...more and more people are approaching the coalition, offering us help... Torie read some of the article about the "human shielf" who was wrong, straightened out by a pro-war Iraqi. "The Iraqi people do know this regime the best."
Gen. McChrystal:
"I too would like to include my congrats. to those who rescued Jessica. "Well done.
"We've moved to w/in 30 miles of Baghdad. " tough fighting remains ahead...
Over 1000 sorties flown yesterday.
Video:
F-17(?) dropping precision-guided munition outside Baghdad -
Questions:
"When a unit can no longer act as an effective unit on the battlefield...that's what we're seeing with (members) of this resistance.." "We are seeing some surrender..not in tremendous numbers..."
"It's very difficult to stop small (numbers) but organized forces (would be spotted, stopped)..
"If they are not at that point they are very close...somewhat unclear...have been some reinforcement...but I would say that the Medina and Baghdad forces are no longer credible forces."
"There's clearly command & control evident...but EFFECTIVE ...manouevers...not evident." (Torie: reminds us "We really believe some of the toughest fighting's (ahead)"..
Torie: "We have superior forces, superior capabilties..we know how this is going to end - BUT they ARE fighting (RG are)...
Re. Jessica, TC: "She's on her way to Germany for medical treatment."
TC: "We have info. that some of the RG divisions have been reinforced w/ regular army....GM: "There's still sporadic fighting but the coalition forces are still able to maneouver...can move to front or back..."
TC: "There may have been confusion among some, but, as Gen. Franks said, we have the initiative."
GM: (Re. chem threats) "We are expecting, or at least planning for a very difficult fight ahead. We are not expecting to just drive into Baghdad." "They've proven it historically. We believe they have the capability...we are prepared.. First, it is a war crime...would be a grave mistake...but it will not change the operation on the ground. We will still be able to maneouver..."
GM: "We have not found any SCUD missiles, nor have we found any SCUD launchers...however we've done targetting on every known (target) we have found...because it threatens our neighbors", and its chem./bio capability...
GM: "We do have a report that the air defense commander in Baghdad was replaced...supposedly for having so (much air ammo fall back on Baghdad). ..I wouldn't want to be him." Torie: Re. the oil fields in S. and Haddifa (sp)dam..."in the category of good (news) people should be excited about."
GM: "The pounding that Baghdad has taken has been extraordinarinly precise...regime-oriented. We have been sending messages in a number of ways to the regime...both in info..and kinetically...Torie: "We jsut don't knwo who's in charge...It doesn't seem likely at this stage that anyone's going to come forward...I think they understand their predicament..
TC: "Evidence...people that are coming forward to help coalition forces...(re. RG helping, dont know).."We ahve seen what we think is a lessening of the death squads in S. Iraq. "The bad guys are still out there. They are still putting civilians at risk."
Re. evidence of Saddam, any? TC: "I haven't seen anything." GM: "Nor have I."
TC: "RG based around Tikrit seems to have moved south."
Re. urban warfare GM: (something about synergism of forces, lol, ?)
Re. Jessica TC:"There is great deference given to the family...it's a great story. We're glad it happened..(info will come forward)...
TC: "Two Al Samoud missiles found...they WERE in violation..."
I know I say this everyday, but you are good! Thanks on behalf of the cubicle bound!
All those in favor of Ragtime Cowgirl not having a vacation until the war is over.. say AYE
(and then we can all chip in for one for you afterward !!)
Thanks again