***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - Day 9 - LIVE THREAD*** ^

Multiple | 28 March 2003 | Various

[An.American.Expatriate]

Good Morning.

This is the Daily Thread of Operation Iraqi Freedom - LIVE THREAD.

It is designed for general conversation about the events of the day. In depth discussion of events should be left to individual threads - but links to the threads or other articles is highly encouraged. This allows us to stay abreast of the situation in general, while also providing a means of obtaining specific information.

Please have mercy on us dial up limited FReepers! Limit the big graphics, post links instead. A breif description of what the graphic is would help:

Special thanks to null and void for keeping these running on the weekend, to all of you for keeping these threads alive, the AdminMods for their tolerance, mhking for the video links, and, of course, Belly Girl...

[Miss Marple]

Question about situation in Basra. Confusion. Where is information on death squads coming from?

Answer: variety of sources. Reporting, sources on site.

[glock rocks]

perhaps similar to the swat team tossing in a cell phone...

even if a surrender cannot be arranged, the perp will be further distracted as the front door busts down.

[Right_in_Virginia]

You're a terrific source of information. Have you considered doing a wrap-up thread each evening? It sure would help with the details. ;^)

[Green]

Just had a thought...occasionally in briefings the general will say to a reporter "that's a very good question". Don't think I've heard that yet this morning...anyone else?

[Miss Marple]

I believe you are on to something, regarding the strategy to make the press look bad. I note that the Centcom briefings were moved to 7AM Eastern...so that this ends up being on during the Today Show, etc.

[mewzilla]

Actually, I've got to bug. But that's probably just as well since the press is doing a number on my BP again :(

[Carolina]

Is she dressing for "shock & awe" so she will be called on for a question?

Ha! She hasn't been overlooked yet.

[Catspaw]

That's Kelly O'Donnell of NBC news. She's been at other briefings (I can't see the TV now)--except she hasn't been wearing the bright red scoop neck t shirt. She was wearing a light blue blouse/shirt yesterday. Apparently she was reminded she was in a Moslem country and they're not all that wild about someone walking around with their boobs hanging out.

[AppyPappy]

Reporterette Q: Do these pants make my butt look big?

[Orlando]

I knew this, that's why it was so VERY INPORTANT to go after it from DAY #1, because I knew SADDAM must have at least 10 back-up sites. The general also said "We can JAM it, but it's not important now'..."WHAT"!!!!!!!

This thinking is not good , sad !

[LBKQ]

A wrap-up thread at the end of the day is a great idea!

[johnb838]

It seems to me that these reporters come into the presser with their one-two questions already written out in their little 'Saddam' notepads. Then, no matter what is said, no matter what is asked before, they are going to ask that damn question, come hell or high water. Laziness.

[The Wizard]

Good for you Steve.....un american questions

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

CENTCOM - Fri. Mar. 28:

 

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks:

 

"Our direct attacks against the regime...focused on communications and S to S missiles...a total of 12 missiles have been fired (by Iraq)...launched toward Kuwati...about one per day...all have been intercepted (by patriots).

 

Established combat air patrols in those areas....have destroyed launchers...continue."

 

Pics:

 

 destruction of missile launcer near Karbala.

 

Military barraks for division installation nr. Baghdad.

 

"In Nasariha...two paramilitary hq destroyed last night.....

 

UK forces suceeded in preventing reinforcements of Basrah while securing port...

 

Mines were cleared out...waterway reopened for humanitarian supplies...

 

Our broadcasts now include TV broadcast...through S. Iraq..and into Baghdad...UK forces have am station out of Basrah...our radio broadcasts cont.

 

3 oil well fires in Ramallah...firefighters doing dangerous work there....US and Kuwaiti combined team. 2 teams working together...takes several days to put out fires..

 

Humanitarian action continues..Sir Galahad arriving in port of Umm Qasr...carrying ~ 200 M. tons of food/supllies...construction of water pipeline from Umm Qasr cont...

 

Qestions:

 

Re. Iraqi ex-pat. coming from Jordan to fight: "We've seen this kind of ex. before...Afghanistan was one...we have not seen significant reports of that...has not posed significant problem.."

 

Re. Iraqi Medina Dv: "Efforts to try to positiion internally...we think mostly survival (tactics..they are under attack- duh).. we focus on reducing there strength...

 

Re. supply lines."We haven't had anything (to hinder operations....communications w/ those in field continue) 'Our ability to fly..was reduced...flow (was distrupted) for short times..."

 

"I know there's a report out there.(that we underestimated enemy)..what I do know ..again...our commanders talk to each other..there will always be things that occur on the battlefield (unplanned....strength is in flexibility)..at the operational level ...(things going as planned )..

 

"I don't think we know how many launchers the Iraqi have...efforts of denial and deception for so many years....when we find them, we destroy them"..."continued threat to neighboring countries? Absolutely."

 

Re. Iraqi resistance: "We know that we have to be tactically patient...as we describe it...what the circumstances are ...how the dynamics of the battlefields change..daily..we take into consideration...we remain confident that we have a good grip on what's (going on here).."

 

Re. market, 'errant missile': "We examine as precisely as we can every weapons system, every mission that has occured. We haven't finished doing that yet. " (still says it could be Iraqi S to S missile)

 

Re. air dropping food: "Air drop doesn't provide very much"...ships provide more..

 

"We generally don't list the countries (in coalition...some don't want to be named)...each country provides a (need) that's relevant....chem. detection..assault troops...aircraft...every contribution matters..."

 

Re. RG and chems.: "We have seen indications...that 1st order have been given that at any given point chems..might be used...(seen suits)...we certainly have indications...we know that capability indeed exists...we know that the will exists...we" (take precautions, seriously!.)

 

Re. Iraqi TV: 'The targetting we go through is designed to achieve a particular effect...the timing of any attack...is association with when we want to achieve a particular effect.." layered...degrading com. and contr..."We chose to attack it when we did...there are some redundancies in the system...we'll find where that back up is and address it...as we see capability, we attack to remove capability. We have a number of methods...jamming is only one of them. We use when it's appropriate."

 

Re. Iraqi children re. humanitarian aid, wants battlefield video: "It's harder to get those things back here...the nature of combat action is brutal..we don't film prisoners of war...challenges...we aren't hiding anything..."

 

"We do have indications that the regime is in disarray...we're comfortable that we're having an effect. The regime has not been removed yet...we're about the business of making that happen."

 

Re. 3-4000 civilian casualties being reported: "The topic will always come up during war, and it should come up. We don the best we can to try to prevent it...in some cases it's accidental, and in some cases (as we've seen from the regime) it's very, very brutal...when we (come upon them) we treat them.."

 

Re. repeated Saddam broadcasts..don't they reflect someone in Baghdad's in charge: "The purpose of our operation is related to the military aspect...we want NOT to have the regime (being in ) control...everything we do is to prevent the regime (from having control)..

 

Re. us hitting civilians fleeing Basrah: "We have seen a number of people dressed as civilians w/ weapons leaving Basrah...when we have detected (that they're bad guys, yes, we hit them)...Re. Iraq: "we have increased our numbers...more than anything that's our primary focus (to stabilize N. Iraq)...

 

"The timing of action is part of the art of war."

 

Irreg. Iraqis now called "paramilitary death squads" - is it a change in our perception? "I don't know how you would describe a group of people that will"...behave really bad..using children, civilian dress, etc..."taht's why the names have changes.. not a change in the view of their potency, but "a change in the view of their brutality."

 

Will not put out casualty reports at CENTCOM. "It's going to take as long as it's going to take." Re. length of war.

 

Re. 1st orders given on chems..is this new info? "We're referrring to the earlier reports...trigger lines (etc.) as we add additional reports..(we) take this very seriously."

 

"We're seeing a force..that is brutal to the population they (live among) ...and well-rehearsed (not surprising after years). "Our morale is very high"..

 

Re. Basrah, water, Brit gov. website not confirm regime hurt water supplies: Our info "comes from a variety of places...you try to...come up with as clear picture as you can...always some variation..we do know some pumps have been restored"...50% water capacity restored...

 

"By protecting the oil field we have ensured the future of Iraq"...(and w/ humanitarian aid)....we have forces out there that have shown a willingness to fire on (innocent Basrah citizens....we fired back at bad guys)...

 

[The Wizard]

I agree

[glock rocks]

you're amazing :o)

[prairiebreeze]

CNN post-wrap is all over the comments from the officer named Wallace. Has anybody read what was said?

Prairie

[The Wizard]

Charlie Rangel has really become a hugh dissapointment

[glock rocks]

i think he's the front lines guy that said he currently had a zero stockpile of food at one point.

[Sparky760]

Nice Job!