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CENTCOM - Thurs. Apr. 3:

Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks:

"We are well into the 14th day...

"Our coalition soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines continue to make us proud..

Pics:

Regime C&C in downtown Baghdad (Mar.27) used for military and civilian communications, we knew there was childcare center at base of tower. Post strike, only desired target areas have damage...by design..

C&C in Baghdad (Mar.29) 12 diff. impact points hit simultaneously -

"Coalit. Sp.Ops ....15th Mech. division...provided info re. potential damage...also enjoyed good freedom of action..along Baghdad...several skirmishes....we remain successful...protecting Hadithah dam...we're being firedmon by "counter spec.ops" from Hadithah.."Coalit. forces have been well-supported by close air support"

Video of taking of the dam...robust structure w/ 16 floors inside it and undergground...

"More spec. ops against key targets...raided the Far Far (sp) palace on outside of Baghdad...known residence used by Saddam & Sons....video: took fire on entry from AAA, helicopter landed near entry point of target....aerial gunship provided support, we blew open building, entered it...the raid did not yield regime leaders, but took valuable documents...accomplished mission without losses...shows we can oerate anywhere..

"Land component attacks continue...1st Marine ID isolating Al Kut, on E. side, road N. along Tigris river seized...5th corp penetrated Karbala Gap...it was defended by elements of Nebedchanezzer and Baghdad...5th corp seized bridge intact over Euphrates, was rigged for demo...5th continuing toward Baghdad and raids against regime targets where regime no longer has control....

"As we advance...we provide medical treatment wherever possible (to wounded Iraqis) pic of treating civilian, child was born nr. Nasiriyah, we helped...

Continue to keep waterways open...small beached boat...booby trapped and weapons caches nearby...and a tunnel complex that joined the diff. caches...small arms, grenades, RPGs , gas masks and uniforms found...search ongoing...

Continue to distribute leaflets ...

Efforts to preserve Iraqi resources continue...Ramaylah oil fields...discovering more examples of efforts of sabotage from before we came in....only 2 wells still on fire, more will require our repair..pipes separated from well head because of Iraqi bad guys sabotage pic....another pic - set to explosively rupture oil well at base...did not succeed, but caused some damage...about 12 feet of timed fuse and 60 ft of wiring recovered here...electronic devices found, set to trigger...mostly minor repairs required ...Iraqis will be helping repair...

Civil affairs teams continue work...fixing and opening school ...in Najaf...providing food and water whenever they can...pics..

A prominent Cleric, Grand Ayatollah (Centannis(sp)) issued fatwah this morn telling Iraqi population to remain quiet and not interfere w/ coalition efforts. We think this is a good sign...

Questions:

"We have one F/A-18 missing...investigating...reports of S-S and S-A missilies in area...too early to know...

"Gen. Franks is in command"...when Gen. Franks believes it's time to take steps we will...best thing we can do is be prepared, be alert...take action at appropriate time...

Re. palace raid: "It would be inappropriate for me to talk about specific intel...we have some (knowledge) of where regime leader move at a particular time...

Re. C&C targets, what is controlled by Spec. Forces: "Locations of Spec. forces...I wouldn't want to comment (on specifics...throughtout Iraq). "We do know that this regime (spent lots of $$ on palaces...and for defense). "We ahve not occupied all of those. Have tried to render them (useless) for C&C..People as well as physical structures

rendered (incapable of ) C&C..

"There are some repositionings are occuring...(some weeks ago, some currrent)..diff. to know...low level commanders moving to the sound of guns...regime itself...we read the situation...we have a variety of systems in the land forces that can address those systems as well...they are reinforcing in a variety of areas...

Re. Iraqis saying we're not doing heavy damage...can we show videos? "Exact locations where forces are currently engaged...I will not give (locations)...throughout country...we certainly are in close proximity to Baghdad...wont' say how close...re. damage...time will have to tell..not a precise science...we remain cautiously optimistic...there are still options open to the regime..including WMDs...we take that very seriously...

Re. the ease of our route into Baghdad, why? "A lot of us would like to know the answer to that...we know that we inflicted some damage...there's no question about that...some movements are ongoing...53 members of RG surrendered....bus..this morn......we should be sober about the fighting ahead and we will be...

Young Helen Thomas, sure we're not going into a trap like they said they'd do? Re. the palace raid: "The force did take fire as we were going in...the regime moves from place to place, the regime leaders move from place to place...we track them...as to what is inside of Baghdad...we'll see...soon enough...a number of things to consider...ahve they pulled back into Baghdad?...expended their ammo? Any one of these options goes into prudent military planning....that's an ongoing process...

Re. Blackhawk: "We did have a BH went down during oeprations yesterday. What we know, initial reports...all initial reports we treat as suspect...investigation is ongoing...we don't think it was the result of hostile fire....

Re. 9000 POWs?: "I didn't hear the report...w/in coalition...we'll examine the numbers...provide report...

Re. plot by Iraqis to place bombs in Shiite area of Baghdad: "We ahve a mosaic of info..we have bridges rigged from demolition...(ammo) outside of mosques....command posts moving into mosques...examp. of regime pushing civilians in crossfire...we have a pattern that emerges...particularly explosions that happen in areas...(where we aren't) accompanied by accusations from (bad guy Iraqi Info guys)...

Re. captured Iraqi general: "First, unconventional warfare occurs throughout country....we make contact w/ leaders against this regime..there are far more (than I can tell you)..."We have a number of sr. leaders taken into custody thru combat, surrender...info's gained...w/ each one of these actions, more info emerges...too early to talk about...clear pattern...not all leaders are loyal to regime....

"We have spec. ops doing ops in N. Iraq...have for some time...support (has been) moved in by variety of means...the terrorist camp in N. Iraq is..a massive complex...we destroyed some...moved forces in place to get a closer look...see evidence of who was there...caves, outlying villages assoc...premature to reveal what we've found;..we will...

"We can't tell who's in charge. I don't think the Iraqi people can tell who's in charge...(indications that the Iraqi military doesn't know who's in charge). ..

Re. Red Cross report, horrific.(sorry, no details mentioned).."I don't have any update...we have certainly heard the reports...don't know if true..will follow up...

Re. accusations, cluster bombs.."The munitions we choose (have a purpose..tactical choices...some accusation BG Brooks isn't specific, but sounds doubtful...)

"It's really not possible to account for every soldier in Iraqi formations...some go back home, some are flat unaccounted for...we examine military capability...make an assessment (address or bypass)...some may still be looking for opportunity to surrender...

Re. surrendered RGs; "Generally speaking, forces that we've already come into combat with, they're treated as enemy POWs...(other cases, later opportunities to determine status.).."Article 5 Tribunal...go back..look at what that means."

"We certainly are over 4000 (POW).." Re. transportation unit (PFC Lynch's ), still gathering info...will be a long time before (that story's) complete.."

"There have been no reports from the Red Cross saying that they have been in contact (W/ our POWs...reitterates he expects the IRaqi regime to treat our POWs well..)

'This operation is unique in military history. We take inot account the design of this military operation...all lessons from military history are considered...(resents characterization that we're bombing Baghdad to pieces..every target is precise..(unlike what the regime's doing to there own people).. "There is no bombing of the city. There is no bombing of the population. This is unlike any war in history."

"Right now we're on plan and we're doing fine."

Re. targetting Saddam' palace, Saddam alive? "What we know is that these regime palaces ahve (C&C capabilites..used by a number of regime leaders..."We focus on structure of regime and whoever might be in power."

Re. ITN news crew, nr. Basrah...where Terry Lloyd was killed, rep. of journalists wants to know if US gov. is investigation. "We regret the loss of any lives, including journalists (smiles) on the battlefield." We're looking into it...

Re. Jessica "We didn't see any evidence of torture structures w/in building...we already know that our POWs were not treated in a way that we expect them to be treated.." Ongoing investigation...we do know that we evacuated what we think are the remains of 11 persons , some will be moved to Dover for detailed exam....

Re. Al Jazeera reporters: "I think that's a matter for the Al Jazeera network and whoever ejected them..

"We did a number of things in avariety of areas to regime complexes....in some cases we raided w/ conventional forcesin Baath P. HQ. - two diff areas-- in some places we destroyed P. HQ...with meetings ongoing...an operation nr. H3 airfield, SW Iraqi desert...found # of bottles marked strangely...we have good freedom of operations at this point...to apply conventional and unconventional forces....

Re. Ayatollah's comments, is he under protection: "We believe that the Ayat. statement was HIS statement. We think it was a courageous statement...we have to always bear in mind (because of regime history)...there's not a careless willingness for people to step out and say things that might lead to their deaths...(won't give away Ayat. location)....

"As we continue our movements. (by two corps)..populations assist us more...espec. in areas we've already passed through...we have forces avail. for the command. to use anytime...we choose where we're going to fight, we choose where we're going to apply military force...sometimes, leaving areas alone "causes them to melt"..