CENTCOM - Tues. Apr. 8:
Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks:
"We remain on our plan and the outcome is not in doubt."
Last 24 hours:
Video:
Close air support mission inside of Baghdad....regime positioned heavy military equip inside urban area...a tank in the trees near a canal...we hit, close air support requires not only pilot, but someone on ground to ident. target..
Coal. Spec ops conducting ops in N. W. E. S. and center of Iraq.. N. Spe. ops w/ Kurds maintaining pressure on regime...nr. Irbil, spec. ops w/ close air support detroyed several armored person. carr, etc., nr. Kirkuk destroyed sever. tanks, trucks, armored pers. carr.,... west. spec. forces still defending Hadiffah dam...
Unconventional warfare continues in other parts of Iraq:
Basrah - coalition forces under UK leadership succeeded yesterday in removing remaining pocket of Baath Party...efforts to rid the entire so. region continue...
Nr. Samalah...coalition forces continue to work to eliminate regime actions...provide water...
Najaf and Karbala, ops. continue...increasing security and removing regime...
Main focus of ops continues to be land component in and around Baghdad... ''1st Mar. Exp Force in E. encountered SAMs, tanks (ETC)... they proceeded to secure Bagdad...5th corp remained in center of Baghdad, encountered mix of forces -T-72 tanks, artillery pieces, etc...
Dredging port of Karbala...to help bring humanitarian aid..
Continue communicating w/ Iraqis...distributing leaflets...pic of soldier handing them out to eager Iraqis ...message about a future w/out regime and that we'll stay as long as necessary...
We interact on number of levels...in liberated cities and towns...security remains a focus..Video: Basrah Iraqis casually interacting w/ coalition...
Questions:
Re. air strike on "Saddam"- "We focus are actions directly against regime leadershiup, against regime C&C, against (those who protect regime)...we had an opportunity to attack that particular regime leadership meeting, we believe that was effective in destroying (that facility...results still under invest.)...
Re. preserving scene "What we operate w/ is the info. that leads us to it...time will have to tell how effective that particular strike was and others as well..."
"I don't have anything new to report on Baghdad markets...there remains evidence that a number of things could have contributed to it...(Re. Saddam hit) "it is possible we may never be able to determine exactly who was present w/o ...forensic work"...
Re. Al Jazeera: "Let me begin by saying that we regret the loss of life...and extend our condolences...we certainly know that we don't target journalists...we alos know that the locations that the regime does its work will put civilians at risk...we don't know where all journalists are on the battlefield...we certainly know where the embeds are....took fire from the lobby of the hotel and returned fire...this is not something we seek to do..at the same time we know we're conducting combat ops inside a unban area...we have to stay focused on (plan)..
"Responsive fire is something we always have to get more details...I may have mispoken..as for marksmanship..there have been plenty of (great marksmanship...we go out of our way to protect civilians)...tactical decisions can only be made by people on the ground"...
"What we know is that there are number of places in downtown Baghdad where there are civilian populations at risk..and that this regime (will use this)...consistent patterns of using civilians as shields...it's too early to know...frankly, I don't think anyone does...
We have coalition forces operating in a variety of areas inside Baghdad....(until we free an area..can't know)...not familiar that anyone from coalition area has walked the site..we believe strike was effective (Saddam hit)..
Re. who's in charge of regime? "We've not been certain for a very long time who's been in charge of this regime...We've seen application of authority has been interfered w/ by coalition forces..(in number of cases)...We do know indeed that as we conduct ops in urban area, potential for casualties increases..we've established (field) hospitals throughout (Iraq)..provide care...if we encounter civilians wounded...regardless (of who..we'll treat)...
Re. CIA tip "We have a number of methods that we use to gain info...it's not useful to discuss...a single source is not adequate...when we're satisfied that (info) is true..we make (decisions)..even when its a time-fleeting oportuinity,..,we still consider (details...surrounding areas, type of weapons best to protect..)..there is no one else that does it like this with this degree of deliberation and precision)...
"We only know those journalists that are operating with us...battlefield is very dangerous place indeed...we always regret the knowledge of non-combatant lives....there is intermingling that happens...this coalition does NOT target journalists...anything that happens...we'll look into it..where we (find fault...we'll take responsibility)...
The number of casualties is a figure that we can not (determine specifically)...we know there have been losses of life...we know that there are civilians forces into action on other side that resulted in loss of life. From coalition perspective, we ALWAYS regret the loss of life. The regime uses places like the Palestine Hotel for other regime operations...we try to minimize the risk...(to civilians)..
Unfortunately, (re. surrender methods..).being used by regime death squads to mask intentions....in its last days we expect the regime to (be nastier than ever)...best method is to identify self and move out of way...difficult now that the battle's under way..." "there was resistance leading to (airport), T-72 tanks some, armored Personal carrier...tried to keep us from crossing river, our Marines defeated them..
Re. WMDs, the Karbala site, also Pentagon officials warned us weeks ago that the journalists should not be there says one Brit journalist: "The one particular one (potential chem site)...e. of Karbala...did have preliminary testing done...(showed) it could potentially be...detailed testing and analysis required...we don't know enough to say it should be discounted...
Warnings have been issued before and we continue to issue warnings...when we have a known location which is used for mutilple purposes...regime command and control...decsions have to be made at a tactical level...where appropriate there should be as proportionate response as necess. to eliminate the response...everything afterwards is speculative (and under invest...we do NOT target journalists)...
Those that encounter our forces..especially those that are firing on us, or trying to flee...when threats appear they are dealt with in a (appropriate manner)...unfortunately lives are lost...
Fighting nr. Karbala...we're going after pockets loyal to regime, ongoing ops...
We certainly want the Iraqi population to be as safe as they possibly can...trying to take very deliberate actions wherever we can...we've done that on a consistant basis. I've also shown you (regime placing military nr. civilians)...we believe we're doing the best we can to try to get that operation done...we ask the Iraqi population to try to understand..."
"I think taht there are still some options available to whatever (forces of regime) remained...we've encountered some forces..nr. Baghdad airport...incid...SRG...may be reg. aremy and paramilitary mixed in...there are some artillery systems, rockets in parts of surrounding area we ahve not moved through...a number of unconventional options left to this regime...we remain focused on it...we're seeking those types of things...to remove from regime..
Re. A-10 ..."we had one A-10 aircraft...at low alititude...we believe it was hit by SAM...pilot was recovered and safe...
"Tikrit ..we know is a stronghold for regime leadership..many C&C targets in Tikrit. (We have) ongoing actions against C&C...I'll leave it at that..
"The report of a pilot is different than (report of those on ground)..things that happen in firefight are much more confused (details slow to come in...info is flowing in right now...was wrong to say Hotel firing coming from lobby)...
"We're not seeing defections of people who are loyal to the regime...members of the Baath Party...we're seeing military commanders desert there posts...but not those loyal to the regime...death squads..." "We're not seeing fighting between paramilitary units....there is some indication (might be happening)..
(Re. Saddam site) "The focus of our operation is not to conduct investigation at particular site where strike occur(s)...if we have good confirmation that (the target is what we say it is...have info to minimize civilian damage...will take target of opportunitu..."we're able to move at places of our time and choosing inside Baghdad.."
"We don't target journalists..not now, not ever." Jouralists that are with us are responsible for their own safety (though they are safer of course with the military)...journalists who are not with us...are putting themselves at risk..where we have knowledge..we do what we can to (protect civilians.)...
Re. 5th corp coming into Baghdad from the North: "There was some forces encoutnered, we ahd the ability to conduct ops., those forces were attacked...I am not going to characterize...tactical actions ..(read transcript..on flexibility of plan)..
"There have been some reports of looting in cities that have been newly liberated...as time goes on, more law and order will be established...by Iraqi people taking care of themselves...this will settle down.."
"Our approach to civilians on the battlefield is one of control first...we can only be certain of our approach...there are reports that come in from members of the population...those can not always be confirmed...causes we can not know...whether it's a regime action...I don't think that in the history of warfare (casualties have ever been fully assertained)..
Re. ops in Baghdad: "There will be some actions that we go into a location and stage operations...some we go into a location and leave...others..we'll secure...tactical decsions that will be made...you'll see a variety of combinations to try and get that done.."
Mornin' and thanks again for sharing your remarkable talent with us.
