Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/21/03

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=PENTAGON / AIR WAR (NEWS ANALYSIS)

NUMBER=5-53291

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: "Operation Iraqi Freedom" has entered a new phase with the start of heavy air attacks on military and other government targets in Baghdad and elsewhere. V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida reports from the Pentagon the decision to embark on the highly anticipated "shock and awe" bombing campaign follows the apparent failure of earlier efforts to persuade the Iraqi leadership to capitulate without a fight.

TEXT: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld insists Saddam Hussein's government is beginning to lose control of Iraq.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

The confusion of Iraqi officials is growing. Their ability to see what is happening on the battlefield, to communicate with their forces and to control their country is slipping away. They're beginning to realize, I suspect that the regime is history.

///END ACTUALITY///

But uncertainty remains over the fate of Saddam Hussein and his two sons following an early surprise airstrike (EDS: early Thursday morning local time) against a Baghdad site where they were believed to be located.

Pentagon officials had hoped that strike, coupled with crippling but selective attacks on Iraq's military command-and-control network, would bring about the government's early collapse -- without a major fight.

But Mr. Rumsfeld admits there has been no general agreement so far by Iraq's military to surrender. He goes on to concede that the Pentagon's efforts to persuade Iraqi troops to give up have clearly not been persuasive enough.

He suggests the Bush administration now hopes more bombing will change that.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

It may very well be that with the initiation of the ground war last evening and the initiation of the air war this afternoon (Friday), that we may find people responding and surrendering.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

The Pentagon has been trying to bring about mass surrenders through leaflet drops, radio broadcasts and direct communications with Iraqi commanders. Hundreds of soldiers have surrendered so far and many more are believed by U-S officials to have abandoned their posts and melted into the countryside.

But there has been resistance to the U-S led invasion. General Richard Myers, the Chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, characterizes the resistance as sporadic.

But General Myers says coalition troops cannot yet afford to become complacent.

///MYERS ACTUALITY///

We must not get too comfortable. We're basically on our plan and moving towards Baghdad, but there are still many unknowns out there.

///END ACTUALITY///

One senior Pentagon officials says there has in fact been more resistance than is evident. This official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declines to give many details. But he indicates not all Iraqis, civilians included, may be welcoming an invasion the Bush administration says is aimed at liberating them. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/RH/PT