Coalition's 3-prong attack drives into Iraq
by Gerry J. Gilmore
WASHINGTON (AFPS, March 22, 2003) - On the third day of "Operation Iraqi Freedom," U.S and coalition forces are conducting simultaneous military operations in the northern, southern and western portions of Iraq, as well as the air campaign at Baghdad, Army Gen. Tommy Franks told reporters at his headquarters in Qatar.
Today's briefing was DoD's first from the theater of operations during Iraqi Freedom.
"This will be a campaign unlike any other in history," said Franks, the CENTCOM commander. He said U.S. and coalition ground forces have deeply penetrated Iraq from the south, en route to Baghdad.
"The forces on the field will achieve the objectives that have been set out by the governments of this coalition," the general emphasized.
Citing the depth and flexibility of the "mosaic" war plan, Franks, chief of U.S. Central Command, said he was pleased with the progress made thus far, describing the troops' performance as magnificent.
In the past 24 hours U.S. and coalition forces have
attacked Iraqi leadership positions, military forces and
mobile communication posts, Franks said.
The attacks have been effective, he remarked, and now
"there is a certain confusion" within the Iraqi military's
command and control system.
"It remains to be seen" exactly when the campaign will
conclude, Franks noted, predicting "tough days" lie ahead.
Yet, victory is certain, he emphasized. "The outcome is not
in doubt."
The general pointed out that U.S. and coalition ground, air
and naval forces have combined to conduct around-the-clock
attacks of previously selected Iraqi targets, as well as
emerging ones.
Franks said coalition forces have secured three key oil
fields at Rumaylah in southern Iraq, where retreating
Iraqis sabotaged just nine of the 500 oil wells there.
Between 1,200-2,000 Iraqi soldiers are now prisoners of
war, he continued, and thousands of other Iraqi troops have
laid down their arms and gone home.
Franks said more Iraqis are preparing to quit fighting,
noting that U.S. officials have been in contact with some
senior Iraqi officials in order to effect more surrenders.
Army Brig. Gen. Vince Brooks, a member of Frank's staff,
showed and described to reporters the video action of U.S.
and coalition air strikes on Iraqi positions and equipment.
The campaign features pinpoint bombing and missile strikes
courtesy of laser- or global positioning system-guided
munitions, Brooks explained, and "an unprecedented combined
arms penetration deep into Iraq." He said ground-distance
gains made thus far have been achieved in a quarter of the
time it took to make similar gains during the 1991 Gulf
War.
Unfortunately, there would be Iraqi civilian casualties,
Franks pointed out, and that such sad circumstances are an
inherent part of warfare.
Regarding the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein, "I don't know
if he's alive or not," Franks stated.
However, he pointed out, the war isn't just about one
person; it is about ending Hussein's regime and securing
his weapons of mass destruction.
The four-star general said he gets information about
Saddam's weapons of mass destruction every day, noting he
has "no doubt" that the dictator's regime possesses them.
Some of this information is good intelligence, he noted,
other is speculation.
Franks said he knows that more than two dozen Iraqi SCUD
missile launchers are unaccounted for since the end of the
Gulf War. Collecting all of Saddam's WMDs is "work that
lies in front of us," he acknowledged.
The general said his "heart goes out" to the loved ones "of
those who have fallen." Seven American and 14 British
troops have been killed in the campaign thus far.
The six dead U.S. Marines are:
Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine; Capt. Ryan
Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Ill.; Cpl. Brian
Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston; Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon
Watersbey, 29, of Baltimore; 2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers,
30, of Harrison, Miss.; and Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, 22,
of Los Angeles.
The identity of a deceased Navy commander is being withheld
pending notification of next of kin.
Regarding the possibility that chemical or biological
weapons could be used on U.S. and coalition troops, Franks
advised Saddam and others in his regime: "Don't do it."
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