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'Overwhelming force' at work in Iraq

USMC News

Story Identification Number: 200332554549
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Charles Portman

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar(March 22, 2003) -- Gen. Tommy R. Franks emerged from his forward command post March 21 and said operations in Iraq will be characterized by shock, surprise and flexibility.

"This will be a campaign unlike any other in history," Gen. Franks said in his first briefing since the war began Mar. 19. "The outcome is not in doubt."

The general and other war planners in the region are executing Operation Iraqi Freedom by employing precision munitions "on a scale never before seen," Gen. Franks said, "and by the application of overwhelming force."

In addition to exerting military force, the general said the coalition will work "to end sanctions and to immediately deliver humanitarian support to the displaced, and to many Iraqi citizens."

At his disposal to disarm Saddam Hussein's regime, Gen. Franks has a coalition of Army and Marine forces, air forces from several nations, naval forces including the U.S. Coast Guard and special operations forces.

Gen. Franks said elements of these forces are being introduced across the breadth and depth of Iraq.

The coalition is communicating with a number of senior Iraqi officials, the general said, and these talks are expected to continue.

There are about 2,000 Iraq prisoners of war in custody, and thousands more have laid down their weapons and returned home.

Aerial photos have revealed several hundred Iraqi soldiers in formations consistent with instructions printed on capitulation leaflets disbursed across the country. They are believed to be awaiting further instructions from coalition forces.

When asked about the success of the coalition's efforts to target so called 'regime targets,' Gen. Franks said there seems to be confusion within Saddam's regime. "I believe command and control is not exactly as advertised on Baghdad television."

The general would not discuss strategic targets, but said several "emerging targets," such as leadership targets, military formations and mobile communications sites have been attacked within the past 24 hours.

Brigadier Gen. Vincent Brooks, a senior U.S. Central Command operations officer, said coalition forces have already achieved several objectives since the onset of the war.

"Our first effort is aggressive and direct attacks to disrupt the regime's key command, control, communications, integrated air defense and ballistics missiles," Brig. Gen. Brooks said.

Special operations forces are inside Iraq searching for the regime's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, he said.

Coalition maritime interdiction missions have prevented the release of 139 floating mines in to Iraqi inland waterways that join with the Arabian Gulf.

March 21 at approximately 6 p.m., the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force attacked and seized the Rumaylah oil fields in southern Iraq. "The oil fields were spared destruction that was intended by the regime," Brig. Gen. Brooks said.

Only nine of roughly 500 oil wells in the Rumaylah oil fields were sabotaged by the regime, Brig. Gen. Brooks said.

At the same time the Rumaylayh oil fields were being secured, ground maneuver forces began an "unprecedented," combined arms penetration deep into Iraq. The attack continues, he said, and has already moved the distance of the longest maneuver in the 1991 Gulf War in one quarter of the time.

Asked if he thought Hussein was dead or alive, Gen. Franks said he does not know. "It's not about that one personality," he said. "It's about this regime, and so that's what we're going to focus on."

Gen. Franks offered condolences to the families of the coalition service members killed in action.