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CENTCOM Commander Says Iraqis Will Be Liberated

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030331-02
Release Date: 3/31/2003 6:31:00 AM

By Gunnery Sgt. Charles Portman, U.S. Central Command Public Affairs

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar (NNS) -- Coalition forces are being postured on the ground and in the air in a way that will enable them to bring down Saddam Hussein's regime, Army Gen. Tommy Franks said March 27 during an interview with Infinity Broadcasting.

"The people of Iraq will be liberated," Franks said.

U.S.-led forces are on the move all over Iraq, and commanders are positioning their units to take down the Iraqi regime and to "do away with the weapons of mass destruction that we all absolutely know are in that country," Franks said.

"At the end of the day, we'll accomplish the objectives that we have set out for ourselves," the general said.

A good war plan, Franks said, is one that is flexible, and allows commanders the opportunity to respond to what is found on the battlefield.

"The most capable armed forces in the world are part of this coalition, and if you take the most capable forces in the world, you equip them with the right kind of equipment and you put them in motion with a very flexible plan, the outcome is not in doubt," Franks said.

The general is watchful of military movements by Republican Guard troops and some of Saddam Hussein's regular army units.

"We pay attention to what these enemy formations are doing," Franks said. "It's just another day of enemy activity as he subjects himself to the most powerful air forces in the world." The Republican Guard is considered Saddam Hussein's elite military force.

Franks categorized resistance around Nasiriyah and Basra over the past several days as "organized," and called some of the enemy groups "terrorist squads."

"Some people call them paramilitary," Franks said. "Some are well-equipped, some are not well-equipped; some have a few tanks. Each time they have met our forces, it has been good for us and not good for them."

Severe sand and thunderstorms affected different functions on both sides of the battlefield earlier this week. Franks said certain types of precision guided munitions delivered by coalition aircraft were not used during the bad weather, because they require a line of sight. Other munitions that do not require a line of sight were relied upon more, he said.

Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, deputy director of operations for U.S. Central Command, said the ability to fly in supplies was reduced during the bad weather.

"The flow of supplies did change for period of time," Brooks said. "But we're still able to conduct the operations as we see them, and we're still on plan."