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American Morning
Republican Guard Vehicles Headed for Marines
Aired March 26, 2003 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to caution our viewers that we do not give away exact locations for our embedded reporters. But, when they check in, they give us a general idea about where they are in the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Paula, I think we mentioned a few moments ago the Associated Press is reporting this convoy, said to be a large convoy, maybe a thousand Iraqi Republican Guard vehicles, heading toward U.S. Marines in central Iraq, with the intention, it says, of bypassing other U.S. troops headed for Baghdad.
In other words, they're coming south, and the others are going north. The report says the column is aiming instead at the Marines down in An Nasiriya.
Now Central Command, again, in their briefing today, denies that they see any such major force moving south from Baghdad. They say they quite comfortable right now with the positioning on the battlefield.
Also, word that some Iraqi troops have started leaving the City of Basra, surrendering to British troops.
Also, a report that half of the city's water supply has been restored.
Overnight, there was an uprising against Iraqi authority in Basra, but big that is -- or was, rather, last night is something we're still trying to figure out.
Also, the commander of British forces at Umm Qasr says the port is now secure. British troops have been going out through the streets, handing out aid packets, in some cases, while still hunting down the Iraqi irregulars who have now fired some occasional, what they call pot shots, at the Brits.
They say there are groups of one or maybe two. A lot of the times, the military likes to describe these groups as onesies and twosies. But apparently still operating at least in that part of Iraq in Umm Qasr -- Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much, Bill.
A little bit later on, we'll be hearing from more of our embedded reporters who are in the region.
We are trying to get Lisa Rose Weaver back to tell us more about that reported ambush on U.S. forces.
Also, Alessio Vinci is with Marines south of Baghdad.
Diana Muriel is with British forces.
Let's go to our own Pentagon person. Barbara Starr standing by there now with the very latest from there.
Any confirmation of what Lisa Rose Weaver has been told?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Not just yet, Paula.
Officials here reminding us that, throughout this conflict, they've been facing the challenge here that they see reports on television from embedded reporters, but yet the reporting chain has a several-hour delay. So they're not really sure what is going on up there at the moment.
But the CENTCOM briefing we heard earlier today had some interesting details in it. General Vincent Brooks, the briefer, insisted that the plan -- the military plan is on schedule, that there will be no change.
But this comes after an official here earlier today saying very quietly it is now possible, they believe, that they underestimated the strength and the capability of these Fedayeen fighters, these paramilitary militia groups, possibly as many as 30,000 of them that are spread out across the region and causing the U.S. a lot of sporadic fighting.
There were other interesting details from the briefing this morning. General Brooks showed a photo that he says demonstrates the Iraqis are putting military equipment in key areas.
This is a photo off to your right of a 2,000-year-old historic site in Iraq along the Euphrates River, and the yellow lines to the left show you, General Brooks says, military equipment of the Iraqis placed near this historic site.
The U.S., of course, being very careful not to strike at that marker on top of the build -- of the site, indicating it is an historic cultural property. So that was, he said, an example of how careful the U.S. has to be with its precision targeting.
General Brooks also shot down reports that Republican Guard troops are moving in large numbers south of Baghdad towards U.S. forces, but he also made it clear that the U.S. knows there's plenty of dangerous work ahead.
Here's a little bit of what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. VINCENT BROOKS, U.S. ARMY: We remain convinced that this regime has not only the means but also the will to use weapons of mass destruction. What we found last night inside of that hospital reinforces our concern in that regard. The danger does increase, we believe, as we approach Baghdad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: And the other disturbing, upsetting news here at the Pentagon this morning: Officials telling us they do still have one unconfirmed report but a report that they are looking at that U.S. soldiers may have been executed several days ago.
You'll remember there was a supply convoy that got ambushed. Five U.S. personnel taken prisoner of war. The belief is that seven soldiers died in this ambush.
And officials here telling us now they have one report that some of those soldiers, as they got out of their vehicle, attempting to surrender with their hands up to the Iraqis -- this is a still photo, of course, of the aftermath -- that, as they got out, trying to surrender, they may have been shot.
Officials emphasizing this is still one very early report, but they are looking at it quite seriously -- Paula.
ZAHN: Of course, General Brooks also saying the regime continues to show its colors. So I guess it's no surprise if that is found out to be the case.
Barbara, very quickly here, can you help us cut through some of the contradictions we're hearing?
Just about two hours ago, the British prime minister said that there was no need for reinforcements, he didn't think the coalition forces were stretched, and yet you're saying today a Pentagon official admitting quietly that perhaps the perhaps the strength of these paramilitary groups was underestimated.
What -- how would that have affected the battle plan if the calculation had been different? Are you -- are we -- are you talking about a lot more resources?
STARR: It's hard to say, Paula. Officials now tell us there are about 75,000 coalition troops inside Iraq. Of course, the majority of them are U.S. troops.
There's no indication at the moment there is any massive reinforcement planned. There are a number of troops back behind the line in Kuwait, other follow-on forces that certainly could be put into the fight, if needed, and Central Command has always said -- the plan, they say, remains flexible and adjustable if they run into more trouble.
At this point, it's hard to say what they've -- there's no indication of a real fundamental change in strategy. Everything indicates that they are going to continue to press on to Baghdad and still deal with these Fedayeen fighters, these paramilitary that remain behind.
The question, I think, for the U.S. military leadership is whether or not these people cause so much trouble that the U.S. cannot get humanitarian aid into the towns and villages. The situation in Basra is becoming a real marker of that.
The British forces now taking on the Fedayeen inside the city, trying to get them out of there, trying to get them essentially separated out from the civilian population so humanitarian relief can move in. No question that the U.S. can take these fighters on and win against them, but, if they continue to stage these guerrilla attacks, it's going to be tough.
ZAHN: All right. Barbara Starr, thanks so much. We'll be leaning on you throughout the broadcast day.
Back to you now, Bill.
I guess the other area that we should mention that you and I haven't really been able to talk about much was the point the brigadier general made about Iraqi reports that as many as 15 civilians had died as a result of a bombing in Baghdad.
He said he just couldn't confirm that. He also went on to say that, in the past, the Iraqis have killed their own and staged situations like this to make it look as though the U.S. military had done the harm.
So we simply don't know at this hour exactly what happened in Baghdad in these reports.
HEMMER: I thought his choice of words was pretty interesting, too. He just says, "We don't know yet if those are ours," in other words, whether or not the missiles that went into that neighborhood belong to the coalition or the Iraqi side. Quite interesting, but certainly something we need to track down.
We are also tracking down Dr. Sanjay Gupta right now. He's embedded with the U.S. Marines. It's my understanding now, Sanjay, you're on your way south toward Kuwait by telephone. What's happening where you are?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill.
Yes, we're in a convoy of about 20 vehicles heading to southern Iraq right now.
Just a couple words about the convoy. We -- there's seven of us in the back of a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) truck, four Marines, three of us crew members from CNN, and the four Marines have their guns out -- pointed outward at all times throughout this several-hour ride.
There's been a lot of news that you've heard about the convoys, and the -- some of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 50-caliber machine guns. Several vehicles within this 20-vehicle convoy have those sorts of things all for protection.
Certainly, there's been an issue with these convoys becoming separated and getting lost and, at times, being ambushed. So there's a lot of security around these convoys now.
Now we're having some trouble right now traveling through southern Iraq.
Bill, also, we traveled through the oil fields that we've been hearing so much about. Several of them we witnessed ourselves burning ferociously. One of them, the Marines have nicknamed Big Bertha. It comes very close to the road which we passed, Bill. It's about a hundred meters away from the road.
This thing jutted at least 500 feet in the air. Even 300 meters away, you could already start to feel the intense heat, and, by the time you got to this -- passed right by Big Bertha, the heat was incredible. Some of the Marines told me they drove by that 24, 48 hours ago, and it's burning just as ferociously now as it was then. There's simply no end in sight of this particular Big Bertha oil burning, and it just continues to burn and burn.
We are heading south, continuing to do so. Very dusty around here, although it did rain through here. A couple of vehicles getting stuck at times. But, like I said, now progressing pretty well -- Bill.
HEMMER: Sanjay, some of that -- some of that message got a little garbled in my ear a little bit, but I understand the folks at home could hear you quite well.
I don't want to repeat anything you said, but there's got to be a reason why you're headed south toward Kuwait. I don't know if you can reveal it or not, but, if you can, go ahead.
GUPTA: Well, you know, we're certainly trying to follow some of the medical stories along, Bill. Lots of different camps with different medical facilities.
One of the camps that we're going to be looking at is a camp in the northern desert of Kuwait that is providing some of the more back- line medical care, some of the more definitive medical care. We've certainly talked about the forward resuscitative surgical care.
How do patients get treated after that, where do they go, what happens? That's what we're going to try to figure out as we head a little further south where -- with the patients and where they might go -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right. Be good. Travel safe, Sanjay.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta again. He's been embedded with the U.S. Marines for the better part of 10 days right now. Now traveling south, as we understand, headed back toward northern Kuwait -- Paula.
HEMMER: Thanks so much, Bill.
Bill, I can hear Sanjay Gupta losing his voice, and it comes as no surprise. I don't think that guy has slept in the last seven days. HEMMER: Yes, I've got to think a lot of our guys and gals have not slept. You know, this embed program has worked tremendously well, Paula, I think, for the viewer, just to watch it live from your own home.
You know, they called Vietnam, what, the living room war, but I think this easily surpasses that based on what we've seen so far, and some of these people right now have found themselves in situations that, I think, frankly, a lot of people did not expect, but they have seen front-and, firsthand combat.
The other thing they've done, Paula, consistently is given us information, oftentimes before the Pentagon gets it. I think the history of warfare - it has never been done like this before.
ZAHN: You got that right. Thanks, Bill.
Back to John King now who joins us from the White House with the very latest from there.
John, what's going on?
JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
The president is on his way to the Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and we are told we will hear the president in remarks there after he receives a classified briefing on the war effort.
The president will make the case, quote, "that the war is ahead of schedule but far from over" and also that there will be a day of reckoning for the Iraqi regime, and that day is drawing near.
Now, for the president to go out and publicly say the war is ahead of schedule comes at a time when there's a bit of exasperation here at the White House and over at the Pentagon. You heard some of it at the Central Command briefing in Doha, a bit of exasperation that a week into the conflict that there are expectations being raised by the media that why isn't this over already.
White House officials are telling us that the president wants to make the case implicitly and explicitly that, yes, there are skirmishes, yes, there are -- is some stiff resistance from those paramilitary and other forces, but, in his view, that the war plan is going quite well and that anyone questioning the overall military strategy is off base.
As we know, the president will first get a classified briefing on the campaign under way. Then, he will make his public remarks, and, in those remarks, he also will salute the representatives of so many nations represented at the CENTCOM headquarter, some of those nations actively participating in Operation Enduring Freedom inside Afghanistan. Many now helping out, some directly, most indirectly, with the military campaign inside Iraq.
And, when Mr. Bush leaves Tampa, Florida, he will not be coming back to the White House. It is straight to Camp David, Maryland, tonight and, tomorrow, conversations with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Priority one, of course, an update on the war strategy as the key juncture as the move on Baghdad reaches a critical point. The two leaders also will discuss the role of the United Nations in any post- war Iraq.
White House officials stressing there are some differences, but they don't view them as major differences, between the United States and the United Kingdom right now over what role the U.N. should play in a post-war Iraq.
But it is certainly no secret that Prime Minister Blair, representing the European point of view, believes the United Nations should have a more immediate and a more robust role in a post-war Iraq than perhaps the Bush White House is willing to go along with -- Paula.
ZAHN: John, let me ask you about a point you just raised and the feeling on the part of some members of the administration that, in some way, maybe through the media's questions, they're raising expectations, why isn't the war over by now.
But it was Barbara Starr who reported just about two hours ago, now even people at the Pentagon are saying quietly perhaps they have underestimated the strength of some of these paramilitary forces. How will the president counter that criticism?
KING: Well, what the president says is yes and will say and has said in his remarks consistently, is that, yes, there is some resistance and, yes, the United States always expected some resistance.
Officials here concur completely with what Barbara is hearing privately, that at least what you are seeing in the early days, perhaps they underestimated the strength of those paramilitary units, the determination of those paramilitary units to fight, and so we are seeing skirmishes, and we are, unfortunately, seeing some U.S. casualties as a result of those skirmishes.
But what the White House is urging everyone to do is step back and look at the big picture. They say these are nuisance encounters, and that is a hard word to use when -- in terms of some U.S. personnel are being killed, but the White House said that it's having absolutely zero impact on the broad war plan, which is to seize Baghdad and topple the Iraqi regime.
So the administration, yes, on the one hand, it is a problem, but the administration insists it's a very minor problem and has nothing at all to it with distracting from the big picture, which we will hear the president in just a couple of hours say is actually ahead of schedule in his view.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, John. Hey, John, have you been working 20-hour shifts like everybody else has around here as well? It seems like every time I look, you're on TV.
KING: I think we have it pretty easy when it comes to the service we see Walt Rodgers, Sanjay Gupta, and the others in the field, so no complaints from the White House.
ZAHN: Oh, absolutely. Light duty. Thanks, John.
And just a quick reminder, John just gave us a preview of some of what the president might have to say at about 10:45 Eastern Time. We'll cover those remarks live -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Paula.
Listen -- listened to Walt yesterday saying he had to take sand out of just about -- a Q-tip to his ear just about every five minutes just to be able to hear and put his ear piece back into his ear to communicate. It has been really tough going for a lot of them.
One of them is Alessio Vinci. He's embedded with the U.S. Marines. We know he's in Southern Iraq. Earlier in the week, we do know Alessio was in and around the area of Nasiriya. By video phone, Alessio now has an update.
Not sure what's happened, Alessio. Why don't you go ahead and tell us?
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, it's been fairly quiet so far here in -- around Nasiriya in the sector that is covered by the unit of the Marines that I'm embedded with, one of the reasons being, U.S. commanders are telling us, that, so far, they have pretty much secured the supply route that travels near Nasiriya going toward the North. That supply route, of course, used by the U.S. military to bring up supplies to the advancing U.S. forces that are going towards Baghdad.
This does not mean, however, military commanders say, that there will be no more fighting around here, mainly because they expect there are -- they expect some resistance coming, especially from those Saddam Fedayeens, those military -- paramilitary groups that are very loyal to Saddam Hussein that operate alongside the regular Iraqi army.
And they are really using tactics that are very -- that are giving the U.S. military some problems, mainly the use of civilians to shield themselves against possible U.S. attacks, and, also, those paramilitary groups are using those civilians as scouts or as spies, sending them sometimes towards the U.S. military checkpoints with their kids in order to collect intelligence and then come back on the threat of being -- of killing family members back at home if they do not do that in order to give them some information about where the U.S. military is.
And we've also seen some -- we've also seen evidence of that today -- yesterday, rather, that some of the Marines engaging those Fedayeen, indeed, have had exchange of fire, and, unfortunately, some civilians have been killed, including at least one child that we saw today -- yesterday, excuse me, being buried.
And it is, indeed, a concern because some of the military commanders here believe that the Fedayeens now are about to prepare some kind of a guerrilla warfare against those U.S. military checkpoints, and it is something that the U.S. military here and the Marines especially are taking extremely seriously.
They have created buffer zones. They have created areas where the -- you know, even civilians are not allowed to go in because they're very much concerned that the civilians could be used by those Fedayeens to give away the position of the U.S. military here.
Back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: Alessio, quickly here. We're going to get to General Grange on the same topic in a moment. But any reaction to the Marines that you're around, or did they even know about these 3,000 chemical suits that were found in a hospital in An Nasiriya and the antidote that was found in there as well?
VINCI: Bill, when I heard about morning about the hospital, I heard it back from our desk in Atlanta, and, when I told the people around, what has been found, everybody was surprised. So you have to understand that we are totally isolated here, and mostly what the Marines know about something else that happened in the region comes from us.
But, yes, I told them about it, and they're all asking the same question. I think it's the question that everybody's asking right now, is whether the fact that these chemical suits exist, whether the fact that also some Atropine, I believe, was found in the hospital meant that Saddam Hussein forces are ready or able at this time to use chemical weapons against U.S. forces.
HEMMER; All right. Alessio, thanks.
Alessio Vinci there.
More on this. Renay San Miguel is standing by with the general -- Renay?
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: The next thing we were going to talk about, Bill, was what was found at Nasiriya by the Marines.
Joining us is our military analyst, retired Army General David Grange.
Let's go ahead and show you some satellite imagery from earthviewer.com telling you -- showing you Nasiriya, and we'll talk about this hospital where these Marines went in last night, gained control of the hospital that was being used as a paramilitary headquarters and storage area.
This is, obviously, the Fedayeen Saddam and maybe some Special Republican Guards in there as well. Two hundred weapons, Iraqi military uniforms, a tank, and then 3,000 chemical protection suits, some gas masks, and injectors to be used for nerve gas antidote.
Here is the City of Nasiriya. Supposedly it was somewhere south that the hospital was located. Any surprise on your part that this is what was found?
BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: No surprise. Totally illegal to use a hospital to hide war equipment and then of -- hiding weapon of mass destruction, the chemical munitions. So paramilitary operations are not illegal, but using a hospital for paramilitary operations is.
MIGUEL: And let's talk a little bit about that. Paramilitary can also mean, you know, the idea of U.S. special forces working with Kurdish rebels of the North. Is that...
GRANGE: Yes, it's paramilitary forces being -- special forces -- U.S. special forces working with paramilitary forces to do unconventional warfare, and, as long as it's legal, in other words, it doesn't violate the rules -- the law of land warfare, then it's no problem with that, but, in this case, it's illegal.
MIGUEL: Brigadier General Vince Brooks actually called it verging an terroristic, this kind of thing, and also using human shields.
Let's talk also now about what else he disclosed at the briefing. Basra and As Samaway, two cities in the South, had their Baath Party headquarters bombed by coalition forces. You know, the Baath Party being Saddam's party, the ruling party here.
GRANGE: Right.
MIGUEL: The strategy behind this?
GRANGE: Well, they have to -- this is the head of the snake in each one of these locations, and they're the ones that are holding, through terror, the populous in these particular towns from toppling, you know, the regime, getting -- gaining independence, and so a strategic target -- or tactical target, rather, I should say, that's very important to get these cities to fall, to help relieve some of the rear area operations these paramilitary forces are conducting against coalition forces.
MIGUEL: And maybe aiding in the potential uprising that we have seen in -- that supposedly is going on in Basra.
GRANGE: Well, the people are not going to be able to uprise unless some of these elements of destroyed.
MIGUEL: OK. General Grange, thanks for your insight.
Paula, back on over to you.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, Renay. Coming up right after this short break, you're going to meet a family that has been affected by this war in a different way than most. Not only do they have two children and a son-in-law in the region, they also have a third child that may be soon deployed, and you'll meet them the Stauns after this short break.
Thanks for coming in.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ZAHN: Welcome back. Twenty-seven minutes after the hour.
News from the front lines affects few people as the way it hits William and Mary Staun. The Cincinnati couple not has two children and a son-in-law all in the 3rd Infantry. Get this. They also have another daughter who might be deployed to the region. And William and Mary join us now.
Welcome. I can't even begin to understand what this past week has been like for you. How are you holding up?
MARY STAUN, HAS THREE CHILDREN IN ARMY: I went to the doctor yesterday.
(LAUGHTER)
ZAHN: With what was a major case of stress?
M. STAUN: Yes.
WILLIAM STAUN, HAS THREE CHILDREN IN ARMY: He took her heart rate.
M. STAUN: He took my heart rate and said your heart's beating a little fast, and I said, gee, I can't imagine why.
ZAHN: Now are you allowed to continue working? You're a...
M. STAUN: Oh...
ZAHN: ... fourth-grade teacher, and, I guess, to a certain extent, it must be a little bit of a distraction for you.
M. STAUN: Oh, it's a very big distraction, and I've told my class that I need them as much as they need me, so -- you know, keep me on track, guys. Keep me on track.
ZAHN: How has this affected you, William? Are you working as much as you have in the past?
W. STAUN: No, no, no. You can't -- you can't work as much. I went from an eight-hour day to a six-hour day to a five-hour day, doing as much as I possibly can to maintain as much of a normal lifestyles possible. But there are so many other things that you do when the kids are deployed that people don't think. I mean I am responsible for their finances. So I take care of their mail and pay their bills.
We also -- you know, they set up a program ahead of time with us. So, every so many weeks, we send T-shirts and underwear and socks. You know, they just -- because they have to carry everything that they need with them.
You can't send over, you know, a 20-pound care package. So you send over a small handful of Q-tips, and you put them in a rubber band in a small bag. You send over some baby wipes. You send over things -- small shampoos so that, you know, they've got what they need for a week or so.
And then, a week or so later, hopefully, they'll get the next package and then they can go from there.
ZAHN: How much contact have you had either with your son-in-law or your children? Now Peggy is still stateside...
M. STAUN: Right.
ZAHN: ... so you get to talk to her everyday, but how about the rest?
M. STAUN: We've had -- Rosemarie's last contact was the very beginning of March before she rolled out. Mack we haven't had any contact with since probably middle of February and same with Will because they're -- there aren't computers and telephones and mailboxes in the desert, which is where they are.
ZAHN: I -- I'm just curious whether you watch any television at all or if that's too much for you?
M. STAUN: Once in the morning and once at night to figure out what's going on, but that's enough.
ZAHN: And how about you, William?
W. STAUN; Well, you know, I like to check in about every four or five hours. But the problem is that, when I sit and I watch the TV, the tension builds. You know, it just brings it real close, and I think to survive, you need positive thoughts and positive thoughts don't always come from watching what's going on over there.
ZAHN: And just a final thought for the American public about not only your families' commitment to the military -- neither one of you came out of a military background, I might add -- but...
M. STAUN: Right, right.
ZAHN: ... the hundreds of thousands of troops we're talking about that remain there to this day in the region as you watch this news break, some of it has been very disturbing, obviously -- got to be scary to folks like you. M. STAUN: Keep them in your prayers, keep positive thinking. Send them letters, cards, things like that, that will let them know that we support them. Fly your flag, be American.
ZAHN: William?
W. STAUN: The biggest thing, and I picked it up from my kids, is that they want to see support from the American people, and I think support means having a positive attitude. Yes, not everything is going to go perfect, but be positive that it is all going to turn out all right. Be positive that we're doing it for the right reasons. Be positive that our young people are capable of doing their job and doing it well.
ZAHN: Mary and William Staun, the best of luck to your family. I can't even (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what you're going through.
W. STAUN: I won't trade places with you...
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: No wonder you have to have your blood pressure checked all the time. I hope we kept it low during this interview.
M. STAUN: Oh, definitely.
ZAHN: Have a safe trip home.
M. STAUN: Thank you.
W. STAUN: Appreciate it.
ZAHN: And I hope you hear some good news soon.
M. STAUN: No news is good news.
W. STAUN: No news is good news.
ZAHN: That is true. Again, best of luck to your family.
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Aired March 26, 2003 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to caution our viewers that we do not give away exact locations for our embedded reporters. But, when they check in, they give us a general idea about where they are in the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Paula, I think we mentioned a few moments ago the Associated Press is reporting this convoy, said to be a large convoy, maybe a thousand Iraqi Republican Guard vehicles, heading toward U.S. Marines in central Iraq, with the intention, it says, of bypassing other U.S. troops headed for Baghdad.
In other words, they're coming south, and the others are going north. The report says the column is aiming instead at the Marines down in An Nasiriya.
Now Central Command, again, in their briefing today, denies that they see any such major force moving south from Baghdad. They say they quite comfortable right now with the positioning on the battlefield.
Also, word that some Iraqi troops have started leaving the City of Basra, surrendering to British troops.
Also, a report that half of the city's water supply has been restored.
Overnight, there was an uprising against Iraqi authority in Basra, but big that is -- or was, rather, last night is something we're still trying to figure out.
Also, the commander of British forces at Umm Qasr says the port is now secure. British troops have been going out through the streets, handing out aid packets, in some cases, while still hunting down the Iraqi irregulars who have now fired some occasional, what they call pot shots, at the Brits.
They say there are groups of one or maybe two. A lot of the times, the military likes to describe these groups as onesies and twosies. But apparently still operating at least in that part of Iraq in Umm Qasr -- Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much, Bill.
A little bit later on, we'll be hearing from more of our embedded reporters who are in the region.
We are trying to get Lisa Rose Weaver back to tell us more about that reported ambush on U.S. forces.
Also, Alessio Vinci is with Marines south of Baghdad.
Diana Muriel is with British forces.
Let's go to our own Pentagon person. Barbara Starr standing by there now with the very latest from there.
Any confirmation of what Lisa Rose Weaver has been told?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Not just yet, Paula.
Officials here reminding us that, throughout this conflict, they've been facing the challenge here that they see reports on television from embedded reporters, but yet the reporting chain has a several-hour delay. So they're not really sure what is going on up there at the moment.
But the CENTCOM briefing we heard earlier today had some interesting details in it. General Vincent Brooks, the briefer, insisted that the plan -- the military plan is on schedule, that there will be no change.
But this comes after an official here earlier today saying very quietly it is now possible, they believe, that they underestimated the strength and the capability of these Fedayeen fighters, these paramilitary militia groups, possibly as many as 30,000 of them that are spread out across the region and causing the U.S. a lot of sporadic fighting.
There were other interesting details from the briefing this morning. General Brooks showed a photo that he says demonstrates the Iraqis are putting military equipment in key areas.
This is a photo off to your right of a 2,000-year-old historic site in Iraq along the Euphrates River, and the yellow lines to the left show you, General Brooks says, military equipment of the Iraqis placed near this historic site.
The U.S., of course, being very careful not to strike at that marker on top of the build -- of the site, indicating it is an historic cultural property. So that was, he said, an example of how careful the U.S. has to be with its precision targeting.
General Brooks also shot down reports that Republican Guard troops are moving in large numbers south of Baghdad towards U.S. forces, but he also made it clear that the U.S. knows there's plenty of dangerous work ahead.
Here's a little bit of what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. VINCENT BROOKS, U.S. ARMY: We remain convinced that this regime has not only the means but also the will to use weapons of mass destruction. What we found last night inside of that hospital reinforces our concern in that regard. The danger does increase, we believe, as we approach Baghdad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: And the other disturbing, upsetting news here at the Pentagon this morning: Officials telling us they do still have one unconfirmed report but a report that they are looking at that U.S. soldiers may have been executed several days ago.
You'll remember there was a supply convoy that got ambushed. Five U.S. personnel taken prisoner of war. The belief is that seven soldiers died in this ambush.
And officials here telling us now they have one report that some of those soldiers, as they got out of their vehicle, attempting to surrender with their hands up to the Iraqis -- this is a still photo, of course, of the aftermath -- that, as they got out, trying to surrender, they may have been shot.
Officials emphasizing this is still one very early report, but they are looking at it quite seriously -- Paula.
ZAHN: Of course, General Brooks also saying the regime continues to show its colors. So I guess it's no surprise if that is found out to be the case.
Barbara, very quickly here, can you help us cut through some of the contradictions we're hearing?
Just about two hours ago, the British prime minister said that there was no need for reinforcements, he didn't think the coalition forces were stretched, and yet you're saying today a Pentagon official admitting quietly that perhaps the perhaps the strength of these paramilitary groups was underestimated.
What -- how would that have affected the battle plan if the calculation had been different? Are you -- are we -- are you talking about a lot more resources?
STARR: It's hard to say, Paula. Officials now tell us there are about 75,000 coalition troops inside Iraq. Of course, the majority of them are U.S. troops.
There's no indication at the moment there is any massive reinforcement planned. There are a number of troops back behind the line in Kuwait, other follow-on forces that certainly could be put into the fight, if needed, and Central Command has always said -- the plan, they say, remains flexible and adjustable if they run into more trouble.
At this point, it's hard to say what they've -- there's no indication of a real fundamental change in strategy. Everything indicates that they are going to continue to press on to Baghdad and still deal with these Fedayeen fighters, these paramilitary that remain behind.
The question, I think, for the U.S. military leadership is whether or not these people cause so much trouble that the U.S. cannot get humanitarian aid into the towns and villages. The situation in Basra is becoming a real marker of that.
The British forces now taking on the Fedayeen inside the city, trying to get them out of there, trying to get them essentially separated out from the civilian population so humanitarian relief can move in. No question that the U.S. can take these fighters on and win against them, but, if they continue to stage these guerrilla attacks, it's going to be tough.
ZAHN: All right. Barbara Starr, thanks so much. We'll be leaning on you throughout the broadcast day.
Back to you now, Bill.
I guess the other area that we should mention that you and I haven't really been able to talk about much was the point the brigadier general made about Iraqi reports that as many as 15 civilians had died as a result of a bombing in Baghdad.
He said he just couldn't confirm that. He also went on to say that, in the past, the Iraqis have killed their own and staged situations like this to make it look as though the U.S. military had done the harm.
So we simply don't know at this hour exactly what happened in Baghdad in these reports.
HEMMER: I thought his choice of words was pretty interesting, too. He just says, "We don't know yet if those are ours," in other words, whether or not the missiles that went into that neighborhood belong to the coalition or the Iraqi side. Quite interesting, but certainly something we need to track down.
We are also tracking down Dr. Sanjay Gupta right now. He's embedded with the U.S. Marines. It's my understanding now, Sanjay, you're on your way south toward Kuwait by telephone. What's happening where you are?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill.
Yes, we're in a convoy of about 20 vehicles heading to southern Iraq right now.
Just a couple words about the convoy. We -- there's seven of us in the back of a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) truck, four Marines, three of us crew members from CNN, and the four Marines have their guns out -- pointed outward at all times throughout this several-hour ride.
There's been a lot of news that you've heard about the convoys, and the -- some of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 50-caliber machine guns. Several vehicles within this 20-vehicle convoy have those sorts of things all for protection.
Certainly, there's been an issue with these convoys becoming separated and getting lost and, at times, being ambushed. So there's a lot of security around these convoys now.
Now we're having some trouble right now traveling through southern Iraq.
Bill, also, we traveled through the oil fields that we've been hearing so much about. Several of them we witnessed ourselves burning ferociously. One of them, the Marines have nicknamed Big Bertha. It comes very close to the road which we passed, Bill. It's about a hundred meters away from the road.
This thing jutted at least 500 feet in the air. Even 300 meters away, you could already start to feel the intense heat, and, by the time you got to this -- passed right by Big Bertha, the heat was incredible. Some of the Marines told me they drove by that 24, 48 hours ago, and it's burning just as ferociously now as it was then. There's simply no end in sight of this particular Big Bertha oil burning, and it just continues to burn and burn.
We are heading south, continuing to do so. Very dusty around here, although it did rain through here. A couple of vehicles getting stuck at times. But, like I said, now progressing pretty well -- Bill.
HEMMER: Sanjay, some of that -- some of that message got a little garbled in my ear a little bit, but I understand the folks at home could hear you quite well.
I don't want to repeat anything you said, but there's got to be a reason why you're headed south toward Kuwait. I don't know if you can reveal it or not, but, if you can, go ahead.
GUPTA: Well, you know, we're certainly trying to follow some of the medical stories along, Bill. Lots of different camps with different medical facilities.
One of the camps that we're going to be looking at is a camp in the northern desert of Kuwait that is providing some of the more back- line medical care, some of the more definitive medical care. We've certainly talked about the forward resuscitative surgical care.
How do patients get treated after that, where do they go, what happens? That's what we're going to try to figure out as we head a little further south where -- with the patients and where they might go -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right. Be good. Travel safe, Sanjay.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta again. He's been embedded with the U.S. Marines for the better part of 10 days right now. Now traveling south, as we understand, headed back toward northern Kuwait -- Paula.
HEMMER: Thanks so much, Bill.
Bill, I can hear Sanjay Gupta losing his voice, and it comes as no surprise. I don't think that guy has slept in the last seven days. HEMMER: Yes, I've got to think a lot of our guys and gals have not slept. You know, this embed program has worked tremendously well, Paula, I think, for the viewer, just to watch it live from your own home.
You know, they called Vietnam, what, the living room war, but I think this easily surpasses that based on what we've seen so far, and some of these people right now have found themselves in situations that, I think, frankly, a lot of people did not expect, but they have seen front-and, firsthand combat.
The other thing they've done, Paula, consistently is given us information, oftentimes before the Pentagon gets it. I think the history of warfare - it has never been done like this before.
ZAHN: You got that right. Thanks, Bill.
Back to John King now who joins us from the White House with the very latest from there.
John, what's going on?
JOHN KING, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
The president is on his way to the Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and we are told we will hear the president in remarks there after he receives a classified briefing on the war effort.
The president will make the case, quote, "that the war is ahead of schedule but far from over" and also that there will be a day of reckoning for the Iraqi regime, and that day is drawing near.
Now, for the president to go out and publicly say the war is ahead of schedule comes at a time when there's a bit of exasperation here at the White House and over at the Pentagon. You heard some of it at the Central Command briefing in Doha, a bit of exasperation that a week into the conflict that there are expectations being raised by the media that why isn't this over already.
White House officials are telling us that the president wants to make the case implicitly and explicitly that, yes, there are skirmishes, yes, there are -- is some stiff resistance from those paramilitary and other forces, but, in his view, that the war plan is going quite well and that anyone questioning the overall military strategy is off base.
As we know, the president will first get a classified briefing on the campaign under way. Then, he will make his public remarks, and, in those remarks, he also will salute the representatives of so many nations represented at the CENTCOM headquarter, some of those nations actively participating in Operation Enduring Freedom inside Afghanistan. Many now helping out, some directly, most indirectly, with the military campaign inside Iraq.
And, when Mr. Bush leaves Tampa, Florida, he will not be coming back to the White House. It is straight to Camp David, Maryland, tonight and, tomorrow, conversations with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Priority one, of course, an update on the war strategy as the key juncture as the move on Baghdad reaches a critical point. The two leaders also will discuss the role of the United Nations in any post- war Iraq.
White House officials stressing there are some differences, but they don't view them as major differences, between the United States and the United Kingdom right now over what role the U.N. should play in a post-war Iraq.
But it is certainly no secret that Prime Minister Blair, representing the European point of view, believes the United Nations should have a more immediate and a more robust role in a post-war Iraq than perhaps the Bush White House is willing to go along with -- Paula.
ZAHN: John, let me ask you about a point you just raised and the feeling on the part of some members of the administration that, in some way, maybe through the media's questions, they're raising expectations, why isn't the war over by now.
But it was Barbara Starr who reported just about two hours ago, now even people at the Pentagon are saying quietly perhaps they have underestimated the strength of some of these paramilitary forces. How will the president counter that criticism?
KING: Well, what the president says is yes and will say and has said in his remarks consistently, is that, yes, there is some resistance and, yes, the United States always expected some resistance.
Officials here concur completely with what Barbara is hearing privately, that at least what you are seeing in the early days, perhaps they underestimated the strength of those paramilitary units, the determination of those paramilitary units to fight, and so we are seeing skirmishes, and we are, unfortunately, seeing some U.S. casualties as a result of those skirmishes.
But what the White House is urging everyone to do is step back and look at the big picture. They say these are nuisance encounters, and that is a hard word to use when -- in terms of some U.S. personnel are being killed, but the White House said that it's having absolutely zero impact on the broad war plan, which is to seize Baghdad and topple the Iraqi regime.
So the administration, yes, on the one hand, it is a problem, but the administration insists it's a very minor problem and has nothing at all to it with distracting from the big picture, which we will hear the president in just a couple of hours say is actually ahead of schedule in his view.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, John. Hey, John, have you been working 20-hour shifts like everybody else has around here as well? It seems like every time I look, you're on TV.
KING: I think we have it pretty easy when it comes to the service we see Walt Rodgers, Sanjay Gupta, and the others in the field, so no complaints from the White House.
ZAHN: Oh, absolutely. Light duty. Thanks, John.
And just a quick reminder, John just gave us a preview of some of what the president might have to say at about 10:45 Eastern Time. We'll cover those remarks live -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Paula.
Listen -- listened to Walt yesterday saying he had to take sand out of just about -- a Q-tip to his ear just about every five minutes just to be able to hear and put his ear piece back into his ear to communicate. It has been really tough going for a lot of them.
One of them is Alessio Vinci. He's embedded with the U.S. Marines. We know he's in Southern Iraq. Earlier in the week, we do know Alessio was in and around the area of Nasiriya. By video phone, Alessio now has an update.
Not sure what's happened, Alessio. Why don't you go ahead and tell us?
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, it's been fairly quiet so far here in -- around Nasiriya in the sector that is covered by the unit of the Marines that I'm embedded with, one of the reasons being, U.S. commanders are telling us, that, so far, they have pretty much secured the supply route that travels near Nasiriya going toward the North. That supply route, of course, used by the U.S. military to bring up supplies to the advancing U.S. forces that are going towards Baghdad.
This does not mean, however, military commanders say, that there will be no more fighting around here, mainly because they expect there are -- they expect some resistance coming, especially from those Saddam Fedayeens, those military -- paramilitary groups that are very loyal to Saddam Hussein that operate alongside the regular Iraqi army.
And they are really using tactics that are very -- that are giving the U.S. military some problems, mainly the use of civilians to shield themselves against possible U.S. attacks, and, also, those paramilitary groups are using those civilians as scouts or as spies, sending them sometimes towards the U.S. military checkpoints with their kids in order to collect intelligence and then come back on the threat of being -- of killing family members back at home if they do not do that in order to give them some information about where the U.S. military is.
And we've also seen some -- we've also seen evidence of that today -- yesterday, rather, that some of the Marines engaging those Fedayeen, indeed, have had exchange of fire, and, unfortunately, some civilians have been killed, including at least one child that we saw today -- yesterday, excuse me, being buried.
And it is, indeed, a concern because some of the military commanders here believe that the Fedayeens now are about to prepare some kind of a guerrilla warfare against those U.S. military checkpoints, and it is something that the U.S. military here and the Marines especially are taking extremely seriously.
They have created buffer zones. They have created areas where the -- you know, even civilians are not allowed to go in because they're very much concerned that the civilians could be used by those Fedayeens to give away the position of the U.S. military here.
Back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: Alessio, quickly here. We're going to get to General Grange on the same topic in a moment. But any reaction to the Marines that you're around, or did they even know about these 3,000 chemical suits that were found in a hospital in An Nasiriya and the antidote that was found in there as well?
VINCI: Bill, when I heard about morning about the hospital, I heard it back from our desk in Atlanta, and, when I told the people around, what has been found, everybody was surprised. So you have to understand that we are totally isolated here, and mostly what the Marines know about something else that happened in the region comes from us.
But, yes, I told them about it, and they're all asking the same question. I think it's the question that everybody's asking right now, is whether the fact that these chemical suits exist, whether the fact that also some Atropine, I believe, was found in the hospital meant that Saddam Hussein forces are ready or able at this time to use chemical weapons against U.S. forces.
HEMMER; All right. Alessio, thanks.
Alessio Vinci there.
More on this. Renay San Miguel is standing by with the general -- Renay?
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: The next thing we were going to talk about, Bill, was what was found at Nasiriya by the Marines.
Joining us is our military analyst, retired Army General David Grange.
Let's go ahead and show you some satellite imagery from earthviewer.com telling you -- showing you Nasiriya, and we'll talk about this hospital where these Marines went in last night, gained control of the hospital that was being used as a paramilitary headquarters and storage area.
This is, obviously, the Fedayeen Saddam and maybe some Special Republican Guards in there as well. Two hundred weapons, Iraqi military uniforms, a tank, and then 3,000 chemical protection suits, some gas masks, and injectors to be used for nerve gas antidote.
Here is the City of Nasiriya. Supposedly it was somewhere south that the hospital was located. Any surprise on your part that this is what was found?
BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: No surprise. Totally illegal to use a hospital to hide war equipment and then of -- hiding weapon of mass destruction, the chemical munitions. So paramilitary operations are not illegal, but using a hospital for paramilitary operations is.
MIGUEL: And let's talk a little bit about that. Paramilitary can also mean, you know, the idea of U.S. special forces working with Kurdish rebels of the North. Is that...
GRANGE: Yes, it's paramilitary forces being -- special forces -- U.S. special forces working with paramilitary forces to do unconventional warfare, and, as long as it's legal, in other words, it doesn't violate the rules -- the law of land warfare, then it's no problem with that, but, in this case, it's illegal.
MIGUEL: Brigadier General Vince Brooks actually called it verging an terroristic, this kind of thing, and also using human shields.
Let's talk also now about what else he disclosed at the briefing. Basra and As Samaway, two cities in the South, had their Baath Party headquarters bombed by coalition forces. You know, the Baath Party being Saddam's party, the ruling party here.
GRANGE: Right.
MIGUEL: The strategy behind this?
GRANGE: Well, they have to -- this is the head of the snake in each one of these locations, and they're the ones that are holding, through terror, the populous in these particular towns from toppling, you know, the regime, getting -- gaining independence, and so a strategic target -- or tactical target, rather, I should say, that's very important to get these cities to fall, to help relieve some of the rear area operations these paramilitary forces are conducting against coalition forces.
MIGUEL: And maybe aiding in the potential uprising that we have seen in -- that supposedly is going on in Basra.
GRANGE: Well, the people are not going to be able to uprise unless some of these elements of destroyed.
MIGUEL: OK. General Grange, thanks for your insight.
Paula, back on over to you.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, Renay. Coming up right after this short break, you're going to meet a family that has been affected by this war in a different way than most. Not only do they have two children and a son-in-law in the region, they also have a third child that may be soon deployed, and you'll meet them the Stauns after this short break.
Thanks for coming in.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ZAHN: Welcome back. Twenty-seven minutes after the hour.
News from the front lines affects few people as the way it hits William and Mary Staun. The Cincinnati couple not has two children and a son-in-law all in the 3rd Infantry. Get this. They also have another daughter who might be deployed to the region. And William and Mary join us now.
Welcome. I can't even begin to understand what this past week has been like for you. How are you holding up?
MARY STAUN, HAS THREE CHILDREN IN ARMY: I went to the doctor yesterday.
(LAUGHTER)
ZAHN: With what was a major case of stress?
M. STAUN: Yes.
WILLIAM STAUN, HAS THREE CHILDREN IN ARMY: He took her heart rate.
M. STAUN: He took my heart rate and said your heart's beating a little fast, and I said, gee, I can't imagine why.
ZAHN: Now are you allowed to continue working? You're a...
M. STAUN: Oh...
ZAHN: ... fourth-grade teacher, and, I guess, to a certain extent, it must be a little bit of a distraction for you.
M. STAUN: Oh, it's a very big distraction, and I've told my class that I need them as much as they need me, so -- you know, keep me on track, guys. Keep me on track.
ZAHN: How has this affected you, William? Are you working as much as you have in the past?
W. STAUN: No, no, no. You can't -- you can't work as much. I went from an eight-hour day to a six-hour day to a five-hour day, doing as much as I possibly can to maintain as much of a normal lifestyles possible. But there are so many other things that you do when the kids are deployed that people don't think. I mean I am responsible for their finances. So I take care of their mail and pay their bills.
We also -- you know, they set up a program ahead of time with us. So, every so many weeks, we send T-shirts and underwear and socks. You know, they just -- because they have to carry everything that they need with them.
You can't send over, you know, a 20-pound care package. So you send over a small handful of Q-tips, and you put them in a rubber band in a small bag. You send over some baby wipes. You send over things -- small shampoos so that, you know, they've got what they need for a week or so.
And then, a week or so later, hopefully, they'll get the next package and then they can go from there.
ZAHN: How much contact have you had either with your son-in-law or your children? Now Peggy is still stateside...
M. STAUN: Right.
ZAHN: ... so you get to talk to her everyday, but how about the rest?
M. STAUN: We've had -- Rosemarie's last contact was the very beginning of March before she rolled out. Mack we haven't had any contact with since probably middle of February and same with Will because they're -- there aren't computers and telephones and mailboxes in the desert, which is where they are.
ZAHN: I -- I'm just curious whether you watch any television at all or if that's too much for you?
M. STAUN: Once in the morning and once at night to figure out what's going on, but that's enough.
ZAHN: And how about you, William?
W. STAUN; Well, you know, I like to check in about every four or five hours. But the problem is that, when I sit and I watch the TV, the tension builds. You know, it just brings it real close, and I think to survive, you need positive thoughts and positive thoughts don't always come from watching what's going on over there.
ZAHN: And just a final thought for the American public about not only your families' commitment to the military -- neither one of you came out of a military background, I might add -- but...
M. STAUN: Right, right.
ZAHN: ... the hundreds of thousands of troops we're talking about that remain there to this day in the region as you watch this news break, some of it has been very disturbing, obviously -- got to be scary to folks like you. M. STAUN: Keep them in your prayers, keep positive thinking. Send them letters, cards, things like that, that will let them know that we support them. Fly your flag, be American.
ZAHN: William?
W. STAUN: The biggest thing, and I picked it up from my kids, is that they want to see support from the American people, and I think support means having a positive attitude. Yes, not everything is going to go perfect, but be positive that it is all going to turn out all right. Be positive that we're doing it for the right reasons. Be positive that our young people are capable of doing their job and doing it well.
ZAHN: Mary and William Staun, the best of luck to your family. I can't even (UNINTELLIGIBLE) what you're going through.
W. STAUN: I won't trade places with you...
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: No wonder you have to have your blood pressure checked all the time. I hope we kept it low during this interview.
M. STAUN: Oh, definitely.
ZAHN: Have a safe trip home.
M. STAUN: Thank you.
W. STAUN: Appreciate it.
ZAHN: And I hope you hear some good news soon.
M. STAUN: No news is good news.
W. STAUN: No news is good news.
ZAHN: That is true. Again, best of luck to your family.
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