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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Coalition Forces Pushing Towards Baghdad

Aired April 02, 2003 - 17:00   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.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: The Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld giving a progress report to the House Arms Services Committee. That was Duncan Hunter, the chairman of the House Arms Services Committee, the secretary talking about the march, the march towards Baghdad which is clearly intensifying right now.
Also right now we're waiting for Private First Class Jessica Lynch, just rescued from captivity in Iraq to arrive at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. We'll take you live there as soon as she arrives, and I'll speak to her older brother and younger sister in West Virginia at exactly that time. It's now early morning in Baghdad as the city braces for the Coalition assault that's moving ever closer. Right now an Allied assault on Baghdad appears to be closer than its ever been and our headlines from the Persian Gulf, Coalition forces approaching Baghdad's Southern outskirts, preparing for the final push into the capital. But as U.S.-led forces move forward, Coalition commanders say Iraq's Republican Guard could still put up some stiff resistance as the fight draws near to Baghdad.

We'll have all of that, but first Heidi Collins has a "News Update" from the CNN news a room.

(NEWS BREAK)

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Heidi.

U.S. Military officials are reporting key gains in the push toward Baghdad.

Let's take a look at today's battle lines.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: (voice-over): A dramatic day, a steady and violent advance toward the outskirts of Baghdad by the U.S. Army and Marine Corp. The Pentagon says there was in 30 miles of Baghdad.

CNN's Walter Rodgers reports 3rd Infantry fought the Republican Guard's Medina Division at Karbala, and defeated the Iraqis and punched through. They are now poised for the battle to the capital city. As is the Army's 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment. CNN's Carl Pen haul reports that group also encountered Medina Division Units at Karbala and defeated them.

GEN. VINCENT BROOKS, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: The dagger is clearly pointed at the heart of the regime right now, and will remain pointed at that time until the regime is gone. BLITZER: The dagger has yet to pierce downtown Baghdad where more intense street to street combat may be waiting. Still, U.S. forces are moving north, fast. And Pentagon sources tell CNN the unforeseen circumstance e there will be no letup in what they're calling the first phase of the final push to Baghdad.

East of Karbala, near the town of Kut, U.S. Central Command says the 1st Marine Expeditionary force overran and destroyed the entire Baghdad Division of the Republican Guard and then made a key crossing of the Tigris River and is headed north.

Still in Central Iraq in Nabil just south of Karbala, CNN's Ryan Chilcote, reports Marines with cover from attack helicopters routed Iraqi paramilitary units at an important intersection. Also in Najaf, Chilcote reports the Army's 101st Airborne Division fired on Iraqi paramilitary units from helicopter gunships, but says the Iraqis have taken over the gilded tomb of Ali, a holy site for Shiite Muslims. Chilcote reports the forces are not firing on the mosque.

On the northern front between the key cities of Mosul and Irbil, CNN's Ben Wedeman and Brent Sadler, report Coalition bombing drove Iraqi forces off a ridge line and pounded Iraqi positions near Kirkuk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: You're looking now at live pictures from Ramstein Air Base. A U.S. C-17 military transport plane has just landed aboard, Private First Class Jessica Lynch. She is the 19-year-old Army soldier who was rescued yesterday by special forces outside of Nasirayah, inside a hospital. She's badly wounded, though, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and other injuries. She's going to be coming off that plane in a stretcher, taken to an ambulance and moved to the hospital which is not far away. We will have live coverage.

We'll also be speaking live with her younger sister and her older brother. They'll be joining us from Palestine, West Virginia, their hometown. There you see the Ramstein Air Base, a U.S. C-17 behind that DHL plane. U.S. C-17 flown over from Kuwait. There it is all of the way to Ramstein. Once that plane stops taxiing right now, we'll have live coverage.

Let's bring in fact right now Private First Class Gregory Lynch, Jr., the older broth of Jessica.

Gregory, I don't know if you can see these pictures right now, but if you can, what's going through your mind and your heart?

BLITZER: We're going to work that out with Greg -- Gregory Lynch, also U.S. Army, and we're going to bring him in and talk to him, talk to Brandy, the younger sister of Jessica, as well, as soon as that plane stops. We are going to get their thoughts. This was a dramatic rescue by U.S. special forces who went in there including Navy SEALs, and Rangers.

Greg, if you can hear me, what's going through your mind right now as you look these pictures, I assume you can see these pictures on CNN?

PFC. GREG LYNCH, JESSICA'S BROTHER: I can't really see no pictures right now. We're just talking to you through the camera right now -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. So basically what we are seeing is the C-17 that has just landed at Ramstein and it's taxiing. Pretty soon we'll be seeing your sister taken off this plane and taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.

Have you had a chance to speak with her yet or are you still waiting for that?

G. LYNCH: We are still waiting, right now. We knew she was on a plane to Germany to the hospital, but you are telling me the first right now that she is landing. So that is good news.

BLITZER: Yes, she's landed after a long flight from Kuwait, a journey that began in Nasiriyah at a hospital where she was rescued by U.S. military personnel. This has been a hectic, almost 24 hours for you. You've gone through a lot of emotions. Talk to our viewers about how you're feeling.

G. LYNCH: It's a relief right now. The whole family is just emotionally overwhelmed with the gratitude. They want me to thank everybody for all the support, the special forces that went in there that rescued my sister, it's just great. Everybody is doing their job and doing it well.

BLITZER: Are you planning on -- have they told you whether she's going to be treated extensively at the hospital near Ramstein or will she just be treated there briefly and then taken to a U.S. hospital, perhaps the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C.?

Have they given you any indication of what they're planning on doing?

G. LYNCH: Wolf, right now they haven't contacted us and told us anything about how she's going to be treated or where exactly she is. All we know is she was on the many to Germany to be in the hospital there.

BLITZER: What are they saying to you? Are they giving you more details about how she was rescued?

G. LYNCH: No. No, details are being released to us right now. Just what we're catching from CNN, live coverage. That is what we're getting. It's showing the take down of how it went down, and how she was pulled out on the stretcher and then the plane taking off. We did see some of that.

BLITZER: What kind of injuries has she suffered from? Did they give you specifics about that.

G. LYNCH: We were told multiple wounds, possible broken bones in both legs. They assume from the gunshot wounds to her legs is what we were told, Wolf.

BLITZER: But her spirit's I'm sure very good. And I'm sure she's going to make a complete recovery. She's going to get excellent medical treatment. Is she -- she in part decide to join the Army because of you. You were almost like a role model, an example for her. Talk to us a little bit about that.

G. LYNCH: I tell you what, she looks up to me a lot and I took it for granted at a younger age. Now that I see that she does respect me for not only who I am as a brother, but you know, as a fellow soldier as well. It just makes me proud to see that she's trying to follow my foot step and more or less, I think I should follow in her foot step -- Wolf.

She's a remarkable young woman. And your younger sister Brandy, is she there with you now?

G. LYNCH: No. She is not feeling good right now, Wolf. And the governor from West Virginia is right now at my house talking. So it's a chaotic mess right now.

BLITZER: I can only imagine how excited everyone must be in your small town. Brandy wants to join the Army, too, when she finishes high school, too, is that right?

G. LYNCH: That's what she's been saying. Whether or not she proceeds onto it, I hope that she does something with herself and whether it be the Army of or college, it's up to her right there.

BLITZER: And she hasn't said anything about what her sister has had to endure over the past week, is going to force her or convince her to rethink her own goals, her own plans?

G. LYNCH: She's just like our older sister. She is strong headed as well. And the path that she takes is yet to be determined.

BLITZER: The whole experience for your father, the rest of your family, talk to us a little bit about what it's been like this past week before you learned that your sister had been successfully rescued.

G. LYNCH: Nerve-racking. The whole family, every evening we would have a prayer meeting at the house with the family members. And not only the support from the community bringing supplies to the house, anything that we needed, we were more than welcome to anything that we could get our hands on. They were more than welcome to give it us to. The state provided anything we needed as well and the nation as well. I mean, it's just overwhelming what this community and the country has is doing for us.

BLITZER: Greg, hold on one second, because David Jolley, a freelance journalist is on the phone with us. He's at Ramstein, the air base in Germany where your sister has just touched down on the C- 17 military transport plane.

David, set the scene for us a little bit. Tell us what's happening at Ramstein.

DAVID JOLLEY: Hello, Wolf. As you say a C-17 has just touched down a few minutes ago. And we're expecting Jessica Lynch to be on board, to be taken off this aircraft in some minutes and then loaded into an ambulance and then taken the three miles to the Landstuhl Hospital where she will be treated for some time. We're not sure exactly how long she's going to spend here in Germany, but she'll at least be here for a couple of days -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Because, sometimes with some of the other wounded U.S. military personnel, U.S. Soldier, they stay there briefly at Landstuhl, and then they're taken to Walter Reed or one of the other hospitals, military hospitals in the United States for more advanced treatment. Is there going to be any sort of ceremony or anything along those lines or will it be -- she'll be on a stretcher, they'll carry her off and put her in the ambulance.

JOLLEY: We know at the moment is that Brigadier General Erwin S. Lestle (ph), who is the 86th Airlift wing commander here at Ramstein Air Base. He's coming here in a few minutes. So we're not sure whether there will be any sort of ceremony or whether he's merely going to greet Private Lynch before she is taken off on in an ambulance. Again, I don't know what will happen at the hospital, we are going to wait and see. We're expecting some sort of briefing tomorrow on Private Lynch's condition and then we'll know a little bit more.

BLITZER: Do you know what the earlier sort of sequence of events with other wounded soldiers has been at Ramstein once they come off that military transport plane?

JOLLEY: Well, it's a pretty standard procedure that we see many times since the beginning of the conflict. It rather depends on the injuries that the wounded have sustained as to how long they actually stay at Landstuhl. Depends on the severity and whether they're in intensive care, but most of them are flown fairly quickly to the United States, obviously, as I say, it depends on the severity of the a particular injury.

BLITZER: Stand By, David. I want to bring Greg Lynch back. He's the older brother of Jessica. He's with us from West Virginia. How long have you been in the U.S. Army, Greg?

G. LYNCH: Almost two years. It's about 20 months right now -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And what's your job there?

G. LYNCH: I'm a avionics electrician with the Black Hawk unit helicopters.

BLITZER: And where are you based?

G. LYNCH: Out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

BLITZER: Your unit, any plans for it to be deployed here to the Persian Gulf?

G. LYNCH: Right now, Wolf, we're not getting any plans. That information like that is just on the spur. They're just going to come down with orders and then we're going to go. It's hard to tell when it's going to happen.

BLITZER: How do you feel about that after what's topped your sister?

G. LYNCH: Before it even happened now I was ready to go, and now that it's happened I'm ready to go even more.

BLITZER: You're ready to serve your country, obviously, you've been serving your country now for two years. No change of heart. No impact whatsoever, you're determined to do your duty, is that it?

G. LYNCH: That's correct, Wolf. That's my job and I'm going to do it.

BLITZER: David Jolley, as we see the plane, the door has now opened of that C-17. Who are -- who is expected to go ahead and receive Jessica on the scene, on the TARMAC there?

JOLLEY: Well, as I say, the Brigadier General Irwin S. Lestle, who is the 86th Airlift wing commander here, he's expected to greet Private Lynch when she comes off the aircraft. The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) From my vantage point, I can't actually see whether he's arrived or not. Obviously, the people you can see in the battle fatigues are the aircraft crew that have come out first. We can now see -- you won't be able to see yet, but there's an ambulance medical bus coming in from the left passing front of the camera in some seconds. Presumably, this is the vehicle that will take Private Lynch to Landstuhl, some three miles away from here.

BLITZER: Landstuhl is a hospital.

How good of a hospital, how sophisticated of a hospital is Landstuhl -- David.

JOLLEY: It's a very, very good hospital. During the last Gulf War in 1991 it took some 4,000 U.S. personnel. So the hospital is very much geared up to take in battle injuries. It's the largest U.S. Hospital outside the U.S. It has NBC specialists, nuclear, biological chemical specialists to deal with any weapons of mass destruction. It has burn specialists from Brooks Army Medical Center in Texas. It's a hospital that's certainly geared up to deal with this. And it's a hospital that's taken some three quarters of those injured in the conflict so far.

BLITZER: Greg, when you hear that, that must be music to your ears when you hear how sophisticated and how solid that Landstuhl Hospital is -- Greg.

G. LYNCH: Not only to mine, but the family and anybody that's supporting my family. It's just great news. BLITZER: Because she's going to get the finest medical treatment in the world to make sure she makes a complete recovery. Talk about the rest of your family.

How have they reacted to this incredible news?

G. LYNCH: Wolf, I tell you, it's unbelievable what's going on in my house. When my dad received the call last night, my mom literally about tore the door off the hinges. It was just through the roof when the news spread so fast. I tell you what, it's just good news to hear, not only from our family, but any other family that may have a missing person. It just gives them hope that their family members will give them hope.

BLITZER: You can look down and see the TV screen, and see what our viewers are seeing right now as this ambulance is there at the plane?

G. LYNCH: I see that right now, Wolf. I see the screen with the people walking on the ramp as we speak.

BLITZER: All right. I want you to look at that screen, and as soon as you see your sister, obviously, you're going to be very excited. It's going to bring a smile, I'm sure to your face, to your family's face. Are they all inside there watching TV right now.

G. LYNCH: Yes, they're inside right now, Wolf. Watching TV with the governor as we speak.

BLITZER: And your parents, talk a little bit about your mom and dad. How are they holding up with all the excitement?

G. LYNCH: They're holding up a lot better now.

BLITZER: Here she comes. Here she comes on the stretcher.

You can see this, right -- Greg.

G. LYNCH: Yes, I can see it, Wolf. I can see.

BLITZER: Well, tell us how do you feel about that?

G. LYNCH: It's outstanding. It just brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. It's good news that she's on her way home.

BLITZER: This is an important stop over on her way back to the United States. She'll be taken in this ambulance to the Landstuhl Hospital and get some more treatment. Excellent doctors there, excellent nurses there, the finest medical care, and she'll be brought back to the United States. You've been on leave over the past week or so since your sister was declared MIA, missing in action, is that right -- Greg.

G. LYNCH: That's correct. I'm on emergency leave until April 11.

BLITZER: And then you head back to North Carolina?

G. LYNCH: Yes. That's correct, Wolf and then I'll be heading back to North Carolina.

BLITZER: Well, this has been quite an exciting day.

Gregory Lynch, congratulations to you, congratulations to your parents and your younger sister, Brandy, the whole family, all your friends and relatives in Palestine, West Virginia. Indeed, to the entire nation as you watched your sister. Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our viewers?

G. LYNCH: I'll tell you, Wolf. I just want to thank everybody in the nation for the support of the family. I want to give other families the hope that their soldiers will come home as well. And I want to give thanks to the soldiers over there serving the country in Iraq right now. They're doing an outstanding job and this is truly amazing.

BLITZER: All right. Congratulations, Gregory Lynch, to you private first class U.S. Army, congratulations to your entire family. We are glad that we could share this moment with you and with all of our viewers.

David Jolley, thanks to you as well for joining us from on the scene At Ramstein. Jessica Lynch now on the way to the Landstuhl Hospital for medical treatment. Eventually she'll be coming back to the United States. Jessica's rescue, of course, is bittersweet for the families and friends of the 22 other Americans still missing or held captive in Iraq. Among them Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson who was captured the same day Jessica Lynch was in the in that ambush near Nasiriyah. Her father had this reaction earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLAUDE JOHNSON, FATHER OF POW: I'm very, very, very glad that Jessica's been returned and that she is safe. As I've said previously, it's not just about Shoshana it's about all of the prisoners that are over there. And I hope and pray that each and every one of them could come home safe just like Jessica did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Meanwhile the Reverend Jesse Jackson is pressing Iraq to release its remaining American POWS. He met today with Iraq's United Nations ambassador, Reverend Jackson says he's willing to go to Iraq himself to secure their freedom.

BLITZER: We'll take a quick break. Much more coverage of the war in Iraq including the march towards Baghdad, 15 miles and counting. We'll have the latest. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Looking at live pictures of Baghdad, explosions earlier in the night. The night is still young here in this part of the world. We are watching what's happening in the Iraqi capital as well as elsewhere in Iraq.

Despite reports that Coalition troops may soon reach the outskirts of Baghdad. The Iraqi government continues to insist that it has things completely under control.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is joining us from his listening post in, Rowasha (ph), Jordan. That's right on the border with Iraq.

First of all, Nic, there is word tonight, late word just now that Al Jazeera is being expelled. The Arabic language satellite channel from Iraq, from all parts of Iraq, what if anything do you know about that?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the beginning of the news broadcast just a few minutes ago, Al Jazeera announced that all of the journalists inside Iraq have been told by the Iraqis to stop reporting. Indeed, one of the reporters has been asked to leave the country. Now, we know they've had reporters not only in Baghdad, but in Basra and in the south and Mosul in the north. The Iraqi authorities have told them all to stop broadcasting.

What the Iraqi authorities have told Al-Jazeera they can continue to do is they can continue to send out pictures of those television announcements by Iraqi Leaders, Iraqi officials. They are allowed to send out pictures that they gather from around Iraq. Pictures of the bombing and pictures of injured people in the hospital. But, from what we understand and what Al Jazeera is telling its audience is they are no longer allowed to have their journalists comment on what they're seeing. Not allowed to comment. Not allowed to make their complete reports and stories -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Any explanation given at all for this dramatic development?

ROBERTSON: Al Jazeera at this time isn't offering any sort of explanation of it. Announced it at the beginning of the news broadcast. It appears that they've only just been given this information by Iraqi authorities. It is not clear why they're being put in this position or whether or not they have any leeway, whether or not they can change their position.

But certainly Al Jazeera has been one of the broadcasters within Iraq that's had perhaps the greatest and widest access, the largest number of reporters, the largest number of camera crews that had access to go to Basra in the south even when Coalition forces had been firing into areas of the Republican Guard and Fedayeen forces in and around Basra. They've been able to go to the north to Mosul where that city has been under Coalition bombing on military, Iraqi military positions there. hand they've had access in Baghdad.

They've been able to operate from their own offices, independently of Iraq's Ministry of Information for a large part. This is something western broadcasters have not been able to do. So going from a position of good access, relative to other broadcasters, this really appears to be quite a setback for Al-Jazeera at this time -- Wolf.

BLITZER: What about the other developments today in Iraq? Saddam Hussein with some of the senior advisers were seen on Iraqi television. What, if anything, does that is a to us about whether or not the Iraqi leader is dead or alive?

ROBERTSON: Again, this is an appearance on television. It's not clear whether President Saddam Hussein was -- it is not clear when these pictures were taken. He was in military uniform and he was with ministers. He was with the Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and with the Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan. Although the president of Iraq looked quite relaxed, Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi prime minister looked incredibly serious sitting at the table, and so did some of the other ministers with him. But it's not clear when these pictures were taken.

What's go interesting here as well is that Uday Saddam Hussein who is critical of the military governance of the center of Iraq. He is also in charge of those Republican Guard units who are between the Coalition forces and Baghdad at this time. He was not present at that meeting, perhaps there's importance in that. Certainly analysts believe that Qusay is a critical figure in the leadership of Iraq at this time. And he certainly wasn't there.

Again, Wolf, impossible to say when these pictures were taken. For the second day in a rover, however, we have had a statement read on Iraqi television by the information minister purporting to come from President Saddam Hussein. Whereas yesterday's message appeared to be the Shiite community in the south, today's message was a warning to the Kurdish community in the north not to back the Coalition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SAHAF, IRAQ INFORMATION MINISTER: It is my duty, and my moral duty, and my constitutional duty is to warn you how dangerous is this game. If you surrender and continue this path regardless how the problems and differences between our two people, we have one history and one country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: President Saddam Hussein also had another statement read out on Iraqi television saying should that victory would soon be at hand for the Iraqis -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Nic Robertson, with the latest from the situation inside Iraq. Nic joining us from the border between Jordan and Iraq. Thanks very much, Nic.

Meanwhile, U.S. soldiers and Marines on the move. They're getting closer toward the Iraqi capital. One report, perhaps only 15 miles away from Baghdad. The U.S. Army's 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment is among the groups. Among the U.S. Troops moving toward Baghdad. CNN's Carl Penhaul is embedded with that unit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Commanders say U.S. Troops are now within 15 to 20 miles of the southern outskirts of Baghdad after a day of rapid advances. Tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles of the 3rd Infantry Division flanked by Apache attack helicopters of the 11th Aviation Regiment have been advancing through the city of Karbala a strategic town that contains river points and major highways, and advanced north across open land and again across the Euphrates River.

Some U.S. commanders have even suggested why the early hours of the morning U.S. Troops could be actually on the southern outskirts of Baghdad. These advances have come much quicker than many commanders expected, because of the battles and fighting today. There has been resistance from Iraqi forces, the U.S. commanders say that that resistance has been lighter than expected. Some Apache attack helicopters were damaged by ground fire, but there was no repeat of the heavy anti-aircraft fire experienced in earlier attacks around the city of Karbala.

This is Carl Penhaul with the 11th Aviation Regiment near An Najaf, Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Let's get more now on this dramatic move towards the Iraqi capital.

CNN's senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is embedded with the Army's 3-7th Cavalry. One of the units bearing down directly on Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Throughout the day as the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry punched northward in the general direction of Baghdad. We have seen huge convoys of supply troops moving ever northward. Indeed, all of the arrows on the Army's map seem to be pointing in the direction of the southern suburbs of Baghdad employ earlier in the day the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division took Karbala with the minimum of fight and the 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division secured the town of Karbala.

Additionally the 7th Cavalry has pushed onward in the general direction of Baghdad. Yesterday we were 50 miles from the southern suburbs of Baghdad. We have perhaps half that distance. Throughout the day we have watched 3rd Infantry Division bring in prisoners of war. Iraqi soldiers glad the war is over for them, perhaps a hundred at a time. There were times when the 7th Cavalry itself got into skirmishes as it pushed forward again in the direction of Baghdad.

There was a about the of a firefight when the 7th Cavalry came about three Soviet vintage .20 millimeter anti-aircraft guns, ACK-ACK guns. The Iraqi unit in possession of those guns fired mortars in the direction of the 7th Cavalry. The Apache troop opened its tank guns, opened its own mortars, decimated that unit and put it out of existence and probably killed some 20 Iraqis in the process. This is as it continues to push ever closer toward the suburbs of Baghdad.

Walter Rodgers, CNN, with the 7th Cavalry in the Iraqi desert.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: So where exactly does the war stand right now?

Joining us from Washington retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Daniel Christman. General, thanks for joining us.

Now that we've seen the reports of the Coalition victories at Karbala and Kut. Where does the Coalition move from here? They seem to be pretty close to Baghdad.

LT. GEN. DANIEL CHRISTMAN (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Wolf, this was a hugely important day. This is not just a accept this for a second. This is not the end game. This is not the beginning of the end and it's not even the battle for the city of Baghdad, but it is a battle in so many respects for the key holders to that city. And those two key holders, two of them in the larger number is the Medina Division and the Baghdad Division and having those two defeated and hugely important. Where this Coalition goes next is to assault the next ring of Saddam's defenses. Any military defender, Wolf, raced defenses in- depth.

And this first ring that Walter reported on, that the marines assaulted Al Kut, that's the first ring of several. Inside of these are two or three additional guard divisions like Al Midar, Hammurabi (ph), that have not yet been assaulted, at least by direct fire, evidently. So the next step is to ensure those are eliminated. And inside of that is the actual key to the city itself and that's the special Republican Guard Brigades that hold in so many respects the critical avenues into the city itself. Important day, but still many, many hard days of direct fighting await us.

BLITZER: So how about this push north towards Baghdad?

Will it move slowly incrementally or will there be a dramatic thrust upon the capital?

CHRISTMAN: It's going to wait entirely on what these advanced units, like Walter Rodgers (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the 7th. And like the Marine wrecking units in that first (UNINTELLIGIBLE) encounter. If they have found that the Coalition air strikes have so depleted those divisions which I outlined, Hammurabi, Al Midhar and the remnants of (UNINTELLIGIBLE). If they find those are gone, then I suspect in the next 24 to 48 hour, the Coalition will be on the doorstep of the city of Baghdad itself. So it has to accept the results of the combat assessments both air and ground before the final miles are closed.

BLITZER: All right. General Christman, thanks very much for your insight. Appreciate it very much.

And to our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on the war in Iraq. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this, "How long do you think it will take coalition troops to take control of Baghdad; days; weeks; months?"

We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf. And while you're there I'd like to hear from you. Send me your comments employ I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column. Cnn.com/wolf. But I write one every day from here in the Persian Gulf.

(NEWS BREAK)

BLITZER: Thanks, very much, Heidi. U.S. Troops poised on the edge of Baghdad employ are they in even more danger? Now we'll go live to the Pentagon and take a much closer look.

Also, caught in the crossfire, an Iraqi town that says it's overwhelm with civilian casualties.

And presidential support. Hear what former President Bush and Carter are saying about the war, but first these images from the front lines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Reports describe today's developments in Iraq as quick moving and fluid, as Coalition troops get ever closer to Baghdad. CNN's Martin Savidge is embedded with the 1st Battalion of the 7th Marines in central Iraq.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The 1st Battalion 7th Marine got their orders to pull out after approaching security around the final supply lines, no longer taking that job, but taking on other objectives. They have been rolling forward north in the general direction of Baghdad. As you can tell by the traffic, we are not alone. There is a lot of equipment, all of the Marine hardware, all of it moving in the general direction.

The Marines moving on in the eastern side of Iraq. The Army is out to the west on flank side. And you would know this is all part the drive in a pincher like movement to get up into the region of Baghdad itself. No indications here that there has been any opposition that has been faced, at least not significant resistance on the part of Iraqi troops.

There's been no snipping of the supply lines we've witnessed. The only gunfire activity we've heard all from the U.S. Marines themselves, outbound, not incoming. So it would appear that the Marines at least at this point at that juncture, they're moving full speed ahead or a as fast as the traffic jam going north will allow -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Martin Savidge. He's with the U.S. Marines. Thanks, Marty, very much.

Despite today's key gains in the march toward Baghdad, military officials say U.S. Forces may still encounter some stiff resistance.

Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As U.S. Forces close in on Baghdad they're beginning to see more signs of success. Iraqi citizens have used them and battle weary Republican Guard Divisions have offered lighter than expected resistance as the U.S. forces approach the capital.

MAJ. GEN. STAN MCCHRYSTAL, JOINT STAFF DEPUTY DIR.: We have indications that elements of the regular army have been brought in to enforce Republican Guard organization. Interestingly enough, we think that's a sign of weakness on their part. They would not normally match the formations.

MCINTYRE: In less than 24 hour, the U.S. 101st Airborne Division drove Iraqi Fedayeen fighters from the key city of Najaf while other forces pushed north in a two-pronged attack. The Army's 3rd Infantry division punched through Karbala meeting light resistance from the Medina Republican Guard Division, and moving along Highway 9 to within 25 miles of Baghdad.

At the same time, Marines from the 1st Division secured a key Tigris river crossing near Al Kut, and have destroyed the combat believity of the light Infantry Baghdad Division. The Marines are now on Highway 7 headed north.

BRIG GEN VINCENT BROOKS, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: We will approach Baghdad. The dagger is clearly pointed at the heart of the regime right now and it will remain pointed until the regime is gone.

MCINTYRE: The U.S. Troops have entered the red zone around Baghdad where it's believed Saddam Hussein has authorized its troops to use chemical weapons.

VICTORIA CLARKE, PENTAGON SPOKESWOMAN: As much as we are making good progress and we are, the toughest fighting could lie ahead. The likelihood they might use chemical weapons is in front of us now.

MCINTYRE: The U.S. continues to use its high tech advantage to a maximum effect. In another combat first, the Pentagon says new sensor-fused cluster bombs like these were used to stop an Iraqi tank column in its tracks. And Monday night the U.S. Seized a key dam this if sabotaged could have flooded the Euphrates and slowed down the troops through Karbala.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: The air war continues as well. Word from the U.S. Central Command is that the air force and navy have dropped more than 40 satellite-guided bombs on a single target in Baghdad, a secure facility believed used by the Special Republican Guard -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre, with the latest from the Pentagon. Thanks Jamie, very much. A hospital in southern Iraq. The Red Cross it is it's overwhelmed with civilian casualties. We'll tell you what happens and what the Coalition is saying about it. All of that just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: As we've been reporting that the very hour, Coalition forces are closing in on Baghdad with some units now just 15 miles away.

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a little further back. He's just landed at a logistical supply area.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: The first thing you'll notice if you look behind me over my left shoulder is something we haven't seen since we've been in Iraq, and that is green vegetation, grass or trees behind me. This gives you a sense of just how far north we are. There is some water throwing through here. Those are the rivers we've been hearing so much about. Also, this is a logistical supply area a very far forward one, 40 miles south of Baghdad. You can see helicopters now over my right shoulder.

This has been a whirlwind of activity. Supplies coming in and out, there's food, there's ammunition, there's fuel. There's a road to my right side, that's a highway. That highway is exactly where a plane landed, the plane that we came in landed just a little while ago. We are going to spend some time with the devil docs. This a medical support unit that actually takes care of patients. They've been telling me their activity has been up and down, as closely reflected with patterns of the war. We are going to spend some time with them and report back to you as soon as we can.

Back to you.

BLITZER: Dr. Sanjay Gupta our CNN medical correspondent embedded with the devil docs. Thanks, Sanjay, very much.

All wars place civilians in harm's way, and the outcome is tragic as we've seen in this war. According to the Arabic network television language, Al Arabia, a Baghdad boy lost most of his family in what he says was a Coalition attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They attacked our house. All my brothers and my father are dead except my older brother Hidar (ph) and myself.

QUESTION: What is your plan for the future?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have no future. I wish to die now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: As we mentioned, the information on this boy came from the Arabic language television network Al Arabbia. We cannot confirm what was the cause of that attack of course. The international Red Cross says some of the staff members have seen the bodies of dozens of Iraqis, including women and children, in the town of Hillia, just 60 miles south of Baghdad. The Red Cross official said the hospital is overwhelmed by casualties.

Iraqi official it is said yesterday U.S. Apache attack helicopters attacked a neighborhood there, killing 33 people and wounding more than 300. The U.S. Central Command says it's investigating, adding that Coalition forces strike only legitimate military targets.

The commander-in-chief from the last gulf war has some powerful words for military families today. We'll show you what the first President George Bush said earlier. That's coming up just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: North Carolina's getting a double dose of the Bush family. Former President Bush visited Marine Corps air station Cherry Point earlier today. And the current President Bush is slated to visit camp Lejeune in North Carolina tomorrow. The elder Bush spent time with station personnel and some of the sponsors of deployed Marines. He painted an optimistic picture of the war. At the same time former President Jimmy Carter says Americans can support troops in Iraq and still disagree about military strategy. Carter made the remarks at an appearance in Little Rock, Arkansas. He said it's want unusual for experts to disagree on how military operations should be conducted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES EARL CARTER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are strong elements of dispute between military commanders on the scene and some of the officials in Washington. I think that's not unhealthy. I think it's perfectly legitimate, for people to express their own assessment. Of a very complex situation even though those assessments might be contrary to one's own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Former President Carter also said he's concerned that fighting in Iraq could stir up anti-American sent not even in countries that have been friends of the United States.

Now a recap of some of the late-breaking developments in the war on Iraq. Here's CNN's Miles O'Brien.

(NEWS BREAK)

CNN's Miles O'Brien with the latest. Throughout this war, we brought you some of the most powerful images from the battlefield, but we're starting to see different pictures now, showing how life is changing so quickly in Iraq. We'll show you some of those images immediately when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Welcome back. Ever since the fighting began in Iraq we've been making it a point to call attention to some of the more dramatic images of this war. Today one image stands out in particular. It's a former Iraqi air base now controlled by the Coalition forces.

And CNN's Gary Tuchman found it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Talil (ph) Iraq, the Talil Air Base, but there are no more Iraqis here. The Coalition took over this base last week. It is now a major staging point. And you know you're in Iraq and you see the portrait of Saddam Hussein. What's happened is the military personnel have taken out their markers, and are writing messages on Saddam Hussein's portrait. You can see the main one here on the bottom. And also here messages like we won, April 1, 2003.

We want to give you a look. A lot of security personnel here. You can look over there and you can see the military vehicles. These are air force security forces with their rifles patrolling the entrance. There is a lot of fighting in this area. We are near the town of Nasiriyah, but this base now is considered secure enough to make it a major staging point for the Coalition.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Gary Tuchman reporting from an air base, that used to be an Iraqi air base, now controlled by the Coalition.

How long do you think it will take Coalition troops to take control of Baghdad? You can still vote. Go to our web page, cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results of our web question in when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: This is how you're weighing in on our web question of the day. Remember we've been asking you this.

How long do you think it will take Coalition troops to take control of Baghdad? 19 percent of you said days. 44 percent, weeks. 37 percent said months. You can find the exact vote tally. Continue to vote, by the way, go to my web page, inn.com/wolf. Remember this, is not a scientific poll.

Please stay with CNN throughout the night for all the late- breaking, up to not the minute war coverage. I'll be back if in one hour. Two hours of special coverage with Paula Zahn. Until then thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Kuwait City.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com








Aired April 2, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: The Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld giving a progress report to the House Arms Services Committee. That was Duncan Hunter, the chairman of the House Arms Services Committee, the secretary talking about the march, the march towards Baghdad which is clearly intensifying right now.
Also right now we're waiting for Private First Class Jessica Lynch, just rescued from captivity in Iraq to arrive at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. We'll take you live there as soon as she arrives, and I'll speak to her older brother and younger sister in West Virginia at exactly that time. It's now early morning in Baghdad as the city braces for the Coalition assault that's moving ever closer. Right now an Allied assault on Baghdad appears to be closer than its ever been and our headlines from the Persian Gulf, Coalition forces approaching Baghdad's Southern outskirts, preparing for the final push into the capital. But as U.S.-led forces move forward, Coalition commanders say Iraq's Republican Guard could still put up some stiff resistance as the fight draws near to Baghdad.

We'll have all of that, but first Heidi Collins has a "News Update" from the CNN news a room.

(NEWS BREAK)

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Heidi.

U.S. Military officials are reporting key gains in the push toward Baghdad.

Let's take a look at today's battle lines.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: (voice-over): A dramatic day, a steady and violent advance toward the outskirts of Baghdad by the U.S. Army and Marine Corp. The Pentagon says there was in 30 miles of Baghdad.

CNN's Walter Rodgers reports 3rd Infantry fought the Republican Guard's Medina Division at Karbala, and defeated the Iraqis and punched through. They are now poised for the battle to the capital city. As is the Army's 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment. CNN's Carl Pen haul reports that group also encountered Medina Division Units at Karbala and defeated them.

GEN. VINCENT BROOKS, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: The dagger is clearly pointed at the heart of the regime right now, and will remain pointed at that time until the regime is gone. BLITZER: The dagger has yet to pierce downtown Baghdad where more intense street to street combat may be waiting. Still, U.S. forces are moving north, fast. And Pentagon sources tell CNN the unforeseen circumstance e there will be no letup in what they're calling the first phase of the final push to Baghdad.

East of Karbala, near the town of Kut, U.S. Central Command says the 1st Marine Expeditionary force overran and destroyed the entire Baghdad Division of the Republican Guard and then made a key crossing of the Tigris River and is headed north.

Still in Central Iraq in Nabil just south of Karbala, CNN's Ryan Chilcote, reports Marines with cover from attack helicopters routed Iraqi paramilitary units at an important intersection. Also in Najaf, Chilcote reports the Army's 101st Airborne Division fired on Iraqi paramilitary units from helicopter gunships, but says the Iraqis have taken over the gilded tomb of Ali, a holy site for Shiite Muslims. Chilcote reports the forces are not firing on the mosque.

On the northern front between the key cities of Mosul and Irbil, CNN's Ben Wedeman and Brent Sadler, report Coalition bombing drove Iraqi forces off a ridge line and pounded Iraqi positions near Kirkuk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: You're looking now at live pictures from Ramstein Air Base. A U.S. C-17 military transport plane has just landed aboard, Private First Class Jessica Lynch. She is the 19-year-old Army soldier who was rescued yesterday by special forces outside of Nasirayah, inside a hospital. She's badly wounded, though, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and other injuries. She's going to be coming off that plane in a stretcher, taken to an ambulance and moved to the hospital which is not far away. We will have live coverage.

We'll also be speaking live with her younger sister and her older brother. They'll be joining us from Palestine, West Virginia, their hometown. There you see the Ramstein Air Base, a U.S. C-17 behind that DHL plane. U.S. C-17 flown over from Kuwait. There it is all of the way to Ramstein. Once that plane stops taxiing right now, we'll have live coverage.

Let's bring in fact right now Private First Class Gregory Lynch, Jr., the older broth of Jessica.

Gregory, I don't know if you can see these pictures right now, but if you can, what's going through your mind and your heart?

BLITZER: We're going to work that out with Greg -- Gregory Lynch, also U.S. Army, and we're going to bring him in and talk to him, talk to Brandy, the younger sister of Jessica, as well, as soon as that plane stops. We are going to get their thoughts. This was a dramatic rescue by U.S. special forces who went in there including Navy SEALs, and Rangers.

Greg, if you can hear me, what's going through your mind right now as you look these pictures, I assume you can see these pictures on CNN?

PFC. GREG LYNCH, JESSICA'S BROTHER: I can't really see no pictures right now. We're just talking to you through the camera right now -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. So basically what we are seeing is the C-17 that has just landed at Ramstein and it's taxiing. Pretty soon we'll be seeing your sister taken off this plane and taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment.

Have you had a chance to speak with her yet or are you still waiting for that?

G. LYNCH: We are still waiting, right now. We knew she was on a plane to Germany to the hospital, but you are telling me the first right now that she is landing. So that is good news.

BLITZER: Yes, she's landed after a long flight from Kuwait, a journey that began in Nasiriyah at a hospital where she was rescued by U.S. military personnel. This has been a hectic, almost 24 hours for you. You've gone through a lot of emotions. Talk to our viewers about how you're feeling.

G. LYNCH: It's a relief right now. The whole family is just emotionally overwhelmed with the gratitude. They want me to thank everybody for all the support, the special forces that went in there that rescued my sister, it's just great. Everybody is doing their job and doing it well.

BLITZER: Are you planning on -- have they told you whether she's going to be treated extensively at the hospital near Ramstein or will she just be treated there briefly and then taken to a U.S. hospital, perhaps the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C.?

Have they given you any indication of what they're planning on doing?

G. LYNCH: Wolf, right now they haven't contacted us and told us anything about how she's going to be treated or where exactly she is. All we know is she was on the many to Germany to be in the hospital there.

BLITZER: What are they saying to you? Are they giving you more details about how she was rescued?

G. LYNCH: No. No, details are being released to us right now. Just what we're catching from CNN, live coverage. That is what we're getting. It's showing the take down of how it went down, and how she was pulled out on the stretcher and then the plane taking off. We did see some of that.

BLITZER: What kind of injuries has she suffered from? Did they give you specifics about that.

G. LYNCH: We were told multiple wounds, possible broken bones in both legs. They assume from the gunshot wounds to her legs is what we were told, Wolf.

BLITZER: But her spirit's I'm sure very good. And I'm sure she's going to make a complete recovery. She's going to get excellent medical treatment. Is she -- she in part decide to join the Army because of you. You were almost like a role model, an example for her. Talk to us a little bit about that.

G. LYNCH: I tell you what, she looks up to me a lot and I took it for granted at a younger age. Now that I see that she does respect me for not only who I am as a brother, but you know, as a fellow soldier as well. It just makes me proud to see that she's trying to follow my foot step and more or less, I think I should follow in her foot step -- Wolf.

She's a remarkable young woman. And your younger sister Brandy, is she there with you now?

G. LYNCH: No. She is not feeling good right now, Wolf. And the governor from West Virginia is right now at my house talking. So it's a chaotic mess right now.

BLITZER: I can only imagine how excited everyone must be in your small town. Brandy wants to join the Army, too, when she finishes high school, too, is that right?

G. LYNCH: That's what she's been saying. Whether or not she proceeds onto it, I hope that she does something with herself and whether it be the Army of or college, it's up to her right there.

BLITZER: And she hasn't said anything about what her sister has had to endure over the past week, is going to force her or convince her to rethink her own goals, her own plans?

G. LYNCH: She's just like our older sister. She is strong headed as well. And the path that she takes is yet to be determined.

BLITZER: The whole experience for your father, the rest of your family, talk to us a little bit about what it's been like this past week before you learned that your sister had been successfully rescued.

G. LYNCH: Nerve-racking. The whole family, every evening we would have a prayer meeting at the house with the family members. And not only the support from the community bringing supplies to the house, anything that we needed, we were more than welcome to anything that we could get our hands on. They were more than welcome to give it us to. The state provided anything we needed as well and the nation as well. I mean, it's just overwhelming what this community and the country has is doing for us.

BLITZER: Greg, hold on one second, because David Jolley, a freelance journalist is on the phone with us. He's at Ramstein, the air base in Germany where your sister has just touched down on the C- 17 military transport plane.

David, set the scene for us a little bit. Tell us what's happening at Ramstein.

DAVID JOLLEY: Hello, Wolf. As you say a C-17 has just touched down a few minutes ago. And we're expecting Jessica Lynch to be on board, to be taken off this aircraft in some minutes and then loaded into an ambulance and then taken the three miles to the Landstuhl Hospital where she will be treated for some time. We're not sure exactly how long she's going to spend here in Germany, but she'll at least be here for a couple of days -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Because, sometimes with some of the other wounded U.S. military personnel, U.S. Soldier, they stay there briefly at Landstuhl, and then they're taken to Walter Reed or one of the other hospitals, military hospitals in the United States for more advanced treatment. Is there going to be any sort of ceremony or anything along those lines or will it be -- she'll be on a stretcher, they'll carry her off and put her in the ambulance.

JOLLEY: We know at the moment is that Brigadier General Erwin S. Lestle (ph), who is the 86th Airlift wing commander here at Ramstein Air Base. He's coming here in a few minutes. So we're not sure whether there will be any sort of ceremony or whether he's merely going to greet Private Lynch before she is taken off on in an ambulance. Again, I don't know what will happen at the hospital, we are going to wait and see. We're expecting some sort of briefing tomorrow on Private Lynch's condition and then we'll know a little bit more.

BLITZER: Do you know what the earlier sort of sequence of events with other wounded soldiers has been at Ramstein once they come off that military transport plane?

JOLLEY: Well, it's a pretty standard procedure that we see many times since the beginning of the conflict. It rather depends on the injuries that the wounded have sustained as to how long they actually stay at Landstuhl. Depends on the severity and whether they're in intensive care, but most of them are flown fairly quickly to the United States, obviously, as I say, it depends on the severity of the a particular injury.

BLITZER: Stand By, David. I want to bring Greg Lynch back. He's the older brother of Jessica. He's with us from West Virginia. How long have you been in the U.S. Army, Greg?

G. LYNCH: Almost two years. It's about 20 months right now -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And what's your job there?

G. LYNCH: I'm a avionics electrician with the Black Hawk unit helicopters.

BLITZER: And where are you based?

G. LYNCH: Out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

BLITZER: Your unit, any plans for it to be deployed here to the Persian Gulf?

G. LYNCH: Right now, Wolf, we're not getting any plans. That information like that is just on the spur. They're just going to come down with orders and then we're going to go. It's hard to tell when it's going to happen.

BLITZER: How do you feel about that after what's topped your sister?

G. LYNCH: Before it even happened now I was ready to go, and now that it's happened I'm ready to go even more.

BLITZER: You're ready to serve your country, obviously, you've been serving your country now for two years. No change of heart. No impact whatsoever, you're determined to do your duty, is that it?

G. LYNCH: That's correct, Wolf. That's my job and I'm going to do it.

BLITZER: David Jolley, as we see the plane, the door has now opened of that C-17. Who are -- who is expected to go ahead and receive Jessica on the scene, on the TARMAC there?

JOLLEY: Well, as I say, the Brigadier General Irwin S. Lestle, who is the 86th Airlift wing commander here, he's expected to greet Private Lynch when she comes off the aircraft. The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) From my vantage point, I can't actually see whether he's arrived or not. Obviously, the people you can see in the battle fatigues are the aircraft crew that have come out first. We can now see -- you won't be able to see yet, but there's an ambulance medical bus coming in from the left passing front of the camera in some seconds. Presumably, this is the vehicle that will take Private Lynch to Landstuhl, some three miles away from here.

BLITZER: Landstuhl is a hospital.

How good of a hospital, how sophisticated of a hospital is Landstuhl -- David.

JOLLEY: It's a very, very good hospital. During the last Gulf War in 1991 it took some 4,000 U.S. personnel. So the hospital is very much geared up to take in battle injuries. It's the largest U.S. Hospital outside the U.S. It has NBC specialists, nuclear, biological chemical specialists to deal with any weapons of mass destruction. It has burn specialists from Brooks Army Medical Center in Texas. It's a hospital that's certainly geared up to deal with this. And it's a hospital that's taken some three quarters of those injured in the conflict so far.

BLITZER: Greg, when you hear that, that must be music to your ears when you hear how sophisticated and how solid that Landstuhl Hospital is -- Greg.

G. LYNCH: Not only to mine, but the family and anybody that's supporting my family. It's just great news. BLITZER: Because she's going to get the finest medical treatment in the world to make sure she makes a complete recovery. Talk about the rest of your family.

How have they reacted to this incredible news?

G. LYNCH: Wolf, I tell you, it's unbelievable what's going on in my house. When my dad received the call last night, my mom literally about tore the door off the hinges. It was just through the roof when the news spread so fast. I tell you what, it's just good news to hear, not only from our family, but any other family that may have a missing person. It just gives them hope that their family members will give them hope.

BLITZER: You can look down and see the TV screen, and see what our viewers are seeing right now as this ambulance is there at the plane?

G. LYNCH: I see that right now, Wolf. I see the screen with the people walking on the ramp as we speak.

BLITZER: All right. I want you to look at that screen, and as soon as you see your sister, obviously, you're going to be very excited. It's going to bring a smile, I'm sure to your face, to your family's face. Are they all inside there watching TV right now.

G. LYNCH: Yes, they're inside right now, Wolf. Watching TV with the governor as we speak.

BLITZER: And your parents, talk a little bit about your mom and dad. How are they holding up with all the excitement?

G. LYNCH: They're holding up a lot better now.

BLITZER: Here she comes. Here she comes on the stretcher.

You can see this, right -- Greg.

G. LYNCH: Yes, I can see it, Wolf. I can see.

BLITZER: Well, tell us how do you feel about that?

G. LYNCH: It's outstanding. It just brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. It's good news that she's on her way home.

BLITZER: This is an important stop over on her way back to the United States. She'll be taken in this ambulance to the Landstuhl Hospital and get some more treatment. Excellent doctors there, excellent nurses there, the finest medical care, and she'll be brought back to the United States. You've been on leave over the past week or so since your sister was declared MIA, missing in action, is that right -- Greg.

G. LYNCH: That's correct. I'm on emergency leave until April 11.

BLITZER: And then you head back to North Carolina?

G. LYNCH: Yes. That's correct, Wolf and then I'll be heading back to North Carolina.

BLITZER: Well, this has been quite an exciting day.

Gregory Lynch, congratulations to you, congratulations to your parents and your younger sister, Brandy, the whole family, all your friends and relatives in Palestine, West Virginia. Indeed, to the entire nation as you watched your sister. Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our viewers?

G. LYNCH: I'll tell you, Wolf. I just want to thank everybody in the nation for the support of the family. I want to give other families the hope that their soldiers will come home as well. And I want to give thanks to the soldiers over there serving the country in Iraq right now. They're doing an outstanding job and this is truly amazing.

BLITZER: All right. Congratulations, Gregory Lynch, to you private first class U.S. Army, congratulations to your entire family. We are glad that we could share this moment with you and with all of our viewers.

David Jolley, thanks to you as well for joining us from on the scene At Ramstein. Jessica Lynch now on the way to the Landstuhl Hospital for medical treatment. Eventually she'll be coming back to the United States. Jessica's rescue, of course, is bittersweet for the families and friends of the 22 other Americans still missing or held captive in Iraq. Among them Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson who was captured the same day Jessica Lynch was in the in that ambush near Nasiriyah. Her father had this reaction earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLAUDE JOHNSON, FATHER OF POW: I'm very, very, very glad that Jessica's been returned and that she is safe. As I've said previously, it's not just about Shoshana it's about all of the prisoners that are over there. And I hope and pray that each and every one of them could come home safe just like Jessica did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Meanwhile the Reverend Jesse Jackson is pressing Iraq to release its remaining American POWS. He met today with Iraq's United Nations ambassador, Reverend Jackson says he's willing to go to Iraq himself to secure their freedom.

BLITZER: We'll take a quick break. Much more coverage of the war in Iraq including the march towards Baghdad, 15 miles and counting. We'll have the latest. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Looking at live pictures of Baghdad, explosions earlier in the night. The night is still young here in this part of the world. We are watching what's happening in the Iraqi capital as well as elsewhere in Iraq.

Despite reports that Coalition troops may soon reach the outskirts of Baghdad. The Iraqi government continues to insist that it has things completely under control.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is joining us from his listening post in, Rowasha (ph), Jordan. That's right on the border with Iraq.

First of all, Nic, there is word tonight, late word just now that Al Jazeera is being expelled. The Arabic language satellite channel from Iraq, from all parts of Iraq, what if anything do you know about that?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the beginning of the news broadcast just a few minutes ago, Al Jazeera announced that all of the journalists inside Iraq have been told by the Iraqis to stop reporting. Indeed, one of the reporters has been asked to leave the country. Now, we know they've had reporters not only in Baghdad, but in Basra and in the south and Mosul in the north. The Iraqi authorities have told them all to stop broadcasting.

What the Iraqi authorities have told Al-Jazeera they can continue to do is they can continue to send out pictures of those television announcements by Iraqi Leaders, Iraqi officials. They are allowed to send out pictures that they gather from around Iraq. Pictures of the bombing and pictures of injured people in the hospital. But, from what we understand and what Al Jazeera is telling its audience is they are no longer allowed to have their journalists comment on what they're seeing. Not allowed to comment. Not allowed to make their complete reports and stories -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Any explanation given at all for this dramatic development?

ROBERTSON: Al Jazeera at this time isn't offering any sort of explanation of it. Announced it at the beginning of the news broadcast. It appears that they've only just been given this information by Iraqi authorities. It is not clear why they're being put in this position or whether or not they have any leeway, whether or not they can change their position.

But certainly Al Jazeera has been one of the broadcasters within Iraq that's had perhaps the greatest and widest access, the largest number of reporters, the largest number of camera crews that had access to go to Basra in the south even when Coalition forces had been firing into areas of the Republican Guard and Fedayeen forces in and around Basra. They've been able to go to the north to Mosul where that city has been under Coalition bombing on military, Iraqi military positions there. hand they've had access in Baghdad.

They've been able to operate from their own offices, independently of Iraq's Ministry of Information for a large part. This is something western broadcasters have not been able to do. So going from a position of good access, relative to other broadcasters, this really appears to be quite a setback for Al-Jazeera at this time -- Wolf.

BLITZER: What about the other developments today in Iraq? Saddam Hussein with some of the senior advisers were seen on Iraqi television. What, if anything, does that is a to us about whether or not the Iraqi leader is dead or alive?

ROBERTSON: Again, this is an appearance on television. It's not clear whether President Saddam Hussein was -- it is not clear when these pictures were taken. He was in military uniform and he was with ministers. He was with the Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and with the Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan. Although the president of Iraq looked quite relaxed, Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi prime minister looked incredibly serious sitting at the table, and so did some of the other ministers with him. But it's not clear when these pictures were taken.

What's go interesting here as well is that Uday Saddam Hussein who is critical of the military governance of the center of Iraq. He is also in charge of those Republican Guard units who are between the Coalition forces and Baghdad at this time. He was not present at that meeting, perhaps there's importance in that. Certainly analysts believe that Qusay is a critical figure in the leadership of Iraq at this time. And he certainly wasn't there.

Again, Wolf, impossible to say when these pictures were taken. For the second day in a rover, however, we have had a statement read on Iraqi television by the information minister purporting to come from President Saddam Hussein. Whereas yesterday's message appeared to be the Shiite community in the south, today's message was a warning to the Kurdish community in the north not to back the Coalition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SAHAF, IRAQ INFORMATION MINISTER: It is my duty, and my moral duty, and my constitutional duty is to warn you how dangerous is this game. If you surrender and continue this path regardless how the problems and differences between our two people, we have one history and one country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: President Saddam Hussein also had another statement read out on Iraqi television saying should that victory would soon be at hand for the Iraqis -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Nic Robertson, with the latest from the situation inside Iraq. Nic joining us from the border between Jordan and Iraq. Thanks very much, Nic.

Meanwhile, U.S. soldiers and Marines on the move. They're getting closer toward the Iraqi capital. One report, perhaps only 15 miles away from Baghdad. The U.S. Army's 11th Attack Helicopter Regiment is among the groups. Among the U.S. Troops moving toward Baghdad. CNN's Carl Penhaul is embedded with that unit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Commanders say U.S. Troops are now within 15 to 20 miles of the southern outskirts of Baghdad after a day of rapid advances. Tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles of the 3rd Infantry Division flanked by Apache attack helicopters of the 11th Aviation Regiment have been advancing through the city of Karbala a strategic town that contains river points and major highways, and advanced north across open land and again across the Euphrates River.

Some U.S. commanders have even suggested why the early hours of the morning U.S. Troops could be actually on the southern outskirts of Baghdad. These advances have come much quicker than many commanders expected, because of the battles and fighting today. There has been resistance from Iraqi forces, the U.S. commanders say that that resistance has been lighter than expected. Some Apache attack helicopters were damaged by ground fire, but there was no repeat of the heavy anti-aircraft fire experienced in earlier attacks around the city of Karbala.

This is Carl Penhaul with the 11th Aviation Regiment near An Najaf, Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Let's get more now on this dramatic move towards the Iraqi capital.

CNN's senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is embedded with the Army's 3-7th Cavalry. One of the units bearing down directly on Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Throughout the day as the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry punched northward in the general direction of Baghdad. We have seen huge convoys of supply troops moving ever northward. Indeed, all of the arrows on the Army's map seem to be pointing in the direction of the southern suburbs of Baghdad employ earlier in the day the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division took Karbala with the minimum of fight and the 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division secured the town of Karbala.

Additionally the 7th Cavalry has pushed onward in the general direction of Baghdad. Yesterday we were 50 miles from the southern suburbs of Baghdad. We have perhaps half that distance. Throughout the day we have watched 3rd Infantry Division bring in prisoners of war. Iraqi soldiers glad the war is over for them, perhaps a hundred at a time. There were times when the 7th Cavalry itself got into skirmishes as it pushed forward again in the direction of Baghdad.

There was a about the of a firefight when the 7th Cavalry came about three Soviet vintage .20 millimeter anti-aircraft guns, ACK-ACK guns. The Iraqi unit in possession of those guns fired mortars in the direction of the 7th Cavalry. The Apache troop opened its tank guns, opened its own mortars, decimated that unit and put it out of existence and probably killed some 20 Iraqis in the process. This is as it continues to push ever closer toward the suburbs of Baghdad.

Walter Rodgers, CNN, with the 7th Cavalry in the Iraqi desert.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: So where exactly does the war stand right now?

Joining us from Washington retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Daniel Christman. General, thanks for joining us.

Now that we've seen the reports of the Coalition victories at Karbala and Kut. Where does the Coalition move from here? They seem to be pretty close to Baghdad.

LT. GEN. DANIEL CHRISTMAN (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Wolf, this was a hugely important day. This is not just a accept this for a second. This is not the end game. This is not the beginning of the end and it's not even the battle for the city of Baghdad, but it is a battle in so many respects for the key holders to that city. And those two key holders, two of them in the larger number is the Medina Division and the Baghdad Division and having those two defeated and hugely important. Where this Coalition goes next is to assault the next ring of Saddam's defenses. Any military defender, Wolf, raced defenses in- depth.

And this first ring that Walter reported on, that the marines assaulted Al Kut, that's the first ring of several. Inside of these are two or three additional guard divisions like Al Midar, Hammurabi (ph), that have not yet been assaulted, at least by direct fire, evidently. So the next step is to ensure those are eliminated. And inside of that is the actual key to the city itself and that's the special Republican Guard Brigades that hold in so many respects the critical avenues into the city itself. Important day, but still many, many hard days of direct fighting await us.

BLITZER: So how about this push north towards Baghdad?

Will it move slowly incrementally or will there be a dramatic thrust upon the capital?

CHRISTMAN: It's going to wait entirely on what these advanced units, like Walter Rodgers (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the 7th. And like the Marine wrecking units in that first (UNINTELLIGIBLE) encounter. If they have found that the Coalition air strikes have so depleted those divisions which I outlined, Hammurabi, Al Midhar and the remnants of (UNINTELLIGIBLE). If they find those are gone, then I suspect in the next 24 to 48 hour, the Coalition will be on the doorstep of the city of Baghdad itself. So it has to accept the results of the combat assessments both air and ground before the final miles are closed.

BLITZER: All right. General Christman, thanks very much for your insight. Appreciate it very much.

And to our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on the war in Iraq. Our "Web Question of the Day" is this, "How long do you think it will take coalition troops to take control of Baghdad; days; weeks; months?"

We'll have the results later in this broadcast. Vote at cnn.com/wolf. And while you're there I'd like to hear from you. Send me your comments employ I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at end of this program. That's also, of course, where you can read my daily online column. Cnn.com/wolf. But I write one every day from here in the Persian Gulf.

(NEWS BREAK)

BLITZER: Thanks, very much, Heidi. U.S. Troops poised on the edge of Baghdad employ are they in even more danger? Now we'll go live to the Pentagon and take a much closer look.

Also, caught in the crossfire, an Iraqi town that says it's overwhelm with civilian casualties.

And presidential support. Hear what former President Bush and Carter are saying about the war, but first these images from the front lines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Reports describe today's developments in Iraq as quick moving and fluid, as Coalition troops get ever closer to Baghdad. CNN's Martin Savidge is embedded with the 1st Battalion of the 7th Marines in central Iraq.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The 1st Battalion 7th Marine got their orders to pull out after approaching security around the final supply lines, no longer taking that job, but taking on other objectives. They have been rolling forward north in the general direction of Baghdad. As you can tell by the traffic, we are not alone. There is a lot of equipment, all of the Marine hardware, all of it moving in the general direction.

The Marines moving on in the eastern side of Iraq. The Army is out to the west on flank side. And you would know this is all part the drive in a pincher like movement to get up into the region of Baghdad itself. No indications here that there has been any opposition that has been faced, at least not significant resistance on the part of Iraqi troops.

There's been no snipping of the supply lines we've witnessed. The only gunfire activity we've heard all from the U.S. Marines themselves, outbound, not incoming. So it would appear that the Marines at least at this point at that juncture, they're moving full speed ahead or a as fast as the traffic jam going north will allow -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Martin Savidge. He's with the U.S. Marines. Thanks, Marty, very much.

Despite today's key gains in the march toward Baghdad, military officials say U.S. Forces may still encounter some stiff resistance.

Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As U.S. Forces close in on Baghdad they're beginning to see more signs of success. Iraqi citizens have used them and battle weary Republican Guard Divisions have offered lighter than expected resistance as the U.S. forces approach the capital.

MAJ. GEN. STAN MCCHRYSTAL, JOINT STAFF DEPUTY DIR.: We have indications that elements of the regular army have been brought in to enforce Republican Guard organization. Interestingly enough, we think that's a sign of weakness on their part. They would not normally match the formations.

MCINTYRE: In less than 24 hour, the U.S. 101st Airborne Division drove Iraqi Fedayeen fighters from the key city of Najaf while other forces pushed north in a two-pronged attack. The Army's 3rd Infantry division punched through Karbala meeting light resistance from the Medina Republican Guard Division, and moving along Highway 9 to within 25 miles of Baghdad.

At the same time, Marines from the 1st Division secured a key Tigris river crossing near Al Kut, and have destroyed the combat believity of the light Infantry Baghdad Division. The Marines are now on Highway 7 headed north.

BRIG GEN VINCENT BROOKS, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: We will approach Baghdad. The dagger is clearly pointed at the heart of the regime right now and it will remain pointed until the regime is gone.

MCINTYRE: The U.S. Troops have entered the red zone around Baghdad where it's believed Saddam Hussein has authorized its troops to use chemical weapons.

VICTORIA CLARKE, PENTAGON SPOKESWOMAN: As much as we are making good progress and we are, the toughest fighting could lie ahead. The likelihood they might use chemical weapons is in front of us now.

MCINTYRE: The U.S. continues to use its high tech advantage to a maximum effect. In another combat first, the Pentagon says new sensor-fused cluster bombs like these were used to stop an Iraqi tank column in its tracks. And Monday night the U.S. Seized a key dam this if sabotaged could have flooded the Euphrates and slowed down the troops through Karbala.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE: The air war continues as well. Word from the U.S. Central Command is that the air force and navy have dropped more than 40 satellite-guided bombs on a single target in Baghdad, a secure facility believed used by the Special Republican Guard -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre, with the latest from the Pentagon. Thanks Jamie, very much. A hospital in southern Iraq. The Red Cross it is it's overwhelmed with civilian casualties. We'll tell you what happens and what the Coalition is saying about it. All of that just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: As we've been reporting that the very hour, Coalition forces are closing in on Baghdad with some units now just 15 miles away.

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a little further back. He's just landed at a logistical supply area.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: The first thing you'll notice if you look behind me over my left shoulder is something we haven't seen since we've been in Iraq, and that is green vegetation, grass or trees behind me. This gives you a sense of just how far north we are. There is some water throwing through here. Those are the rivers we've been hearing so much about. Also, this is a logistical supply area a very far forward one, 40 miles south of Baghdad. You can see helicopters now over my right shoulder.

This has been a whirlwind of activity. Supplies coming in and out, there's food, there's ammunition, there's fuel. There's a road to my right side, that's a highway. That highway is exactly where a plane landed, the plane that we came in landed just a little while ago. We are going to spend some time with the devil docs. This a medical support unit that actually takes care of patients. They've been telling me their activity has been up and down, as closely reflected with patterns of the war. We are going to spend some time with them and report back to you as soon as we can.

Back to you.

BLITZER: Dr. Sanjay Gupta our CNN medical correspondent embedded with the devil docs. Thanks, Sanjay, very much.

All wars place civilians in harm's way, and the outcome is tragic as we've seen in this war. According to the Arabic network television language, Al Arabia, a Baghdad boy lost most of his family in what he says was a Coalition attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They attacked our house. All my brothers and my father are dead except my older brother Hidar (ph) and myself.

QUESTION: What is your plan for the future?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have no future. I wish to die now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: As we mentioned, the information on this boy came from the Arabic language television network Al Arabbia. We cannot confirm what was the cause of that attack of course. The international Red Cross says some of the staff members have seen the bodies of dozens of Iraqis, including women and children, in the town of Hillia, just 60 miles south of Baghdad. The Red Cross official said the hospital is overwhelmed by casualties.

Iraqi official it is said yesterday U.S. Apache attack helicopters attacked a neighborhood there, killing 33 people and wounding more than 300. The U.S. Central Command says it's investigating, adding that Coalition forces strike only legitimate military targets.

The commander-in-chief from the last gulf war has some powerful words for military families today. We'll show you what the first President George Bush said earlier. That's coming up just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: North Carolina's getting a double dose of the Bush family. Former President Bush visited Marine Corps air station Cherry Point earlier today. And the current President Bush is slated to visit camp Lejeune in North Carolina tomorrow. The elder Bush spent time with station personnel and some of the sponsors of deployed Marines. He painted an optimistic picture of the war. At the same time former President Jimmy Carter says Americans can support troops in Iraq and still disagree about military strategy. Carter made the remarks at an appearance in Little Rock, Arkansas. He said it's want unusual for experts to disagree on how military operations should be conducted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES EARL CARTER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are strong elements of dispute between military commanders on the scene and some of the officials in Washington. I think that's not unhealthy. I think it's perfectly legitimate, for people to express their own assessment. Of a very complex situation even though those assessments might be contrary to one's own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Former President Carter also said he's concerned that fighting in Iraq could stir up anti-American sent not even in countries that have been friends of the United States.

Now a recap of some of the late-breaking developments in the war on Iraq. Here's CNN's Miles O'Brien.

(NEWS BREAK)

CNN's Miles O'Brien with the latest. Throughout this war, we brought you some of the most powerful images from the battlefield, but we're starting to see different pictures now, showing how life is changing so quickly in Iraq. We'll show you some of those images immediately when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Welcome back. Ever since the fighting began in Iraq we've been making it a point to call attention to some of the more dramatic images of this war. Today one image stands out in particular. It's a former Iraqi air base now controlled by the Coalition forces.

And CNN's Gary Tuchman found it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Talil (ph) Iraq, the Talil Air Base, but there are no more Iraqis here. The Coalition took over this base last week. It is now a major staging point. And you know you're in Iraq and you see the portrait of Saddam Hussein. What's happened is the military personnel have taken out their markers, and are writing messages on Saddam Hussein's portrait. You can see the main one here on the bottom. And also here messages like we won, April 1, 2003.

We want to give you a look. A lot of security personnel here. You can look over there and you can see the military vehicles. These are air force security forces with their rifles patrolling the entrance. There is a lot of fighting in this area. We are near the town of Nasiriyah, but this base now is considered secure enough to make it a major staging point for the Coalition.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Gary Tuchman reporting from an air base, that used to be an Iraqi air base, now controlled by the Coalition.

How long do you think it will take Coalition troops to take control of Baghdad? You can still vote. Go to our web page, cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the results of our web question in when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: This is how you're weighing in on our web question of the day. Remember we've been asking you this.

How long do you think it will take Coalition troops to take control of Baghdad? 19 percent of you said days. 44 percent, weeks. 37 percent said months. You can find the exact vote tally. Continue to vote, by the way, go to my web page, inn.com/wolf. Remember this, is not a scientific poll.

Please stay with CNN throughout the night for all the late- breaking, up to not the minute war coverage. I'll be back if in one hour. Two hours of special coverage with Paula Zahn. Until then thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Kuwait City.

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