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CNN Live Today

Special Edition: War in Iraq

Aired April 05, 2003 - 11:00   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, folks, I'm Leon Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins. Along with us this hour we have Bill Hemmer in Kuwait City.

Hello once again, Bill.

HARRIS: Good morning, Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Heidi, Leon, 7:00 local time here in Kuwait, that means 8:00 local time in Baghdad. It's evening there again and Leon, as you mentioned, Day 17 right now in this war.

Now, we know -- earlier today, according to Central Command and members of the U.S. Army, they went through the central part of Baghdad earlier today. We're not quite sure if they're still there in the center part of town, but perhaps we'll learn a bit more with the embeds coming up this hour.

Good morning again to you guys back there.

HARRIS: All right. Good deal, Bill. We'll get back to you in just a bit. Right now, let's take a look at what's happening this hour.

Up first, right now, a strong message to Saddam Hussein. U.S. forces in Baghdad raided one of Saddam Hussein's presidential palaces. A military spokesman says the push into the heart of Baghdad is a clear statement to the Iraqi regime that the U.S. can move into the times and places of its own choosing, even inside the capital city.

Iraq's information minister read a statement this morning acknowledging that the coalition troops are -- quote -- "on Baghdad," but he insisted that the coalition's focus on the capital was weakening its efforts elsewhere in the country. The information minister also disputed reports out this morning that U.S. troops are in control of Baghdad's airport.

CENTCOM says coalition forces bombed the home of an Iraqi general who's accused of ordering the 1988 chemical attack against the Kurds. General Ali Hassan al-Majeed, a cousin of Saddam Hussein, also known as Chemical Ali. He's said to be in charge of the forces in southern Iraq. U.S. troops have been trying to track him down for the past few days.

The U.S. says nine of the 11 bodies found during Jessica Lynch's rescue have been identified now and eight of the soldiers were members of Lynch's 507th Maintenance Company that was ambushed last month. The ninth soldier was with the 3rd Division Supporting Battalion of Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Well, coming up this hour of CNN's coverage of the war in Iraq, U.S. forces roll out of the desert and into the heart of Baghdad. CNN's Martin Savidge is traveling with the 1st Battalion of the 7th Marines and in just a few minutes, he'll describe what his unit faced as it plowed its way into the suburbs, and the latest from the devil docs on the medical front. Dr. Sanjay Gupta again answers a call to duty and performs emergency surgery on a battlefield casualty, the second time he's been called to duty for that; this time, an Iraqi prisoner-of-war. And then, a soldier's story, the cycle of work and waiting and an occasional laugh or two. We'll look through the eyes of an American in Iraq awaiting the call to combat. And now, our continuing coverage of the war in Iraq rolls on.

Well, virtually any time, day or night, CNN has a number of tape machines recording satellite feeds coming in from around the world. Here now are some of the more striking images of the day that we found, now, including these, which just fed in a short time ago. This is the view from southwestern Baghdad as coalition forces there make it dramatically clear that they are now in the capital. Coalition forces bombard a presidential palace and its cluster of Republican Guard there (UNINTELLIGIBLE) assigned to protect the grounds.

Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words. These are the first pictures of U.S. troops in southern Baghdad that we've gotten in. Explosions lighting up the night and then, it kind of adds to the eerie green tint of these night scope images as U.S. troops charge in under the cover of heavy shelling.

Meanwhile, Iraqi leaders project a far different picture of Baghdad. You see this video. This was shot by a Lebanese TV crew, showing Iraqi police moving rather freely through the streets of the capital.

And a grim discovery in southern Iraq. British forces find a makeshift morgue there containing hundreds of boxes of human remains. There weren't any clues to the identities of the dead, but one British commander says that they appear to be too old to have come from this current conflict. He also says that his troops are going to be treating it as a mass grave.

Now, let's begin this hour by immediately going out to the region. CNN's Bill Hemmer checking in right now. He's on duty in Kuwait City.

Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: Hey, Leon, listen, we want to roll some of that videotape again for our viewers that we just got in the past hour. This, an assault led against a presidential palace near Baghdad we're told. The precise location is not known, but you can see, obviously, from this videotape, the fighting continues to be quite fierce. And CENTCOM warned us about three hours ago -- and quoting now -- "the fight is far from over. Operations will continue." There is no victory speech to be made by the U.S. at this point. That was the order from CENTCOM earlier today.

They also made it quite clear that they wanted the Iraqi regime to know that the U.S. can now have freedom of movement in and out of Baghdad at the time of their choosing and they say they did that earlier today by going into that capital city during the daytime hours. Another indication, what they believe right now is exercising more control over the country of Iraq.

Let's get you to the southeastern part of Baghdad right now. Marty Savidge is embedded with the Marines. We were checking in with Marty last hour, moving up to the suburbs of Baghdad.

Mary, I'm not quite sure if you made more progress since then, but I know it's night there. By way of videophone to our viewers, you can see quite obviously, it is dark.

Marty, good evening.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Bill. Yes, once again, it's dark out, obviously no light allowed out here. It's just too dangerous. But we can tell you this -- the Army has been moving up on the west side of Baghdad while the Marines are moving up on the east side of Baghdad. And now, they have made it into the southeastern suburbs and there is fighting to be had. Not heavy fighting. Not a full-blown battle, but sporadic fighting that is taking place. In fact, last night, different Marines rolling up through this same area did have a battle, at least an altercation. RPGs fired their way and small arms fire. They did have some casualties and a number of U.S. tanks were struck and damaged.

So today, the 1st Battalion 7th Marines following on, given the orders, going to the same area where this trouble was, contain it, bring it under control and then take care of whoever's causing the problems. Is it remnants of the Republican Guard? Not clear at this point. Or is it just regular Iraqi forces? They appear to be dug in in four to five positions with bunkers as well. And to get them out of those positions, you've got infantry units as well as heavy artillery being fired.

A lot of bombardment took place this morning. More rounds went in in the afternoon. And then, late this evening, a couple more rounds. We're also being told that air assets have been brought into play. Again, not a full-blown engagement, but ones and twos here and there, bunkers that have to be struck, searched, polled, move on. And that's the way the Marines have been acting for the 1st Battalion 7th Marines today. They will continue their drive from the southeast into the suburbs of Baghdad throughout the night and all day tomorrow, Bill.

HEMMER: Got it, Marty. Thanks. Check in a little bit later tonight if you can. Martin Savidge, again, southeastern edge of Baghdad tonight.

On the western edge of the city, in fact, just west of the airport, they are now known as Baghdad International, Walt Rodgers, from his position with the 7th Cav, filed this report a short time ago, the latest on what he has seen and heard in and around the capital city.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. Army commanders in the Iraqi theater are now extraordinarily confident about the way the battle is unfolding. One general was quoted as saying, "We have the Iraqis rocking backward on their heels." He went on to say, "It will take several more days of pressure." But the clear implication is the American generals, at least in the Army, believe that the battle is being won and that there is a timeline and that this war will not go on ceaselessly as some had earlier feared.

The Army intelligence has been getting reports of large numbers of Iraqi Ba'athist Party members. Those are -- that's part of Saddam Hussein's regime, as well as well as Iraqi soldiers, Republican Guard soldiers, fleeing the city in army trucks. Now, those army trucks are being interspersed with civilian vehicles and consequently, the U.S. air power cannot strike at these civilian vehicles. But they all seem to be exiting in what one Army officer called nothing short of -- quoting -- "a mass exodus" moving westward, north westward, and in the general direction of Jordan, but almost certainly more likely they will end up in Syria.

Walter Rodgers, CNN with the U.S. 7th Cavalry on the outskirts of Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All right, Walt, thanks for the update there. To our viewers at home, as I mentioned, 8:00 local time in Baghdad. Last hour, we talked with a representative from the Red Cross. He says the hospitals have been extremely active overnight last night and into the early hours today. He says at one time there were 100 injured civilians or soldiers, a combination of both coming into local hospitals in Baghdad. Again, 8:00 local time. If indeed the air strikes continue tonight, we'll keep a close eye on it, but for now, here's Heidi again at the CNN Center.

COLLINS: Thank you, bill. We are going to go ahead now and get the very latest developments from the Pentagon where our Barbara Starr is at her post.

Good morning once again, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you again, Heidi. Well, now that U.S. troops are beginning their probes into Baghdad, there is a new air strategy over Baghdad airspace. General Michael Mosley, the head of the Air Force's component for the coalition, spoke to reporters here in the Pentagon by phone earlier this morning from his headquarters in Saudi Arabia and he said now there will be air cover over Baghdad 24/7. There will be fixed-wing planes loaded with munitions capable of striking enemy targets in the city while minimizing any potential nearby civilian damage. The smallest munition to do the job, he said. Again, special Republican Guard, other mobile enemy targets in the city now that U.S. troops are moving through.

Here's what -- a little bit of what General Mosley had to say by telephone.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

LT. GEN. MICHAEL MOSLEY, HEAD OF AIR FORCE COALITION: The trick is to use -- if you have to do this, is to use the smallest munition possible to get the maximum effect so that you don't create those unnecessary losses of civilian life or property.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

STARR: Now, General Mosley gave an example of just how hard it is to hit some targets in Baghdad because of the caution about civilian damage. He spoke about the Iraqi TV transmission system. This has been a frustration to commanders, U.S. and coalition commanders because Iraqi TV apparently is still able to broadcast intermittently. He said they are continuing to hit the TV transmitters, but because of the potential for nearby civilian damage, he said the coalition will live with the fact that Iraqi TV comes back up on the air and they will continue to hit the transmitters. So a lot of effort now being paid to protecting U.S. troops as they move through Baghdad -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Barbara, I'm just curious if you have any word on the airport that has now been taken over by coalition forces, the Baghdad Airport. Now, I know that there are two runways there, one being a military runway and one being civilian. Any word at all or any plans to possibly use that airport in this further assault?

STARR: Well, they do want to get one of those runways cleared as quickly as possible. They would certainly like to begin running supplies and other military elements through there. But one of the issues, of course and it ties back to what General Mosley was saying, there is still the concern about Iraqi antiaircraft artillery, surface-to air-missiles, other weapons that the special Republican Guard has positioned throughout Baghdad that could be a threat to U.S. aircraft moving in and out of that airport facility.

So this all ties together. It's one of the questions they want to get this urban air cover going. It started this morning. He said they will continue to work away at some of these Iraqi threats in the city. As they get those down, they will be able to start using the airport -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you so much for that.

In his weekly radio address last hour, President Bush praised the U.S. military success and promised that Iraqi liberation is close. Let's check in now with senior White House correspondent, John King.

Good morning, John. JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi. The president is up at the Camp David presidential retreat for the weekend. He left the White House yesterday afternoon. This morning we are told he received a detailed update from the national security team on the advance of U.S. forces into in some cases and surrounding in other cases the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Mr. Bush spending the weekend up at Camp David, but closely tracking developments.

His weekly radio address dedicated solely to the issue of Iraq and the ongoing war effort. Mr. Bush says coalition troops are making steady progress and he says as the troops make progress, the United States is increasingly being welcomed by the Iraqi people, increasingly delivering humanitarian supplies like food and medicine to the Iraqi people. The president, on the other hand, says the Iraqi regime is committing war crimes and atrocities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As the vice tightens on the Iraqi regime, some of our enemies have chosen to fill their final days with acts of cowardice and murder. In combat, Saddam's thugs shield themselves with women and children. They have killed Iraqi citizens who welcome coalition troops and they have forced other Iraqis into battle by threatening to torture or kill their families. They have executed prisoners-of-war, waged attacks under the white flag of truce and concealed combat forces in civilian neighborhoods, schools, hospitals and mosques.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Mixed in with the constant updates on the war effort are preparations for a two-day summit Monday and Tuesday with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The two leaders, the White House says, will obviously discuss the military press on Baghdad, but also because they believe that the fall of the Iraqi regime is at hand, much of the time at that two-day summit will be spent on plans for running post-war Iraq. Some disagreements between Washington and London, especially on the issue of how big of a role should the United Nations get -- Heidi.

COLLINS: John, I wonder if you might be able to comment for us a little bit on the interim administration that we're hearing a little bit about and Colin Powell actually brought up about implementing into Iraq and quite quickly, in fact, saying that it will consist of exiled Iraqis and people who have been opposed to Saddam Hussein inside of Iraq. What do you make of that? How difficult will this be?

KING: Well, there are many unknowns in this and the interim authority, if the White House gets its way, will include Iraqis who have worked in senior positions under Saddam Hussein, not only open opponents of Saddam Hussein but the White House believes especially in nonmilitary, nonsecurity apparatus inside the government, places like agriculture, communications, transportation, that there is a civil service inside Iraq that is quite sophisticated. So long as those officials are not identified as regime loyalists, the White House hopes they can be involved in a new Iraq.

The White House believes that is the quickest way to hand over authority from the U.S. military and civil administration that will begin the moment the shooting stops, quickly hand it back over to the Iraqi people. The White House says it simply can't say how long that would take, but they would like to do it as soon as possible.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's senior White House correspondent, John King, thank you.

HARRIS: All right. Coming up, on the ground in Baghdad, coalition forces are on the move in the heart of Iraq. We'll keep you up-to-date with the latest developments on the advance.

COLLINS: Also ahead, independent Iraqis for democracy. What's next for the nation of Iraq? We'll look at what comes after Saddam Hussein. CNN's special coverage of the war in Iraq continues after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Jessica Lynch's family is heading to Germany to see her later today. Family members say that they are still learning details about the extent of Lynch's injuries. They're going to learn more when they arrive in Landstuhl. She's being treated at a U.S. military medical facility there. And so far, we're told that she's undergone surgeries for injuries to her back, legs and arms. The 19-year-old supply clerk was rescued in a daring raid on April 1 after an Iraqi lawyer told the military where she was being held.

COLLINS: And during the hospital raid, U.S. forces also found 11 bodies, nine of which have now been identified as Americans. Eight of those soldiers were members of Lynch's unit from the 507th Maintenance Company that was ambushed near Nasiriyah on March 23. And joining us now with more on this is Antwan Lewis from CNN affiliate, KTV-K. He's in Tuba City, Arizona, that's the hometown of one of the fallen soldiers.

And incredibly difficult time, I'm sure.

ANTWAN LEWIS, KTV-K CORRESPONDENT: Oh, my gosh, Heidi, you couldn't imagine. But let me tell you, in combination with sadness, there is also honor here in Tuba City. We want to show you what's actually going on behind met the Piestewa family home here. You can see family members have been greeted by visitors all morning. We've been here for the better part of three hours now since they got the news last night from the Pentagon that Lori Anne Piestewa was, in fact, among those bodies that were recovered.

And we want to tell you a little bit about what's been going on here. The brother, whom you will hear from in just a second, came out to talk to us. But it's just been an outpouring of tremendous support for this family and we want to call your attention to one thing in particular there. You can see on the pole is a picture of PFC Lori Anne Piestewa and just above that picture is another flag that has been hanged up. That flag is the POW/MIA flag, which as you know, for several days, almost two weeks, Lori was missing in action.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEWIS (voice-over): Visits to the Piestewa home in Tuba City started early. People coming to show the respects to the family just the day after Pentagon officials confirmed that PFC Lori Anne Piestewa was among the soldiers found dead during the rescue of an American POW. Family friends brought food, flowers and exchanged hugs in the family's front yard. Those to the household also brought with them very heavy hearts, but probably heaviest of all Lori Piestewa's brother when reading a statement from the family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The family and friends of Laurie would like to, first, thank everyone for their continued support at this time. We were informed yesterday evening that our sister is home and we're very happy that she's back on U.S. soil.

We're asking the community and the media to allow us time to begin the healing process and respect our wishes to spend time with our immediate family. At some point in the future we will have a celebration of her life at which time the community -- we will embrace the greater community of Tuba City and I'm sure our country.

We ask -- we also ask you to continue to pray for all the troops, all the servicemen and women and the world leaders around the world so that our children will know what it is one day to live in a world of peace, and that there will be a quick end to this conflict as well as other conflicts around the world.

We are very proud of Lori. Our family is very proud of her. We know she's our hero, as you've heard before. We are continuing to believe that we're going to hold that in our hearts forever and she will not be forgotten. And it gives us comfort to know that she is at peace right now and we do this to honor our lady warrior, Lori, and we'd like to thank you again, thank the community and thanks to the media for adhering to my request. And -- but that will be it for today.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEWIS: Once again, that was Lori Piestewa's brother speaking to us. And we also wanted to tell you a little more about Lori. She leaves behind two small children -- in addition to her family, two small children that are inside that house that you're looking at right now. And we also want to let you know, one thing the family did mention to us that it was their Navajo faith -- and because she is the first American Indian or one of the first American Indians that are part of the coalition forces -- and obviously, with the confirmation from the Pentagon last night, Lori Piestewa has become the first American female casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

COLLINS: All right. That was Antwan Lewis from CNN affiliate, KTV-K. We certainly do appreciate it with the family of Lori Anne Piestewa. All right. Thanks so much. And we will back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Once again, about 8:22 in the evening in Baghdad. The electricity appears to be out for large portions, again, of that city. The only lights we can pick up are the headlights on a few of the cars that again continue to trickle through in the streets there in central Baghdad. We will follow what's happening there in Baghdad.

Barbara Starr also tells us that a 24-hour mission right now is under way by the U.S. military, headed up by the Air Force, to always fly in the skies above Baghdad to provide combat air support. We're told that there are operations right now under way and will continue probably throughout the night directed to special Republican Guard, that is the unit said to be anywhere between 15,000 and 20,000 strong designed specifically to protect the interior of Baghdad and to protect Saddam Hussein, ultimately. But what we do not know is how many of that 15 to 20,000 number is still intact in Baghdad or still operating right now in the -- against the coalition forces, the U.S. specifically right now bringing in the city of the Iraqi capital.

We have talked a lot about southern Iraq, a lot about Baghdad itself. We have not talked today though about what's happening on the northern front. Ben Wedeman is now live in the town of Erbil and brings us up to date on what he is now observing with what appears to be a shifting front possibly again today.

Ben, good evening there.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, good evening, Bill. Well, in fact, the shifting front that seemed to be shifting yesterday seems to have to come to something of a halt. Now yesterday, the Kurdish forces managed to take this strategic bridge called al Hasir (ph), which is about 25 miles to the west of -- rather to the east of the northern city of Mosul, which is still under the control of Saddam Hussein. But what has happened is that the Iraqis managed to push the Kurds back to that bridge. So now we were there at the front lines throughout the day. We saw that really, the Iraqis are still holding that position on the bridge.

This despite intense American air strikes, pounding for hours by planes, not only fighter planes bombing those areas, but also using their canons as well. But despite that pounding, the Iraqis were able to fire back. There was several artillery rounds that were coming back at the Kurdish positions, including one position that actually hit and the round wounded two Kurdish fighters.

Now, American troops are on the ground there. They are providing the guidance, or spotting, as it's called, for those air strikes. And one of those air strikes, in fact, came a little bit too close, fell on the wrong side of the line, fell only about 200 yards from where we were standing. But -- and to the best of our knowledge, even now, as the sun has gone down, that front remains the same. The Iraqis are still holding firm at that strategic bridge -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Ben, thanks for the update. Again, Ben Wedeman reporting on the northern front in Iraq for us tonight. We have talked earlier today about the situation right now in the north, in the town of Tikrit. That's the ancestral home of Saddam Hussein. Central Command made a point today of saying that they have isolated the road leading out of Baghdad, heading north toward this town, but there's not a whole lot of information offered by the U.S. right now as to how large of a force may be amassed right now. Republican Guard, perhaps special Republican Guard, we really do not know in the town of Tikrit. CENTCOM said they are still working to get more and better information as to what's happening down there.

I want to get you back to Baghdad. We have yet another shot that we can show you right now. About 8:30 in the evening, we can see certain things on in terms of electricity. Whether or not this indicates that some power is back on, we do not know. It was about 48 hours ago when the lights went out in Baghdad, almost as if someone had come in and flipped a giant switch and knocked everything out across the city. Now, there were reports earlier today on Saturday that some pockets of Baghdad in the north and in the west had some measure of electricity, but again, very difficult for us to ascertain what's truly the story there in the treat streets of Baghdad. Rula Amin is working the story in the eastern part of Jordan. She's been in touch with a number of her sources in Baghdad. We'll pick up with Rula and her report in a moment here. Back with a whole lot more on Saturday, Day 17 right now of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

ANNOUNCER: For more on the war in Iraq, log on to CNN.com. Get reports from the frontlines and all the facts and features you need to track the war, plus, sign up for breaking news alerts and be the first to know. Log on and stay informed at CNN.com

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Here's a look now at what's happening at this hour. U.S. troops attack a presidential compound and Republican Guard barracks in southwestern Baghdad. The allied Central Command said earlier today in daylight hours, coalition forces charged into the city as a show of force to Iraqi leaders.

An investigation is underway in this morning's crash of a Super Cobra attack helicopter. The allied Central Command says it went down in central Iraq killing both U.S. Marine Corps pilots onboard. Central Command says the crash does not appear to have been caused by hostile fire.

CENTCOM also reports some 6,500 Iraqi troops are now in custody and being cared for by coalition forces. CENTCOM's director of operation says many of the Iraqis willingly surrendered as opposed to being captured.

President Bush is spending the weekend at Camp David, but his weekly radio address echoes from Maryland to the Middle East. Mr. Bush praised coalition troops and their mission, ousting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. He says it is a great and just cause and promises Iraq that -- quote -- "liberation is coming."

The global death toll from SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, has reached at least 89 now. Hong Kong and Malaysia report new deaths from the illness. The U.S. State Department is alerting Americans to new precautions in Thailand, subjecting travelers to inspections and possible quarantine.

Now back to Bill Hemmer live in Kuwait City and our continuing coverage of the war in Iraq.

HEMMER: Heidi -- all right, Heidi, thanks again. Back here live in Kuwait City. We want to give you a bit of a visual right now over how the U.S. military has moved on to Baghdad. If you think about -- from the southwest, the 3rd Infantry Division coming from that angle. In the south, immediately south of Baghdad is the Army's 5th Core and the Marines right now, the Marine Expeditionary Force, the 1st MEF coming from the southeast, which is where Marty Savidge has been reporting from earlier today.

Now, what's happening on the streets of Baghdad remains to be a picture that we tried to get some better clarification. We do know, according to Central Command earlier today, that some Bradley fighting vehicles, some M-1, A-1 tanks penetrated what's called the heart of Baghdad. Not quite sure how long they stayed or where they went after that or what's happening inside the city. But Rula Amin has been working her sources and her contacts there back in Baghdad. Rula is live in eastern Jordan tonight to tell us what she is finding out.

Rula, what kind of picture are you piecing together there?

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, Iraqi officials seem to be on the defensive after pictures of U.S. troops inside Baghdad were shown on different television stations, including CNN. The source that provided the picture is a reliable source and he says that those pictures were shot inside Baghdad. But Iraq's information minister, Muhammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, was on different Arab satellite channels just now denying that these pictures were in Baghdad. He said they were not in Baghdad, not in the outskirts of Baghdad, at least 30 or 40 kilometers away from the center of the town. He also was very critical of news outlets that were putting these pictures on the air without scrutinizing it, he said, because definitely it's not inside Baghdad.

This is not the only denial we've been hearing from the Iraqi officials. They've also contradicted the U.S. stories that the U.S. forces are in control of Saddam International Airport, renamed as Baghdad International Airport. He says that the Republican Guard, Iraqi Republican Guards, now are in control after they have forced the U.S. troops out, inflicted serious damage among those troops, killing some troops and taking others as prisoners.

This is -- of course, all this is coming from Baghdad. It completely contradicts the stories we have been getting from U.S. Central Command. And even despite all these denies, the Iraqi officials seem to be very aware of the pressure that's being applied against the government and against the security forces inside the city.

Just a couple of hours ago, Saddam Hussein had another message for Iraqis. It was read by the Iraqi information minister on state television. He basically asked the people to help him defend Baghdad because he said U.S. troops are focusing on Baghdad and that's why they have their positions and other parts of Iraq have been weakened. And he wants people, Iraqis, to attack these positions in order to release the pressure Baghdad -- Bill.

HEMMER: Rula, one more question here about what Walt Rodgers is telling us. He is saying that there are scores of Ba'ath Party members trying to flee Baghdad, possibly toward Syria, maybe toward your location there in Jordan. Have you followed up on or heard any word on this?

AMIN: Well, Bill, we haven't really seen anybody crossing this border into Jordan from Iraq so far today. It's one thing to note is this road between Amman and Baghdad has become a dangerous road, kind of a risky road. We have heard of many incidents of cars and buses being hit by missiles on that road. So even for those people who are trying to flee, they have to think twice before they use this road to try to get here.

At the same time, we do know that Jordanian officials have very strict procedures on the borders to try to prevent anybody from coming in. They say they just can't afford to absorb a large number of refugees here -- Bill.

HEMMER: Rula, thanks. Rula Amin, again, in Jordan tonight. Here's Leon again at the CNN Center.

HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Bill.

I believe we now -- we want to get some more perspective on what's happening on the battlefield right now. And we're joined by retired Colonel Mike Turner who's been talking with us off and on throughout this entire war effort.

And I have to ask you this one, Colonel Turner. We talked yesterday, almost exactly 24 hours ago. We talked yesterday, almost exactly 24 hours ago -- and we talked yesterday about the taking over the airport, which was the big news yesterday. If I had asked you then if you were to believe that there would U.S. troops on the streets in Baghdad today, they'd be in downtown Baghdad, would you -- could you have believed that?

COL. MIKE TURNER, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET): Well, Leon, you know, it's funny. I don't know if I had mentioned it to you. I think I mentioned it on the air yesterday at least once, so we -- this narrowing funnel of options for the remnants of Saddam's regime would drive them -- would go one of two ways. It would go either extremely well or extremely poorly as their options got -- were decreased and the necessity for them to resort to extreme measures became higher.

Well, I think what we're beginning to see in just the 24 hours since you and I talked last is it looks like now thank God, frankly, we've got the extremely good option in play here. It looks as though the command and control structure has really begun to fracture and evaporate. The Republican Guard forces -- and you know we talk about damage elite forces. They're -- by U.S. standards; they're certainly not that. They're better equipped. They're better trained, but they're still substantially below the caliber of the U.S. units and we've obviously demonstrated that.

HARRIS: But you know we've been respecting them nonetheless. I mean I remember for the past 12 years or so the talk has always been that the Republican Guard, particularly those when you get closer and closer to Baghdad, those who are actually guarding the regime and the top leaders, those would probably be the best trained, those would probably be the most formidable forces. And as it turns out we've seen more resistance coming from the Fedayeen than we've seen coming from the Republican Guard.

TURNER: I think that's true. But if you imagine a series of concentric circles, the regular army, then the Republican Guard and the special Republican Guard and then the Fedayeen really inside even that. And what we encountered which was, I think, a surprise for everybody in this was that the Fedayeen was not in downtown Baghdad. They had actually deployed out into the outer cities. But that still -- there's still a fighting force that is more extreme and more unconventional and therefore, probably more of a threat because they're willing to take extreme and unconventional measures perhaps more so and I would say at this point, arguably more so than the Republican Guard clearly has, which is still -- even though better trained and better equipped, is still fundamentally a conventional Army and following conventional tactics on the battlefield as opposed to the unconventional tactics of the Fedayeen and that makes the Fedayeen more dangerous.

HARRIS: I've got to ask you something that I read this morning in a report. I believe it was in "The New York Times" about once they did get into the Medina offices, the headquarters there, they saw in there notes that the generals -- and they were writing to themselves about what to do and there were notes that said, "Don't panic." There was a calendar inside that had check marks on every day up until March 10, then nothing after that. It seems as though morale pretty much evaporated there rather quickly.

TURNER: And a number of the analysts, both military analysts and the governmental and political analysts that had been following the war have alluded to this sort of -- this point of where you pass a threshold where you have defeated the enemy psychologically. And I think the examples that you just gave are excellent representative examples of just exactly that process as it manifests itself in the actions of the commanders of the enemy force. They get to a point where all of a sudden they really genuinely perceive this is a hopeless cause and I need to save myself and there's some very real and physical manifestations of that psychological breakdown. And I think that's what you're seeing now at an ever-accelerating pace as we move on.

HARRIS: Yes. They also say that the parking lot was empty, no cars were at the headquarters.

TURNER: I imagine it was.

HARRIS: Yes. Colonel Mike Turner, appreciate it. Good to see you again.

TURNER: My pleasure. Good to see you.

HARRIS: All right. We'll talk to you later on.

Right now, we want to talk to our Jason Bellini. He is one of our reporters who's out there embedded with the troops. And Jason is calling in on the videophone in Nasiriyah.

Jason what do you have there?

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, first of all, I want to tell you behind me right here is the hospital where Jessica Lynch was rescued just a few days ago and also I want to show you something here. I'm moving up close to the camera. First, let me explain that we have to keep the lights off because of the restrictions, but hopefully this will be de-digitized so you can see. This is Jessica Lynch's dog tag. We got permission from our commander to show this. They recovered this dog tag today, Leon. They found it not in the hospital, but in a building that was near the river where they went looking for munitions, for weapons. They believe it was a Ba'ath Party member's residence. That's where they found this earlier today, Leon. And among the other things they found there, a very large cache of weapons. And they tell me that they are finding this everywhere they go.

They're planning here and again, I have -- I do have clearance to report this, they are telling us that they're planning to go residence to residence, door to door, every building in this town, but first they're hitting the spots that they've been told are likely -- they're likely to find weaponry and so this was one of those early sports they're going to. They said what's slowing them down from clearing this city, going door to door, as I just said, is that they keep finding more and more munitions everywhere they go -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, Jason, I got to back you up for a second here because this is remarkable, you're coming up with these dog tags here. Back up and tell us exactly how you came to actually get them to give you these dog tags and where exactly did they find them again?

BELLINI: OK. They found this dog tag; again, inside what they believe is a Ba'ath Party member's residence, inside a building that they were clearing. I hope you can see this. I brought it up close. I'm covering up right now her social security number here. She didn't want -- one doesn't want to see that on national television. What I'm told is going to happen is I'm going to give this back to the commander and then he is going to be forwarding it back to her. So she will get this back. I've just borrowed it for a few minutes so we can show this to you.

HARRIS: Jason, let me ask you this then. Is there -- is the thinking there then, if they found these dog tags in this Ba'ath Party official's residence, is the thinking that she was actually there before she was in the hospital? And if she was, is there evidence that something happened to her there? BELLINI: That's the theory. They don't know for sure what exactly happened, but they do believe that's where she was. I'm hoping shortly now to be able to talk to some of the Marines who went in there and did that search earlier today. They just came back and just gave this -- hand this over so that we could show it to you.

The other thing I wanted to tell you, Leon, about this hospital back here, photographer, Joe Duran, was there just a short while ago and he sent back -- we sent you back some pictures on the videophone. I apologize. The quality isn't the best. We'll send them again later. What you're seeing in those pictures, if you're looking at them, are injured Iraqis who were in the hospital, some very difficult pictures to look at. You see some people who are -- who lost their legs. Quite a number of people there in that hospital. He was just there again. It's just across the road from us right now.

The doctor that Joe spoke with told us...

HARRIS: We're sorry about that.

BELLINI: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE) who had been injured in this city.

HARRIS: All right. I apologize for that, Jason. We were getting some interference there on the satellite circuit there. But thanks, Jason Bellini. Jason, be safe and then check back in (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Great work out there, getting those dog tags. Incredible.

COLLINS: I can't believe it. They found quite a bit in that hospital...

HARRIS: Yes.

COLLINS: ... after they went in.

HARRIS: And still lots of unanswered questions. Why were those dog tags in that residence and not with her in that hospital?

COLLINS: Exactly. Frightening, I'm sure. We will be updating you on that as we learn it.

All right. Well, just ahead, we are going to take a quick break and we will have all the updates on what has been happening in the war overnight and up to this point right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, there are lots of questions about what will happen in Iraq after the war is over. The U.S. says that the goal is for Iraqis to elect their own leader. Well, a group of Iraqi exiles has already put forth their choice for a new president. His name is Adnan Pachachi. He once served as Iraq's foreign minister and as its ambassador to the U.N. as well. And Mr. Pachachi is now the chairman of the newly formed Independent Iraqis for Democracy. And he joins us now from London to talk about the future of his home country and whether or not he's going to be a part of that future. Mr. Pachachi, what do you think? Will you be part of the future of Iraq as leader?

ADNAN PACHACHI, FORMER IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, I hope if the Iraqi people choose me for any post, I'd be most honored to occupy that post. What we want now is really to enable the Iraqi people to run the affairs of their country during the transitional period and that should be done through the convening of a broadly based confidence of the Iraqis inside and outside the country that will choose the members of the transitional government. This, I think, would be of interest not only of Iraqis, but also of the United States, which would not have to have a lengthy occupation of the country.

We support the British position on this, namely that the United Nations should have a role in this process and to help Iraqis come to an end this conflict. However, if the United Nations is not given that role, then I think the United States should undertake to consult Iraqis outside and inside the country.

HARRIS: Well, sir, as we understand it that's -- the administration is doing just that. What I'd like to know is have you seen the reports that are in the papers this morning about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld urging President Bush to install an interim Iraqi government right now, before the war is even over with. Do you think that should be done?

PACHACHI: No, I don't think that is a wise thing to do because I think time should be given for people inside Iraq to be consulted besides the people like us who are outside Iraq. And that -- this can be done only after the end of the war and we hope that the government that would come out of this conference would be far more democratic than one which would be appointed from our sides.

HARRIS: Adnan Pachachi, we thank you very much for your time this morning. We have to move. We've got some more developing news that we have to get to. But we hope to talk with you later on about this very important topic. Thank you very much.

PACHACHI: Thank you.

HARRIS: Now, let's go to Bill Hemmer standing by in Kuwait City -- Bill.

HEMMER: Leon, thanks.

Scott Nelson's a writer for "The Boston Globe." He's been embedded with the U.S. Marines for about three weeks, almost four weeks rights now. I believe his location, southeastern suburbs of Baghdad.

Scott, good evening. What's happening right now where you are?

SCOTT NELSON, "THE BOSTON GLOBE": Well, what's happening right now is there's been a fairly active day and it's coming to a close with a bang here because the Marines are blowing up groups of weapons caches throughout the suburbs as they find them and some of them are quite spectacular actually. It's almost like the Fourth of July although I don't want to make light of it. I mean we're obviously still in a war zone. But there are a lot of weapons caches being blown up here this evening and I actually went with some of the Marines today as they searched out some of the weapons. And in one case near me they found some munitions making facilities inside what had once been an elementary school and they found some other fairly heavy weapons in a police station. So it's been an active day here as they essentially try to cut off the Republican Guard, keep them out of the city and then search out these weapons caches in the area.

HEMMER: Yes, Scott, how much resistance have you encountered along that route?

NELSON: Well, along the route southeast of Baghdad over the last couple of days it's fairly heavy. Thursday and Friday were both relatively heavy fighting along the day, a lot of tank on tank fighting, a lot of air shelling of tanks and bunkers. And it was relatively stiff resistance up -- through the last 40 or 50 miles for Baghdad. Today, as we've been riding in the suburbs, much less, though. There's definitely been small flare-ups here and there, but much less resistance. It seems to have really collapsed. And the focus of the Marines today seemed to be keeping the Republican Guard from retreating into Baghdad. The fight to get here is essentially over. At this point, they feel like they're mopping up the Republican Guard, just trying to keep them out of the city at this point. But the fight is largely over from here. There's only fields (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from here.

HEMMER: Scott, give me a better idea about your location. You said you're in suburbs. Is this a residential area? Is it industrial? How would you describe it?

NELSON: No, I would definitely describe it as residential. I mean like I said, we passed schools and police stations today, lots of what appeared to be housing complexes, a lot of single and double story housing complexes. And you see a small number of people sort of walking the streets. It seems like most people left the area and I can't say that I blame them, but you do see a small number of people on the streets riding bicycles, trying to stay out of the way of the tanks, that sort of thing, but definitely a residential area.

HEMMER: And Scott, one last question here. These people you see on the streets riding bikes and other things, what has been their reaction knowing that U.S. forces are essentially on the doorstep of the center of Baghdad. It's actually been a difficult read to tell you the truth. In almost every case when there's a convoy of American vehicles going by, they wave. They give a thumbs up. Some of them are saying, "Go Bush," you know, things like that because they think the Americans want to hear. But invariable, they almost look weary while they're doing it and they look a little bit suspicious. I get the sense that, you know, they would just as soon we hurry and do what we have to do and leave them alone. You know I can't -- and I can't blame them for that, having men with guns and tanks in your neighborhood can't be entirely pleasant although they're certainly putting a good face on about it. They're waving and they're waving flags and giving thumbs up to the troops and smiling as much as they can. And it all seems to be in a message of, you know, please don't shoot me.

HEMMER: Thanks for checking in. Scott Nelson, a very candid view right now in southwestern Baghdad, the suburbs, a residential area. With "The Boston Globe," Scott's been checking in every day and he has again this evening.

I'm going to check out. Wolf's up in about nine minutes here in this chair. And Heidi, Leon, you guys have a good Saturday as best you can in between the war coverage and I guess we'll see you again tomorrow on Sunday. All right?

HARRIS: You got it.

COLLINS: Indeed we will. All right, Bill.

HARRIS: Thank you very much, buddy. We'll see you tomorrow morning, all right.

HEMMER: Sure. Bye-bye.

COLLINS: Thanks.

All right. Coming up in just a few minutes we are going to check in with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. As you have probably seen some of his coverage, he is with the devil docs back in the operating room -- Sanjay.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Heidi. We are here with Bravo Surgical Company. We are in, actually, a tent, which is a stabilization and triage tent. Very busy, 108 patients in 48 hours. We're going to give you all the details about what we've been seeing just after this break. Stay with us.

HARRIS: CNN's continuing coverage of the war in Iraq, U.S. troops inside Baghdad, the latest on today's push into the Iraqi capital. Find out why some Iraqis in the U.S. are hoping to return and rebuild their homeland.

More details emerging about the rescue of an American POW. Hear what her family has to say live this afternoon at 1:00 Eastern. Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, the only people out there in the desert as busy as the troops are the doctors who are out there and they've been quite busy. And our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been busy as well both as a reporter and he's also been to called to duty of his own a couple of times. And as we understand it -- Sanjay checks in now.

Sanjay, I hear you did it once again?

GUPTA: Yes. We did, Leon. There's no question that it's been busy for sure. One hundred and eight patients over the last 48 hours, just to give you a sense, Leon. That's busy for any hospital. This is a hospital, an operating room, a triage area, all of that in the middle of the desert.

Leon, let me describe to you. It's dirt, sandy ground here. We're in a tent with 60-watt light bulbs. It looks just like something out of MASH; so many people have made that comparison. It truly is like that and also very busy. Constantly, helicopters coming in and out dropping off patients. And Leon, some of the images, I think, for anybody that's been here -- they'll remember them for the rest of the their lives.

Just earlier today, I think we have a video of a child, a 6-year- old child being brought out of the helicopter, a Medevac helicopter bringing a child just outside this particular tent. This child had a shrapnel injury to his face. Very significant what shrapnel can do to the face of a child. He was having difficulty breathing, the doctors here put an airway and actually the life of the child was saved. He was then medevacked back to another hospital. But these images, Leon, just -- they're tough to take for anybody, but they are the horrors of war and these doctors, the devil docs, are repairing the wounds of war and we're seeing a lot of that right here.

Leon, you also mentioned I have been called a couple of times now to help out. It's been sort of an interesting situation. You know as journalists certainly, we came here to cover the story not view the story, but there are no neurosurgeons here, Leon, and you know that's what I do for a living. And certainly, a couple of patients came in with significant head injuries from bullet wounds. The doctors here who I've developed a good rapport here, asked me if I would come and help out and I thought that medically and morally that was the right thing to do. Today, it was a young Iraqi gentleman who had a bullet wound to the head. We were able to operate on him. I was able to operate on him using all sorts of different tools in the operating room. And I'm happy to say that the operation was a success and he was medevacked out and is alive. So it's been interesting, Leon, so much so, professionally and personally on so many different levels -- Leon.

HARRIS: I'd hate to see your bill when you get back, Sanjay. I don't think the companies pay you enough if they send you out to report and you end up getting called to duty and to actually have to perform surgery yourself out there. That's amazing. And you know -- but there's no such thing as an accident, my friend, and you were there for a reason.

Let me ask you there this. You've been out there for quite a while in the desert with these guys. I want to know -- and this is a phenomenal operation that they've got -- it's so mobile and they've got such great equipment out there, but have there been lessons that they've learned about what works and doesn't work in this environment?

GUPTA: Yes. You know, that's say very good point, Leon. You know I think that the pure austerity of this environment, the desert, the sand, it's so hot. It was 110 degrees today. All of that has been problematic as you can imagine. Helicopters landing so close -- the landing zone so close to the operating room that sometimes sand is actually blown through the doors, literally into the operating room. There are some lessons learned.

What I was talking about earlier in terms of neurosurgery, I think the doctors didn't expect to see as many head injuries as they have seen. When they think about injuries, they think about the fact that coalition force members typically wear their flak jackets and helmets; so again, you're not going to see many abdominal injuries, chest injuries or head injuries. But the Iraqi soldiers, the Iraqi civilians, so many of them have come in with these injuries that I think a lot of the doctors here were, frankly, surprised to see. Lots of lessons, learned, Leon.

This is the first time that a mobile -- a truly mobile, surgical suite has been employed in a desert. It's the first time it's been employed in a war. It moves. It is totally mobile. The FRSS, which is the Forward Resuscitative Surgical Suite, can break down and set up in less than two hours and it is totally mobile. Why? So that it can move to the troops. We are very close to the frontline, about 30 to 40 miles from Baghdad. And I think that a lot of the frontline fighting that you've been hearing about, a lot of those causalities, a lot of those consequences are being seen right here at the Bravo Surgical Company -- Leon.

HARRIS: It's amazing stories, amazing stories. Thanks, Sanjay. You be safe. Be well, buddy. We'll see you soon. Dr. Sanjay Gupta out there.

GUPTA: Thank you, Leon.

HARRIS: One hundred and ten degrees?

COLLINS: I was just going to say the same thing and operating in it.

HARRIS: They have to be cool customers to deal with that.

COLLINS: Yes, definitely.

All right. Well, I just wanted to say good-bye. You're going to carry on today. I'm going to check out for now. But we do want to let you know what's coming up in the next hour on CNN's coverage of the war in Iraq. U.S. tanks roll into Baghdad. We are live from the frontlines just ahead. And a rescue and recovery mission, officials identify nine bodies found during Jessica Lynch's rescue. Plus, how do you talk to your children about war? We'll take a look at that important issue next hour right here on CNN.

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Aired April 5, 2003 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, folks, I'm Leon Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins. Along with us this hour we have Bill Hemmer in Kuwait City.

Hello once again, Bill.

HARRIS: Good morning, Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Heidi, Leon, 7:00 local time here in Kuwait, that means 8:00 local time in Baghdad. It's evening there again and Leon, as you mentioned, Day 17 right now in this war.

Now, we know -- earlier today, according to Central Command and members of the U.S. Army, they went through the central part of Baghdad earlier today. We're not quite sure if they're still there in the center part of town, but perhaps we'll learn a bit more with the embeds coming up this hour.

Good morning again to you guys back there.

HARRIS: All right. Good deal, Bill. We'll get back to you in just a bit. Right now, let's take a look at what's happening this hour.

Up first, right now, a strong message to Saddam Hussein. U.S. forces in Baghdad raided one of Saddam Hussein's presidential palaces. A military spokesman says the push into the heart of Baghdad is a clear statement to the Iraqi regime that the U.S. can move into the times and places of its own choosing, even inside the capital city.

Iraq's information minister read a statement this morning acknowledging that the coalition troops are -- quote -- "on Baghdad," but he insisted that the coalition's focus on the capital was weakening its efforts elsewhere in the country. The information minister also disputed reports out this morning that U.S. troops are in control of Baghdad's airport.

CENTCOM says coalition forces bombed the home of an Iraqi general who's accused of ordering the 1988 chemical attack against the Kurds. General Ali Hassan al-Majeed, a cousin of Saddam Hussein, also known as Chemical Ali. He's said to be in charge of the forces in southern Iraq. U.S. troops have been trying to track him down for the past few days.

The U.S. says nine of the 11 bodies found during Jessica Lynch's rescue have been identified now and eight of the soldiers were members of Lynch's 507th Maintenance Company that was ambushed last month. The ninth soldier was with the 3rd Division Supporting Battalion of Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Well, coming up this hour of CNN's coverage of the war in Iraq, U.S. forces roll out of the desert and into the heart of Baghdad. CNN's Martin Savidge is traveling with the 1st Battalion of the 7th Marines and in just a few minutes, he'll describe what his unit faced as it plowed its way into the suburbs, and the latest from the devil docs on the medical front. Dr. Sanjay Gupta again answers a call to duty and performs emergency surgery on a battlefield casualty, the second time he's been called to duty for that; this time, an Iraqi prisoner-of-war. And then, a soldier's story, the cycle of work and waiting and an occasional laugh or two. We'll look through the eyes of an American in Iraq awaiting the call to combat. And now, our continuing coverage of the war in Iraq rolls on.

Well, virtually any time, day or night, CNN has a number of tape machines recording satellite feeds coming in from around the world. Here now are some of the more striking images of the day that we found, now, including these, which just fed in a short time ago. This is the view from southwestern Baghdad as coalition forces there make it dramatically clear that they are now in the capital. Coalition forces bombard a presidential palace and its cluster of Republican Guard there (UNINTELLIGIBLE) assigned to protect the grounds.

Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words. These are the first pictures of U.S. troops in southern Baghdad that we've gotten in. Explosions lighting up the night and then, it kind of adds to the eerie green tint of these night scope images as U.S. troops charge in under the cover of heavy shelling.

Meanwhile, Iraqi leaders project a far different picture of Baghdad. You see this video. This was shot by a Lebanese TV crew, showing Iraqi police moving rather freely through the streets of the capital.

And a grim discovery in southern Iraq. British forces find a makeshift morgue there containing hundreds of boxes of human remains. There weren't any clues to the identities of the dead, but one British commander says that they appear to be too old to have come from this current conflict. He also says that his troops are going to be treating it as a mass grave.

Now, let's begin this hour by immediately going out to the region. CNN's Bill Hemmer checking in right now. He's on duty in Kuwait City.

Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: Hey, Leon, listen, we want to roll some of that videotape again for our viewers that we just got in the past hour. This, an assault led against a presidential palace near Baghdad we're told. The precise location is not known, but you can see, obviously, from this videotape, the fighting continues to be quite fierce. And CENTCOM warned us about three hours ago -- and quoting now -- "the fight is far from over. Operations will continue." There is no victory speech to be made by the U.S. at this point. That was the order from CENTCOM earlier today.

They also made it quite clear that they wanted the Iraqi regime to know that the U.S. can now have freedom of movement in and out of Baghdad at the time of their choosing and they say they did that earlier today by going into that capital city during the daytime hours. Another indication, what they believe right now is exercising more control over the country of Iraq.

Let's get you to the southeastern part of Baghdad right now. Marty Savidge is embedded with the Marines. We were checking in with Marty last hour, moving up to the suburbs of Baghdad.

Mary, I'm not quite sure if you made more progress since then, but I know it's night there. By way of videophone to our viewers, you can see quite obviously, it is dark.

Marty, good evening.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Bill. Yes, once again, it's dark out, obviously no light allowed out here. It's just too dangerous. But we can tell you this -- the Army has been moving up on the west side of Baghdad while the Marines are moving up on the east side of Baghdad. And now, they have made it into the southeastern suburbs and there is fighting to be had. Not heavy fighting. Not a full-blown battle, but sporadic fighting that is taking place. In fact, last night, different Marines rolling up through this same area did have a battle, at least an altercation. RPGs fired their way and small arms fire. They did have some casualties and a number of U.S. tanks were struck and damaged.

So today, the 1st Battalion 7th Marines following on, given the orders, going to the same area where this trouble was, contain it, bring it under control and then take care of whoever's causing the problems. Is it remnants of the Republican Guard? Not clear at this point. Or is it just regular Iraqi forces? They appear to be dug in in four to five positions with bunkers as well. And to get them out of those positions, you've got infantry units as well as heavy artillery being fired.

A lot of bombardment took place this morning. More rounds went in in the afternoon. And then, late this evening, a couple more rounds. We're also being told that air assets have been brought into play. Again, not a full-blown engagement, but ones and twos here and there, bunkers that have to be struck, searched, polled, move on. And that's the way the Marines have been acting for the 1st Battalion 7th Marines today. They will continue their drive from the southeast into the suburbs of Baghdad throughout the night and all day tomorrow, Bill.

HEMMER: Got it, Marty. Thanks. Check in a little bit later tonight if you can. Martin Savidge, again, southeastern edge of Baghdad tonight.

On the western edge of the city, in fact, just west of the airport, they are now known as Baghdad International, Walt Rodgers, from his position with the 7th Cav, filed this report a short time ago, the latest on what he has seen and heard in and around the capital city.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. Army commanders in the Iraqi theater are now extraordinarily confident about the way the battle is unfolding. One general was quoted as saying, "We have the Iraqis rocking backward on their heels." He went on to say, "It will take several more days of pressure." But the clear implication is the American generals, at least in the Army, believe that the battle is being won and that there is a timeline and that this war will not go on ceaselessly as some had earlier feared.

The Army intelligence has been getting reports of large numbers of Iraqi Ba'athist Party members. Those are -- that's part of Saddam Hussein's regime, as well as well as Iraqi soldiers, Republican Guard soldiers, fleeing the city in army trucks. Now, those army trucks are being interspersed with civilian vehicles and consequently, the U.S. air power cannot strike at these civilian vehicles. But they all seem to be exiting in what one Army officer called nothing short of -- quoting -- "a mass exodus" moving westward, north westward, and in the general direction of Jordan, but almost certainly more likely they will end up in Syria.

Walter Rodgers, CNN with the U.S. 7th Cavalry on the outskirts of Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All right, Walt, thanks for the update there. To our viewers at home, as I mentioned, 8:00 local time in Baghdad. Last hour, we talked with a representative from the Red Cross. He says the hospitals have been extremely active overnight last night and into the early hours today. He says at one time there were 100 injured civilians or soldiers, a combination of both coming into local hospitals in Baghdad. Again, 8:00 local time. If indeed the air strikes continue tonight, we'll keep a close eye on it, but for now, here's Heidi again at the CNN Center.

COLLINS: Thank you, bill. We are going to go ahead now and get the very latest developments from the Pentagon where our Barbara Starr is at her post.

Good morning once again, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you again, Heidi. Well, now that U.S. troops are beginning their probes into Baghdad, there is a new air strategy over Baghdad airspace. General Michael Mosley, the head of the Air Force's component for the coalition, spoke to reporters here in the Pentagon by phone earlier this morning from his headquarters in Saudi Arabia and he said now there will be air cover over Baghdad 24/7. There will be fixed-wing planes loaded with munitions capable of striking enemy targets in the city while minimizing any potential nearby civilian damage. The smallest munition to do the job, he said. Again, special Republican Guard, other mobile enemy targets in the city now that U.S. troops are moving through.

Here's what -- a little bit of what General Mosley had to say by telephone.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

LT. GEN. MICHAEL MOSLEY, HEAD OF AIR FORCE COALITION: The trick is to use -- if you have to do this, is to use the smallest munition possible to get the maximum effect so that you don't create those unnecessary losses of civilian life or property.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

STARR: Now, General Mosley gave an example of just how hard it is to hit some targets in Baghdad because of the caution about civilian damage. He spoke about the Iraqi TV transmission system. This has been a frustration to commanders, U.S. and coalition commanders because Iraqi TV apparently is still able to broadcast intermittently. He said they are continuing to hit the TV transmitters, but because of the potential for nearby civilian damage, he said the coalition will live with the fact that Iraqi TV comes back up on the air and they will continue to hit the transmitters. So a lot of effort now being paid to protecting U.S. troops as they move through Baghdad -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Barbara, I'm just curious if you have any word on the airport that has now been taken over by coalition forces, the Baghdad Airport. Now, I know that there are two runways there, one being a military runway and one being civilian. Any word at all or any plans to possibly use that airport in this further assault?

STARR: Well, they do want to get one of those runways cleared as quickly as possible. They would certainly like to begin running supplies and other military elements through there. But one of the issues, of course and it ties back to what General Mosley was saying, there is still the concern about Iraqi antiaircraft artillery, surface-to air-missiles, other weapons that the special Republican Guard has positioned throughout Baghdad that could be a threat to U.S. aircraft moving in and out of that airport facility.

So this all ties together. It's one of the questions they want to get this urban air cover going. It started this morning. He said they will continue to work away at some of these Iraqi threats in the city. As they get those down, they will be able to start using the airport -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Thank you so much for that.

In his weekly radio address last hour, President Bush praised the U.S. military success and promised that Iraqi liberation is close. Let's check in now with senior White House correspondent, John King.

Good morning, John. JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi. The president is up at the Camp David presidential retreat for the weekend. He left the White House yesterday afternoon. This morning we are told he received a detailed update from the national security team on the advance of U.S. forces into in some cases and surrounding in other cases the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Mr. Bush spending the weekend up at Camp David, but closely tracking developments.

His weekly radio address dedicated solely to the issue of Iraq and the ongoing war effort. Mr. Bush says coalition troops are making steady progress and he says as the troops make progress, the United States is increasingly being welcomed by the Iraqi people, increasingly delivering humanitarian supplies like food and medicine to the Iraqi people. The president, on the other hand, says the Iraqi regime is committing war crimes and atrocities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As the vice tightens on the Iraqi regime, some of our enemies have chosen to fill their final days with acts of cowardice and murder. In combat, Saddam's thugs shield themselves with women and children. They have killed Iraqi citizens who welcome coalition troops and they have forced other Iraqis into battle by threatening to torture or kill their families. They have executed prisoners-of-war, waged attacks under the white flag of truce and concealed combat forces in civilian neighborhoods, schools, hospitals and mosques.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Mixed in with the constant updates on the war effort are preparations for a two-day summit Monday and Tuesday with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The two leaders, the White House says, will obviously discuss the military press on Baghdad, but also because they believe that the fall of the Iraqi regime is at hand, much of the time at that two-day summit will be spent on plans for running post-war Iraq. Some disagreements between Washington and London, especially on the issue of how big of a role should the United Nations get -- Heidi.

COLLINS: John, I wonder if you might be able to comment for us a little bit on the interim administration that we're hearing a little bit about and Colin Powell actually brought up about implementing into Iraq and quite quickly, in fact, saying that it will consist of exiled Iraqis and people who have been opposed to Saddam Hussein inside of Iraq. What do you make of that? How difficult will this be?

KING: Well, there are many unknowns in this and the interim authority, if the White House gets its way, will include Iraqis who have worked in senior positions under Saddam Hussein, not only open opponents of Saddam Hussein but the White House believes especially in nonmilitary, nonsecurity apparatus inside the government, places like agriculture, communications, transportation, that there is a civil service inside Iraq that is quite sophisticated. So long as those officials are not identified as regime loyalists, the White House hopes they can be involved in a new Iraq.

The White House believes that is the quickest way to hand over authority from the U.S. military and civil administration that will begin the moment the shooting stops, quickly hand it back over to the Iraqi people. The White House says it simply can't say how long that would take, but they would like to do it as soon as possible.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's senior White House correspondent, John King, thank you.

HARRIS: All right. Coming up, on the ground in Baghdad, coalition forces are on the move in the heart of Iraq. We'll keep you up-to-date with the latest developments on the advance.

COLLINS: Also ahead, independent Iraqis for democracy. What's next for the nation of Iraq? We'll look at what comes after Saddam Hussein. CNN's special coverage of the war in Iraq continues after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Jessica Lynch's family is heading to Germany to see her later today. Family members say that they are still learning details about the extent of Lynch's injuries. They're going to learn more when they arrive in Landstuhl. She's being treated at a U.S. military medical facility there. And so far, we're told that she's undergone surgeries for injuries to her back, legs and arms. The 19-year-old supply clerk was rescued in a daring raid on April 1 after an Iraqi lawyer told the military where she was being held.

COLLINS: And during the hospital raid, U.S. forces also found 11 bodies, nine of which have now been identified as Americans. Eight of those soldiers were members of Lynch's unit from the 507th Maintenance Company that was ambushed near Nasiriyah on March 23. And joining us now with more on this is Antwan Lewis from CNN affiliate, KTV-K. He's in Tuba City, Arizona, that's the hometown of one of the fallen soldiers.

And incredibly difficult time, I'm sure.

ANTWAN LEWIS, KTV-K CORRESPONDENT: Oh, my gosh, Heidi, you couldn't imagine. But let me tell you, in combination with sadness, there is also honor here in Tuba City. We want to show you what's actually going on behind met the Piestewa family home here. You can see family members have been greeted by visitors all morning. We've been here for the better part of three hours now since they got the news last night from the Pentagon that Lori Anne Piestewa was, in fact, among those bodies that were recovered.

And we want to tell you a little bit about what's been going on here. The brother, whom you will hear from in just a second, came out to talk to us. But it's just been an outpouring of tremendous support for this family and we want to call your attention to one thing in particular there. You can see on the pole is a picture of PFC Lori Anne Piestewa and just above that picture is another flag that has been hanged up. That flag is the POW/MIA flag, which as you know, for several days, almost two weeks, Lori was missing in action.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEWIS (voice-over): Visits to the Piestewa home in Tuba City started early. People coming to show the respects to the family just the day after Pentagon officials confirmed that PFC Lori Anne Piestewa was among the soldiers found dead during the rescue of an American POW. Family friends brought food, flowers and exchanged hugs in the family's front yard. Those to the household also brought with them very heavy hearts, but probably heaviest of all Lori Piestewa's brother when reading a statement from the family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The family and friends of Laurie would like to, first, thank everyone for their continued support at this time. We were informed yesterday evening that our sister is home and we're very happy that she's back on U.S. soil.

We're asking the community and the media to allow us time to begin the healing process and respect our wishes to spend time with our immediate family. At some point in the future we will have a celebration of her life at which time the community -- we will embrace the greater community of Tuba City and I'm sure our country.

We ask -- we also ask you to continue to pray for all the troops, all the servicemen and women and the world leaders around the world so that our children will know what it is one day to live in a world of peace, and that there will be a quick end to this conflict as well as other conflicts around the world.

We are very proud of Lori. Our family is very proud of her. We know she's our hero, as you've heard before. We are continuing to believe that we're going to hold that in our hearts forever and she will not be forgotten. And it gives us comfort to know that she is at peace right now and we do this to honor our lady warrior, Lori, and we'd like to thank you again, thank the community and thanks to the media for adhering to my request. And -- but that will be it for today.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEWIS: Once again, that was Lori Piestewa's brother speaking to us. And we also wanted to tell you a little more about Lori. She leaves behind two small children -- in addition to her family, two small children that are inside that house that you're looking at right now. And we also want to let you know, one thing the family did mention to us that it was their Navajo faith -- and because she is the first American Indian or one of the first American Indians that are part of the coalition forces -- and obviously, with the confirmation from the Pentagon last night, Lori Piestewa has become the first American female casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

COLLINS: All right. That was Antwan Lewis from CNN affiliate, KTV-K. We certainly do appreciate it with the family of Lori Anne Piestewa. All right. Thanks so much. And we will back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEMMER: Once again, about 8:22 in the evening in Baghdad. The electricity appears to be out for large portions, again, of that city. The only lights we can pick up are the headlights on a few of the cars that again continue to trickle through in the streets there in central Baghdad. We will follow what's happening there in Baghdad.

Barbara Starr also tells us that a 24-hour mission right now is under way by the U.S. military, headed up by the Air Force, to always fly in the skies above Baghdad to provide combat air support. We're told that there are operations right now under way and will continue probably throughout the night directed to special Republican Guard, that is the unit said to be anywhere between 15,000 and 20,000 strong designed specifically to protect the interior of Baghdad and to protect Saddam Hussein, ultimately. But what we do not know is how many of that 15 to 20,000 number is still intact in Baghdad or still operating right now in the -- against the coalition forces, the U.S. specifically right now bringing in the city of the Iraqi capital.

We have talked a lot about southern Iraq, a lot about Baghdad itself. We have not talked today though about what's happening on the northern front. Ben Wedeman is now live in the town of Erbil and brings us up to date on what he is now observing with what appears to be a shifting front possibly again today.

Ben, good evening there.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, good evening, Bill. Well, in fact, the shifting front that seemed to be shifting yesterday seems to have to come to something of a halt. Now yesterday, the Kurdish forces managed to take this strategic bridge called al Hasir (ph), which is about 25 miles to the west of -- rather to the east of the northern city of Mosul, which is still under the control of Saddam Hussein. But what has happened is that the Iraqis managed to push the Kurds back to that bridge. So now we were there at the front lines throughout the day. We saw that really, the Iraqis are still holding that position on the bridge.

This despite intense American air strikes, pounding for hours by planes, not only fighter planes bombing those areas, but also using their canons as well. But despite that pounding, the Iraqis were able to fire back. There was several artillery rounds that were coming back at the Kurdish positions, including one position that actually hit and the round wounded two Kurdish fighters.

Now, American troops are on the ground there. They are providing the guidance, or spotting, as it's called, for those air strikes. And one of those air strikes, in fact, came a little bit too close, fell on the wrong side of the line, fell only about 200 yards from where we were standing. But -- and to the best of our knowledge, even now, as the sun has gone down, that front remains the same. The Iraqis are still holding firm at that strategic bridge -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Ben, thanks for the update. Again, Ben Wedeman reporting on the northern front in Iraq for us tonight. We have talked earlier today about the situation right now in the north, in the town of Tikrit. That's the ancestral home of Saddam Hussein. Central Command made a point today of saying that they have isolated the road leading out of Baghdad, heading north toward this town, but there's not a whole lot of information offered by the U.S. right now as to how large of a force may be amassed right now. Republican Guard, perhaps special Republican Guard, we really do not know in the town of Tikrit. CENTCOM said they are still working to get more and better information as to what's happening down there.

I want to get you back to Baghdad. We have yet another shot that we can show you right now. About 8:30 in the evening, we can see certain things on in terms of electricity. Whether or not this indicates that some power is back on, we do not know. It was about 48 hours ago when the lights went out in Baghdad, almost as if someone had come in and flipped a giant switch and knocked everything out across the city. Now, there were reports earlier today on Saturday that some pockets of Baghdad in the north and in the west had some measure of electricity, but again, very difficult for us to ascertain what's truly the story there in the treat streets of Baghdad. Rula Amin is working the story in the eastern part of Jordan. She's been in touch with a number of her sources in Baghdad. We'll pick up with Rula and her report in a moment here. Back with a whole lot more on Saturday, Day 17 right now of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

ANNOUNCER: For more on the war in Iraq, log on to CNN.com. Get reports from the frontlines and all the facts and features you need to track the war, plus, sign up for breaking news alerts and be the first to know. Log on and stay informed at CNN.com

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Here's a look now at what's happening at this hour. U.S. troops attack a presidential compound and Republican Guard barracks in southwestern Baghdad. The allied Central Command said earlier today in daylight hours, coalition forces charged into the city as a show of force to Iraqi leaders.

An investigation is underway in this morning's crash of a Super Cobra attack helicopter. The allied Central Command says it went down in central Iraq killing both U.S. Marine Corps pilots onboard. Central Command says the crash does not appear to have been caused by hostile fire.

CENTCOM also reports some 6,500 Iraqi troops are now in custody and being cared for by coalition forces. CENTCOM's director of operation says many of the Iraqis willingly surrendered as opposed to being captured.

President Bush is spending the weekend at Camp David, but his weekly radio address echoes from Maryland to the Middle East. Mr. Bush praised coalition troops and their mission, ousting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. He says it is a great and just cause and promises Iraq that -- quote -- "liberation is coming."

The global death toll from SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, has reached at least 89 now. Hong Kong and Malaysia report new deaths from the illness. The U.S. State Department is alerting Americans to new precautions in Thailand, subjecting travelers to inspections and possible quarantine.

Now back to Bill Hemmer live in Kuwait City and our continuing coverage of the war in Iraq.

HEMMER: Heidi -- all right, Heidi, thanks again. Back here live in Kuwait City. We want to give you a bit of a visual right now over how the U.S. military has moved on to Baghdad. If you think about -- from the southwest, the 3rd Infantry Division coming from that angle. In the south, immediately south of Baghdad is the Army's 5th Core and the Marines right now, the Marine Expeditionary Force, the 1st MEF coming from the southeast, which is where Marty Savidge has been reporting from earlier today.

Now, what's happening on the streets of Baghdad remains to be a picture that we tried to get some better clarification. We do know, according to Central Command earlier today, that some Bradley fighting vehicles, some M-1, A-1 tanks penetrated what's called the heart of Baghdad. Not quite sure how long they stayed or where they went after that or what's happening inside the city. But Rula Amin has been working her sources and her contacts there back in Baghdad. Rula is live in eastern Jordan tonight to tell us what she is finding out.

Rula, what kind of picture are you piecing together there?

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bill, Iraqi officials seem to be on the defensive after pictures of U.S. troops inside Baghdad were shown on different television stations, including CNN. The source that provided the picture is a reliable source and he says that those pictures were shot inside Baghdad. But Iraq's information minister, Muhammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, was on different Arab satellite channels just now denying that these pictures were in Baghdad. He said they were not in Baghdad, not in the outskirts of Baghdad, at least 30 or 40 kilometers away from the center of the town. He also was very critical of news outlets that were putting these pictures on the air without scrutinizing it, he said, because definitely it's not inside Baghdad.

This is not the only denial we've been hearing from the Iraqi officials. They've also contradicted the U.S. stories that the U.S. forces are in control of Saddam International Airport, renamed as Baghdad International Airport. He says that the Republican Guard, Iraqi Republican Guards, now are in control after they have forced the U.S. troops out, inflicted serious damage among those troops, killing some troops and taking others as prisoners.

This is -- of course, all this is coming from Baghdad. It completely contradicts the stories we have been getting from U.S. Central Command. And even despite all these denies, the Iraqi officials seem to be very aware of the pressure that's being applied against the government and against the security forces inside the city.

Just a couple of hours ago, Saddam Hussein had another message for Iraqis. It was read by the Iraqi information minister on state television. He basically asked the people to help him defend Baghdad because he said U.S. troops are focusing on Baghdad and that's why they have their positions and other parts of Iraq have been weakened. And he wants people, Iraqis, to attack these positions in order to release the pressure Baghdad -- Bill.

HEMMER: Rula, one more question here about what Walt Rodgers is telling us. He is saying that there are scores of Ba'ath Party members trying to flee Baghdad, possibly toward Syria, maybe toward your location there in Jordan. Have you followed up on or heard any word on this?

AMIN: Well, Bill, we haven't really seen anybody crossing this border into Jordan from Iraq so far today. It's one thing to note is this road between Amman and Baghdad has become a dangerous road, kind of a risky road. We have heard of many incidents of cars and buses being hit by missiles on that road. So even for those people who are trying to flee, they have to think twice before they use this road to try to get here.

At the same time, we do know that Jordanian officials have very strict procedures on the borders to try to prevent anybody from coming in. They say they just can't afford to absorb a large number of refugees here -- Bill.

HEMMER: Rula, thanks. Rula Amin, again, in Jordan tonight. Here's Leon again at the CNN Center.

HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Bill.

I believe we now -- we want to get some more perspective on what's happening on the battlefield right now. And we're joined by retired Colonel Mike Turner who's been talking with us off and on throughout this entire war effort.

And I have to ask you this one, Colonel Turner. We talked yesterday, almost exactly 24 hours ago. We talked yesterday, almost exactly 24 hours ago -- and we talked yesterday about the taking over the airport, which was the big news yesterday. If I had asked you then if you were to believe that there would U.S. troops on the streets in Baghdad today, they'd be in downtown Baghdad, would you -- could you have believed that?

COL. MIKE TURNER, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET): Well, Leon, you know, it's funny. I don't know if I had mentioned it to you. I think I mentioned it on the air yesterday at least once, so we -- this narrowing funnel of options for the remnants of Saddam's regime would drive them -- would go one of two ways. It would go either extremely well or extremely poorly as their options got -- were decreased and the necessity for them to resort to extreme measures became higher.

Well, I think what we're beginning to see in just the 24 hours since you and I talked last is it looks like now thank God, frankly, we've got the extremely good option in play here. It looks as though the command and control structure has really begun to fracture and evaporate. The Republican Guard forces -- and you know we talk about damage elite forces. They're -- by U.S. standards; they're certainly not that. They're better equipped. They're better trained, but they're still substantially below the caliber of the U.S. units and we've obviously demonstrated that.

HARRIS: But you know we've been respecting them nonetheless. I mean I remember for the past 12 years or so the talk has always been that the Republican Guard, particularly those when you get closer and closer to Baghdad, those who are actually guarding the regime and the top leaders, those would probably be the best trained, those would probably be the most formidable forces. And as it turns out we've seen more resistance coming from the Fedayeen than we've seen coming from the Republican Guard.

TURNER: I think that's true. But if you imagine a series of concentric circles, the regular army, then the Republican Guard and the special Republican Guard and then the Fedayeen really inside even that. And what we encountered which was, I think, a surprise for everybody in this was that the Fedayeen was not in downtown Baghdad. They had actually deployed out into the outer cities. But that still -- there's still a fighting force that is more extreme and more unconventional and therefore, probably more of a threat because they're willing to take extreme and unconventional measures perhaps more so and I would say at this point, arguably more so than the Republican Guard clearly has, which is still -- even though better trained and better equipped, is still fundamentally a conventional Army and following conventional tactics on the battlefield as opposed to the unconventional tactics of the Fedayeen and that makes the Fedayeen more dangerous.

HARRIS: I've got to ask you something that I read this morning in a report. I believe it was in "The New York Times" about once they did get into the Medina offices, the headquarters there, they saw in there notes that the generals -- and they were writing to themselves about what to do and there were notes that said, "Don't panic." There was a calendar inside that had check marks on every day up until March 10, then nothing after that. It seems as though morale pretty much evaporated there rather quickly.

TURNER: And a number of the analysts, both military analysts and the governmental and political analysts that had been following the war have alluded to this sort of -- this point of where you pass a threshold where you have defeated the enemy psychologically. And I think the examples that you just gave are excellent representative examples of just exactly that process as it manifests itself in the actions of the commanders of the enemy force. They get to a point where all of a sudden they really genuinely perceive this is a hopeless cause and I need to save myself and there's some very real and physical manifestations of that psychological breakdown. And I think that's what you're seeing now at an ever-accelerating pace as we move on.

HARRIS: Yes. They also say that the parking lot was empty, no cars were at the headquarters.

TURNER: I imagine it was.

HARRIS: Yes. Colonel Mike Turner, appreciate it. Good to see you again.

TURNER: My pleasure. Good to see you.

HARRIS: All right. We'll talk to you later on.

Right now, we want to talk to our Jason Bellini. He is one of our reporters who's out there embedded with the troops. And Jason is calling in on the videophone in Nasiriyah.

Jason what do you have there?

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, first of all, I want to tell you behind me right here is the hospital where Jessica Lynch was rescued just a few days ago and also I want to show you something here. I'm moving up close to the camera. First, let me explain that we have to keep the lights off because of the restrictions, but hopefully this will be de-digitized so you can see. This is Jessica Lynch's dog tag. We got permission from our commander to show this. They recovered this dog tag today, Leon. They found it not in the hospital, but in a building that was near the river where they went looking for munitions, for weapons. They believe it was a Ba'ath Party member's residence. That's where they found this earlier today, Leon. And among the other things they found there, a very large cache of weapons. And they tell me that they are finding this everywhere they go.

They're planning here and again, I have -- I do have clearance to report this, they are telling us that they're planning to go residence to residence, door to door, every building in this town, but first they're hitting the spots that they've been told are likely -- they're likely to find weaponry and so this was one of those early sports they're going to. They said what's slowing them down from clearing this city, going door to door, as I just said, is that they keep finding more and more munitions everywhere they go -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right, Jason, I got to back you up for a second here because this is remarkable, you're coming up with these dog tags here. Back up and tell us exactly how you came to actually get them to give you these dog tags and where exactly did they find them again?

BELLINI: OK. They found this dog tag; again, inside what they believe is a Ba'ath Party member's residence, inside a building that they were clearing. I hope you can see this. I brought it up close. I'm covering up right now her social security number here. She didn't want -- one doesn't want to see that on national television. What I'm told is going to happen is I'm going to give this back to the commander and then he is going to be forwarding it back to her. So she will get this back. I've just borrowed it for a few minutes so we can show this to you.

HARRIS: Jason, let me ask you this then. Is there -- is the thinking there then, if they found these dog tags in this Ba'ath Party official's residence, is the thinking that she was actually there before she was in the hospital? And if she was, is there evidence that something happened to her there? BELLINI: That's the theory. They don't know for sure what exactly happened, but they do believe that's where she was. I'm hoping shortly now to be able to talk to some of the Marines who went in there and did that search earlier today. They just came back and just gave this -- hand this over so that we could show it to you.

The other thing I wanted to tell you, Leon, about this hospital back here, photographer, Joe Duran, was there just a short while ago and he sent back -- we sent you back some pictures on the videophone. I apologize. The quality isn't the best. We'll send them again later. What you're seeing in those pictures, if you're looking at them, are injured Iraqis who were in the hospital, some very difficult pictures to look at. You see some people who are -- who lost their legs. Quite a number of people there in that hospital. He was just there again. It's just across the road from us right now.

The doctor that Joe spoke with told us...

HARRIS: We're sorry about that.

BELLINI: ... (UNINTELLIGIBLE) who had been injured in this city.

HARRIS: All right. I apologize for that, Jason. We were getting some interference there on the satellite circuit there. But thanks, Jason Bellini. Jason, be safe and then check back in (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Great work out there, getting those dog tags. Incredible.

COLLINS: I can't believe it. They found quite a bit in that hospital...

HARRIS: Yes.

COLLINS: ... after they went in.

HARRIS: And still lots of unanswered questions. Why were those dog tags in that residence and not with her in that hospital?

COLLINS: Exactly. Frightening, I'm sure. We will be updating you on that as we learn it.

All right. Well, just ahead, we are going to take a quick break and we will have all the updates on what has been happening in the war overnight and up to this point right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, there are lots of questions about what will happen in Iraq after the war is over. The U.S. says that the goal is for Iraqis to elect their own leader. Well, a group of Iraqi exiles has already put forth their choice for a new president. His name is Adnan Pachachi. He once served as Iraq's foreign minister and as its ambassador to the U.N. as well. And Mr. Pachachi is now the chairman of the newly formed Independent Iraqis for Democracy. And he joins us now from London to talk about the future of his home country and whether or not he's going to be a part of that future. Mr. Pachachi, what do you think? Will you be part of the future of Iraq as leader?

ADNAN PACHACHI, FORMER IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, I hope if the Iraqi people choose me for any post, I'd be most honored to occupy that post. What we want now is really to enable the Iraqi people to run the affairs of their country during the transitional period and that should be done through the convening of a broadly based confidence of the Iraqis inside and outside the country that will choose the members of the transitional government. This, I think, would be of interest not only of Iraqis, but also of the United States, which would not have to have a lengthy occupation of the country.

We support the British position on this, namely that the United Nations should have a role in this process and to help Iraqis come to an end this conflict. However, if the United Nations is not given that role, then I think the United States should undertake to consult Iraqis outside and inside the country.

HARRIS: Well, sir, as we understand it that's -- the administration is doing just that. What I'd like to know is have you seen the reports that are in the papers this morning about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld urging President Bush to install an interim Iraqi government right now, before the war is even over with. Do you think that should be done?

PACHACHI: No, I don't think that is a wise thing to do because I think time should be given for people inside Iraq to be consulted besides the people like us who are outside Iraq. And that -- this can be done only after the end of the war and we hope that the government that would come out of this conference would be far more democratic than one which would be appointed from our sides.

HARRIS: Adnan Pachachi, we thank you very much for your time this morning. We have to move. We've got some more developing news that we have to get to. But we hope to talk with you later on about this very important topic. Thank you very much.

PACHACHI: Thank you.

HARRIS: Now, let's go to Bill Hemmer standing by in Kuwait City -- Bill.

HEMMER: Leon, thanks.

Scott Nelson's a writer for "The Boston Globe." He's been embedded with the U.S. Marines for about three weeks, almost four weeks rights now. I believe his location, southeastern suburbs of Baghdad.

Scott, good evening. What's happening right now where you are?

SCOTT NELSON, "THE BOSTON GLOBE": Well, what's happening right now is there's been a fairly active day and it's coming to a close with a bang here because the Marines are blowing up groups of weapons caches throughout the suburbs as they find them and some of them are quite spectacular actually. It's almost like the Fourth of July although I don't want to make light of it. I mean we're obviously still in a war zone. But there are a lot of weapons caches being blown up here this evening and I actually went with some of the Marines today as they searched out some of the weapons. And in one case near me they found some munitions making facilities inside what had once been an elementary school and they found some other fairly heavy weapons in a police station. So it's been an active day here as they essentially try to cut off the Republican Guard, keep them out of the city and then search out these weapons caches in the area.

HEMMER: Yes, Scott, how much resistance have you encountered along that route?

NELSON: Well, along the route southeast of Baghdad over the last couple of days it's fairly heavy. Thursday and Friday were both relatively heavy fighting along the day, a lot of tank on tank fighting, a lot of air shelling of tanks and bunkers. And it was relatively stiff resistance up -- through the last 40 or 50 miles for Baghdad. Today, as we've been riding in the suburbs, much less, though. There's definitely been small flare-ups here and there, but much less resistance. It seems to have really collapsed. And the focus of the Marines today seemed to be keeping the Republican Guard from retreating into Baghdad. The fight to get here is essentially over. At this point, they feel like they're mopping up the Republican Guard, just trying to keep them out of the city at this point. But the fight is largely over from here. There's only fields (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from here.

HEMMER: Scott, give me a better idea about your location. You said you're in suburbs. Is this a residential area? Is it industrial? How would you describe it?

NELSON: No, I would definitely describe it as residential. I mean like I said, we passed schools and police stations today, lots of what appeared to be housing complexes, a lot of single and double story housing complexes. And you see a small number of people sort of walking the streets. It seems like most people left the area and I can't say that I blame them, but you do see a small number of people on the streets riding bicycles, trying to stay out of the way of the tanks, that sort of thing, but definitely a residential area.

HEMMER: And Scott, one last question here. These people you see on the streets riding bikes and other things, what has been their reaction knowing that U.S. forces are essentially on the doorstep of the center of Baghdad. It's actually been a difficult read to tell you the truth. In almost every case when there's a convoy of American vehicles going by, they wave. They give a thumbs up. Some of them are saying, "Go Bush," you know, things like that because they think the Americans want to hear. But invariable, they almost look weary while they're doing it and they look a little bit suspicious. I get the sense that, you know, they would just as soon we hurry and do what we have to do and leave them alone. You know I can't -- and I can't blame them for that, having men with guns and tanks in your neighborhood can't be entirely pleasant although they're certainly putting a good face on about it. They're waving and they're waving flags and giving thumbs up to the troops and smiling as much as they can. And it all seems to be in a message of, you know, please don't shoot me.

HEMMER: Thanks for checking in. Scott Nelson, a very candid view right now in southwestern Baghdad, the suburbs, a residential area. With "The Boston Globe," Scott's been checking in every day and he has again this evening.

I'm going to check out. Wolf's up in about nine minutes here in this chair. And Heidi, Leon, you guys have a good Saturday as best you can in between the war coverage and I guess we'll see you again tomorrow on Sunday. All right?

HARRIS: You got it.

COLLINS: Indeed we will. All right, Bill.

HARRIS: Thank you very much, buddy. We'll see you tomorrow morning, all right.

HEMMER: Sure. Bye-bye.

COLLINS: Thanks.

All right. Coming up in just a few minutes we are going to check in with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. As you have probably seen some of his coverage, he is with the devil docs back in the operating room -- Sanjay.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Heidi. We are here with Bravo Surgical Company. We are in, actually, a tent, which is a stabilization and triage tent. Very busy, 108 patients in 48 hours. We're going to give you all the details about what we've been seeing just after this break. Stay with us.

HARRIS: CNN's continuing coverage of the war in Iraq, U.S. troops inside Baghdad, the latest on today's push into the Iraqi capital. Find out why some Iraqis in the U.S. are hoping to return and rebuild their homeland.

More details emerging about the rescue of an American POW. Hear what her family has to say live this afternoon at 1:00 Eastern. Stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, the only people out there in the desert as busy as the troops are the doctors who are out there and they've been quite busy. And our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been busy as well both as a reporter and he's also been to called to duty of his own a couple of times. And as we understand it -- Sanjay checks in now.

Sanjay, I hear you did it once again?

GUPTA: Yes. We did, Leon. There's no question that it's been busy for sure. One hundred and eight patients over the last 48 hours, just to give you a sense, Leon. That's busy for any hospital. This is a hospital, an operating room, a triage area, all of that in the middle of the desert.

Leon, let me describe to you. It's dirt, sandy ground here. We're in a tent with 60-watt light bulbs. It looks just like something out of MASH; so many people have made that comparison. It truly is like that and also very busy. Constantly, helicopters coming in and out dropping off patients. And Leon, some of the images, I think, for anybody that's been here -- they'll remember them for the rest of the their lives.

Just earlier today, I think we have a video of a child, a 6-year- old child being brought out of the helicopter, a Medevac helicopter bringing a child just outside this particular tent. This child had a shrapnel injury to his face. Very significant what shrapnel can do to the face of a child. He was having difficulty breathing, the doctors here put an airway and actually the life of the child was saved. He was then medevacked back to another hospital. But these images, Leon, just -- they're tough to take for anybody, but they are the horrors of war and these doctors, the devil docs, are repairing the wounds of war and we're seeing a lot of that right here.

Leon, you also mentioned I have been called a couple of times now to help out. It's been sort of an interesting situation. You know as journalists certainly, we came here to cover the story not view the story, but there are no neurosurgeons here, Leon, and you know that's what I do for a living. And certainly, a couple of patients came in with significant head injuries from bullet wounds. The doctors here who I've developed a good rapport here, asked me if I would come and help out and I thought that medically and morally that was the right thing to do. Today, it was a young Iraqi gentleman who had a bullet wound to the head. We were able to operate on him. I was able to operate on him using all sorts of different tools in the operating room. And I'm happy to say that the operation was a success and he was medevacked out and is alive. So it's been interesting, Leon, so much so, professionally and personally on so many different levels -- Leon.

HARRIS: I'd hate to see your bill when you get back, Sanjay. I don't think the companies pay you enough if they send you out to report and you end up getting called to duty and to actually have to perform surgery yourself out there. That's amazing. And you know -- but there's no such thing as an accident, my friend, and you were there for a reason.

Let me ask you there this. You've been out there for quite a while in the desert with these guys. I want to know -- and this is a phenomenal operation that they've got -- it's so mobile and they've got such great equipment out there, but have there been lessons that they've learned about what works and doesn't work in this environment?

GUPTA: Yes. You know, that's say very good point, Leon. You know I think that the pure austerity of this environment, the desert, the sand, it's so hot. It was 110 degrees today. All of that has been problematic as you can imagine. Helicopters landing so close -- the landing zone so close to the operating room that sometimes sand is actually blown through the doors, literally into the operating room. There are some lessons learned.

What I was talking about earlier in terms of neurosurgery, I think the doctors didn't expect to see as many head injuries as they have seen. When they think about injuries, they think about the fact that coalition force members typically wear their flak jackets and helmets; so again, you're not going to see many abdominal injuries, chest injuries or head injuries. But the Iraqi soldiers, the Iraqi civilians, so many of them have come in with these injuries that I think a lot of the doctors here were, frankly, surprised to see. Lots of lessons, learned, Leon.

This is the first time that a mobile -- a truly mobile, surgical suite has been employed in a desert. It's the first time it's been employed in a war. It moves. It is totally mobile. The FRSS, which is the Forward Resuscitative Surgical Suite, can break down and set up in less than two hours and it is totally mobile. Why? So that it can move to the troops. We are very close to the frontline, about 30 to 40 miles from Baghdad. And I think that a lot of the frontline fighting that you've been hearing about, a lot of those causalities, a lot of those consequences are being seen right here at the Bravo Surgical Company -- Leon.

HARRIS: It's amazing stories, amazing stories. Thanks, Sanjay. You be safe. Be well, buddy. We'll see you soon. Dr. Sanjay Gupta out there.

GUPTA: Thank you, Leon.

HARRIS: One hundred and ten degrees?

COLLINS: I was just going to say the same thing and operating in it.

HARRIS: They have to be cool customers to deal with that.

COLLINS: Yes, definitely.

All right. Well, I just wanted to say good-bye. You're going to carry on today. I'm going to check out for now. But we do want to let you know what's coming up in the next hour on CNN's coverage of the war in Iraq. U.S. tanks roll into Baghdad. We are live from the frontlines just ahead. And a rescue and recovery mission, officials identify nine bodies found during Jessica Lynch's rescue. Plus, how do you talk to your children about war? We'll take a look at that important issue next hour right here on CNN.

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