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CNN Live At Daybreak
War in Iraq: Central Command Update
Aired April 11, 2003 - 06:41 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So many cities have fallen into coalition control, but the city of Tikrit is still not under the coalition's control.
Let's head to CENTCOM to Tom Mintier to find out what military officials are saying about that.
Good morning -- Tom.
TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
What they're saying is Tikrit is being pounded, as we speak, apparently a reference to airstrikes. They do say the airstrikes have been effective. And an example of that was sighted from the Iraqi Army's 5th Corps surrendered in mass, or what was left of it. And those are the people that you've been seeing on television all night and all morning, a mass column of people heading south. And this is believed to be part of the Iraqi Army's 5th Corps.
Now how large is a corps in the Iraqi army? It can be anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers. So they say that the 5th Corps had been degraded by the airstrikes, but clearly a lot of people moving south. Just have to wait to see how they're being treated, whether they're going to be treated as enemy prisoners of war or simply capitulate and go home.
One interesting note, General Tommy Franks is in Afghanistan at Bagram Air Base today, and he was asked about the Iraqi leadership. And I'm quoting here General Franks, "either they're dead or running like hell" -- end quote. So General Tommy Franks, a bit colorful while he is away from here, running the operations in Afghanistan at the same time as here. There are about 8,500 American troops still in Afghanistan, paying them a visit today, expected back here tonight.
But again, the big news is the fall of the north and the 5th Corps surrendering in mass in and around Mosul. Anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 the normal strength of an Iraqi corps. Wait -- have to wait and see how many people are actually walking south. But looks like right now that Tikrit is going to be the last stand -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Understand. Tom, I know you have to get ready for the briefing, so we'll let you go. The CENTCOM briefing, of course, coming your way at 7:00 Eastern Time. And, as always, we will bring you live coverage of that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 11, 2003 - 06:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So many cities have fallen into coalition control, but the city of Tikrit is still not under the coalition's control.
Let's head to CENTCOM to Tom Mintier to find out what military officials are saying about that.
Good morning -- Tom.
TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
What they're saying is Tikrit is being pounded, as we speak, apparently a reference to airstrikes. They do say the airstrikes have been effective. And an example of that was sighted from the Iraqi Army's 5th Corps surrendered in mass, or what was left of it. And those are the people that you've been seeing on television all night and all morning, a mass column of people heading south. And this is believed to be part of the Iraqi Army's 5th Corps.
Now how large is a corps in the Iraqi army? It can be anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers. So they say that the 5th Corps had been degraded by the airstrikes, but clearly a lot of people moving south. Just have to wait to see how they're being treated, whether they're going to be treated as enemy prisoners of war or simply capitulate and go home.
One interesting note, General Tommy Franks is in Afghanistan at Bagram Air Base today, and he was asked about the Iraqi leadership. And I'm quoting here General Franks, "either they're dead or running like hell" -- end quote. So General Tommy Franks, a bit colorful while he is away from here, running the operations in Afghanistan at the same time as here. There are about 8,500 American troops still in Afghanistan, paying them a visit today, expected back here tonight.
But again, the big news is the fall of the north and the 5th Corps surrendering in mass in and around Mosul. Anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 the normal strength of an Iraqi corps. Wait -- have to wait and see how many people are actually walking south. But looks like right now that Tikrit is going to be the last stand -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Understand. Tom, I know you have to get ready for the briefing, so we'll let you go. The CENTCOM briefing, of course, coming your way at 7:00 Eastern Time. And, as always, we will bring you live coverage of that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
