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Operation Iron Hammer Part of New Get Tough Tactics of Coalition Following Bloody Weeks in Iraq

Aired November 13, 2003 - 10:05   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we go back to Iraq where U.S. troops have lunched something called "Operation Iron Hammer." The series of strikes and raids is targeting insurgents on this day after the deadliest attack yet on a U.S. ally in post-war Iraq. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad with the latest from the capital in Iraq. Ben, hello.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well this Operation Iron Hammer is clearly part of the new get tough tactics of the coalition following a very, very bloody two weeks here in Iraq.

Now, we earlier spoke to a coalition official who said that they are changing their tactics. They are going to be taking much more offensive action against those who are engaged in attacks on the coalition forces. We saw that last night when AC-130 Spector gunships, Apache attack helicopters and Bradley Fighting Vehicles were engaged in a variety of attacks against people suspected of involvement in aggressive activity against the coalition forces.

They did, they say, attack one mortar team that was involved in some of those bombardments we've seen over the last few days against the coalition's Green Zone in the heart of Baghdad.

Now, they also said that they're going to be taking the fight to the enemy, in this one officials word, that the operations are increasingly based on more and better local Iraqi intelligence that they are receiving in some cases from people just walking in the door and telling them about individuals who have been engaged in these attacks.

One disturbing note, however is the same official in the coalition tells us that in response to the more offensive actions by the coalition, they expect more counter attacks by the resistance -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ben Wedeman in Baghdad. Thank you for the latest on that.

I want to get some perspective, now, on Operation Iron Hammer through the eyes of a career military man. For that we turn to our military analyst Don Shepperd, a retired U.S. Air Force major general. General, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: My pleasure, Daryn. KAGAN: Are you surprised by this latest action given that the word coming out not just of the White House but the commanders in Iraq has been stressing that it's a much more dangerous situation than it has been in past months?

SHEPPERD: I'm not surprised, Daryn. What we're seeing is many more attacks and many more coordination between the types of attacks. It's getting very serious over there.

When I was there about a month ago they stressed that the heavy- handed tactics they employed earlier were making more enemies where they did widespread sweeps. Now they are acting on more tactical intelligence, but they're being very, very aggressive about it. And it, indeed, is a show of force. Remains to be seen whether or not it works, Daryn.

KAGAN: What can you tell us about this AC-130 Spector gunship that they used to attack the warehouse, General?

SHEPPERD: Yes, it's an ideal airplane for close air support. There are two models, the AC-130H and AC-130U. They have side-firing weapons, generally 40 millimeter canon, a 105 millimeter Howitzer. And depending on the model a 45 millimeter canon, as well.

It's very, very accurate, low collateral damage. It's been normally used during the night. It's vulnerable during the day because it's slow. It does have infrared countermeasures, but it's a very, very powerful weapon. And when they know what the target is, they have low-light TV, all-light TV. All-light TV, as a matter of fact, can zoom in on a target and be very accurate without affecting the surrounding area, Daryn.

KAGAN: General, also want to ask you about this CIA assessment that leaked out yesterday that says they expect the security situation it, that it could worsen very soon, not just around Baghdad but also in the north and south of Iraq?

SHEPPERD: Yes, it's becoming very clear again that the resistance is turning into an insurgency, is getting more and more organized. And basically it's causing this change in tactics, if you will.

We need to get out of Iraq as soon as possible and turn it over to the Iraqis when they're ready to take over. It's very clear with Secretary Bremer's meetings back in Washington that the idea is basically -- the old idea was to write a constitution, have elections. It may be that we have an interim Iraqi government before we have a constitution, Daryn.

KAGAN: What do you do with troop morale, though, General? Things are so difficult as it is. They've spent so much time over there. And then you get the word, guess what? It could be even getting worse and more dangerous for you to be there.

SHEPPERD: Yes, troop morale when I was there very, very good, very high. They understand why they're there. What you look for are dispirited troops that don't believe they should be there at all and don't believe in what they're doing.

These troops understand why they are there. And also, although they're being very careful in a very dangerous environment, I believe that troop morale will hold up until the end, whatever we have to do.

The commanders are very good at explaining to the troops what they're doing and they're not doing foolish things out there with our troops.

KAGAN: General Don Shepperd, thank you for your insight. Good to have you here with us. It's been a while.

SHEPPERD: Pleasure.

KAGAN: Appreciate your time. Thank you.

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




Coalition Following Bloody Weeks in Iraq>


Aired November 13, 2003 - 10:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we go back to Iraq where U.S. troops have lunched something called "Operation Iron Hammer." The series of strikes and raids is targeting insurgents on this day after the deadliest attack yet on a U.S. ally in post-war Iraq. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad with the latest from the capital in Iraq. Ben, hello.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well this Operation Iron Hammer is clearly part of the new get tough tactics of the coalition following a very, very bloody two weeks here in Iraq.

Now, we earlier spoke to a coalition official who said that they are changing their tactics. They are going to be taking much more offensive action against those who are engaged in attacks on the coalition forces. We saw that last night when AC-130 Spector gunships, Apache attack helicopters and Bradley Fighting Vehicles were engaged in a variety of attacks against people suspected of involvement in aggressive activity against the coalition forces.

They did, they say, attack one mortar team that was involved in some of those bombardments we've seen over the last few days against the coalition's Green Zone in the heart of Baghdad.

Now, they also said that they're going to be taking the fight to the enemy, in this one officials word, that the operations are increasingly based on more and better local Iraqi intelligence that they are receiving in some cases from people just walking in the door and telling them about individuals who have been engaged in these attacks.

One disturbing note, however is the same official in the coalition tells us that in response to the more offensive actions by the coalition, they expect more counter attacks by the resistance -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ben Wedeman in Baghdad. Thank you for the latest on that.

I want to get some perspective, now, on Operation Iron Hammer through the eyes of a career military man. For that we turn to our military analyst Don Shepperd, a retired U.S. Air Force major general. General, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: My pleasure, Daryn. KAGAN: Are you surprised by this latest action given that the word coming out not just of the White House but the commanders in Iraq has been stressing that it's a much more dangerous situation than it has been in past months?

SHEPPERD: I'm not surprised, Daryn. What we're seeing is many more attacks and many more coordination between the types of attacks. It's getting very serious over there.

When I was there about a month ago they stressed that the heavy- handed tactics they employed earlier were making more enemies where they did widespread sweeps. Now they are acting on more tactical intelligence, but they're being very, very aggressive about it. And it, indeed, is a show of force. Remains to be seen whether or not it works, Daryn.

KAGAN: What can you tell us about this AC-130 Spector gunship that they used to attack the warehouse, General?

SHEPPERD: Yes, it's an ideal airplane for close air support. There are two models, the AC-130H and AC-130U. They have side-firing weapons, generally 40 millimeter canon, a 105 millimeter Howitzer. And depending on the model a 45 millimeter canon, as well.

It's very, very accurate, low collateral damage. It's been normally used during the night. It's vulnerable during the day because it's slow. It does have infrared countermeasures, but it's a very, very powerful weapon. And when they know what the target is, they have low-light TV, all-light TV. All-light TV, as a matter of fact, can zoom in on a target and be very accurate without affecting the surrounding area, Daryn.

KAGAN: General, also want to ask you about this CIA assessment that leaked out yesterday that says they expect the security situation it, that it could worsen very soon, not just around Baghdad but also in the north and south of Iraq?

SHEPPERD: Yes, it's becoming very clear again that the resistance is turning into an insurgency, is getting more and more organized. And basically it's causing this change in tactics, if you will.

We need to get out of Iraq as soon as possible and turn it over to the Iraqis when they're ready to take over. It's very clear with Secretary Bremer's meetings back in Washington that the idea is basically -- the old idea was to write a constitution, have elections. It may be that we have an interim Iraqi government before we have a constitution, Daryn.

KAGAN: What do you do with troop morale, though, General? Things are so difficult as it is. They've spent so much time over there. And then you get the word, guess what? It could be even getting worse and more dangerous for you to be there.

SHEPPERD: Yes, troop morale when I was there very, very good, very high. They understand why they're there. What you look for are dispirited troops that don't believe they should be there at all and don't believe in what they're doing.

These troops understand why they are there. And also, although they're being very careful in a very dangerous environment, I believe that troop morale will hold up until the end, whatever we have to do.

The commanders are very good at explaining to the troops what they're doing and they're not doing foolish things out there with our troops.

KAGAN: General Don Shepperd, thank you for your insight. Good to have you here with us. It's been a while.

SHEPPERD: Pleasure.

KAGAN: Appreciate your time. Thank you.

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




Coalition Following Bloody Weeks in Iraq>