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Military Analysis With Dan Christman

Aired April 07, 2003 - 13:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And you're looking at live pictures now of Air Force One, now on the ground at a Royal Air Force base outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It's called Aldergrove RAF, Aldergrove, that's just outside Belfast.
The president of the United States coming for a brief two-day summit with the British prime minister, Tony Blair.

They'll be talking about a postwar Iraq among other important subjects. They'll also have an opportunity to review the so-called road map for Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations to get off the ground.

They also want to review what the status is of Northern Ireland right now, as that peace process seems to be taking hold. Been relatively quiet in Northern Ireland over the past few years.

This is the third time in as many weeks that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair will be sitting down to review strategy, war strategy, as they go forward together, go forward as close allies in trying to help put together a new Iraq.

There are some significant differences in their strategy, including what role precisely the United Nations should have in determining the future of Iraq. They'll try to thrash all of that out.

You're looking at this picture of Air Force one taxiing in on the tarmac, getting ready for the president.

As we watch this picture of the Air Force One getting into this airport, I want to bring in our military analyst, General Dan Christman, to go over what's happening in Baghdad.

Seems pretty far away from Belfast right now, General. But decisions that these two leaders make could have a significant impact on the future of Iraq.

First of all, General -- we'll keep this picture up of Air Force One -- talk to us a little bit about what you sense is happening on the streets of Baghdad right now.

LT. GEN. DAN CHRISTMAN, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Wolf, it's clearly the final phase. It's clearly the end game which is unfolding right now. I think it's very significant, not only in Baghdad but Basra itself. You have coalition forces there in some strength. Apparently three battalions of the U.S. 3rd Division in Baghdad, three coalition assets, three huge battle groups in Basra itself, which the U.K. has there. What they've developed here, Wolf, over these last several weeks, indeed, is very clear and increasingly clear intelligence as to what the final remnants of the regime leadership are in terms of where they are embedded in these cities.

What they're doing is going in now, very carefully, obviously some symbolic raids against palaces. But the more important presence is to go after what the intelligence delivers and that's where these key leaders are located.

They're going to be defended fanatically but the intelligence is so crucial from aerial platforms and special ops personnel to give these assets, the three battalions and three battle groups, the intel which they need to close with and eliminate final remnants of the regime in those cities.

So this is a very important final phase here, Wolf, and it looks like the closure is coming in here now much more rapidly than we had anticipated.

BLITZER: And as we continue to watch Air Force One, now on the ground outside Belfast, Northern Ireland, we'll be watching President Bush emerge from the plane momentarily. We'll continue to have live coverage of that.

General Christman, when Walter Rodgers, our embedded reporter with the 3-7th Cavalry, says that three battalions of troops are now on the ground inside Baghdad itself and have taken up positions; they're going to spend the night there presumably, how many soldiers are we talking about right now?

CHRISTMAN: Between 700 and 1,000. The task forces really, Wolf, are probably built around the M-2 Bradley. That's the basic infantry fighting vehicle. It is the equipment of choice for a task force like this to go into Baghdad. Its cannon, its ability to place troops and fire through the firing ports in that Bradley vehicle, to take them in under protection. It's a very, very important piece of equipment.

And so these are probably mechanized heavy task forces that have overhead some aerial platforms to provide direct support. I think it's significant, Wolf, that the degradation of the Iraqi air defenses has now allowed A-10s, Predators, U-2s, other assets to hover and loiter and provide the overhead protection to these task forces.

But it's built around that mechanized infantry basis. And besides the Bradley the most important asset is that individual infantry soldier himself, who's equipped with the kind weapons that are really suitable for direct engagement in the cities.

His rifle, a dragon missile that can knock down doors and walls. It's a very, very powerful task force. And as the intelligence develops, it's likely to grow here substantially as these days wear on. BLITZER: Well, assuming, General, that the Iraqis put up the fight, those Bradley, those armored personnel carriers, as well as the M1-A1 Abrams battle tanks that are moving in and out of Baghdad, and the air cover that they have, the helicopters, the fixed wing support, how vulnerable are they to existing Iraqi capabilities, as far as your assessment is concerned?

CHRISTMAN: Well, the coalition spokesmen have continued to remind audiences that, notwithstanding the defeat of the Republican Guard, the special Republican Guard and these Fedayeen fighters and the Ba'athist security elements, they can still provide some threat.

We saw, for example, the attack against the tactical operations center of the 2nd brigade, 3 I.D.

But in the future, Wolf, these direct fire engagement from the Iraqis who are remaining will not be with tanks and artillery systems and even heavy mortars. They're going to be with the smaller pieces of equipment, still lethal at close range. The Kalashinovs (ph), their RPGs, some shoulder-fired weapons that can go against armored vehicles. Those are the kinds of things that will be of immediate concern to the soldiers as they close with and destroy these remnants.

That's the big issue right now. And of course, the key to take them out is to have a kind of aerial surveillance plus special ops personnel. I can't emphasize too much how embedding the special ops personnel in the city, there for some time, can develop a kind of intelligence against these remaining nodes and eliminate them as the coalition closes with these final elements.

BLITZER: I just want to remind our viewers, for those who may be tuning in, this is Air Force one, it's touched down at this Royal Air Force base just outside Belfast.

The president should be emerging through that door momentarily, walking down the steps to begin talks, serious talks with the British prime minister, Tony Blair, on the future of Iraq, a postwar Iraq.

There he is, the president of the United States, emerging from Air Force One. He'll be going over to begin his meetings with Prime Minister Blair. Not very fancy arrival ceremonies expected here at this RAF Aldergrove base in northern Israel.

Symbolically, it's been important for the British prime minister, especially, to have this meeting in Northern Ireland. As many of our viewers remember, it's been the British prime minister who's been coming over to Washington in recent weeks to meet with the president. Now it's the president's turn to make the trip across the Atlantic to meet with the prime minister.

There's Colin Powell, the secretary of state, who's joined the president on this important mission.

General Christman, I'm going to wrap it up with you and we'll talk a little bit later. Thanks very much for your expertise. Plenty to talk about. 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 7, 2003 - 13:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And you're looking at live pictures now of Air Force One, now on the ground at a Royal Air Force base outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It's called Aldergrove RAF, Aldergrove, that's just outside Belfast.
The president of the United States coming for a brief two-day summit with the British prime minister, Tony Blair.

They'll be talking about a postwar Iraq among other important subjects. They'll also have an opportunity to review the so-called road map for Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations to get off the ground.

They also want to review what the status is of Northern Ireland right now, as that peace process seems to be taking hold. Been relatively quiet in Northern Ireland over the past few years.

This is the third time in as many weeks that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair will be sitting down to review strategy, war strategy, as they go forward together, go forward as close allies in trying to help put together a new Iraq.

There are some significant differences in their strategy, including what role precisely the United Nations should have in determining the future of Iraq. They'll try to thrash all of that out.

You're looking at this picture of Air Force one taxiing in on the tarmac, getting ready for the president.

As we watch this picture of the Air Force One getting into this airport, I want to bring in our military analyst, General Dan Christman, to go over what's happening in Baghdad.

Seems pretty far away from Belfast right now, General. But decisions that these two leaders make could have a significant impact on the future of Iraq.

First of all, General -- we'll keep this picture up of Air Force One -- talk to us a little bit about what you sense is happening on the streets of Baghdad right now.

LT. GEN. DAN CHRISTMAN, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Wolf, it's clearly the final phase. It's clearly the end game which is unfolding right now. I think it's very significant, not only in Baghdad but Basra itself. You have coalition forces there in some strength. Apparently three battalions of the U.S. 3rd Division in Baghdad, three coalition assets, three huge battle groups in Basra itself, which the U.K. has there. What they've developed here, Wolf, over these last several weeks, indeed, is very clear and increasingly clear intelligence as to what the final remnants of the regime leadership are in terms of where they are embedded in these cities.

What they're doing is going in now, very carefully, obviously some symbolic raids against palaces. But the more important presence is to go after what the intelligence delivers and that's where these key leaders are located.

They're going to be defended fanatically but the intelligence is so crucial from aerial platforms and special ops personnel to give these assets, the three battalions and three battle groups, the intel which they need to close with and eliminate final remnants of the regime in those cities.

So this is a very important final phase here, Wolf, and it looks like the closure is coming in here now much more rapidly than we had anticipated.

BLITZER: And as we continue to watch Air Force One, now on the ground outside Belfast, Northern Ireland, we'll be watching President Bush emerge from the plane momentarily. We'll continue to have live coverage of that.

General Christman, when Walter Rodgers, our embedded reporter with the 3-7th Cavalry, says that three battalions of troops are now on the ground inside Baghdad itself and have taken up positions; they're going to spend the night there presumably, how many soldiers are we talking about right now?

CHRISTMAN: Between 700 and 1,000. The task forces really, Wolf, are probably built around the M-2 Bradley. That's the basic infantry fighting vehicle. It is the equipment of choice for a task force like this to go into Baghdad. Its cannon, its ability to place troops and fire through the firing ports in that Bradley vehicle, to take them in under protection. It's a very, very important piece of equipment.

And so these are probably mechanized heavy task forces that have overhead some aerial platforms to provide direct support. I think it's significant, Wolf, that the degradation of the Iraqi air defenses has now allowed A-10s, Predators, U-2s, other assets to hover and loiter and provide the overhead protection to these task forces.

But it's built around that mechanized infantry basis. And besides the Bradley the most important asset is that individual infantry soldier himself, who's equipped with the kind weapons that are really suitable for direct engagement in the cities.

His rifle, a dragon missile that can knock down doors and walls. It's a very, very powerful task force. And as the intelligence develops, it's likely to grow here substantially as these days wear on. BLITZER: Well, assuming, General, that the Iraqis put up the fight, those Bradley, those armored personnel carriers, as well as the M1-A1 Abrams battle tanks that are moving in and out of Baghdad, and the air cover that they have, the helicopters, the fixed wing support, how vulnerable are they to existing Iraqi capabilities, as far as your assessment is concerned?

CHRISTMAN: Well, the coalition spokesmen have continued to remind audiences that, notwithstanding the defeat of the Republican Guard, the special Republican Guard and these Fedayeen fighters and the Ba'athist security elements, they can still provide some threat.

We saw, for example, the attack against the tactical operations center of the 2nd brigade, 3 I.D.

But in the future, Wolf, these direct fire engagement from the Iraqis who are remaining will not be with tanks and artillery systems and even heavy mortars. They're going to be with the smaller pieces of equipment, still lethal at close range. The Kalashinovs (ph), their RPGs, some shoulder-fired weapons that can go against armored vehicles. Those are the kinds of things that will be of immediate concern to the soldiers as they close with and destroy these remnants.

That's the big issue right now. And of course, the key to take them out is to have a kind of aerial surveillance plus special ops personnel. I can't emphasize too much how embedding the special ops personnel in the city, there for some time, can develop a kind of intelligence against these remaining nodes and eliminate them as the coalition closes with these final elements.

BLITZER: I just want to remind our viewers, for those who may be tuning in, this is Air Force one, it's touched down at this Royal Air Force base just outside Belfast.

The president should be emerging through that door momentarily, walking down the steps to begin talks, serious talks with the British prime minister, Tony Blair, on the future of Iraq, a postwar Iraq.

There he is, the president of the United States, emerging from Air Force One. He'll be going over to begin his meetings with Prime Minister Blair. Not very fancy arrival ceremonies expected here at this RAF Aldergrove base in northern Israel.

Symbolically, it's been important for the British prime minister, especially, to have this meeting in Northern Ireland. As many of our viewers remember, it's been the British prime minister who's been coming over to Washington in recent weeks to meet with the president. Now it's the president's turn to make the trip across the Atlantic to meet with the prime minister.

There's Colin Powell, the secretary of state, who's joined the president on this important mission.

General Christman, I'm going to wrap it up with you and we'll talk a little bit later. Thanks very much for your expertise. Plenty to talk about. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com