Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Look at Policing Duties of Military; Situations in Mosul, Tikrit

Aired April 11, 2003 - 15:22   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.


CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: The Red Cross said today it cannot take water and medicine to Baghdad hospitals because of, quote, "a total lack of law and order." The World Health Organization has called on the lawlessness -- has called the lawlessness in Baghdad, Basra and Mosul and other Iraqi cities extremely alarming. And the U.S. military is under heavy pressure to do something.
CNN's Miles O'Brien is with our military analyst, retired Major General Don Shepperd.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Candy. And this is a tough question for military types because after all the military trains to take territory, to wage war.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Indeed.

O'BRIEN: Not necessarily as a policing force, but in many cases, especially in the world in which we live now, that is the role that they are called upon.

SHEPPERD: It is, but it's normally after the fighting. The fighting is still going on. The military is trapped in a dilemma. They have to clear up the pockets that are remaining.

At the same time, this is getting out of hand. They're having to peel off the forces to do it, at least in the areas that they have forces, enough forces to do that -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Now as you look at these dramatic pictures and the secretary of defense was disturbed at what he said -- how that sort of paints not necessarily an accurate picture of what's happening in Baghdad, but by any stretch, seeing what we're seeing in total, there is a tremendous amount of looting. And while they say that their plan is functioning well, you can't help but wonder if they need more boots on the ground to sort of quell some of what we're seeing right there.

SHEPPERD: Yes, clearly you're going to have to get this under control and provide stability out there. You're going to start off on those priorities, you're going to start off with hospitals, key government buildings in which you want to exploit for intelligence and other things. And then spread security around. And you're going to ask for help from other nations.

But this has to be brought under control. The good news is Iraq is a very sophisticated society and they will likely bring a great deal under control very quickly themselves.

O'BRIEN: I guess, you know, this issue of trying to bring up the civil infrastructure, the police officers that are there, the hospital technicians, the security apparatus that's there. That gets really tricky because you have to root out the Ba'ath Party loyalists from this group, correct?

SHEPPERD: Yes. General McChrystal said in his early briefing that some of the police force was calling in coordinates and adjusting artillery fire. That type of thing can has to be sorted out before you can just say to the policemen come back to work.

O'BRIEN: All right, let's talk about reinforcements, though, because by any stretch of the imagination it appears more people are needed in Baghdad quickly. You've got the 4th Infantry somewhere on its way between Kuwait and Baghdad. We're not exactly sure where they are, ahead of schedule, though, nevertheless. And now perhaps the possibility of maybe some other forces from other countries coming in. By any stretch it's going to be a while before they come to bear in Baghdad, right?

SHEPPERD: It is, it is. And the 4th Infantry Division is still in Kuwait right now, although they say they're ahead of schedule and in the next few days should be able to move out.

But you're flying other forces in from Europe, you're flying forces in from the United States. But flying stuff in is slow and they have to have supplies and they have to have armored vehicles to do the things they're required to do right now.

O'BRIEN: All right. Meanwhile, let's get a quick update. We've talked about that situation in Baghdad. Let's get a quick update of what's going on in the north.

A couple of things that strike me. First of all, this -- what we thought was a surrender of Mosul really is a disintegration of the force which is a lot what we've seen elsewhere all throughout the south. Tremendous number of Iraqi troops just marching down this road, 100 miles-plus, perhaps to Baghdad, perhaps to other towns. That in it of itself could be a humanitarian issue.

SHEPPERD: It is. Indeed, that's 100 miles through desolate territory. There are towns and villages where they can get water and food, but 100 miles on feet, especially bare feet as we saw last night, broken on the Aaron Brown show by Brent Sadler and Aaron, that's a long -- they're going to need some help.

O'BRIEN: So maybe something needs to be done there. And quickly, Tikrit. The sense we're getting from the Department of Defense right now is it may not be shaping up to be this Alamo-type of situation that perhaps was feared.

SHEPPERD: It may not be the last huge battle, it may be the last huge sigh. The Defense Department right now sees no coherent massive movement of large remaining numbers of troops into defensive positions to make a last stand at Tikrit. O'BRIEN: So perhaps that group, the Adnan Division of the Republican Guards, maybe they too will melt away?

SHEPPERD: Indeed, and it's all continually being hit by air as anything else moves in.

O'BRIEN: Don Shepperd, thanks very much.

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




Tikrit>


Aired April 11, 2003 - 15:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR: The Red Cross said today it cannot take water and medicine to Baghdad hospitals because of, quote, "a total lack of law and order." The World Health Organization has called on the lawlessness -- has called the lawlessness in Baghdad, Basra and Mosul and other Iraqi cities extremely alarming. And the U.S. military is under heavy pressure to do something.
CNN's Miles O'Brien is with our military analyst, retired Major General Don Shepperd.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Candy. And this is a tough question for military types because after all the military trains to take territory, to wage war.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Indeed.

O'BRIEN: Not necessarily as a policing force, but in many cases, especially in the world in which we live now, that is the role that they are called upon.

SHEPPERD: It is, but it's normally after the fighting. The fighting is still going on. The military is trapped in a dilemma. They have to clear up the pockets that are remaining.

At the same time, this is getting out of hand. They're having to peel off the forces to do it, at least in the areas that they have forces, enough forces to do that -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Now as you look at these dramatic pictures and the secretary of defense was disturbed at what he said -- how that sort of paints not necessarily an accurate picture of what's happening in Baghdad, but by any stretch, seeing what we're seeing in total, there is a tremendous amount of looting. And while they say that their plan is functioning well, you can't help but wonder if they need more boots on the ground to sort of quell some of what we're seeing right there.

SHEPPERD: Yes, clearly you're going to have to get this under control and provide stability out there. You're going to start off on those priorities, you're going to start off with hospitals, key government buildings in which you want to exploit for intelligence and other things. And then spread security around. And you're going to ask for help from other nations.

But this has to be brought under control. The good news is Iraq is a very sophisticated society and they will likely bring a great deal under control very quickly themselves.

O'BRIEN: I guess, you know, this issue of trying to bring up the civil infrastructure, the police officers that are there, the hospital technicians, the security apparatus that's there. That gets really tricky because you have to root out the Ba'ath Party loyalists from this group, correct?

SHEPPERD: Yes. General McChrystal said in his early briefing that some of the police force was calling in coordinates and adjusting artillery fire. That type of thing can has to be sorted out before you can just say to the policemen come back to work.

O'BRIEN: All right, let's talk about reinforcements, though, because by any stretch of the imagination it appears more people are needed in Baghdad quickly. You've got the 4th Infantry somewhere on its way between Kuwait and Baghdad. We're not exactly sure where they are, ahead of schedule, though, nevertheless. And now perhaps the possibility of maybe some other forces from other countries coming in. By any stretch it's going to be a while before they come to bear in Baghdad, right?

SHEPPERD: It is, it is. And the 4th Infantry Division is still in Kuwait right now, although they say they're ahead of schedule and in the next few days should be able to move out.

But you're flying other forces in from Europe, you're flying forces in from the United States. But flying stuff in is slow and they have to have supplies and they have to have armored vehicles to do the things they're required to do right now.

O'BRIEN: All right. Meanwhile, let's get a quick update. We've talked about that situation in Baghdad. Let's get a quick update of what's going on in the north.

A couple of things that strike me. First of all, this -- what we thought was a surrender of Mosul really is a disintegration of the force which is a lot what we've seen elsewhere all throughout the south. Tremendous number of Iraqi troops just marching down this road, 100 miles-plus, perhaps to Baghdad, perhaps to other towns. That in it of itself could be a humanitarian issue.

SHEPPERD: It is. Indeed, that's 100 miles through desolate territory. There are towns and villages where they can get water and food, but 100 miles on feet, especially bare feet as we saw last night, broken on the Aaron Brown show by Brent Sadler and Aaron, that's a long -- they're going to need some help.

O'BRIEN: So maybe something needs to be done there. And quickly, Tikrit. The sense we're getting from the Department of Defense right now is it may not be shaping up to be this Alamo-type of situation that perhaps was feared.

SHEPPERD: It may not be the last huge battle, it may be the last huge sigh. The Defense Department right now sees no coherent massive movement of large remaining numbers of troops into defensive positions to make a last stand at Tikrit. O'BRIEN: So perhaps that group, the Adnan Division of the Republican Guards, maybe they too will melt away?

SHEPPERD: Indeed, and it's all continually being hit by air as anything else moves in.

O'BRIEN: Don Shepperd, thanks very much.

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




Tikrit>