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American Morning
Analysis: Baghdad Troop Movements
Aired April 02, 2003 - 09:23 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Major General Don Shepperd's back with us. Don, good morning again to you. Want to talk about the U.S. location right now as best we can. And by the way, to our viewers, when we give away the mileage on the air it's been OK'd already by the U.S. military. Just to let you know we're not giving up anything in terms of strategy or the tactical approach of the Marines or the U.S. Army as they get closer to Baghdad.
Don, take us back to this dam that is near the town of Karbala, a narrow passageway goes between the dam and the town. Why is that so critical, in your estimation?
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, Bill, if the dam that we are talking about is the one that I think, it's on Lake Razzaza. Lake Razzaza is the southern-most of the large lakes west of Baghdad. And basically, if you blow that dam, you can flood the Euphrates River and flood a great deal of the deserts down there, making it very difficult for track vehicles to move through there. So it could cause a big problem.
So it's good news, if that's the right dam on Lake Razzaza, it's good news that it's been secured, Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Don, let's talk about the U.S. forces right now. As best you can, can you give us an indication as to where you believe the 3rd Infantry Division, 7th Cavalry is located and where the U.S. Marines are right now, south of the city?
SHEPPERD: Yes, I can. If I could telestrate on the map here a little bit. Let me show you what I believe to be the case right now.
All reports are that the Marines have crossed the Tigris River, north of the Tigris River, moving toward Baghdad. The 3rd Infantry Division is between the Tigris and Euphrates River moving in this direction. We don't know exactly where the 101st is, however it's somewhere out here on the left flank, perhaps through the Karbala Gap, perhaps circling around to the west. We're not sure.
Now the significance of all of this, is the divisions that are being encountered. First of all, right here is the Baghdad infantry division. That has been reportedly destroyed. If that is true, that is very, very good news.
The next division that we are worried over here is the Medina division, reportedly being engaged by the 3rd Infantry Division, grossly weakened by air power, and supposedly they are not receiving much resistance. That's also good news. The next division we're worried about is the Hammurabi division right here, which was between the Baghdad infantry and the Medina division. Do not know the disposition.
Of course, the theory is that as approaching -- as you're approaching Baghdad you approach the red line in which the Republican Guard will retreat and then employ, perhaps, weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons. So we're watching for all of that.
And the reports are that the forces, the Marines on the east and the 3rd and the 101st on the west, are approaching within 20 miles, some perhaps closer to -- than that to Baghdad, Bill.
And the other thing is that I don't believe you will see a headlong rush into Baghdad. But pressure now from clearly from the east, current pressure from the south and perhaps coming from the southwest, Bill.
HEMMER: General, hold that thought. Want to get back to you in a moment.
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 2, 2003 - 09:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Major General Don Shepperd's back with us. Don, good morning again to you. Want to talk about the U.S. location right now as best we can. And by the way, to our viewers, when we give away the mileage on the air it's been OK'd already by the U.S. military. Just to let you know we're not giving up anything in terms of strategy or the tactical approach of the Marines or the U.S. Army as they get closer to Baghdad.
Don, take us back to this dam that is near the town of Karbala, a narrow passageway goes between the dam and the town. Why is that so critical, in your estimation?
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, Bill, if the dam that we are talking about is the one that I think, it's on Lake Razzaza. Lake Razzaza is the southern-most of the large lakes west of Baghdad. And basically, if you blow that dam, you can flood the Euphrates River and flood a great deal of the deserts down there, making it very difficult for track vehicles to move through there. So it could cause a big problem.
So it's good news, if that's the right dam on Lake Razzaza, it's good news that it's been secured, Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Don, let's talk about the U.S. forces right now. As best you can, can you give us an indication as to where you believe the 3rd Infantry Division, 7th Cavalry is located and where the U.S. Marines are right now, south of the city?
SHEPPERD: Yes, I can. If I could telestrate on the map here a little bit. Let me show you what I believe to be the case right now.
All reports are that the Marines have crossed the Tigris River, north of the Tigris River, moving toward Baghdad. The 3rd Infantry Division is between the Tigris and Euphrates River moving in this direction. We don't know exactly where the 101st is, however it's somewhere out here on the left flank, perhaps through the Karbala Gap, perhaps circling around to the west. We're not sure.
Now the significance of all of this, is the divisions that are being encountered. First of all, right here is the Baghdad infantry division. That has been reportedly destroyed. If that is true, that is very, very good news.
The next division that we are worried over here is the Medina division, reportedly being engaged by the 3rd Infantry Division, grossly weakened by air power, and supposedly they are not receiving much resistance. That's also good news. The next division we're worried about is the Hammurabi division right here, which was between the Baghdad infantry and the Medina division. Do not know the disposition.
Of course, the theory is that as approaching -- as you're approaching Baghdad you approach the red line in which the Republican Guard will retreat and then employ, perhaps, weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons. So we're watching for all of that.
And the reports are that the forces, the Marines on the east and the 3rd and the 101st on the west, are approaching within 20 miles, some perhaps closer to -- than that to Baghdad, Bill.
And the other thing is that I don't believe you will see a headlong rush into Baghdad. But pressure now from clearly from the east, current pressure from the south and perhaps coming from the southwest, Bill.
HEMMER: General, hold that thought. Want to get back to you in a moment.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
