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American Morning
U.S. Forces Face Challenge of Restoring Order in Iraq
Aired April 14, 2003 - 09:51 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The battle for Baghdad may be over, but U.S. forces now face the challenge of maintaining order amid looters, snipers, and more.
We are joined again from CNN Center by Air Force Major General Don Shepperd, CNN military analyst. Welcome back.
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: So what do you see as the biggest challenge ahead for the U.S. military on the ground in Baghdad already?
SHEPPERD: Well, at the CENTCOM briefing this morning, Paula, General Vince Brooks basically said this is a transition point. Basically, major combat operations across the country have been finished with the Tikrit operation. Now, there may be some fire fights that break out here and there, but basically, what the citizens of Iraq want now is security and a better future that they are being promised by the invasion. It is very difficult because you switch from combat to being a police and stabilization force, and all of the things that go with it and very, very difficult, much more difficult than the combat that got them there -- Paula.
ZAHN: So what kind of strategies can the military use right now? We heard that you had Iraqi police back on the street today, they were not armed, but they were backed up by U.S. Marines.
SHEPPERD: Yes. Well, the first part of the strategy is to tell all of the remaining military throughout the country, lay down your arms and simply go home. Second is to getting the people that make the country function back to work. Those pleas are being made. Then, reestablish the electricity, the water, the hospitals, get the radio and television back on. Get a new currency working, and get the country working in all facets as it was before the military operation began -- Paula.
ZAHN: Well, what is your assessment of some of these demonstrations we have seen break out in support of the Baath Party?
SHEPPERD: Absolutely natural, in my opinion. Basically, the people are frustrated. They want things to happen very quickly, and yet the military is not able to make those things happen quickly. Getting electricity and water back to function after certain elements of it have been destroyed is very, very difficult, and they want their life back, and they want it now, and it doesn't come now.
So I think these demonstrations are perfectly normal, and even over months and years ahead of time, you are going to have pockets of people that are supremely dedicated to their memories of Saddam Hussein and the times that went with it, because their good fortune was tied to that, while the fortune of the new country is going to be tied to the transition. So these are perfectly understandable, in my opinion.
ZAHN: Major General Don Shepperd, as always, thanks so much for your insight.
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 14, 2003 - 09:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The battle for Baghdad may be over, but U.S. forces now face the challenge of maintaining order amid looters, snipers, and more.
We are joined again from CNN Center by Air Force Major General Don Shepperd, CNN military analyst. Welcome back.
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: So what do you see as the biggest challenge ahead for the U.S. military on the ground in Baghdad already?
SHEPPERD: Well, at the CENTCOM briefing this morning, Paula, General Vince Brooks basically said this is a transition point. Basically, major combat operations across the country have been finished with the Tikrit operation. Now, there may be some fire fights that break out here and there, but basically, what the citizens of Iraq want now is security and a better future that they are being promised by the invasion. It is very difficult because you switch from combat to being a police and stabilization force, and all of the things that go with it and very, very difficult, much more difficult than the combat that got them there -- Paula.
ZAHN: So what kind of strategies can the military use right now? We heard that you had Iraqi police back on the street today, they were not armed, but they were backed up by U.S. Marines.
SHEPPERD: Yes. Well, the first part of the strategy is to tell all of the remaining military throughout the country, lay down your arms and simply go home. Second is to getting the people that make the country function back to work. Those pleas are being made. Then, reestablish the electricity, the water, the hospitals, get the radio and television back on. Get a new currency working, and get the country working in all facets as it was before the military operation began -- Paula.
ZAHN: Well, what is your assessment of some of these demonstrations we have seen break out in support of the Baath Party?
SHEPPERD: Absolutely natural, in my opinion. Basically, the people are frustrated. They want things to happen very quickly, and yet the military is not able to make those things happen quickly. Getting electricity and water back to function after certain elements of it have been destroyed is very, very difficult, and they want their life back, and they want it now, and it doesn't come now.
So I think these demonstrations are perfectly normal, and even over months and years ahead of time, you are going to have pockets of people that are supremely dedicated to their memories of Saddam Hussein and the times that went with it, because their good fortune was tied to that, while the fortune of the new country is going to be tied to the transition. So these are perfectly understandable, in my opinion.
ZAHN: Major General Don Shepperd, as always, thanks so much for your insight.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
