COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OPERATIONAL UPDATE BRIEFING BRIEFERS: BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS; DAN SENOR, SENIOR ADVISER TO COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY LOCATION: BAGHDAD, IRAQ DATE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2003 (C) COPYRIGHT 2003, FEDERAL NEWS SERVICE, INC., 1919 M ST. NW; SUITE 220; WASHINGTON, DC - 20036, USA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ANY REPRODUCTION, REDISTRIBUTION OR RETRANSMISSION IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED. UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION, REDISTRIBUTION OR RETRANSMISSION CONSTITUTES A MISAPPROPRIATION UNDER APPLICABLE UNFAIR COMPETITION LAW, AND FEDERAL NEWS SERVICE, INC. RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO IT IN RESPECT TO SUCH MISAPPROPRIATION. FEDERAL NEWS SERVICE, INC. IS A PRIVATE FIRM AND IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. NO COPYRIGHT IS CLAIMED AS TO ANY PART OF THE ORIGINAL WORK PREPARED BY A UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE AS PART OF THAT PERSON'S OFFICIAL DUTIES. FOR INFORMATION ON SUBSCRIBING TO FNS, PLEASE CALL JACK GRAEME AT 202-347-1400. THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. ------------------------- MR. SENOR: General Kimmitt has a brief opening statement. I'll start off with a couple of administrative matters. Ambassador Bremer welcomed the news today, Foreign Minister Zibari's news about the appointment of Rend al-Rahim (sp), as the top diplomatic official representing Iraq in the United States. He thought this was very good news. Mrs. al-Rahim (sp) had spent the better part of her career as an activist and opponent against Saddam Hussein's regime. She was a founder and executive director of the Iraq Foundation. And now she will be a voice and an activist and leader on behalf of the new Iraq, representing this country abroad. In addition, Ambassador Bremer this evening is hosting an iftar for Iraqi women leaders that will include female members of the Governing Council, of the Baghdad City Council, of the neighborhood advisory councils, of the city advisory councils, Iraqi business leaders, professors and heads of civic organizations. And over the past couple days, Ambassador Bremer has continued his meetings with members of the Governing Council as they continue to work out details regarding the implementation of the framework and agreement that was signed last week for the accelerated path to Iraqi sovereignty. General Kimmitt. GEN. KIMMITT: Thank you. Good evening. Coalition forces continue offensive operations against anti- coalition elements, as well as stability and security operations to enable the restoration of a free Iraq. Recent events show the military situation remains relatively stable, but our forces remain vigilant and offensively oriented. In the past 24 hours, the coalition conducted 2,043 patrols, 16 raids, and captured 102 anti-coalition suspects. In the north, the 101st Airborne Division conducted 262 patrols, seven cordon-and-knock operations, and established several no-notice traffic control points. Sixteen individuals were detained. Two of the detained individuals were carrying over 81,000 American dollars in cash. Numerous small arms and ammunition were confiscated. The first passenger train from Syria arrived at the Mosul train station yesterday. The passenger line will foster commerce between, and tourist travel to, Mosul. Additionally, the 101st teamed with CPA Nineveh and the Nineveh governor to host a regional governors meeting. Seven governors from northern Iraqi provinces attended. Representatives from the Japanese Consulate visiting delivered $40,000 for use on humanitarian projects. Eventually, the consulate is scheduled to provide $1 million for use throughout the area. Two soldiers were killed in a vehicle accident in Mosul. That is under investigation. Gunfire was involved. As in every incident involving the death or injury of a soldier, in the interest of the families and with respect for human dignity, there will be no further elaboration on this incident pending notification of next of kin and completion of the incident -- completion of the investigation. Forces in the north continued Operation Ivy Cyclone II. Fourth Infantry Division forces conducted 214 patrols and two raids against enemy forces, capturing 12 individuals. Nine enemy personnel were killed. They conducted a raid in Baqubah and captured a lieutenant general from the former Iraqi army. Rifles, ammunition and documents were seized, and the general has been detained. Coalition forces conducted a raid 15 kilometers east of Balad yesterday, searching for two persons suspected of involvement in an RPG, rocket-propelled grenade, attack against our soldiers in mid- November. And all nine people were captured, along with weapons and ammunition. Soldiers at a truck control point west of Tikrit saw a rocket fired from a nearby position. The soldiers pursued two vehicles fleeing the area, and following several warnings, shot and killed eight enemy personnel. In Baghdad, the 1st Armored Division has transitioned to the third phase of Operation Iron Hammer, conducting 568 patrols, four operations within Baghdad, and capturing 22 enemy in the past 24 hours. A civilian DHL aircraft was south of Baghdad International Airport yesterday morning when they reported an in-flight emergency. The air crew reported the aircraft was headed south, and a few minutes later, was hit by an unknown weapon. Ground personnel reported that they saw, quote, "two SAM launches or possible rockets launched from south of the airfield," unquote, and hit one of the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely. Airfield personnel noted extensive damage to the left wing of the aircraft. All three air crew are safe and received no injuries. The United States Air Force is heading the investigation team. In the Al Anbar province, the 82nd Airborne Division conducted 10 raids, two search and attack operations, and 176 patrols, including 12 joint patrols with the Iraqi border guard and Iraqi police. During these operations, one enemy was killed, one enemy was wounded, and 39 enemy personnel were captured. The Latifiah (sp) police chief and two other police officers were killed when the car they were riding in was attacked with small-arms fire in Mahmudiya. Both the police departments are investigating the incident. Coalition forces continued phase two of Operation Rifle Blitz, capturing 35 personnel and confiscating various small arms weapons. Among those captured were those holding 12 Syrian passports and one Egyptian passport. Iraqi police accompanied the search elements during each operation. Civil Affairs personnel are coordinating with members from the (Senate of Clans ?) in Fallujah, to include the Senate in the reconstruction efforts in their area. In Multinational Division Central-South, coalition forces conducted 118 patrols and 11 joint patrols, detaining seven personnel. A patrol detained 11 Iraqi policemen when they attempted to accept a bribe near Badrah on the Iranian border yesterday. Also yesterday, 50 Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers graduated in al Kut, bringing the area's ICDC battalion to full strength with 792 personnel. In Multinational Division Southeast, the division conducted 260 patrols, a series of cordon and search operations, detained eight individuals in the past 24 hours. Coalition soldiers in the zone discovered a weapons cache with 3,000 (sic) hand grenades -- correction -- 300 hand grenades, 33 82-millimeter mortar rounds and nine fuses. That concludes the operational briefing. We'd be glad to answer your questions. MR. SENOR: Yeah? Q Hi. Jill Carroll (sp) with AMSDA (sp). You mentioned the soldiers in Mosul were killed involving gunfire. Does that mean they were shot? There's been widespread reports they were stabbed or their throats were slit. Can you give us -- either shoot down those reports or give some more information on what happened? GEN. KIMMITT: Again, it is our policy that we do not go into the specific details on injuries sustained by soldiers. And just as a matter of good taste, we would suggest that the media does the same. Q Sorry. I just want to find out what -- how -- what happened, if they were shot or stabbed. That's all we need -- to just find out the basic information about how they were killed. GEN. KIMMITT: We have an ongoing investigation, and we're not going to get ghoulish about this. Next question. Yeah? Q What kind of advice would you give to people thinking about traveling to Iraq, in light of the events over the past weekend? Is it safe to come here? What's the best way to travel? MR. SENOR: It is -- this is a dangerous environment. Terrorists are targeting Iraq. We've been saying all along that Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror, and with that comes risks. The terrorists and the enemies of freedom want to intimidate everybody -- Iraqis, coalition forces, military forces, civilians, reporters, those who are now engaged in commerce and investing in Iraq. They are looking to intimidate everybody from having a role in the new Iraq. And we have to take that into consideration. You all have to take that into consideration, just like you have to do with list of cities that have been hit by terror attacks since September 11th, whether it's New York or Washington or Istanbul or Bali. These are considerations we have to keep in mind. Iraq is a dangerous place. As I said, it is the central front in the war on terror. GEN. KIMMITT: Yeah? Q John Hendron (sp) with The LA Times. Will there be any changes in procedures at the airport as a result of this strike, or restrictions on airlines coming in or added protection, any big changes as a result of the strike yesterday? MR. SENOR: Military air travel will continuer. There is a hold right on the Royal Jordanian and the DHL civilian aircraft that is coming in, pending further investigation. Q Is -- can I just follow up? Is that a hold placed by the military or voluntary by the airlines themselves? MR. SENOR: I'm sorry? Q Who issued that hold? MR. SENOR: CPA. Q Thank you. MR. SENOR: Yeah? Q Orla Guerin, BBC. A general question: How worried are you about the -- (off mike) -- against the troops and the fact that in spite of all of the big operations and the heavy firepower, you're still having soldiers being killed around the country every other day? GEN. KIMMITT: We're not worried in the least. In fact, what we have demonstrated time after time, after every engagement with the enemy, we prevail. We have nothing at this point that causes us to be concerned. Military -- this is an enemy that cannot defeat us militarily, and in engagement after engagement, we see the enemy breaking off, running away. And militarily, their attacks are becoming more and more insignificant to us against coalition forces. Q But your men are still dying. GEN. KIMMITT: Our men are performing a service. Our soldiers, from both America and all the coalition nations, are here to restore a free Iraq. We are here to provide a safe and secure environment and to maintain a safe and secure environment, so that we can take this country and provide essential services, restoration of the economy and passing the governance to the people of Iraq. Yeah? Q Murray Oliver from Canadian Television News. Just to follow up, General, on Orla's question, the insurgents are really seeming to be able to show an ability to get close to American troops. Of course, the donkey cart -- (off mike) -- and now, although we don't want to discuss the two soldiers in Mosul, we understand that they may have been killed at very close range. I just wonder what impression their new tactics are making on the coalition and what measures you're taking to help beef up the security against these kind of close-in attacks. GEN. KIMMITT: Well, I would also tell you that our offensive operations that we've been conducting recently -- Iron Hammer, Ivy Cyclone, Rifle Blitz -- are causing us get awful close to the enemy as well. And every time we fight them, we win. And our soldiers are not afraid of this enemy. This enemy is not well-trained, may be clever at times, but is a pretty poor group of insurgents. Q But General, if I can just follow up, the insurgents are clearly finding ways to get closer and closer to American positions, through camouflage, by deceit, I mean, whatever tactics. What impression has this made on you? Surely there's had to be some rethinking about your security procedures. GEN. KIMMITT: Every time we have an attack, we take a look at our force protection. But I would also tell you that every time the soldiers get near our positions, they usually don't leave. They're either killed or captured. And our soldiers feel pretty good about what they're doing for Iraq, for the people of Iraq. They're feeling very comfortable about their tactics, they're feeling very good about their equipment, and they're feeling pretty good about their training. And that is not just the coalition forces. We also have tremendous number of engagements between the former regime loyalist, the anti-coalition elements, and the Iraqi police, with the Civil Defense Corps, with the Facilities Protection Services. And they're doing a pretty good job fighting off these terrorists, fighting off these people that want to grip the neck and cause fear among the people of Iraq. Quite simply, they have not demonstrated that -- (off mike) -- they are a credible military force. They have demonstrated at times that they're capable of conducting terrorist acts, just like most terrorists have demonstrated throughout the world. But in terms of the military force, we have very little respect for these soldiers in a stand-up fight. MR. SENOR: Peter? Q Peter Kenyon, NPR. Could I just sort of turn that towards the Iraqi police? After the very large and ferocious blasts yesterday, how do you assess morale, recruitment, the situation with the Iraqi police now? GEN. KIMMITT: Well, I think you'd have to ask that of the Iraqi police. But the fact that they're all coming back to work, the fact that they're all still doing their job, the fact that they're still providing security on the streets of their cities -- I think that's an encouraging sign. MR. SENOR: Yeah, I would just add that as the reconstruction continues to make more and more progress, we are seeing more and more Iraqis signing up to play a role in different security forces. Recruitment is up. As more and more police come back to work and get paid and play a role in the future of their country, they spread the word and it has a ripple effect. And more and more numbers are coming back in the police, and we're gaining recruits for all the different security forces that General Kimmitt listed. Dexter? Use the mike. Q General, how many of the insurgents have you killed or captured since May 1st? And if it's a finite number of insurgents at 5,000, I guess is what General Abizaid put it at, at the rate that you're killing them now, when do you think they'll all be defeated or dispersed? GEN. KIMMITT: They'll be defeated when they're defeated. In terms of the numbers, we typically don't get up here and start the body count discussion. But I can tell you that our numbers usually and generally far exceed -- the casualties that we put on the enemy far exceed the casualties they inflict on us. Unfortunately, those numbers are not the same when it is the terrorists going against innocent Iraqi civilians. MR. SENOR: Yeah? Q Hi. The question is for the general. I was in an area outside -- just outside of Baghdad, Al Dora, a couple of days ago. And Operation Iron Hammer also seems to include bombing open areas. There was a small camp of refugees that said troops had forced them out, and then planes came in and dropped a couple of bombs, and that was it. Nowhere near where firing at a nearby base had come from. And I'm just wondering what's the purpose of that? GEN. KIMMITT: I have not heard those same reports. I would ask you to provide us some details so we can give you a better answer on the specifics of that situation. But I can assure you that we are not moving out refugees and bombing those camps. Yeah? Q Yeah, Patrick McDonald (sp) with the LA Times. Any more word on who's directing these suicide bombers, whether they're being directed by al Qaeda, by foreign terrorists; they're working in concert with former regime loyalists? Specifically the suicide bombers, I mean, who's ordering those guys around, do we know? GEN. KIMMITT: Well, again, as General Dempsey explained very, very persuasively last week, is he believes it's a series of cells that are operating throughout the country, particularly in the Baghdad area. In terms of centralized authority, in terms of centralized leadership, we've got the best intelligence analysts in the world working on that issue. It's a giant mosaic, it's a giant puzzle, and we're just trying to put this together on a day-to-day basis. Can we conclusively say that there is central authority directing this? No, we can't. Can we say that there are small numbers of central authorities in different parts of the country? No. That's a puzzle that the intelligence analysts continue to work on every day. Q So we really don't know who's directing specifically the suicide bombers? GEN. KIMMITT: We don't know that there is a central direction in suicide bombers. Q Might be dispersed groups, directed -- GEN. KIMMITT: Could be dispersed groups. Have we said there is evidence that we have former regime loyalists that may be directing them? We may have foreign fighters coming into this country. There are any number of people who have a reason to cause this plan to promote and support a free Iraq -- there are plenty of groups out there that want to see this fail. They're the ones who profited from the former Saddam regime, profited from the dictatorship, will not win out in a democratic and free Iraq, and they have everything to lose by human rights, human dignity, democracy and independence in this country. And those are the people that we will continue to target, capture and kill. Greg? Q Greg Palkot, Fox News. Dan, I see Japanese contributing money now. Is this the first product of the Madrid donors' conference? And if so, are we going to see other money coming from that? Or are we going to really see the money that was committed in the conference coming in? MR. SENOR: We will start seeing funds coming in here over the next short -- you know, next couple months. As to whether or not the Japanese are the first, you'd have to check with the State Department. That would not be coordinated right out of Baghdad. Q (Name inaudible) -- CBS News. General, in your list of things that have happened, in your statement, you talked about a lot of enemy being captured, and then right at the end you referred to individuals detained. What's the difference between an enemy captured and an individual detained? And at what point do you determine that a person that you've taken in custody is the enemy? GEN. KIMMITT: Yeah. Well, the first indication -- if he's shooting at you, that's probably an indicator that he's not your friend. But to be serious, when you have an engagement and you capture an individual, for whatever reason, should he or she be shooting at you, or being in the commission of some anti-coalition activities, we'll capture him. We'll do some battlefield interrogation at that point, find out what kind of documents they have on them, find out if they have any weapons on them. Some of these people just may in fact be innocents that were swept up as part of that operation, captured, then released. But if there's evidence that causes us to be suspicious about their activities, then they'll be detained for a period of time. So "captured" involves anybody picked up, some of which will go into a smaller subset of those that will be detained for further questioning or for further detention. Yeah? Q (Name inaudible) -- from Associated Press. I'd like to know where the investigation stands on the shooting to death of six civilians in August in -- (inaudible). GEN. KIMMITT: Six Iraqi civilians or coalition civilians? Q Iraqi civilians, a family of -- (inaudible). GEN. KIMMITT: By coalition forces? MR. SENOR: It was -- the allegation had said it was by coalition forces. Q Yes, yes. GEN. KIMMITT: Again, if -- Q Coalition forces, the Americans, apologized to one of the families. GEN. KIMMITT: Again, if you can -- Q (Inaudible) -- I just would like to know what happened to the investigation. We were promised to be told the results. GEN. KIMMITT: Okay. If you would give us some details after this, there have been -- what we just need to do is know specifically what you're asking, and we'll give you that answer. MR. SENOR: Kristine (sp)? Q Can you just follow up on the DHL plane strike? You said that witnesses saw two missiles go up toward it. Did you recover any part of the SAM launcher at in the field that you went to go investigate? And also, can you go back to the Black Hawk that crashed, the two Black Hawks; is there a report, and is that ready? GEN. KIMMITT: Second question first. General Schloesser has not completed his investigation at this time. The investigation is ongoing. And we will tell you when the investigation is complete. With regard to the DHL, I am unaware of any pieces of any missiles being recovered as part of this. However, the United States Air Force is conducting the investigation. I'd recommend you ask them those questions. They're a much better source of information than I would be. MR. SENOR: Yeah, Anthony? Q Anthony Shadid, the Washington Post. General, do you have any more details on the police chief of Matifiah (sp) being killed, when and under what circumstances that happened? MR. SENOR: That investigation is underway. We are collecting the details now. We should have some information for you in the next few days. Q (Off mike.) MR. SENOR: Turn on the microphone, please. Q In Ramadi yesterday there were reports in the Arab press that there were a cache of explosive belts discovered. Do you have any information on that? Suicide belts. GEN. KIMMITT: No, I have no information on that. I would tell you that that is not atypical. We pick up large amounts of weapons and ammunition on a daily basis. But we'll get back to you to see if there's anything that the 82nd might have on that. MR. SENOR: Yeah? Q (Name and affiliation inaudible.) How many Iraqis are being detained, how many Iraqis are currently under detention for suspicions of being involved in anti-coalition activities, and how many foreigners are under the same -- (inaudible)? GEN. KIMMITT: I believe the answer we gave the other night was about 5,000 total, of about which 300 are people who had in their possession foreign passports. Q (Name inaudible) -- the Romanian Radio. What is the status of these detained individuals? Are they considered prisoners of war, or anything else? And what are their rights? MR. SENOR: Which individuals? These ones that were -- Q The 5,000. MR. SENOR: They are suspected terrorists, and they are in detention. And we will release their status as time goes on. But right now they are being interrogated under those rules. Kristine (sp)? Q Dan -- this is for Dan. Can you explain why the gas lines are so long and have been really long for the past three days? MR. SENOR: I think it has as much to do with the change of seasons that is occurring right now. There is some concern we've heard from some Iraqis that when they suspect that there's going to be a shortage, there's a sort of hoarding that goes on, there is -- you know, people will fill up their gas tanks when they are half-full rather than, you know, being a quarter full or empty. So that's part of it. Anything else, we just don't have any details on right now. Yeah? Q (Off mike) -- a little bit more about the Iraqi police, which you said are at the forefront of the fight against terror in the country. They are not properly armed. When will they be? MR. SENOR: Well, we are arming Iraqi police across the country. You got to remember that there was a shortage of equipment, shortage of infrastructure, and virtually no serious training for Iraqi police during the old regime. There was no training in human rights, there was no training in professional investigations. Nothing. So we are focused right now on getting Iraqi police back to work, and we will be training them in those skills. We are getting them armed up with equipment and arms and getting the infrastructure they need. Protecting police stations is a priority, obviously. But like I said, there was a real shortage of equipment and real shortage of infrastructure. We got to build it out across the country. Focus has been Baghdad, for obvious reasons. We've been getting those numbers up, and now we're moving across the country. (Christine ?). Q Just want an update on the damage to the oil ministry. How extensive was it? MR. SENOR: The one here in town? Q The main oil ministry -- (inaudible). MR. SENOR: We understand there was minor structural damage but nothing that would impede operations from going on on a daily basis inside the ministry. Q Can I follow up on that? There was a fire going on there for quite a while and the engines could not get to it, so it looked like the entire fifth floor was burning for a while. I don't understand how it's limited. MR. SENOR: Well, I would ask you to go over to the oil ministry and have them show you the damage that they did take over there. Okay. We have time for one more question. Q Lisa Barron, CBS. General Sanchez has ordered a 12-member mental health assessment team to come to Iraq. What is the purpose of that? And why are they here if the number of suicides among soldiers is not inordinately high? GEN. KIMMITT: I don't have the complete facts on that, so let me take that and we'll answer it at the next press conference. MR. SENOR: Thanks everybody. #### END