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File: doc33_06.txt
6
A: That vould be speculation on ~ part. ~ don't think I'd even dare answer
that. The ~epublican Guards by their very nature are a credible fighting force,
probably the best force they have in the inventory of the Iraqi armed forces.
Jiowever, having said that, they have also suftered by virtue of the air canpaign that
we have leveled against them over these past five weeks, and ~ore specifi~ally, the
last three and a half weeks. The ~publican Guards will always probably be a threat.
I'n not sure location really ~kes a difference,
~: ~ou gave us a little information on the Iraqis in Xuwait City, Could you
tell us more about how they're ajipositioned there, how well they're fortified in
there, and any estimates or guesati!nates as to how difficult ~ business it will be to
route tb~ out?
A: Combat in built-up areas is always a very difficult un~erta~ing, regardle'ss
of the nature of the threat that you're facing. Suffice it to say, we've Łaid on a
couple of occasions, they have woven themselves into the very fabric of the Iraqi
facilities and structures throughout Xuwait City. T~ey're using civilians to their
.dvantege, in other worde as a shield or protection, if you will. They've occupied
schools, they've occupied the tops of hotels, they've occupied reli ious sites, they
have ~ove~ into residential areas. I thin~ they're well ensconced n the entire
fabric of the Xuwait City'enviro~ent.
Q: The ~unicipal vehicles now that you have reason to believe are bein~ used
for supply, are they now fair game for attacking aircraft?
A: ~o, what they do is they co~plicate the equation. Again, our policy
remains unchanged as to attac~ing civilian structures, for attacking civilians in
general. We haven't done it in the past, and we don't intend to change that policy
as far as I know right flow. So it con~licates the equation. The Iran/Iraq War they
did that extensively using co:t~nandeered civilian vehicles to execute their resupply
lissions. If we can identify that a vehicle is an ene~y vehicle, or is a~unicipal
vehicle bein~~ used by Iraqi forces, then of course we'll destroy it, but that gets
very diffic t at 10,000, S, 000, or even 2,0D0 feet.
0: Two questions concerning the ~PW~S, First, what process do the EPW's go
through once they're captured? The second one, I understand there are EPW re~orts
indicating that they ~ow of orders coming from the Iraqi regime to 90 ahead and use
chemical warheads on the coalition troops once a ground battle starts. ~y question
is, how effective is the anti"chemical and anti-biological gear that the troops have,
and bow nny attacks could they survive with that gear?
A: To answer your second question first, we're very confident and comfortable
that o~r chemical equipment that ~as been issued to the forces -- both U.S. and
coalitton - are well above the standards required for any chemical activity he :night
use in either a defensive or offensive operation.
The second part about the EPW processing, essentially what we do is first get
them in and take care of their iw~nediate needs, which as has been indicated by :ny
previous co~nts, they were hungry. So we feed them, we try to wash them up, we
have showers, by the International Commission of the Red Cross we have to have
showericg facilities, which we have, and toilet facilities, which we have. So we
take care of getting theni cleaned up. If they need some uniforms, we take care of
that, Once that's done, they're given a comp~ete medical checkup to :~iake sure there
aren't any wounds or anything suffered durin~ the seizure or son~thing they might
bttns to us as a result. :Afld we have to be careful, because perhaps t~ey're carrying
disease, lice, whatever. It depend~ on the living conditions of the ~articular
organization. I think that's good enough to give you a profile of what we do.
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