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File: DOC_81_CENTCOM_NEW_BRIEF_005.txt
launched the 1st Armored DiviSiOn, and the 3rd Arinored Division, and because 0£ our
deception plan and the way it worked, we didn't even have to worry about a barrier1
we ju5t went right around the enemy and were behind hin' in no time at all, and the
2nd Armored Cavalry Division. The 24th Mech Division was also launched out here in
the far west. I ought to talk about the 101st, because this is an important point.
Once the 101st had their forward operating base established here, they then
went ahead and launched into the Tigris and Euphrates Valleys. There are a lot of
people who are still saying that the object of the United States of America was to
capture Iraq and cause the downfall 0£ the entire country of Iraq. Ijadies and
gent1e~nen, when we were here, we were 150 railes away fro~n Baghdad, and there was
nobody between us and Baghdad. If it had been our intention to take Iraq, if it had
been our intention to destroy the country, if it had been our intention to Overrun
the country, we could have done it unopposed1 for all intents and purpo3es, frorn this
position at that time. That was not our intention, we have never said it was our
intention. Our intention was truly to eject the Irao~s out of Kuwait and destroy the
:nilitary power that ~~ad come in ~ere
~o this was the situation at the end of ~ebruary 24th in the a~ternoon.
(Chart)
The next two days went exactly like we thought they would go. Thc ~audis
continued to make great progress up on the eastern flan~1 keeping the pressure off
the Marines on the flank here. The special forces went out and started operating
~mall boat operations out in this~area to help clear rr~nes1 but also to threaten the
flanks here, and to continue to make thern think that we were, in fact, going to
conduct aniphibious operations0 The Saudi and Arab forces that came in and took thes
two initial ob)'ectives turned to come in on the flank heading towards Kuwait City,
located right in thia area here. The British UK passed through and continued to
attack up this flank. Of courSe, the VII corps caire in and attacked in this
direction shown here. The 24th infantry Division made an unbelievable inove all the
way across into the Tigris and Euphrates Valley, and proceeded in blocking this
avenue of e~ress out, which was.the only avenue of egress left because we continued
to make sure that the bridges stayed down. So there was no way out once the 24th wa$
in this area, and the 101st continued to operate in here. The ~rench, having
succeeded in achievinq all their. objectives, then set up a flanking position, a flank
guard position here, to make sure there were no forces that could come in and get u~
from the flank.
By this time we had destroyed, or rendered completely ineffective over 21 Iraqi
divisions.
(Chart)
Of course1 that then brings us to today. Where we arc today, is we now hav~ a
solid wall across the north o£ the 18th Airborne Corps consisting of the units shown
right here, attacking straight to tbe eaSt. We have a solid wall here, again of the
v:i Corps also attacking straight to the east. The forces that they are tighting
right now are the forces 9f the Republican Guard.
~g~in, today we had a very significant day. The Arab forces coming frc~m ~t)2
the west and the east closed in and n'oved into Xuwait City where they are no'J in the
process of securing Kuwait City entirely, and ensurin~ that it's absolutely secure.
The 1st Marine Division continues to hold Kuwaiti international Airpor~. The 2nd
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