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General denies asking more troops { March 30 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51761-2003Mar30.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51761-2003Mar30.html
U.S. General Denies He Sought More Troops
By NICOLE WINFIELD
The Associated Press
Sunday, March 30, 2003; 8:53 AM
The commander of the U.S. war in Iraq denied Sunday that he had asked the Pentagon for more troops before invading the country but sidestepped a question about whether the war might last into the summer.
Gen. Tommy Franks, speaking at a daily briefing of the U.S. Central Command in Doha, Qatar, was responding to published reports that the requests of U.S. generals for more ground troops were repeatedly denied by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. Reports also quoted U.S. military officials as saying the lack of troops and weapons meant the war might last into the summer.
"One never knows how long a war will take," Franks said.
Speaking with marked emphasis, Franks ticked off nine successes of coalition forces since the beginning of the war, starting with securing southern oil fields.
"The Air Force has worked 24 hours a day across every square foot of Iraq, and every day the regime loses more of its military capability," Franks said.
Obviously responding to growing public questions about the U.S. preparation for the war in light of strong resistance met by forces in south and central Iraq, Franks appeared angry at the start of the briefing.
"We're in fact on plan. And where we stand today is not, in my view, only acceptable, but truly remarkable," he said.
Franks also rejected reports that his forces had engaged in an "operational pause" near the gates of Baghdad. U.S. ground forces are about 50 miles south of the city.
"There have been some pundits who have indicated we may be in an operational pause," Franks said. "This simply is not the case."
Franks was asked again about civilian casualties in Baghdad as a result of coalition bomb and missile attacks, but did not directly address the question, saying instead, "This is an incredible, precise operation."
He said the Iraqi people understood the care coalition forces were taking to avoid harming civilians and, "the people of Iraq will welcome their liberation, to be sure."
When asked whether the Iraqi leader had survived the attacks, Franks said he did not know.
"I don't know whether the leader of this regime is dead or alive," Franks said. "I have not seen credible evidence over the last period of days that this regime is being controlled from the top."
He said the coalition had achieved air and ground freedom of action in western Iraq, was staging air operations from a number of captured air fields and had secured the coastline, clearing the way for humanitarian aid shipments to begin.
He said coalition forces had also destroyed a massive terrorist facility in northern Iraq. At least 120 militants were killed in the attack on Ansar al-Islam, an extremist group suspected of being linked to the al-Qaida network.
He also said Iraqis opposed to Saddam were working with coalition forces, notably in Nasiriyah, where they provided records on ruling Baath party officials. He did not elaborate.
© 2003 The Associated Press
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