IRAQ: U.S. ARMY SAYS IT CANNOT GUARANTEE TOTAL SECURITY TO ANY UNITED NATIONS TEAMS IN IRAQ

Record ID: 646793

  • Title: IRAQ: U.S. ARMY SAYS IT CANNOT GUARANTEE TOTAL SECURITY TO ANY UNITED NATIONS TEAMS IN IRAQ
  • Date: 27th January 2004
  • Summary: (U7) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JANUARY 27, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE, U.S. ARMY BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT AND DANIEL SENOR, SENIOR ADVISER TO THE COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY (CPA) ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE 0.05 2. SOUNDBITE (English) KIMMITT SAYING "We have the responsibilty to provide a certain security environment for Iraq and that is not to suggest that its complete security at all times, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We believe the amount of violence in the country right now is managable. We certainly have enough forces in the country. We certainly are growing the Iraqi police service, the new Iraqi army, the ICDC, quickly and effectivelty and we believe that we've got sufficient capability to maintain a reasonable security level here in the country and look forward to the U.N. coming down to make that same determination as well." 0.43 3. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 0.45 4. SOUNDBITE (English) KIMMITT SAYING "We believe, based on current operations, that Al-Qaeda is operating within Iraq. Whether they were involved in this latest series of attacks, the TTPs that we are seeing dont typically lead us to think that towards an Al-Qaeda Ansar al-Islam or some foreign fighters. This is more in line with what we have seen with foreign regime elements as such. Its not to say that they are not involved in the country nor are we trying to minimise their impact. Its just that the latest ones dont really seem to indicate that they are coming from that direction." 1.18 5. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 1.20 6. SOUNDBITE (English) KIMMITT SAYING "We were called by CNN at 1500 today (1200gGMT) by CNN. We were told that two vehicles travelling north on Highway 8, approximately five kilometres south of Mahmudiya, were passed by, I believe it was an Opel, that fired shots at them. We understand one vehicle, two local Iraqis were killed and in the second vehicle, CNN reported to us that persons had been taken for treatment at FOB St.Michael. Those persons were later transferred to the 28th Combat Support Hospital." 1.56 7. MEDIA AT PRESSER/ KIMMIT LEAVING PRESSER (2 SHOTS) 2.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th February 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA2IZD39UXJ847QWXK0X8USRQI3
  • Story Text: The U.S. army says it can not guarantee security to
    any UN teams

    "We have the responsibilty to provide a certain
    security environment for Iraq and that is not to suggest
    that it's complete security at all times, twenty-four hours
    a day, seven days a week," U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark
    Kimmitt told a news conference in Baghdad on Tuesday
    (January 27, 2004).

    "We believe the amount of violence in the country
    right now is managable. We certainly have enough forces in
    the country," Kimmitt said.

    "We certainly are growing the Iraqi police service,
    the new Iraqi army, the ICDC, quickly and effectively and
    we believe that we've got sufficient capability to maintain
    a reasonable security level here in the country and look
    forward to the U.N. coming down to make that same
    determination as well." Kimmitt added.

    Commenting on the latest series of attacks in Iraq,
    Kimmitt said, "We believe, based on current operations,
    that Al-Qaeda is operating within Iraq. Whether they were
    involved (there), the TTPs that we are seeing don't
    typically lead us to think that towards an Al-Qaeda Ansar
    al-Islam or some foreign fighters."
    Asked to comment on the death of two CNN journalists
    killed in an ambush outside Baghdad on Tuesday, Kimmitt
    said, "We were told that two vehicles travelling north on
    Highway 8, approximately five kilometres south of
    Mahmudiyah, were passed by, I believe it was an Opel, that
    fired shots at them. We understand one vehicle, two local
    Iraqis were killed and in the second vehicle, CNN reported
    to us that persons had been taken for treatment."

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