Interview with General Franks spokesman

(18 Mar 2003)

1. Wide shot of US soldiers at base in front of media centre at As-sayliyah US Central Command
2. Various close shots of US soldiers
3. Arrival of Jim Wilkinson, Director of Strategic Communications for US Central Command
4. SOUNDBITE: Jim Wilkinson, Director of Strategic Communications for US Central Command
"I think it's safe to say that General Franks is spending lots of time in lots of rooms. He continues to look at the plan. Any good commander focuses more time on his people than his plans. He spends a lot of days and nights on phone calls, on video tele-conferences talking to the Secretary of Defence, his commanders in the field. Hes very concerned and wants to make sure the troops have everything, from protective gear to the right food. He wants to make sure that the commanders have thought about every possible contingency that they can. But he also is realistic enough and has been around enough to know that every military plan changes once the first bullet's fired. And so it is his job to try to anticipate as many contingencies as possible and that's what he's doing."
5. Various, US soldiers at base
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Wilkinson, Director of Strategic Communications for US Central Command
"Well his mood is, this is certainly a serious time and he has a lot of people who are counting on him to get this right, his troops are counting on him to get this right, the mums and dads are counting on him to do a good job, and so hes focussed on that. He's keeping a relatively low profile because he thinks it's more important to focus on the military planning and make sure that men and women in uniform from all the different coalition nations, especially the United States, have everything they need, from the best protective gear to the best weapons systems to the best leadership in the field."
7. Mid shot, US soldiers at base
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Wilkinson, Director of Strategic Communications for US Central Command
"You know, he continues to travel. He likes to keep his location - I won't say a secret - but he likes to keep it private. He has travelled around the region over the last few days to meet the senior commanders and senior officials. I would expect him to continue to travel, but he is here right now, yes."
9. Mid shot, US soldiers at base

STORYLINE:

US General Tommy Franks, who would lead a war against Iraq, spent Tuesday at As-sayliyah US Central Command in Qatar, studying battle plans and making sure his commanders had everything they needed as the ultimatum for Saddam Hussein to step down or face war ticked on.

Jim Wilkinson, a spokesman for the US Central Command, said Franks was at his Gulf command post on Tuesday working on plans should the United States decide to launch war.

Wilkinson said the General Franks wants "to make sure that the commanders have thought about every possible contingency that you can."

Franks has toured several Gulf countries in recent days, including Bahrain, Jordan and on Monday, Kuwait, where he met with his generals as well as Kuwaiti officials ahead of possible war.

Wilkinson said Franks was also in touch with Defence Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and his commanders in the field.

After failing to win UN backing to disarm Saddam by force, US President George W. Bush on Monday gave Saddam 48 hours to step down or face war.

The deadline is 0100GMT on Thursday.

The Iraqi leadership rejected the ultimatum on Tuesday.

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