23 Quotes by Mark Kimmitt

We have said for the last couple of weeks that we have seen the enemy starting to attack soft targets, Iraqi targets, rather than military targets, ... He is attempting to intimidate the people of Iraq. He will not succeed.

Some areas are being turned over to this organization in a methodical matter. We understand a couple hundred of these prospective battalion members are going through a transfer of authority.

Going against soft targets is probably an easier way to achieve what the enemy is trying to achieve. He's attempting to intimidate the people of Iraq, and he's attempting to try to break the will of the coalition, ... He will be unsuccessful in both.

I suspect that most Iraqi people were as horrified,

I think there was a well-thought-out decision on part of the Marines that let's not rush headlong into there. There may be ambushes set up,

We are not going to do a pell-mell rush into the city. It's going to be deliberate, it will be precise and it will be overwhelming. We will not rush in to make things worse. We will plan our way through this and we will reestablish control of that city and we will pacify that city.

What we saw at the strike location, what we had prior to that attack and all of our post-strike intelligence continues to confirm that that was a safe house with a significant amount of ammunition being stored for whatever reason,

another day for the soldiers of the coalition.

It would not surprise us if there may be an attempt or two by perhaps some rogue groups that may not want to live up to this commitment, ... They may attempt to break this cease-fire. They will find that the coalition forces retain the right, the inherent right, to self-defense, and if they are fired at, they will respond.