Press Briefing 27 FEB 91

File: doc49_15.txt
Page: 15
Total Pages: 19
  -- 16,524 EN ROUTE TO CAMPS

  -- U.S. HAS TRANSFEPRED 733 TO SAUDI CONTROL AS OF 27 FEB 91

  -- EPW'S ARE APPRECIA~IVE OF THE CARE THEY RECEIVE AT COALITION

      FACILITIES

  -- MANY OF THE INITIAL EPW'S WERE LICE COVERED, WITH OPEN SORES,
      AND HUNGRY (1 MEAL A DAY)


- REPEATED THEMES DURING INTERROGATIONS

  -- OVERALL IRAQI MORALE IN KTO IS LOW

          FAMILY CONCERNS
          WAR INVOLVEMENT

          UNPOPULAR REGIME IN BAGHDAD

          POOR CONDITIONS
          U.S. MILITARY SUPERIORITY

  -- DEFECTIONS INHIBITED BY:

          DISORIENTATION ON THE BATTLEFIELD (UNAWARE OF OWN

          LOCATION)

          REPRISALS AGAINST FAMILY

          REPUBLICAN GUARD ENFORCEMENT UNITS

          IRAQI MINE FIELDS


- WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WILLING TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS,

  DISPLEASURES AND KNOWLEDGE TO U.S. PERSONNEL


- MEDICAL CARE AND AID AMONG IRAQI FRONT LINE BATTALIONS AND

  BRIGADES APPEARS TO BE VIRTUALLY NONEXISTENT.

  -- EPW AND DEFECTORS REPORT THAT THE ONLY MEDICAL SUPPLIES

      AVAILABLE CONSISTED OF A FEW BANDAGES.

  -- BATTALIONS HAVE ONLY 3-4 MEDICAL AID PERSONNEL WHO ARE TRAINED

      TO DO NOTHING MORE THAN BANDAGE CUTS AND WOUNDS.

  -- WITHIN THE BRIGADES, THERE IS ONLY ONE DOCTOR AND ONE

      AMBULANCE AVAILABLE
          TROOPS ARE SUFFERING FROM A VARIETY OF DISEASES, DIARRHEA

          BEING THE MOST COMMON, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY THE FLU.

  -- MOST EPW'S ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE MEDICAL CARE WE PROVIDE THEM


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(INFORMATION CURRENT AS OF 27 FEB 1991)