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File: DOC_80_CEASE_FIRE_DISCUSSIONS_WITH_IRAQIS_AT_SAFWAN_AIRFIELD_015.txt* U N~~~ GEN SCHWARZKOPF (US): I do not have the authority from my government to pull my troops back 1 inch much less 1 km. LTG AHMAD (I): How then arew~going to agree on a line where you said you will withdraw I km.? GEN SCHWARZKOPF (US): If we can agree on the line I just gave you I do have the authority to withdraw 1 km. from that line. LTG AHMAD (I): Maybe some of our troops are in front of this line Should they be withdrawn? GEN SCHWARZKOPF (US): Maybe some of your troops are on this side of the line vs. the other side of the line? I think that they should and if I have troops on the other side of the line I will withdrawal them also LTG AHMAD (I): How was this line chosen? GEN SC~WARZKOPF (US): What I did, I went out to all of the front line positions where our troops are located. Then I tried to pick a geographic feature that we could identify like a road or railroad so there would be no mistake bTG AMMAD (I): The thing is if we~. It's not a matter that we are talking about 1 km here or 1 km there, because as you already know that you are in the territory hundreds of kilometers. The main thing is we will not be very sensitive if this line is, as you said, not a permanent line and it's a matter of security, just for security reasons and the answer will be very rapid. GEN SCHWARZKOPF (US): bet me say again, the only purpose of this line is to have a line where your troops can be behind it on one side and our troops can be behind it on the other side, and if you have any troops inside they go out and if we have any troops outside they go in, to keep them from being all mixed together. That's all I want. You have my word, I swear to God, there is no intention of that being a permanent line at all. LTG AHMAD (I): We will give you the answer very shortly just after we get back. But there is another thing we have to agree on certain positions/points where are commanders, you know the field commanders, sometimes we will need to talR to them. They will need to talk to us or to give you back the answers. So we'll agree on some of the points or one point, the main point where we could meet, as you suggested, ~ith the orange flags and everything at least. The suggestion is on the main road in the Safwan area where both sides could meet and handle things or letters or answers GEN SCHWARZ~OPF (US): We can pick the point right now on the map LTG AHMAD (I): The flying bridge. GEN SCHWARZICOPF (US): Where we met today? ~ET L,~~(-A:5 15
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