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Remembering Thunder Run

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    9 years since armored assault on Baghdad

  • Duration 4:35
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Hi this April marks the ninth anniversary of the thunder -- A US armored military assault into the heart of Saddam Hussein's Baghdad after three days of intense fighting.

-- force of 975.

US soldiers of armies that third in the army's third infantry division.

Second battalion captured the city of five million -- Saddam Hussein's rule over Iraq joining us right now.

Is -- -- general now David -- Perkins the legendary commander who led the thunder run assault when he was just a -- in to Baghdad.

Welcome it's great to see -- -- great -- an analyst -- congratulations on the promotion as you look back ten years from now.

What are your thoughts as we roll some of the footage of -- that dramatic run over the border of Kuwait into Iraq to the airport and into the capital well you know as I look at the videos and then and see Maine as soldiers I served -- It in the thoughts now -- the same is I have every day in the army that is constantly amazed.

That big huge amount of requirement and responsibilities we put our soldiers.

And how well they perform one of the most difficult situation what are we seeing right now.

Which -- seeing here is.

Are are tanks and Bradley's going up route -- Starting south of Baghdad are going into the city center.

The first and the -- we attacked into the airport and link up.

-- at that time colonel grimsley in the first brigade.

And then on the seventh we tacked into the heart of Baghdad.

To the -- district and we had no idea what to expect we did expect mass surrendering but instead the army -- went home.

Yeah it's you know we've got a lot of lessons learned.

For many years both in Iraq Afghanistan -- fact that's one of the things we do out.

And where am now the combined arms and has goggles lessons learned and the the human dimension of this so what what the enemy will do how they -- fight against us.

Is always one of the great unknown to what I think is important to us from the civilian perspective is that they trusted you -- -- com.

To look around and make adjustments to the battle plan in the invasion.

He said this is what I see this is what I have I think we can do this they -- justify your belief.

And you did it and that is why put people look at you when you do kernel than they say -- Dave Perkins we're gonna remember that guy for a long time.

Well you know that is -- strength of army that that we power down we are very confident in supporting.

The leader on the ground letting them make their Georgia -- which is why we put so much effort.

Into our leader development programs and training -- young sergeants are lieutenants and captains because we expect them to make those hard decisions and we expect a higher.

Ranking headquarters to support those right and and that -- you know what it's like to serve in the military personally also you have your daughter Blackhawk.

Black hawk pilot and I just got back from the war.

And your son's junior in West Point but let's move on -- talk about something you doing with today and that's Afghanistan.

Here is general Allen yesterday trying to answer a question about will he get the numbers he needs to win this war.

I've been given assurances by the White House that we are in a strategic conversation chairman.

There has been no number mentioned.

No number mention is it been frustrating.

For in the best you can answer at the Pentagon but has dropped -- plans and a politician stallion.

He can't have the numbers you need.

Well off one thing I'm not at the -- -- -- not and that business and I am assured.

Just as my superiors supported my ultimate decision what I needed to do in Baghdad.

The -- -- will get the support he needs to do to get the mission done.

And when you look at budgets that are coming down the pike to talk about you know -- -- peace dividend cutting another hundred to 200 billion.

Out of the budget how that affects you guys well you know we in the army are wanna be very good stewards of the taxpayers' money that was so we realize that we are gonna get smaller.

People talk about a -- to David I referred to it as a war dividend and that is we wanna make sure that all the goodness -- we've learned on this war.

Are great young leaders the knowledge they have we reinvest that back in the army so that we do it.

And a gradual way and we don't break all the goodness that we have right now and -- -- breaking I was able to visit you in Kuwait a week before you invaded Iraq and was it the same the same tent in the US Italy.

He said the -- have a chance of winning this thing if you've only lead and I had a chance but you know you did PD what does he had to carry I think my -- may turn your back back and forth and it was clear that maybe it was time period ago I was like that's like today.

Colonel now lieutenant general Perkins thanks so much reservist thanks much for sharing your story takes pride displeasure beard -- -- racial Chris -- -- regulator me.

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