CNN Presents Classroom Edition: Educator Guide

Inside the War Room

Segment Summaries and Discussion Questions

Segment One
Welcome to the War Room. It's the nerve center for the Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) for the War in Iraq. Through a network of satellites, computers and operatives on the ground, the CFLCC's commanders have the unprecedented ability to see and shape battles as they unfold.

1. Where is the War Room? How would you describe it? What is the CFLCC? What is the role of the CFLCC in the ground war in Iraq?
2. What do military planners mean when they talk about "information dominance"? What challenge do the planners face when trying to turn information dominance into "decision superiority"?
3. What is the role of each of these officers in the War Room: General Jim Marks, Deputy Commanding General William Webster, Lt. General David McKiernan?
4. What city has always been the strategic and operational "center of gravity" for Saddam Hussein? What "trick play" do the U.S. generals devise to throw Saddam's forces off guard at the beginning of the war?
5. In the video we hear, "It's a military maxim that no plan survives the first hours of war..." Why do you think this is a widely held belief among military experts? How do the commanding officers in the War Room make their plan survive beyond day one of the war?

Segment Two
The War Room commanders attempt to keep the focus on the enemy as they confront challenges, including conflicting intelligence reports and bad weather on the ground.

1. What are JSTARS? What information does this surveillance aircraft provide to the commanders in the War Room? How do the commanders in the War Room deal with this information? Why do you think the accuracy of this kind of intelligence is so important?
2. How has the weather become a factor for the U.S. military at this point in the war?
3. How has the amount of intelligence coming into the War Room become a problem? What do you think the generals mean when they talk about "actionable intelligence"? How are the War Room officers trying to turn the information they receive into actionable intelligence?
4. What happens to the enemy convoy the commanders are trying to locate? What is the "fog of war"?
5. Throughout this segment, we hear, "Don't fight the plan, fight the enemy." What do you think this means? What surprises do the War Room commanders encounter in the ground war in Iraq? How do they continue to keep their focus on the enemy?

Segment Three
There is a special bond among military personnel, and a strong sense of duty among them as well. While the officers in the War Room realize they have it easier than the men and women in the field, they shoulder a different kind of burden, the burden of leadership. The generals know the decisions they make are life and death ones that will impact individuals and families for years to come.

1. What do the generals in the War Room collectively call themselves? Who selected the members of this "tribe"? What personal and professional bonds do these officers share?
2. According to Gen. Marks, what are the "burdens of command"?
3. What does Gen. McKiernan say to the families of those killed in this war? How does he address the issue of prisoners of war (POWs)? How do you think the rescue of PFC. Jessica Lynch affected the morale of the troops in the field? Explain.

Segment Four
The Iraqis launch their own "decapitation" strike against CFLCC headquarters. The coalition begins its hunt for the Iraqi missile crew that seems to strike like clockwork.

1. How do the War Room generals react to an Iraqi missile attack on their headquarters? What technology intercepts and destroys the Iraqi missiles?
2. How accurate was the Iraqi "decapitation" attack? What does this attack tell Gen. Webster about the Iraqis?
3. What nickname do the generals give the Iraqi missile unit? Why? What happens when they find "Five O'Clock Charlie"?
4. What are Patriot missiles? How are the Patriot missiles being used in the war in Iraq different from the ones used in the first Gulf War?

Segment Five
As ground troops approach Baghdad, the War Room generals plan their next moves. Foremost on everyone's minds is the threat of chemical weapons, but it is the use of other forms of unconventional warfare, including suicide bombings, that proves to be deadly.

1. What is the coalition's first objective in the battle for Baghdad?
2. What football term does Gen. McKiernan use to reference the imaginary line outside Baghdad? How did he come up with this analogy? Do you think it is a valid one? Why or why not?
3. What danger is on the minds of the war planners as coalition troops approach Baghdad? Why do you think this threat never materializes?
4. Why do the generals bring the CIA into their war meetings? What problems does coalition command have with the intelligence it receives? Why do you think these problems exist?
5. How are coalition forces able to isolate Baghdad? In spite of the coalition's success, why is Baghdad not entirely under coalition control? What is "unconventional warfare"? How do the Iraqi fighters use unconventional warfare against coalition troops?

Segment Six
With the war winding down fast, the War Room becomes more of a "Situation Room." Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jay Garner is put in charge of the rebuilding of Iraq, while Gen. McKiernan's job will be to keep the peace. Mindful of the challenges ahead, McKiernan is not yet ready to declare victory.

1. Where is Kirkuk? What is the difference between "situational awareness" and "situational understanding"? Which of the two do coalition generals have in Kirkuk? Explain why.
2. In spite of coalition success in this war, why is Gen. McKiernan reluctant to declare victory? What evidence is there of disorder in Iraq, even after military battles have stopped? What is McKiernan's new job in post-war Iraq?
3. To whom does McKiernan give credit for the outcome of this war? Do you agree or disagree with his statement that "Generals don't win battles"? State your rationale.

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