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CNN Live Today

Sanctioned Iraqis Defend Country

Aired May 14, 2002 - 13:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The UN Security Council today approved the biggest overall in Iraqi sanctions in years, and that vote, a unanimous 15-0, extends the Oil for Food program vote for six months time. Tpoday's action will speed up the flow of civilain goods to Iraq and allow for tighter restrictions on military items.

Most Iraqis say they want the sanctions to end to for good, but getting to the truth in a country under tight government control can be a very difficult thing to do.

Our Nic Robertson reporting now on the latest on the streets of Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Between exams, students at Baghdad University relax in the shade. We talk about their future; it is clouded by one thing, they say.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, you can ask everybody, or anybody, here in Iraq: What they want for the future is to, you know, sanctions, to lift them.

ROBERTSON: Lifting international sanctions has been the government mantra here since the import restrictions were imposed on Iraq, during the Gulf War. That's half a lifetime ago for these students.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's hard. We just want to live in a peaceful, and you know, we want America to leave us alone, you know?

ROBERTSON: But views here are shaped not just by life experience, but also by government policy. Frequently these days, on Iraqi television, government ministers can be seen preparing for a war. They're unlikely to go to front lines to fight -- training all part of a message to the Iraqis: The country is still at war.

(on camera): So perhaps there's no surprise then whenever we go out with our camera and an obligatory government official, people always tell us the same thing, that the Iraqi leader is popular. It is only when we go out by ourselves alone that we hear something else, about missed opportunities for the people in a country and about how hard life is. (voice-over): But to think that the Iraqi leader is slammed in private could also be misleading. Government subsidies allowing for free education; fuel for cars at 250 dinars, or 10 cents, a gallon; cheap bus rides; reduced rail fairs are economic strings, drawing Iraqis closer to their leader.

(on camera): Subsidies aren't limited to transport. For about 250 dinars -- that's about 12 cents -- Iraqis get a monthly ration that includes 9 kilos of flower, 2 1/2 kilos of rice, 2 kilos of sugar, and various other dietary staples. They also get cheap electricity and cheap phone calls.

(voice-over): It all adds up to a social contract of sorts. But for all the forging of bonds of loyalty, there are glaring disconnects. On one hand, cheap phone calls from home; on the other, cellular phones are illegal. And despite low fuel costs encouraging car use, adding an extra radio antenna to your car will cost you seven days in jail, no trial needed.

So when I asked students about international accusations that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and ties to terrorism, I hear this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did Iraq do? Did they have one fact or something about the terrorist country?

ROBERTSON: It seems as if they have learned all their lessons. If asked, stick to what they know: the government line.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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