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U.S. Troops in Djibouti Shrouded in Secrecy
Aired September 25, 2002 - 10:37 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops are also on the ground elsewhere in the region. Hundreds of American forces have assembled at a base in Djibouti, an African nation just south of Yemen. Their mission is shrouded in secrecy, but our Catherine Bond gives us a glimpse of the operation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CATHERINE BOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): American troops in a corner of the international airport in the tiny African nation of Djibouti. This new U.S. base closed to the press.
The only access offered, an interview with the commanding officer, and even that taking still more days to arrange.
The French Foreign Legion has long viewed Djibouti as important, but the appearance of American soldiers is new. So why is the U.S. military now taking enough of an interest to offer Djibouti about $10 million U.S. in extra humanitarian aid in return for the use of air and sea facilities.
(on camera): Djibouti may be a small port city, but it is highly strategic, controlling the main shipping route from Asia to Europe, a route Western powers have placed under close military scrutiny since the September 11 attacks last year.
(voice-over): The German navy has patrolled this stretch of water since January, part of the surveillance mission aimed at preventing members of al Qaeda from returning to this region by sea.
The French and German navies have ships in Djibouti's port, and they don't mind television crews filming them. But the American presence is shrouded in secrecy. Recent reports suggesting Djibouti may be used as a launching pad for operations against al Qaeda in nearby Yemen, something Djibouti's president is eager to deny.
ISMAIL OMAR GUELLEH, PRESIDENT, DJIBOUTI: The operations in Yemen are between the American government, and the Yemen government. I think they know there is -- they don't need to come here.
BOND: Instead, Djibouti's president says he has been told the U.S. is basing members of its Marine Expeditionary Unit here for about five months training in Djibouti's hot, sticky climate, a climate not unlike Iraq's in summer. The U.S. maneuvers in Djibouti possibly also aimed at reinforcing the message that this region remains closely watched.
Catherine Bond, CNN, Djibouti.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 25, 2002 - 10:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops are also on the ground elsewhere in the region. Hundreds of American forces have assembled at a base in Djibouti, an African nation just south of Yemen. Their mission is shrouded in secrecy, but our Catherine Bond gives us a glimpse of the operation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CATHERINE BOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): American troops in a corner of the international airport in the tiny African nation of Djibouti. This new U.S. base closed to the press.
The only access offered, an interview with the commanding officer, and even that taking still more days to arrange.
The French Foreign Legion has long viewed Djibouti as important, but the appearance of American soldiers is new. So why is the U.S. military now taking enough of an interest to offer Djibouti about $10 million U.S. in extra humanitarian aid in return for the use of air and sea facilities.
(on camera): Djibouti may be a small port city, but it is highly strategic, controlling the main shipping route from Asia to Europe, a route Western powers have placed under close military scrutiny since the September 11 attacks last year.
(voice-over): The German navy has patrolled this stretch of water since January, part of the surveillance mission aimed at preventing members of al Qaeda from returning to this region by sea.
The French and German navies have ships in Djibouti's port, and they don't mind television crews filming them. But the American presence is shrouded in secrecy. Recent reports suggesting Djibouti may be used as a launching pad for operations against al Qaeda in nearby Yemen, something Djibouti's president is eager to deny.
ISMAIL OMAR GUELLEH, PRESIDENT, DJIBOUTI: The operations in Yemen are between the American government, and the Yemen government. I think they know there is -- they don't need to come here.
BOND: Instead, Djibouti's president says he has been told the U.S. is basing members of its Marine Expeditionary Unit here for about five months training in Djibouti's hot, sticky climate, a climate not unlike Iraq's in summer. The U.S. maneuvers in Djibouti possibly also aimed at reinforcing the message that this region remains closely watched.
Catherine Bond, CNN, Djibouti.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
