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U.S. Forces React to Rising Tensions

Aired November 14, 2002 - 10:08   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Next up now Kuwait City, where Kyra Phillips is with U.S. troops. She joins us now by video phone -- Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon.

Well, I got reaction from the troops. I also have reaction from the people here in Kuwait. You know, when we first arrived here, and talked to the leaders and the people that live in this area of Kuwait City, they told us that they were nervous. They were concerned about a possible war against Iraq. As you can imagine, memories are strong from the first Gulf War. They are afraid about the economy, and how things will affecting their daily lives. They have been taking money out of the bank. Trading has been low on the stock exchange.

But when that decision came down, after -- or yesterday rather out of Iraq, people are breathing a little easier. They were feeling a little more relaxed. However, they still tell me they feel Saddam Hussein, and what he says and does is, a bit of a wild card. And they want to see if indeed those weapons inspectors do get into Iraq, and if those weapons inspectors have a conflict with the regime of Saddam Hussein. As you know, a war against Iraq can still take place, and the threat of weapons of mass destruction is still a major concern among the people that live in Kuwait.

Meanwhile, as for the troops, as you know, for the past four weeks, we have been monitoring and observing different training missions: from recon; to strike fighters; and most recently, special operations. We have been able to seeing how they're training around the clock, 24/7. Getting ready for whatever President George W. Bush says they have to do -- Leon.

HARRIS: Kyra, do they get a sense that -- that perhaps if the tensions rising even faster than would be expected otherwise, with all the activity we have seen stateside with the U.N. And the decision by Iraq to concede at least on paper to these weapons inspections?

PHILLIPS: You know what, that's a good question. It's so hard, I know, for you back in the United States, to really get a sense for how folks are feeling out here. But since we've been here, quiet honestly, we haven't seen a major build-up. We haven't seen troops coming in via aircraft or by sea. It's basically the same amount of troops. The same type of training that's been going on for the past 10 years. They may have increased the training a little bit. Of course, there's new technology, new capabilities. Those are implemented and being tested on a regular basis. Every now and then, you can see Saddam Hussein's military sort of testing the waters, if you will. I was out on a patrol boat in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Operation, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Operation, and that's where U.S. forces along with coalition forces are trying to stop the smuggling that is happening -- coming out of Iraq, weapons going into Iraq, oil coming out. Of course, they are trying to enforce an U.N. sanctions -- sanctions that were implemented 10 years ago after the first Gulf War. And for the first time out there, we did see an Iraqi patrol boat.

I asked commanders, was if that's unusual, and yes, they told me it was. It was the first time in 10 years that that had happened. So they tell me Saddam Hussein and his the military definitely is getting a little bit more aggressive right now -- Leon.

HARRIS: Very interesting. Well, then you be very careful.

Kyra Phillips, out there with the troops in Kuwait City. Thanks, Kyra.

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 November 14, 2002 - 10:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Next up now Kuwait City, where Kyra Phillips is with U.S. troops. She joins us now by video phone -- Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon.

Well, I got reaction from the troops. I also have reaction from the people here in Kuwait. You know, when we first arrived here, and talked to the leaders and the people that live in this area of Kuwait City, they told us that they were nervous. They were concerned about a possible war against Iraq. As you can imagine, memories are strong from the first Gulf War. They are afraid about the economy, and how things will affecting their daily lives. They have been taking money out of the bank. Trading has been low on the stock exchange.

But when that decision came down, after -- or yesterday rather out of Iraq, people are breathing a little easier. They were feeling a little more relaxed. However, they still tell me they feel Saddam Hussein, and what he says and does is, a bit of a wild card. And they want to see if indeed those weapons inspectors do get into Iraq, and if those weapons inspectors have a conflict with the regime of Saddam Hussein. As you know, a war against Iraq can still take place, and the threat of weapons of mass destruction is still a major concern among the people that live in Kuwait.

Meanwhile, as for the troops, as you know, for the past four weeks, we have been monitoring and observing different training missions: from recon; to strike fighters; and most recently, special operations. We have been able to seeing how they're training around the clock, 24/7. Getting ready for whatever President George W. Bush says they have to do -- Leon.

HARRIS: Kyra, do they get a sense that -- that perhaps if the tensions rising even faster than would be expected otherwise, with all the activity we have seen stateside with the U.N. And the decision by Iraq to concede at least on paper to these weapons inspections?

PHILLIPS: You know what, that's a good question. It's so hard, I know, for you back in the United States, to really get a sense for how folks are feeling out here. But since we've been here, quiet honestly, we haven't seen a major build-up. We haven't seen troops coming in via aircraft or by sea. It's basically the same amount of troops. The same type of training that's been going on for the past 10 years. They may have increased the training a little bit. Of course, there's new technology, new capabilities. Those are implemented and being tested on a regular basis. Every now and then, you can see Saddam Hussein's military sort of testing the waters, if you will. I was out on a patrol boat in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Operation, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Operation, and that's where U.S. forces along with coalition forces are trying to stop the smuggling that is happening -- coming out of Iraq, weapons going into Iraq, oil coming out. Of course, they are trying to enforce an U.N. sanctions -- sanctions that were implemented 10 years ago after the first Gulf War. And for the first time out there, we did see an Iraqi patrol boat.

I asked commanders, was if that's unusual, and yes, they told me it was. It was the first time in 10 years that that had happened. So they tell me Saddam Hussein and his the military definitely is getting a little bit more aggressive right now -- Leon.

HARRIS: Very interesting. Well, then you be very careful.

Kyra Phillips, out there with the troops in Kuwait City. Thanks, Kyra.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com