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CNN Live At Daybreak
Gulf War Anniversary
Aired January 16, 2003 - 06:40 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Don't know if you realize this, but 12 years ago today U.S.-led forces struck Baghdad, followed by an attack on Iraq by coalition ground troops. The allied coalition consisted of 34 countries. The U.S. alone had more than 500,000 troops in the Persian Gulf War and there were an additional 160,000 coalition troops. U.S. forces suffered 148 deaths in battle. The estimated total cost of the war effort, $61 billion.
And, as you know, that war swept Iraqi troops out of Kuwait.
Our Martin Savidge joins us live from Kuwait City.
And, Martin, the anniversary is being downplayed there -- why?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know it may surprise you to know, Carol, that here in Kuwait, the small country for which the entire war was waged, that on this, the 12th anniversary, there are no official ceremonies to mark the day, not a single one, and there never has been. And the reason for that is not because of the current say crisis that is going on, but because there are other dates that Kuwaitis take very deeply to heart.
First of all, you have to remember for Kuwaitis the war for them began actually five months earlier, that would be August 2, 1990, that's when the Iraqi forces came across the border and began their brutal seven-month occupation. And the other date for them, well that would be February 26 when coalition forces, led by Kuwaiti troops, made their way back in and liberated Kuwait. Those are the dates that they commemorate from that war of 12 years ago.
However, having said that, that is not to say that for Kuwaitis everywhere, and especially those that were here, that this was not a memorable day. But it was also a day of great confusion. Some people heard about it on the radio, some people got it from CNN, if they had cable television or had satellite television I should say, but they also were being bombed because coalition forces were attacking Iraqi forces that were here. So it was a time of fear as well as a time of hope. They knew, at least, it was the beginning of the end and that's how they remember the day but not officially -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Understand.
Martin Savidge, live from Kuwait City, Kuwait, thank you.
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 January 16, 2003 - 06:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Don't know if you realize this, but 12 years ago today U.S.-led forces struck Baghdad, followed by an attack on Iraq by coalition ground troops. The allied coalition consisted of 34 countries. The U.S. alone had more than 500,000 troops in the Persian Gulf War and there were an additional 160,000 coalition troops. U.S. forces suffered 148 deaths in battle. The estimated total cost of the war effort, $61 billion.
And, as you know, that war swept Iraqi troops out of Kuwait.
Our Martin Savidge joins us live from Kuwait City.
And, Martin, the anniversary is being downplayed there -- why?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know it may surprise you to know, Carol, that here in Kuwait, the small country for which the entire war was waged, that on this, the 12th anniversary, there are no official ceremonies to mark the day, not a single one, and there never has been. And the reason for that is not because of the current say crisis that is going on, but because there are other dates that Kuwaitis take very deeply to heart.
First of all, you have to remember for Kuwaitis the war for them began actually five months earlier, that would be August 2, 1990, that's when the Iraqi forces came across the border and began their brutal seven-month occupation. And the other date for them, well that would be February 26 when coalition forces, led by Kuwaiti troops, made their way back in and liberated Kuwait. Those are the dates that they commemorate from that war of 12 years ago.
However, having said that, that is not to say that for Kuwaitis everywhere, and especially those that were here, that this was not a memorable day. But it was also a day of great confusion. Some people heard about it on the radio, some people got it from CNN, if they had cable television or had satellite television I should say, but they also were being bombed because coalition forces were attacking Iraqi forces that were here. So it was a time of fear as well as a time of hope. They knew, at least, it was the beginning of the end and that's how they remember the day but not officially -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Understand.
Martin Savidge, live from Kuwait City, Kuwait, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
