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CNN Live Today

Gulf War Anniversary

Aired January 16, 2003 - 10:12   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 ANCHOR: The drumbeat of war may resonate most deeply in Kuwait, where the Iraqi invasion more than a dozen years ago triggered the last war in the Persian Gulf, and that conflict began some 13 years ago today, and in Kuwait, remains as fresh as the morning headlines.
Martin Savidge is standing by in Kuwait City with the very latest, and I should correct that, it was 12 years ago today.

Hello, Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Leon.

And you know, it's interesting, many Americans might surprised to know that here in Kuwait, which is a very small country, in which the entire Gulf War was waged over, on this, the 12th anniversary, there is no official ceremony to mark the day, not a single one.

Now, before you get too out of joint over that, the reason is that for Kuwaitis, the war actually began for them five months earlier, August 2nd, 1990, when tanks rolled across the border. That is the date they certainly remember, and the other one they remember in a much more jubilant way is, of course, the day of victory when coalition forces rolled into town.

OK, that's the past. Let's talk about the present and the possibility of another Gulf War that may be looming. We have an interesting map we can show you. It is of Kuwait, and what it depicts is a large area, about a third of Kuwait, that technically off limit to Kuwaitis. Why? That's because of the current military buildup under way, U.S. military forces that, as you know, begun beefing up the presence here because of a possible showdown with Iraq.

We can also show you on the map here some of the places where they're going. Of course, this is not being real specific. But Camp Doha is one of the major headquarters for the military. It has been there since the end of the Gulf war, and there are other staging areas. Those areas no longer accessible to the general Kuwaiti public. One thing to point out, camping, especially on the weekend, which we're into now in this part of the world, is especially very popular. Families camp in the desert. They can do that, but just not the areas marked on the map.

You may believe that here in Kuwait with the forces coming in in Kuwait City and other areas feel like an armed camp. They do not. You don't see military forces here, because they are immediately dispatched to the bases that are set up in the desert up near the Iraqi border Or Camp Doha, and they stay there, training and exercise. And for security reasons, don't often come into the major cities -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Marty, coming into this, we know that this is the 12th anniversary of the war fought over the invasion of this country, is there any observation of that anniversary to your knowledge, or to your eyes there in that country, as the media or out the streets, or what?

SAVIDGE: Well, you know, the line we used that it is a date that the country doesn't remember, and yet, it's one that the people will never forget. What I mean by that is officially they don't recognize this date as the beginning of the Gulf War, but for the people in Kuwait, especially, they remember it very well. Some of them heard the news coming over the radio. Others heard it over CNN if they had satellite television, and a great many felt it, because you have to remember that coalition bombers were flying over and attacking the Iraqi positions right here in Kuwait City. It was a time of confusion, it was a time of great fear, but also, for the first time, a time of hope that liberation was on the way -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thanks, Marty.

Marty Savidge, reporting live to us from Kuwait City in the evening hours. Lots of us in the room remember that day, as well. Take care, pal. See you in a bit.

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 - 10:12   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The drumbeat of war may resonate most deeply in Kuwait, where the Iraqi invasion more than a dozen years ago triggered the last war in the Persian Gulf, and that conflict began some 13 years ago today, and in Kuwait, remains as fresh as the morning headlines.
Martin Savidge is standing by in Kuwait City with the very latest, and I should correct that, it was 12 years ago today.

Hello, Marty.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Leon.

And you know, it's interesting, many Americans might surprised to know that here in Kuwait, which is a very small country, in which the entire Gulf War was waged over, on this, the 12th anniversary, there is no official ceremony to mark the day, not a single one.

Now, before you get too out of joint over that, the reason is that for Kuwaitis, the war actually began for them five months earlier, August 2nd, 1990, when tanks rolled across the border. That is the date they certainly remember, and the other one they remember in a much more jubilant way is, of course, the day of victory when coalition forces rolled into town.

OK, that's the past. Let's talk about the present and the possibility of another Gulf War that may be looming. We have an interesting map we can show you. It is of Kuwait, and what it depicts is a large area, about a third of Kuwait, that technically off limit to Kuwaitis. Why? That's because of the current military buildup under way, U.S. military forces that, as you know, begun beefing up the presence here because of a possible showdown with Iraq.

We can also show you on the map here some of the places where they're going. Of course, this is not being real specific. But Camp Doha is one of the major headquarters for the military. It has been there since the end of the Gulf war, and there are other staging areas. Those areas no longer accessible to the general Kuwaiti public. One thing to point out, camping, especially on the weekend, which we're into now in this part of the world, is especially very popular. Families camp in the desert. They can do that, but just not the areas marked on the map.

You may believe that here in Kuwait with the forces coming in in Kuwait City and other areas feel like an armed camp. They do not. You don't see military forces here, because they are immediately dispatched to the bases that are set up in the desert up near the Iraqi border Or Camp Doha, and they stay there, training and exercise. And for security reasons, don't often come into the major cities -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Marty, coming into this, we know that this is the 12th anniversary of the war fought over the invasion of this country, is there any observation of that anniversary to your knowledge, or to your eyes there in that country, as the media or out the streets, or what?

SAVIDGE: Well, you know, the line we used that it is a date that the country doesn't remember, and yet, it's one that the people will never forget. What I mean by that is officially they don't recognize this date as the beginning of the Gulf War, but for the people in Kuwait, especially, they remember it very well. Some of them heard the news coming over the radio. Others heard it over CNN if they had satellite television, and a great many felt it, because you have to remember that coalition bombers were flying over and attacking the Iraqi positions right here in Kuwait City. It was a time of confusion, it was a time of great fear, but also, for the first time, a time of hope that liberation was on the way -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thanks, Marty.

Marty Savidge, reporting live to us from Kuwait City in the evening hours. Lots of us in the room remember that day, as well. Take care, pal. See you in a bit.

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