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CNN Live At Daybreak
Look at U.S. Military's Scud Defense Measures
Aired February 13, 2003 - 07:47 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to check back in with Bill, who has finally made it to Kuwait, and he finds himself in a place where not too many other reporters are this morning.
Good morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Paula.
Camp Virginia is our location here, first-ever live broadcast, the first television cameras, they tell us, that have come in here in the past five months, too.
Listen, you remember the first Persian Gulf War? The Scuds fired into Saudi Arabia, the Scuds launched into Israel. Since that time, the U.S. military has taken some measures to try and prevent the Scuds from coming in, in the event of war again, and harming some of the soldiers. Rather rudimentary techniques.
But nonetheless, Sergeant Steven Scott is here out of Chicago, Illinois, Paula Zahn's hometown as a matter of fact.
STAFF SGT. STEVEN SCOTT, U.S. MILITARY: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: Step in there, Sergeant, quickly. You've got concrete that's about six inches thick here.
SCOTT: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: It runs about 20 feet deep. How does this protect you if incoming Scuds were to happen here?
SCOTT: Well, it wouldn't necessary protect us from a direct hit on the bunker itself. It will protect us from any residual hits, any -- if you want to call them waves, any chemical agents that may get in the air. They can be further protected with double sandbags, and they also double as a fighting position.
HEMMER: So, you then would run in here in the event of an incoming Scud...
SCOTT: Right.
HEMMER: ... or something else.
SCOTT: And continue to don our protective gear.
HEMMER: You mentioned firing position. I take it that's what the holes are for?
SCOTT: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: OK, and just -- what were you using in 1991, by the way?
SCOTT: We were using plywood and sandbags.
HEMMER: Plywood and sandbags.
SCOTT: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: So, you've got to think this does a lot better job this time.
SCOTT: I'm glad they're here.
HEMMER: Got it. Sergeant, thank you for your time.
SCOTT: Appreciate it.
HEMMER: We should mention the most important news about this guy, though, his wife is expecting back in -- where is she?
SCOTT: She is back at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
HEMMER: And due date is when?
SCOTT: March 15.
HEMMER: Boy or girl, do we know?
SCOTT: Pretty sure it's going to be a boy.
HEMMER: Pretty sure?
SCOTT: Pretty sure.
HEMMER: All right, good luck to you and your wife, all right?
SCOTT: Thank you.
HEMMER: Thank you, Sergeant. We'll see you later.
Paula, we'll see you again in a couple of minutes live here in Kuwait.
ZAHN: I'll be rooting for the whole family. Thanks, Bill.
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 February 13, 2003 - 07:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to check back in with Bill, who has finally made it to Kuwait, and he finds himself in a place where not too many other reporters are this morning.
Good morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Paula.
Camp Virginia is our location here, first-ever live broadcast, the first television cameras, they tell us, that have come in here in the past five months, too.
Listen, you remember the first Persian Gulf War? The Scuds fired into Saudi Arabia, the Scuds launched into Israel. Since that time, the U.S. military has taken some measures to try and prevent the Scuds from coming in, in the event of war again, and harming some of the soldiers. Rather rudimentary techniques.
But nonetheless, Sergeant Steven Scott is here out of Chicago, Illinois, Paula Zahn's hometown as a matter of fact.
STAFF SGT. STEVEN SCOTT, U.S. MILITARY: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: Step in there, Sergeant, quickly. You've got concrete that's about six inches thick here.
SCOTT: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: It runs about 20 feet deep. How does this protect you if incoming Scuds were to happen here?
SCOTT: Well, it wouldn't necessary protect us from a direct hit on the bunker itself. It will protect us from any residual hits, any -- if you want to call them waves, any chemical agents that may get in the air. They can be further protected with double sandbags, and they also double as a fighting position.
HEMMER: So, you then would run in here in the event of an incoming Scud...
SCOTT: Right.
HEMMER: ... or something else.
SCOTT: And continue to don our protective gear.
HEMMER: You mentioned firing position. I take it that's what the holes are for?
SCOTT: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: OK, and just -- what were you using in 1991, by the way?
SCOTT: We were using plywood and sandbags.
HEMMER: Plywood and sandbags.
SCOTT: Yes, sir.
HEMMER: So, you've got to think this does a lot better job this time.
SCOTT: I'm glad they're here.
HEMMER: Got it. Sergeant, thank you for your time.
SCOTT: Appreciate it.
HEMMER: We should mention the most important news about this guy, though, his wife is expecting back in -- where is she?
SCOTT: She is back at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
HEMMER: And due date is when?
SCOTT: March 15.
HEMMER: Boy or girl, do we know?
SCOTT: Pretty sure it's going to be a boy.
HEMMER: Pretty sure?
SCOTT: Pretty sure.
HEMMER: All right, good luck to you and your wife, all right?
SCOTT: Thank you.
HEMMER: Thank you, Sergeant. We'll see you later.
Paula, we'll see you again in a couple of minutes live here in Kuwait.
ZAHN: I'll be rooting for the whole family. Thanks, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.