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CNN Live Today

Army Begins Live Fire Exercises in Kuwait

Aired February 18, 2003 - 11:35   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: And the preparations for possible war with Iraq continues, The Army now begins live fire exercises today in its desert training ground in Kuwait.
Our CNN's Bill Hemmer was there, watching those drills.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're at Live Fire Range Number Seven. It's one of ten set up here in the northern Kuwaiti desert where the American military has literally trained day and night. And it's not an easy place to get to. Our crew of seven had to travel over rough and rugged road. Two hours by way of Humvee off the main highway here in Kuwait.

What we have seen throughout the day is rather impressive in terms of military hardware. We saw the giant 70-ton M1-A1 tanks launch 120-millimeter rounds almost three quarters of a mile down range. In addition, we saw the Bradley fighting vehicles unload soldiers who come out, assume their firing position and then again move on further down the desert. We also watched the military team conduct a medical evacuation drill. Evacuating a wounded soldier from inside of a tank and then later removing him from danger on the battlefield.

Again, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, exercises like these are conducted by the U.S. military. They tell us yet again they are ready for war, but if war does not come, they still say they have received extensive and invaluable training here in Kuwait.

Bill Hemmer, CNN, Northern Kuwait.

(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 February 18, 2003 - 11:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And the preparations for possible war with Iraq continues, The Army now begins live fire exercises today in its desert training ground in Kuwait.
Our CNN's Bill Hemmer was there, watching those drills.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're at Live Fire Range Number Seven. It's one of ten set up here in the northern Kuwaiti desert where the American military has literally trained day and night. And it's not an easy place to get to. Our crew of seven had to travel over rough and rugged road. Two hours by way of Humvee off the main highway here in Kuwait.

What we have seen throughout the day is rather impressive in terms of military hardware. We saw the giant 70-ton M1-A1 tanks launch 120-millimeter rounds almost three quarters of a mile down range. In addition, we saw the Bradley fighting vehicles unload soldiers who come out, assume their firing position and then again move on further down the desert. We also watched the military team conduct a medical evacuation drill. Evacuating a wounded soldier from inside of a tank and then later removing him from danger on the battlefield.

Again, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, exercises like these are conducted by the U.S. military. They tell us yet again they are ready for war, but if war does not come, they still say they have received extensive and invaluable training here in Kuwait.

Bill Hemmer, CNN, Northern Kuwait.

(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