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British Defense Officials Say They're in Control of Oil Facilities in Southern Iraq

Aired March 21, 2003 - 11:51   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: Now we're going to check in with Martin Savidge, who is alongside the First Battalion of the 7th Marines. He joins us from southern Iraq.
Martin, I don't know whether you can hear our reporting, but British defense officials are now saying they are in control of the oil facilities in southern Iraq. What's the latest from where you are?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this specific facility where we are at is just outside of Basra. We cannot actually get into exact details, the name of where we are, for reasons of security. That is it is still the concern of the U.S. military, specifically the Marines who are here, that this may be targeted by Iraqi artillery or SCUD missiles. The danger is not all clear for this particular area.

It is considered to be by military commanders, a crown jewel that has been achieved in this early stage of this new war with Iraq. It was considered to be such a high prize and there was so much concern about this facility because they say that about 14 percent of the world's oil flows through this area. That gives you an idea how prominent it is.

There was such a concern that it might have been booby trapped or that it might have been set with explosives. And that if there had been any indication that the Marines were moving in here, from the First Battalion 7th Marines, that it would be detonated, perhaps by remote control. And that the whole thing could blow up in their face, which would have been deadly for the Marines coming here. But it also would have been an economic and ecological disaster, because of the size of this facility.

So, all of that, it appears, has been avoided. It was only because of a lightning strike that took place. That's why we were basically under a communications blackout for about three and a half days. They were concerned that even a transmission from a cell phone or a satellite phone would give away the position of the Marines, and ourselves, as we moved out with them to this facility.

They closed in with an entire regimental combat team, sealed off the outside area, laid in force with artillery and also with mortars. They wanted to secure the area to make sure no Iraqi forces tried to come in and intercede as the Marine forces then came in and tried to clear and make sure there were no explosives that had been laid here.

And they are still doing that, actually, going from building to building. They rounded up over 50 people, 25 are said to be E-POWs, that is enemy prisoners of war. And the rest are thought to be people who actually work at this facility. They are simply detained. They're questioning them, talking to them and then they will presumably let them go, because their expertise is necessary.

This is what the military has been stressing about getting this facility. It is not about getting oil for the United States. That's what the Marines say. They say it is all about getting this facility intact so that it can be turned over to the people who should rightfully have it. That being the Iraqi people. They say that it will be crucial now to have this facility, the money it would provide, for the rebuilding of Iraq when the war comes to an end.

Back to you.

ZAHN: Martin, we have been talking this morning about the first combat death experienced by a Marine in his attempt to help secure some of these oil facilities. I'm just wondering if that news was made available to any of you there?

SAVIDGE: No, I don't think it's been told here. Obviously, I have heard it because I have been listening to CNN. It's not widely known amongst the Marines here.

There were no casualties amongst the marines as they came in here. There was a brief firefight that took place because there was some Iraqi soldiers that were in the area. And we are told that there were one or two people that were wounded. And there was also a fatality. But that fatality, we are told was caused by a land mine. The Marines are directly saying that is the responsibility of the Iraqi regime. But there were no fatalities here. They consider that quite fortunate because of the potential, it could have wiped out an entire Marine unit as they moved in on this facility had it in fact, detonated.

ZAHN: Martin Savidge reporting from southern Iraq.

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




Facilities in Southern Iraq>


Aired March 21, 2003 - 11:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we're going to check in with Martin Savidge, who is alongside the First Battalion of the 7th Marines. He joins us from southern Iraq.
Martin, I don't know whether you can hear our reporting, but British defense officials are now saying they are in control of the oil facilities in southern Iraq. What's the latest from where you are?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this specific facility where we are at is just outside of Basra. We cannot actually get into exact details, the name of where we are, for reasons of security. That is it is still the concern of the U.S. military, specifically the Marines who are here, that this may be targeted by Iraqi artillery or SCUD missiles. The danger is not all clear for this particular area.

It is considered to be by military commanders, a crown jewel that has been achieved in this early stage of this new war with Iraq. It was considered to be such a high prize and there was so much concern about this facility because they say that about 14 percent of the world's oil flows through this area. That gives you an idea how prominent it is.

There was such a concern that it might have been booby trapped or that it might have been set with explosives. And that if there had been any indication that the Marines were moving in here, from the First Battalion 7th Marines, that it would be detonated, perhaps by remote control. And that the whole thing could blow up in their face, which would have been deadly for the Marines coming here. But it also would have been an economic and ecological disaster, because of the size of this facility.

So, all of that, it appears, has been avoided. It was only because of a lightning strike that took place. That's why we were basically under a communications blackout for about three and a half days. They were concerned that even a transmission from a cell phone or a satellite phone would give away the position of the Marines, and ourselves, as we moved out with them to this facility.

They closed in with an entire regimental combat team, sealed off the outside area, laid in force with artillery and also with mortars. They wanted to secure the area to make sure no Iraqi forces tried to come in and intercede as the Marine forces then came in and tried to clear and make sure there were no explosives that had been laid here.

And they are still doing that, actually, going from building to building. They rounded up over 50 people, 25 are said to be E-POWs, that is enemy prisoners of war. And the rest are thought to be people who actually work at this facility. They are simply detained. They're questioning them, talking to them and then they will presumably let them go, because their expertise is necessary.

This is what the military has been stressing about getting this facility. It is not about getting oil for the United States. That's what the Marines say. They say it is all about getting this facility intact so that it can be turned over to the people who should rightfully have it. That being the Iraqi people. They say that it will be crucial now to have this facility, the money it would provide, for the rebuilding of Iraq when the war comes to an end.

Back to you.

ZAHN: Martin, we have been talking this morning about the first combat death experienced by a Marine in his attempt to help secure some of these oil facilities. I'm just wondering if that news was made available to any of you there?

SAVIDGE: No, I don't think it's been told here. Obviously, I have heard it because I have been listening to CNN. It's not widely known amongst the Marines here.

There were no casualties amongst the marines as they came in here. There was a brief firefight that took place because there was some Iraqi soldiers that were in the area. And we are told that there were one or two people that were wounded. And there was also a fatality. But that fatality, we are told was caused by a land mine. The Marines are directly saying that is the responsibility of the Iraqi regime. But there were no fatalities here. They consider that quite fortunate because of the potential, it could have wiped out an entire Marine unit as they moved in on this facility had it in fact, detonated.

ZAHN: Martin Savidge reporting from southern Iraq.

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




Facilities in Southern Iraq>