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CNN Live Today
Humanitarian Relief Arrives in Umm Qasr; Kuwait Confident in Patriot Missile
Aired March 28, 2003 - 11:04 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.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's a quick update on the action, find out what's the latest right now, the status of the U.S. and coalition forces.
Turning now to our CNN military analyst and retired Brigadier David Grange for the "Situation Report."
RET. BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: What we would like to do now is provide you with a situation report, otherwise known has a sitrep.
And if we could go to the map right now and follow what's going on throughout the sectors, we have humanitarian assistance and combat operations continuing in certain areas throughout Iraq. In the south, by the city of -- in Kuwait City, and north, where supply lines continue to push gasoline, ammunition, and medical supplies to forward operating units.
You see, as the forces go, Marine and Army, north toward Nasiriyah and Najaf, towards the Republican Guards around Baghdad, fighting continues, with some limited attacks by Iraqi forces.
In the west, we still have special operating forces operating by H-2 and H-3. And up north, paratroopers are working with Kurdish forces starting operations on a northern front against the Iraqi units north of Tikrit. And that's the end of the sitrep today.
HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thank you, General David Grange, appreciate it. We'll go back to you later on.
Right now, let's go back to Paula Zahn for more of our continuing coverage of the war in Iraq -- Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much, Leon.
We got some breaking news out of Central Command in Qatar: confirmation that a Marine was killed and another injured on Wednesday night when a U.S. tank ran over them. The names of the Marines, members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, are being held pending notification of next of kin. And Central Command tells us the incident is now being investigated.
Not the kind of news any of us wants to hear, Bill. BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, really tough stuff.
Wednesday night, Paula, they were in the heart of that massive dust storm. And based on what our reporters were telling us, oftentimes, they could not see even 10 feet in front of us. There were a lot of concerns at that time as to vehicle accidents, running into each other. I remember Marty Savidge saying the Humvee they were riding actually ran into a house, a house, during the heart of that dust storm, visibility sometimes only 10 feet, as I mentioned.
Listen, back here in the region right now, the Sir Galahad had has made its way up that waterway into the port city of Umm Qasr, bringing 200 tons of humanitarian aid. We now know that the Sir Galahad has made it, that possibly more ships will be coming after it with more aid. And then, after that, you probably have the possibility of the military movement coming in that port city as well.
Christiane Amanpour was at the port when the Sir Galahad arrived. This report, she filed just a few moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After several delays, the much anticipated arrival of the British ship Sir Galahad finally docked here at the port of Umm Qasr.
It's carrying more than 200 tons of goods and supplies for people who desperately need it. The most important requirement is clean water. And this ship is bringing in packets of bottled water, as well as staples such as rice, lentils and vegetable oil and blankets and medical supplies.
This is as much about providing relief to the people of Umm Qasr and points north as also providing a political and psychological tool. This is part of Britain's announced two-pronged military strategy: to fight, on the one hand, with heavy metals and, on the other hand, with soft approach for the hearts and minds of the people.
In the meantime, in Basra, which is the focus of attention, reports by the British that some 2,000 civilians tried to leave the city today. They were then fired upon, according to the British, by the Iraqi militias loyal to Saddam Hussein, the Saddam Fedayeen. At that point, we're told British officials up there, the British army, engaged and fire back on the militias.
So this incident, say the British, suggests what they've been saying all along, that they need to disentangle the political structure loyal to Saddam Hussein from the civilian population. And what they're saying about this incident in Basra, it shows, they say, that the Iraqi militias are preventing the population from leaving the cities on pain of death.
I'm Christiane Amanpour, CNN, reporting from Umm Qasr in southern Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HEMMER: And it is nightfall here in Kuwait City. And we know this. It's been 32 hours since the last air raid siren trickled through this capital city and across the country.
We have not had an Iraqi missile fired into Kuwait airspace since about 11:30 in the morning yesterday, on Thursday. There's a reason for that, we're told. the launch site that they believe largely being used by the Iraqis has been destroyed somewhere on the ground near Basra. Whether it stays this way, we do not know. We also know that Patriot missile batteries and the upgraded technology that has gone into these missiles, now known as the PAC-3, apparently is working to a pretty good degree of success. Both the U.S. have them in this conflict, and the Kuwaitis have them as well.
This past week, in fact yesterday, we were out with some of the Kuwaitis. They're proud and quite confident to show off what they say has been a number of Iraqi missile kills.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: What do you think of the success rate right now for the Patriot missile?
COL. JASEM AL HUWAITAN, KUWAITI AIR DEFENSE: I think we are success 100 percent.
HEMMER: One hundred percent?
HUWAITAN: Yes. Any missile in our coverage, we destroy it.
HEMMER: Why is it, do you believe, better than it was in the first Persian Gulf War?
HUWAITAN: Because they did a lot of modification to the radar and to the missile itself. So we have now a very high percentage of kill and a very high destruction capability with the missile itself. And now the missile, it's go to the warhead and is making...
HEMMER: It's making contact with the warhead?
HUWAITAN: Yes, and destroy the warhead itself. So, I mean, before, 12 years, it was not going to the warhead. It was going to the missile. And sometimes the missile breaks, and just go to the big body of the missile, but it does not go to the warhead.
Any Scud missiles, or any missile I mean, attacking us, we send two missiles, OK, to be sure that we are engaging the missile. And if there is any big fall from the missile, so that second missile will destroy it.
HEMMER: How many Patriot missiles would be in each launcher here?
HUWAITAN: Four missiles. Each launcher have four container. Each container has one missile. And you see the one on the bottom left? HEMMER: That's right.
HUWAITAN: That's the one we have the missile left.
HEMMER: Now, how long ago was that launched from here?
HUWAITAN: It is this week.
HEMMER: This past week?
HUWAITAN: Yes. Yes.
HEMMER: What was the result of that Patriot missile being fired? Did it hit an Iraqi missile?
HUWAITAN: Yes, it hit an Iraqi missile.
HEMMER: Over Kuwait?
HUWAITAN: Yes, it was in the -- it was over the Jahrah area. It is north of Kuwait City.
HEMMER: And what was that Iraqi missile aimed at here in Kuwait? Do you know?
HUWAITAN: It was aimed to the city, to Jahrah city.
HEMMER: Is there a military post there, or is it a civilian area?
HUWAITAN: No, it's a civilian. It is all civilian people. This is the largest city in the north of Kuwait.
HEMMER: What is the success rate so far?
HUWAITAN: So far, we have 100 percent successful.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Every missile that's been fired here has been intercepted?
HUWAITAN: Every missile who has been fired here under the coverage of the Patriots.
HEMMER: This launcher, when was it installed?
HUWAITAN: In this location?
HEMMER: Yes.
HUWAITAN: It's now almost four years ago.
HEMMER: As a Kuwaiti knocking down an Iraqi missile in your airspace, in your country, gives you what kind of feeling? HUWAITAN: Well, it gives us a feeling that, I mean, we did what we're supposed to do, protecting our country, OK, and that we did our job. And we are proud of what we did.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Certainly, there are critics of this Patriot missile system. You go back 12 years ago, the first President Bush said, of 42 Scuds launched by the Iraqis, 41 were intercepted by Patriots.
Later, after a congressional study, it concluded that, of the 42, only four had direct contact with a Patriot missile; 12 years later now, the technology has been upgraded. They believe they've had a high percentage rate. You heard the colonel there say it's 100 percent right now. Whether or not that is the case after the war is something, I think, the critics are waiting to stand by and see if that's the case.
There have been mistakes, the British Tornado knocked out of the sky earlier in the week; the Patriot missile radar battled that was trucked into southern Iraq targeted by an F-16, an American fighter jet, no injuries as a result. So, certainly, there have been mistakes thus far.
But the colonel will tell you, the price is worth it, $3 million per missile, Paula. But, right now, he says, with the ability to defend his country and his people and the confidence he has right now in this Patriot missile system, he said it is worth every penny.
ZAHN: Bill, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
in Patriot Missile>
Aired March 28, 2003 - 11:04 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: Now let's a quick update on the action, find out what's the latest right now, the status of the U.S. and coalition forces.
Turning now to our CNN military analyst and retired Brigadier David Grange for the "Situation Report."
RET. BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: What we would like to do now is provide you with a situation report, otherwise known has a sitrep.
And if we could go to the map right now and follow what's going on throughout the sectors, we have humanitarian assistance and combat operations continuing in certain areas throughout Iraq. In the south, by the city of -- in Kuwait City, and north, where supply lines continue to push gasoline, ammunition, and medical supplies to forward operating units.
You see, as the forces go, Marine and Army, north toward Nasiriyah and Najaf, towards the Republican Guards around Baghdad, fighting continues, with some limited attacks by Iraqi forces.
In the west, we still have special operating forces operating by H-2 and H-3. And up north, paratroopers are working with Kurdish forces starting operations on a northern front against the Iraqi units north of Tikrit. And that's the end of the sitrep today.
HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thank you, General David Grange, appreciate it. We'll go back to you later on.
Right now, let's go back to Paula Zahn for more of our continuing coverage of the war in Iraq -- Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much, Leon.
We got some breaking news out of Central Command in Qatar: confirmation that a Marine was killed and another injured on Wednesday night when a U.S. tank ran over them. The names of the Marines, members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, are being held pending notification of next of kin. And Central Command tells us the incident is now being investigated.
Not the kind of news any of us wants to hear, Bill. BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, really tough stuff.
Wednesday night, Paula, they were in the heart of that massive dust storm. And based on what our reporters were telling us, oftentimes, they could not see even 10 feet in front of us. There were a lot of concerns at that time as to vehicle accidents, running into each other. I remember Marty Savidge saying the Humvee they were riding actually ran into a house, a house, during the heart of that dust storm, visibility sometimes only 10 feet, as I mentioned.
Listen, back here in the region right now, the Sir Galahad had has made its way up that waterway into the port city of Umm Qasr, bringing 200 tons of humanitarian aid. We now know that the Sir Galahad has made it, that possibly more ships will be coming after it with more aid. And then, after that, you probably have the possibility of the military movement coming in that port city as well.
Christiane Amanpour was at the port when the Sir Galahad arrived. This report, she filed just a few moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After several delays, the much anticipated arrival of the British ship Sir Galahad finally docked here at the port of Umm Qasr.
It's carrying more than 200 tons of goods and supplies for people who desperately need it. The most important requirement is clean water. And this ship is bringing in packets of bottled water, as well as staples such as rice, lentils and vegetable oil and blankets and medical supplies.
This is as much about providing relief to the people of Umm Qasr and points north as also providing a political and psychological tool. This is part of Britain's announced two-pronged military strategy: to fight, on the one hand, with heavy metals and, on the other hand, with soft approach for the hearts and minds of the people.
In the meantime, in Basra, which is the focus of attention, reports by the British that some 2,000 civilians tried to leave the city today. They were then fired upon, according to the British, by the Iraqi militias loyal to Saddam Hussein, the Saddam Fedayeen. At that point, we're told British officials up there, the British army, engaged and fire back on the militias.
So this incident, say the British, suggests what they've been saying all along, that they need to disentangle the political structure loyal to Saddam Hussein from the civilian population. And what they're saying about this incident in Basra, it shows, they say, that the Iraqi militias are preventing the population from leaving the cities on pain of death.
I'm Christiane Amanpour, CNN, reporting from Umm Qasr in southern Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HEMMER: And it is nightfall here in Kuwait City. And we know this. It's been 32 hours since the last air raid siren trickled through this capital city and across the country.
We have not had an Iraqi missile fired into Kuwait airspace since about 11:30 in the morning yesterday, on Thursday. There's a reason for that, we're told. the launch site that they believe largely being used by the Iraqis has been destroyed somewhere on the ground near Basra. Whether it stays this way, we do not know. We also know that Patriot missile batteries and the upgraded technology that has gone into these missiles, now known as the PAC-3, apparently is working to a pretty good degree of success. Both the U.S. have them in this conflict, and the Kuwaitis have them as well.
This past week, in fact yesterday, we were out with some of the Kuwaitis. They're proud and quite confident to show off what they say has been a number of Iraqi missile kills.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: What do you think of the success rate right now for the Patriot missile?
COL. JASEM AL HUWAITAN, KUWAITI AIR DEFENSE: I think we are success 100 percent.
HEMMER: One hundred percent?
HUWAITAN: Yes. Any missile in our coverage, we destroy it.
HEMMER: Why is it, do you believe, better than it was in the first Persian Gulf War?
HUWAITAN: Because they did a lot of modification to the radar and to the missile itself. So we have now a very high percentage of kill and a very high destruction capability with the missile itself. And now the missile, it's go to the warhead and is making...
HEMMER: It's making contact with the warhead?
HUWAITAN: Yes, and destroy the warhead itself. So, I mean, before, 12 years, it was not going to the warhead. It was going to the missile. And sometimes the missile breaks, and just go to the big body of the missile, but it does not go to the warhead.
Any Scud missiles, or any missile I mean, attacking us, we send two missiles, OK, to be sure that we are engaging the missile. And if there is any big fall from the missile, so that second missile will destroy it.
HEMMER: How many Patriot missiles would be in each launcher here?
HUWAITAN: Four missiles. Each launcher have four container. Each container has one missile. And you see the one on the bottom left? HEMMER: That's right.
HUWAITAN: That's the one we have the missile left.
HEMMER: Now, how long ago was that launched from here?
HUWAITAN: It is this week.
HEMMER: This past week?
HUWAITAN: Yes. Yes.
HEMMER: What was the result of that Patriot missile being fired? Did it hit an Iraqi missile?
HUWAITAN: Yes, it hit an Iraqi missile.
HEMMER: Over Kuwait?
HUWAITAN: Yes, it was in the -- it was over the Jahrah area. It is north of Kuwait City.
HEMMER: And what was that Iraqi missile aimed at here in Kuwait? Do you know?
HUWAITAN: It was aimed to the city, to Jahrah city.
HEMMER: Is there a military post there, or is it a civilian area?
HUWAITAN: No, it's a civilian. It is all civilian people. This is the largest city in the north of Kuwait.
HEMMER: What is the success rate so far?
HUWAITAN: So far, we have 100 percent successful.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Every missile that's been fired here has been intercepted?
HUWAITAN: Every missile who has been fired here under the coverage of the Patriots.
HEMMER: This launcher, when was it installed?
HUWAITAN: In this location?
HEMMER: Yes.
HUWAITAN: It's now almost four years ago.
HEMMER: As a Kuwaiti knocking down an Iraqi missile in your airspace, in your country, gives you what kind of feeling? HUWAITAN: Well, it gives us a feeling that, I mean, we did what we're supposed to do, protecting our country, OK, and that we did our job. And we are proud of what we did.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEMMER: Certainly, there are critics of this Patriot missile system. You go back 12 years ago, the first President Bush said, of 42 Scuds launched by the Iraqis, 41 were intercepted by Patriots.
Later, after a congressional study, it concluded that, of the 42, only four had direct contact with a Patriot missile; 12 years later now, the technology has been upgraded. They believe they've had a high percentage rate. You heard the colonel there say it's 100 percent right now. Whether or not that is the case after the war is something, I think, the critics are waiting to stand by and see if that's the case.
There have been mistakes, the British Tornado knocked out of the sky earlier in the week; the Patriot missile radar battled that was trucked into southern Iraq targeted by an F-16, an American fighter jet, no injuries as a result. So, certainly, there have been mistakes thus far.
But the colonel will tell you, the price is worth it, $3 million per missile, Paula. But, right now, he says, with the ability to defend his country and his people and the confidence he has right now in this Patriot missile system, he said it is worth every penny.
ZAHN: Bill, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
in Patriot Missile>
