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CNN Live Today
Cavalry Takes Comfort in Close Air Support
Aired March 31, 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We have heard a lot from Central Command about the degradation they talk about with the Medina Division, one of the elite Republican Guard units southwest of Baghdad. Their location said to be 50, maybe 60 miles south of the Iraqi capital.
On the other side, just south of that division, is where you find the 7th Cavalry, or about in that area, anyway, based on our understanding. Walter Rodgers is there and a short time ago, Walt filed this report about what he is seeing right now with the 3-7th Cav.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As darkness blankets the Iraqi desert, there is a very comforting sound overhead, certainly comforting to the soldiers and members of the 7th Cavalry down here on the Iraqi desert below. That sound, of course, is F-18 Hornets from Navy carriers, and also U.S. Air Force jets flying their CAS missions -- close air support missions overhead. What those jets are signaling is that as night has fallen here in the desert, there will be guardian angels above the cavalry, and the 3rd Infantry Division should the Iraqis decide to move out of their positions.
Those jets are in a position even under the cover of darkness to come down and strike at Iraqi artillery positions. A number of hours ago, the two F-18 Hornets from an aircraft carrier struck at an Iraqi artillery position, hitting that artillery position, knocking it out of commission. Again, there has been some substantial fighting not far from where we are in the direction of al Hilla (ph) the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division scored a significant success earlier in the day. They charged across that bridge, again under protective artillery barrage, and they have taken a strategic bridge head just north of the Euphrates again, and the 2nd Brigade -- 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division is now in a position to threaten al Hilla (ph) when the orders come forth to make that -- to make the attack.
Walter Rodgers, CNN, with the U.S. 7th Cavalry in the Iraqi desert.
(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 March 31, 2003 - 11:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We have heard a lot from Central Command about the degradation they talk about with the Medina Division, one of the elite Republican Guard units southwest of Baghdad. Their location said to be 50, maybe 60 miles south of the Iraqi capital.
On the other side, just south of that division, is where you find the 7th Cavalry, or about in that area, anyway, based on our understanding. Walter Rodgers is there and a short time ago, Walt filed this report about what he is seeing right now with the 3-7th Cav.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As darkness blankets the Iraqi desert, there is a very comforting sound overhead, certainly comforting to the soldiers and members of the 7th Cavalry down here on the Iraqi desert below. That sound, of course, is F-18 Hornets from Navy carriers, and also U.S. Air Force jets flying their CAS missions -- close air support missions overhead. What those jets are signaling is that as night has fallen here in the desert, there will be guardian angels above the cavalry, and the 3rd Infantry Division should the Iraqis decide to move out of their positions.
Those jets are in a position even under the cover of darkness to come down and strike at Iraqi artillery positions. A number of hours ago, the two F-18 Hornets from an aircraft carrier struck at an Iraqi artillery position, hitting that artillery position, knocking it out of commission. Again, there has been some substantial fighting not far from where we are in the direction of al Hilla (ph) the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division scored a significant success earlier in the day. They charged across that bridge, again under protective artillery barrage, and they have taken a strategic bridge head just north of the Euphrates again, and the 2nd Brigade -- 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division is now in a position to threaten al Hilla (ph) when the orders come forth to make that -- to make the attack.
Walter Rodgers, CNN, with the U.S. 7th Cavalry in the Iraqi desert.
(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
