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CNN Live Today

Bombs Continue to Fall in Baghdad

Aired April 08, 2003 - 11:03   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: Walt Rodgers is southwestern part of Baghdad, I do believe, within the city limits or right there. Walt, what's happening this evening? Good evening.
WALT RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Bill, we're with the cavalry and the cavalry is fast a foot. We're still with the 7th Cavalry. Bombs over Baghdad continues to be the story of the day. We say that because in addition to the attempt to drop that blockbuster bomb on possibly Saddam Hussein and his sons, we've heard late in the afternoon more bombs falling, jets dropping bombs. We understand the targets to be an Iraqi information ministry and also the Baath party headquarters.

Additionally, earlier in the day, we understand the bombs' targets were the Republican Guard headquarters and Special Republican Guard headquarters in Baghdad. One senior army officer told CNN that in fact any organized military resistance is over in terms of force on force engagement. He said the sporadic fighting, the fighting with the Iraqi irregulars, the Republican Guard and Fedayeen is a long way from over and that seems to coincide with everything we've seen and observed today. Iraqi citizens are reaching out less timidly, more courageously. Trying to come into contact with U.S. Army soldiers. What they're doing is coming forward and pressing the soldiers to try to solve some of the problems that the war has created for them.

Many citizens who mobbed the 7th Cavalry earlier in the day merely wanted to find a way to get across military lines to retrieve an automobile which they had been -- which they had lost prior to fighting. Others were trying to retrieve dead bodies. One Iraqi citizen said he wanted to show the Americans a grave of an American soldier where he claimed the Fedayeen had executed a captured American prisoner of war. It was dismissed as an ambush attempt to lure 7th Cavalry into it. It didn't work -- Bill.

HEMMER: Walt, I know you're just outside the city center there, but do you have an idea or maybe a better read as to how much armor is staying in the central part of Baghdad, going back overnight last night and possibly tonight?

RODGERS: Yes, Bill. The U.S. 2nd Brigade 3rd Infantry Division has three battalions in there. I can't tell you the exact number. Three battalions is not an insubstantial number. You marry that to the Marines whichever push in from the northeast and eastern parts of the city and there's a very substantial American military presence in down town Baghdad. Again, that does not mean it is a cake walk, indeed, one Army soldier told me earlier in the day today that it seems that every Iraqi citizen's calling card is a rocket propelled grenade which they're shooting in every direction from the -- at the U.S. forces. Having said that, again, this is coming from Fedayeen hard line die hard Saddam supporters and a few Republican Guards. This is not the Iraqi population.

HEMMER: Got it. Thanks. Walt Rodgers is in, I'll say, the western part of Baghdad. Marty Savidge is in the eastern part of Baghdad. Popping up on the phone is CNN's Art Harris, also bedded with the U.S. Marines, further south from the capital. Art, what's happening there?

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, I was on the Tigris River today with the 2nd Marines light armor reconnaissance. They were looking for trouble, and they found a warmest welcome they have received yet. Mostly Shiite population, cheering waving, chanting Bush, Bush, Bush. One man came up to me and ripped up a bill with Saddam Hussein's face on it, saying how much they hated him and how much they love the Marines. The Marines were overwhelmed. They had to push the crowds back off the bridge and people there told them that the military left about a week ago. Told them where they could find missile sites, abandon tanks. They found ten tanks that were left over by the 10th Armored Division of Iraq. And did not find any of their drivers, bill. They did find, however, some people with that division who surrendered. They said they surrendered because their general had been injured, was in the hospital and quote, it was time to stop fighting. Bill?

HEMMER: Art Harris embedded with the U.S. Marines south of Baghdad. Again what art's reporting is coupling with what we're hearing about a number of regular Iraqis coming forward to help the U.S. military, help the British locate a number of things. Whether it's Baath party headquarters, Baath party officials or the items in that part of Iraq. Back to Baghdad. Marty Savidge embedded with the U.S. Marines back with us again. Good evening. How's it going there?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Bill. Well, the approach of the U.S. Marines in the eastern side of Baghdad may not be as high profile as the U.S. Army's move into Baghdad but that's not to say their achievements have been no less significant.

It was another achievement that was made today, the taking of an air field, the Rasheed Air Base. It's been grabbed by the U.S. Marines. It is under their control and under the control of coalition forces. Which means you've got one air force base on the east side of town and the international airport on the west side of town. Part of the squeezing effect that is going on between these military forces as they move in. As for the 1st Battalion 7th Marines they crossed officially into Baghdad today before the sun came up. They did run into opposition fire. They found a lot of Iraqi artillery it was hidden away on a grove of palm trees, and immediately the infantry units went to work putting it to no further use for the Iraqis. It was done by hand grenades and with thermal grenades.

They wanted to make sure that Iraqi artillery could never be used again. It was quick work that they did. Tossing the hand grenade and then moving very fast out of any sort of range and watching as it detonated. As the artillery went up, so did all the ammunition. It was quite a spectacular show of explosions going off for the Marines. They then pushed on into an industrial complex, what you would call an industrial park. Very large complex, warehouses with industrial sites, they literally had to go warehouse to warehouse, building to building, searching. At the same time, taking fire from what appears to be Iraqi irregulars.

Marines were using tanks and armored personnel carriers supported by the air and mortar and artillery fire. The fighting was moderate at times. There were no casualties sustained by the Marines, the same cannot be said by Iraqi forces. They also continued to search out what were described as sensitive sites, warehouses that may have a role in Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, war in the military use overall. That remains to be seen.

Also today they made a discovery of a large stash of chemical warfare suits. These were belonging to the Republican Guard that has fled the area. These were the full suit, gloves canisters and atropine pens, the medication you would apply if you were attacked by a nerve agent. It was clear the troops were ready for the use of chemical weapons. They never got the chance. They were driven away. Bill?

HEMMER: Marty, quickly. I know you were in somewhat of a fire fight from several hundred yards earlier today at day break. Are you able to quantify for us going back over 24 hours yesterday, 24 hours today, how much the Marines still think these fire fights, these snipers these Fedayeen militia are still hiding out in Baghdad, maybe the eastern side, how much they've been diminished and how much going forward in the week will they have to contend with them? Are you able to answer that?

SAVIDGE: Well, it is difficult to try to analyze how many people they may have reduced the fighting force by. Quite frankly, what happens is lot of times during these engagements, whoever is opposing the Marines tends to either be taken out or melt away and try to fight another day. One thing that is certain though there is a lot of ammunition, lot of hardware, and weaponry that gets destroyed on a regular basis. So they may still have the people to fight but it seems the will is dissolving away and certainly the weapons with which to conduct the fight are also being destroyed at the same time -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thanks, Marty, have a good and safe evening there. Marty pointing out yet again that Rasheed Military Air Base on the eastern side of Baghdad has been seized by the Marines. Now they're going to have to clean up everything that could be dangerous for the Marines and others who may find themselves in that air strip very soon. In the meantime down around Nasiriya U.S. special forces continue to operate in that part of the country.

Mike Boettcher embedded by way of video phone tonight. Mike joins us now. Not sure what the special ops have to do in that area Mike, but I'm certain you can tell us. Good evening.

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The special forces near Nasiriya are with the three Iraqi forces. Those are the forces that have been in the north of Iraq. These are Iraqi exiles, former members of the Iraqi Army who have come to the other side. There are also people who were fighters in the south with Shia resistance movements there for the last 10 or 12 years. Swarmed into the beginnings of what will be, if the U.S. is successful in Iraq, the new Iraqi Army.

Now, Special Forces are now assessing the abilities of these fighters just about an hour and a half ago. Three trucks came full of rifles machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. Special Forces will give them training and rules of engagement and human rights and then they will escort them to the places in Iraq where they will indeed enter this war. So, this is a very significant second phase in this whole campaign. Having Iraqis themselves involved in this fight in Iraq is happening right now in this area. Bill?

HEMMER: Mike, quickly you touched on it, is this the foundation for the future Iraqi military that you're with right now in Nasiriya?

BOETTCHER: Absolutely, also two of the top leaders of the three Iraqi forces are here. These two people will be in the forefront of any government if it is formed. And these people here who were fighting are the seeds of the new Iraqi Army. That's what they believe. And they say they are frustrated that they have not been in the fight yet. They want to get into it. It looks like very soon they will be getting into the fight in many different sections of this country. Bill.

HEMMER: Mike Boettcher, thanks.

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 April 8, 2003 - 11:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Walt Rodgers is southwestern part of Baghdad, I do believe, within the city limits or right there. Walt, what's happening this evening? Good evening.
WALT RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Bill, we're with the cavalry and the cavalry is fast a foot. We're still with the 7th Cavalry. Bombs over Baghdad continues to be the story of the day. We say that because in addition to the attempt to drop that blockbuster bomb on possibly Saddam Hussein and his sons, we've heard late in the afternoon more bombs falling, jets dropping bombs. We understand the targets to be an Iraqi information ministry and also the Baath party headquarters.

Additionally, earlier in the day, we understand the bombs' targets were the Republican Guard headquarters and Special Republican Guard headquarters in Baghdad. One senior army officer told CNN that in fact any organized military resistance is over in terms of force on force engagement. He said the sporadic fighting, the fighting with the Iraqi irregulars, the Republican Guard and Fedayeen is a long way from over and that seems to coincide with everything we've seen and observed today. Iraqi citizens are reaching out less timidly, more courageously. Trying to come into contact with U.S. Army soldiers. What they're doing is coming forward and pressing the soldiers to try to solve some of the problems that the war has created for them.

Many citizens who mobbed the 7th Cavalry earlier in the day merely wanted to find a way to get across military lines to retrieve an automobile which they had been -- which they had lost prior to fighting. Others were trying to retrieve dead bodies. One Iraqi citizen said he wanted to show the Americans a grave of an American soldier where he claimed the Fedayeen had executed a captured American prisoner of war. It was dismissed as an ambush attempt to lure 7th Cavalry into it. It didn't work -- Bill.

HEMMER: Walt, I know you're just outside the city center there, but do you have an idea or maybe a better read as to how much armor is staying in the central part of Baghdad, going back overnight last night and possibly tonight?

RODGERS: Yes, Bill. The U.S. 2nd Brigade 3rd Infantry Division has three battalions in there. I can't tell you the exact number. Three battalions is not an insubstantial number. You marry that to the Marines whichever push in from the northeast and eastern parts of the city and there's a very substantial American military presence in down town Baghdad. Again, that does not mean it is a cake walk, indeed, one Army soldier told me earlier in the day today that it seems that every Iraqi citizen's calling card is a rocket propelled grenade which they're shooting in every direction from the -- at the U.S. forces. Having said that, again, this is coming from Fedayeen hard line die hard Saddam supporters and a few Republican Guards. This is not the Iraqi population.

HEMMER: Got it. Thanks. Walt Rodgers is in, I'll say, the western part of Baghdad. Marty Savidge is in the eastern part of Baghdad. Popping up on the phone is CNN's Art Harris, also bedded with the U.S. Marines, further south from the capital. Art, what's happening there?

ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, I was on the Tigris River today with the 2nd Marines light armor reconnaissance. They were looking for trouble, and they found a warmest welcome they have received yet. Mostly Shiite population, cheering waving, chanting Bush, Bush, Bush. One man came up to me and ripped up a bill with Saddam Hussein's face on it, saying how much they hated him and how much they love the Marines. The Marines were overwhelmed. They had to push the crowds back off the bridge and people there told them that the military left about a week ago. Told them where they could find missile sites, abandon tanks. They found ten tanks that were left over by the 10th Armored Division of Iraq. And did not find any of their drivers, bill. They did find, however, some people with that division who surrendered. They said they surrendered because their general had been injured, was in the hospital and quote, it was time to stop fighting. Bill?

HEMMER: Art Harris embedded with the U.S. Marines south of Baghdad. Again what art's reporting is coupling with what we're hearing about a number of regular Iraqis coming forward to help the U.S. military, help the British locate a number of things. Whether it's Baath party headquarters, Baath party officials or the items in that part of Iraq. Back to Baghdad. Marty Savidge embedded with the U.S. Marines back with us again. Good evening. How's it going there?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Bill. Well, the approach of the U.S. Marines in the eastern side of Baghdad may not be as high profile as the U.S. Army's move into Baghdad but that's not to say their achievements have been no less significant.

It was another achievement that was made today, the taking of an air field, the Rasheed Air Base. It's been grabbed by the U.S. Marines. It is under their control and under the control of coalition forces. Which means you've got one air force base on the east side of town and the international airport on the west side of town. Part of the squeezing effect that is going on between these military forces as they move in. As for the 1st Battalion 7th Marines they crossed officially into Baghdad today before the sun came up. They did run into opposition fire. They found a lot of Iraqi artillery it was hidden away on a grove of palm trees, and immediately the infantry units went to work putting it to no further use for the Iraqis. It was done by hand grenades and with thermal grenades.

They wanted to make sure that Iraqi artillery could never be used again. It was quick work that they did. Tossing the hand grenade and then moving very fast out of any sort of range and watching as it detonated. As the artillery went up, so did all the ammunition. It was quite a spectacular show of explosions going off for the Marines. They then pushed on into an industrial complex, what you would call an industrial park. Very large complex, warehouses with industrial sites, they literally had to go warehouse to warehouse, building to building, searching. At the same time, taking fire from what appears to be Iraqi irregulars.

Marines were using tanks and armored personnel carriers supported by the air and mortar and artillery fire. The fighting was moderate at times. There were no casualties sustained by the Marines, the same cannot be said by Iraqi forces. They also continued to search out what were described as sensitive sites, warehouses that may have a role in Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, war in the military use overall. That remains to be seen.

Also today they made a discovery of a large stash of chemical warfare suits. These were belonging to the Republican Guard that has fled the area. These were the full suit, gloves canisters and atropine pens, the medication you would apply if you were attacked by a nerve agent. It was clear the troops were ready for the use of chemical weapons. They never got the chance. They were driven away. Bill?

HEMMER: Marty, quickly. I know you were in somewhat of a fire fight from several hundred yards earlier today at day break. Are you able to quantify for us going back over 24 hours yesterday, 24 hours today, how much the Marines still think these fire fights, these snipers these Fedayeen militia are still hiding out in Baghdad, maybe the eastern side, how much they've been diminished and how much going forward in the week will they have to contend with them? Are you able to answer that?

SAVIDGE: Well, it is difficult to try to analyze how many people they may have reduced the fighting force by. Quite frankly, what happens is lot of times during these engagements, whoever is opposing the Marines tends to either be taken out or melt away and try to fight another day. One thing that is certain though there is a lot of ammunition, lot of hardware, and weaponry that gets destroyed on a regular basis. So they may still have the people to fight but it seems the will is dissolving away and certainly the weapons with which to conduct the fight are also being destroyed at the same time -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thanks, Marty, have a good and safe evening there. Marty pointing out yet again that Rasheed Military Air Base on the eastern side of Baghdad has been seized by the Marines. Now they're going to have to clean up everything that could be dangerous for the Marines and others who may find themselves in that air strip very soon. In the meantime down around Nasiriya U.S. special forces continue to operate in that part of the country.

Mike Boettcher embedded by way of video phone tonight. Mike joins us now. Not sure what the special ops have to do in that area Mike, but I'm certain you can tell us. Good evening.

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The special forces near Nasiriya are with the three Iraqi forces. Those are the forces that have been in the north of Iraq. These are Iraqi exiles, former members of the Iraqi Army who have come to the other side. There are also people who were fighters in the south with Shia resistance movements there for the last 10 or 12 years. Swarmed into the beginnings of what will be, if the U.S. is successful in Iraq, the new Iraqi Army.

Now, Special Forces are now assessing the abilities of these fighters just about an hour and a half ago. Three trucks came full of rifles machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. Special Forces will give them training and rules of engagement and human rights and then they will escort them to the places in Iraq where they will indeed enter this war. So, this is a very significant second phase in this whole campaign. Having Iraqis themselves involved in this fight in Iraq is happening right now in this area. Bill?

HEMMER: Mike, quickly you touched on it, is this the foundation for the future Iraqi military that you're with right now in Nasiriya?

BOETTCHER: Absolutely, also two of the top leaders of the three Iraqi forces are here. These two people will be in the forefront of any government if it is formed. And these people here who were fighting are the seeds of the new Iraqi Army. That's what they believe. And they say they are frustrated that they have not been in the fight yet. They want to get into it. It looks like very soon they will be getting into the fight in many different sections of this country. Bill.

HEMMER: Mike Boettcher, thanks.

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