Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview With Statue Climbing Marine

Aired April 10, 2003 - 10:26   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: Yesterday about this time, we were focused on that very important square in central Iraq where the Iraqis were trying to pull down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Marines joined in the effort. And, as you know, at 10:50 Eastern time, that statue finally came down.
Joining us now is Corporal Edward Chin, which should be a familiar sight to all of those who were watching yesterday because he was sort of on the top of that totem pole yesterday, and ultimately helped in bringing down that statue. Corporal, good of you to join us. Can you describe for people who were watching yesterday what it took to pull off what you did yesterday?

CPL. EDWARD CHIN, U.S. MARINES: It took a lot of teamwork. We pretty much saw the Iraqi people trying to pull down the statue, and they couldn't do it with just a piece of rope, so our commanding officer gave us the go-ahead to give them a hand. So we came in and set up our big boom, or ladder, if you like. And I climbed up there, rigged it up, rigged the chain around the statue's neck, and I guess they wanted a flag on his head, the American flag, so somebody brought it up to me, and I just draped over his head for a brief moment, and came right back down, and we tore the statue down to the joy of the Iraqi people, and to many of the Marines here too.

ZAHN: Let's come back to the American flag. A lot of Americans understand why you were quite exuberant as you were involved in this, but apparently at the Pentagon, there were gasps of concern because they were very afraid the local people would think that you all were occupiers and not liberators. Were you told to take it down? Because the American flag was only up there for a brief moment.

CHIN: That was the plan. We -- it was more like a symbol that you know, we were here to free the people, and Iraqi -- the crowd, they were egging us on, they were happy to see what we were doing. And we took it down after a brief moment, and I put their flag up, and to kind of symbolize that we're here, we are going to free this country and give it back to the people.

ZAHN: So you didn't get in any trouble for doing that?

CHIN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) No. Hopefully not.

ZAHN: Yes. I guess, you know, obviously the perception was how that was all going to play in the Arab world.

Tell me a little bit about what these local Iraqis told you after you successfully brought down this statue? How did they treat you? CHIN: They were very happy. They were exuberant, almost like a crowd on Times Square on New Years. Right away, they started jumping on the statue and taking their shoes off and hitting it. Then they finally were successful at ripping its head off, and they dragged it around the streets, as I was told.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chin.

ZAHN: Now, from what I understand...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chin.

ZAHN: ... your mother back home in Brooklyn, New York was watching this on live television.

CHIN: I've got to go.

ZAHN: You do have to go, Corporal?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell them why you got to go.

CHIN: I have to go -- yes, I have to go, OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go.

CHIN: OK.

ZAHN: Corporal Edward Chin. We understand that. Thank you for joining us for that brief moment of time.

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 10, 2003 - 10:26   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Yesterday about this time, we were focused on that very important square in central Iraq where the Iraqis were trying to pull down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Marines joined in the effort. And, as you know, at 10:50 Eastern time, that statue finally came down.
Joining us now is Corporal Edward Chin, which should be a familiar sight to all of those who were watching yesterday because he was sort of on the top of that totem pole yesterday, and ultimately helped in bringing down that statue. Corporal, good of you to join us. Can you describe for people who were watching yesterday what it took to pull off what you did yesterday?

CPL. EDWARD CHIN, U.S. MARINES: It took a lot of teamwork. We pretty much saw the Iraqi people trying to pull down the statue, and they couldn't do it with just a piece of rope, so our commanding officer gave us the go-ahead to give them a hand. So we came in and set up our big boom, or ladder, if you like. And I climbed up there, rigged it up, rigged the chain around the statue's neck, and I guess they wanted a flag on his head, the American flag, so somebody brought it up to me, and I just draped over his head for a brief moment, and came right back down, and we tore the statue down to the joy of the Iraqi people, and to many of the Marines here too.

ZAHN: Let's come back to the American flag. A lot of Americans understand why you were quite exuberant as you were involved in this, but apparently at the Pentagon, there were gasps of concern because they were very afraid the local people would think that you all were occupiers and not liberators. Were you told to take it down? Because the American flag was only up there for a brief moment.

CHIN: That was the plan. We -- it was more like a symbol that you know, we were here to free the people, and Iraqi -- the crowd, they were egging us on, they were happy to see what we were doing. And we took it down after a brief moment, and I put their flag up, and to kind of symbolize that we're here, we are going to free this country and give it back to the people.

ZAHN: So you didn't get in any trouble for doing that?

CHIN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) No. Hopefully not.

ZAHN: Yes. I guess, you know, obviously the perception was how that was all going to play in the Arab world.

Tell me a little bit about what these local Iraqis told you after you successfully brought down this statue? How did they treat you? CHIN: They were very happy. They were exuberant, almost like a crowd on Times Square on New Years. Right away, they started jumping on the statue and taking their shoes off and hitting it. Then they finally were successful at ripping its head off, and they dragged it around the streets, as I was told.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chin.

ZAHN: Now, from what I understand...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chin.

ZAHN: ... your mother back home in Brooklyn, New York was watching this on live television.

CHIN: I've got to go.

ZAHN: You do have to go, Corporal?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell them why you got to go.

CHIN: I have to go -- yes, I have to go, OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go.

CHIN: OK.

ZAHN: Corporal Edward Chin. We understand that. Thank you for joining us for that brief moment of time.

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