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CNN Live At Daybreak

War in Iraq: No Win Situation

Aired April 14, 2003 - 06:19   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Coalition forces are setting up checkpoints in Iraq to look for Saddam Hussein and his henchmen. The checkpoints may be boosting security, but they are not making many friends.
CNN's Bob Franken live on the phone with more from central Iraq.

Good morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

We are actually in Al Kut right now, which is one of the last towns that the U.S. forces have come in and in effect taken over. It was considered the possible -- potential hotspot because there were many intelligence reports that paramilitary forces were going to make a stand here and that some of the foreign fighters from places like Chechnya were going to be here. But instead what they found is a city that is completely devoid of any opposition.

We just stopped at a Fedayeen headquarters, those, of course, the paramilitary (UNINTELLIGIBLE) forces who are supporters of Saddam Hussein. The place was empty. It was smoldering because some of the local townspeople set it afire.

So what we're beginning to enter it seems here is a post-war period and the complexities of administering a post war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Most of these are the innocent Iraqis trying to flee the danger in Baghdad and points north. But U.S. forces have little doubt that Saddam Hussein's fighters and supporters have melted into these crowds. So here, about five miles south of Al Kut, everybody has to stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hands up.

FRANKEN: Until they know better, the U.S. forces treat each car as an enemy car, each one is searched, most inside are interrogated by Arabic speaking Marines. In this case, the search turned up four AK- 47s in a car that was identified as a Baath Party vehicle. But the debriefers decided it wasn't what it seemed. The car, they said, did belong to a Baath Party official, but the occupants had stolen it and had no idea there were weapons inside. They actually were able to prove their story and off they went. But the delay is interminable, and for some there are priorities that cannot be delayed. (on camera): The U.S. forces are sure not winning any friends here. Because security needs or not, the fact of the matter is that in Iraq, or the United States for that matter, no one likes to sit in traffic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is freedom. We have two hours here for what? Our family is in Basra. When to -- when to arrive it (ph)?

FRANKEN (voice-over): Of course some got through more easily than others. But for the time being at least, one of the first goals will be for the Iraqis and the coalition forces to get used to each other, to get comfortable with each other.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

And now the Marines are in towns like Al Kut and of course other cities through us (ph), Baghdad. They are coming in to look and see exactly what help is needed. The townspeople are looking at them to see whether they're going to be able to have a relationship. Carol, it's going to be sort of something where it is going to take a period of adjustment before they can begin their smooth or try to smooth out their post-war operations -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Sounds like a tough job. Bob Franken, reporting live for us, thanks very 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






Aired April 14, 2003 - 06:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Coalition forces are setting up checkpoints in Iraq to look for Saddam Hussein and his henchmen. The checkpoints may be boosting security, but they are not making many friends.
CNN's Bob Franken live on the phone with more from central Iraq.

Good morning -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

We are actually in Al Kut right now, which is one of the last towns that the U.S. forces have come in and in effect taken over. It was considered the possible -- potential hotspot because there were many intelligence reports that paramilitary forces were going to make a stand here and that some of the foreign fighters from places like Chechnya were going to be here. But instead what they found is a city that is completely devoid of any opposition.

We just stopped at a Fedayeen headquarters, those, of course, the paramilitary (UNINTELLIGIBLE) forces who are supporters of Saddam Hussein. The place was empty. It was smoldering because some of the local townspeople set it afire.

So what we're beginning to enter it seems here is a post-war period and the complexities of administering a post war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Most of these are the innocent Iraqis trying to flee the danger in Baghdad and points north. But U.S. forces have little doubt that Saddam Hussein's fighters and supporters have melted into these crowds. So here, about five miles south of Al Kut, everybody has to stop.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hands up.

FRANKEN: Until they know better, the U.S. forces treat each car as an enemy car, each one is searched, most inside are interrogated by Arabic speaking Marines. In this case, the search turned up four AK- 47s in a car that was identified as a Baath Party vehicle. But the debriefers decided it wasn't what it seemed. The car, they said, did belong to a Baath Party official, but the occupants had stolen it and had no idea there were weapons inside. They actually were able to prove their story and off they went. But the delay is interminable, and for some there are priorities that cannot be delayed. (on camera): The U.S. forces are sure not winning any friends here. Because security needs or not, the fact of the matter is that in Iraq, or the United States for that matter, no one likes to sit in traffic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is freedom. We have two hours here for what? Our family is in Basra. When to -- when to arrive it (ph)?

FRANKEN (voice-over): Of course some got through more easily than others. But for the time being at least, one of the first goals will be for the Iraqis and the coalition forces to get used to each other, to get comfortable with each other.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

And now the Marines are in towns like Al Kut and of course other cities through us (ph), Baghdad. They are coming in to look and see exactly what help is needed. The townspeople are looking at them to see whether they're going to be able to have a relationship. Carol, it's going to be sort of something where it is going to take a period of adjustment before they can begin their smooth or try to smooth out their post-war operations -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Sounds like a tough job. Bob Franken, reporting live for us, thanks very 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