Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Anti-U.S. Protesters Rally After Friday Prayers
Aired April 18, 2003 - 12:01 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Saddam Hussein's fate and whereabouts today still a mystery, but it now appears at the very least possible the Iraqi dictator was alive and well and just blocks away from where protesters were pulling down his likeness in a Baghdad Square.
Our man in Baghdad is Jim Clancy.
Jim, how does it look from there?
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, there's conflicting reports about that videotape. But one thing seems clear, it was released to show the Iraqi leader on the streets of Baghdad, not only with his armed supporters, but also with his son Qusay, who had been ordered to help defend the city of Baghdad itself. He purports to be President Saddam Hussein on the 9th of April there, the same time that just miles away his statue was coming down in a square. This would seem to rally the hopes of those who supported the president. At the same time, strike fear perhaps in the hearts of those that thought he was already dead, already gone. It is very difficult to tell from what you see on this video, what the time, what the date was when it was taken. We have talked with some of the residents of the Azamia (ph) neighborhood, and they have told us conflicting stories. Some say yes, it was about that time. Others say no, it was a couple of days after the war started.
One man suggested he was here, but it wasn't Saddam Hussein at all. It was one of his doubles. So you can take your pick from people's views of all of this. I think that what it says more than anything is that someone associated with President Saddam Hussein after he is gone still wants his image out there, still wants to show him defiant, still wants to show him as a potential threat -- Anderson.
COOPER: Jim, it's certainly curious, the release of it, timed as it was. What kind of an impact do you think it's going to have on the streets in Baghdad? A lot of rumors swirling around that city, around Iraq, and I know most people can't see this on TV, because the electricity is out. But they are going to hear about it. What are they going to think?
CLANCY: They are going to hear about it, and they are going to think that there's still a potential threat that Saddam Hussein might return. It might make them a little more cautious. Remember, they've already been conditioned, Cooper, by decades of oppression, by decades of secret police listening in to every word they say. That's what they believe. They're intimidated to even talk about President Saddam Hussein, even in the past tense. They are a people that have been traumatized, if you will, by the regime, and any appearance like this is going to have an effect, but for most people, their hope, their desire, and I think beneath it all their belief is that he is gone and he is gone for good.
COOPER: Jim, I understand there was some sort of a demonstration on the streets in Baghdad today. What was that about? How big was it?
CLANCY: Well, there has been a group within the city of Baghdad that has long supported an Islamic republic, an Islamic state, if you will.
Now they came out in force after delivering fiery sermons that mixed religion and politics, accusing the United States of invading Iraq, of toppling President Saddam Hussein on behalf of Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. With that mix of politics and religion, they took to the streets coming out of the mosques, and they were calling for the United States to get out of the country, while it appears to be a very large demonstration it might be important to note that it is probably not at all representative of the views of most of the people in Baghdad. Very vocal to be sure, but not a view widely supported -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Jim. Good to keep that in perspective. Jim Clancy in Baghdad, 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 18, 2003 - 12:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Saddam Hussein's fate and whereabouts today still a mystery, but it now appears at the very least possible the Iraqi dictator was alive and well and just blocks away from where protesters were pulling down his likeness in a Baghdad Square.
Our man in Baghdad is Jim Clancy.
Jim, how does it look from there?
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, there's conflicting reports about that videotape. But one thing seems clear, it was released to show the Iraqi leader on the streets of Baghdad, not only with his armed supporters, but also with his son Qusay, who had been ordered to help defend the city of Baghdad itself. He purports to be President Saddam Hussein on the 9th of April there, the same time that just miles away his statue was coming down in a square. This would seem to rally the hopes of those who supported the president. At the same time, strike fear perhaps in the hearts of those that thought he was already dead, already gone. It is very difficult to tell from what you see on this video, what the time, what the date was when it was taken. We have talked with some of the residents of the Azamia (ph) neighborhood, and they have told us conflicting stories. Some say yes, it was about that time. Others say no, it was a couple of days after the war started.
One man suggested he was here, but it wasn't Saddam Hussein at all. It was one of his doubles. So you can take your pick from people's views of all of this. I think that what it says more than anything is that someone associated with President Saddam Hussein after he is gone still wants his image out there, still wants to show him defiant, still wants to show him as a potential threat -- Anderson.
COOPER: Jim, it's certainly curious, the release of it, timed as it was. What kind of an impact do you think it's going to have on the streets in Baghdad? A lot of rumors swirling around that city, around Iraq, and I know most people can't see this on TV, because the electricity is out. But they are going to hear about it. What are they going to think?
CLANCY: They are going to hear about it, and they are going to think that there's still a potential threat that Saddam Hussein might return. It might make them a little more cautious. Remember, they've already been conditioned, Cooper, by decades of oppression, by decades of secret police listening in to every word they say. That's what they believe. They're intimidated to even talk about President Saddam Hussein, even in the past tense. They are a people that have been traumatized, if you will, by the regime, and any appearance like this is going to have an effect, but for most people, their hope, their desire, and I think beneath it all their belief is that he is gone and he is gone for good.
COOPER: Jim, I understand there was some sort of a demonstration on the streets in Baghdad today. What was that about? How big was it?
CLANCY: Well, there has been a group within the city of Baghdad that has long supported an Islamic republic, an Islamic state, if you will.
Now they came out in force after delivering fiery sermons that mixed religion and politics, accusing the United States of invading Iraq, of toppling President Saddam Hussein on behalf of Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. With that mix of politics and religion, they took to the streets coming out of the mosques, and they were calling for the United States to get out of the country, while it appears to be a very large demonstration it might be important to note that it is probably not at all representative of the views of most of the people in Baghdad. Very vocal to be sure, but not a view widely supported -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right, Jim. Good to keep that in perspective. Jim Clancy in Baghdad, 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
