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CNN Live At Daybreak
Rumsfeld Visits Troops in Iraq
Aired April 30, 2003 - 06:02 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: A warm reception in Baghdad for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He's meeting and greeting and thanking the troops.
Our Rym Brahimi live in the capital city of Iraq.
Hello -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello again, Carol.
Well, indeed, the U.S. secretary of defense in Baghdad at an interesting time when the Bush administration is seeking to announce a formal or an official end to the war with Iraq.
Now, before arriving in Baghdad, Donald Rumsfeld landed at the airport in Basra, in the southern city of Basra. He was met there by British officers.
Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: When one looks back on this effort, I think, and pray indeed, that what will be significant is that a large number of human beings, intelligent and energetic, have been liberated. And that they are out from under the heel of a truly brutal, vicious regime, and that's a good thing. It's not only a good thing for them, it's a good thing for this region, and it's a good thing for the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: A warm reception indeed by British officers, especially as Rumsfeld praised the cooperation of U.S. and British troops.
That said, on the ground in Baghdad, a mixed reception. When we spoke to people about Rumsfeld's arrival, well, there were mixed reactions. Some people saying they were grateful; others saying there's a lot that the U.S. needs to deliver on, basically water, electricity and security, priorities among most in Iraq.
And one example to highlight that concern is what happened in Fallujah. The western town of Fallujah, located about 45 kilometers west of the Iraqi capital, has again been the scene of heightened tensions. At least one person is reported to have been killed when U.S. troops are said to have opened fire on anti-U.S. demonstrators in that town. Now this comes right after another incident in which 15 Iraqis were killed and 53 injured in a shootout between Iraqis and U.S. troops. That incident on Monday night happened when protestors went to a school, where U.S. troops were based, asked them to leave because they wanted to be able to send their kids back to school. That erupted into a shootout.
Not clear who shot first, but definitely very representative of the level of tension, especially as now it's followed by this new incident that occurred this morning in which, again, one person is reported to have been killed and there were a certain number of casualties -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Any steps to be taken to quell the violence there in Fallujah?
BRAHIMI: Well, as far as Fallujah proper is concerned, we were made to understand that the U.S. troops were going to leave that school. Now, it's not sure where they were going to move to. And we also understand that an investigation is under way to determine exactly who shot who first.
That said, the main steps to be done really, if you listen to what people are saying, is they want basic services. There's a lot of tension, because people feel they're dissatisfied. They've been rid maybe of the regime, but they don't have the better life that they say they were promised.
In Baghdad, we understand that in the next 7 to 10 days the number of troops, which is currently 12,000, is going to be boosted to 17,000 to make sure that there is less looting and more security as well.
Back to you -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Thanks for the update -- Rym Brahimi reporting live from Baghdad.
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 30, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A warm reception in Baghdad for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He's meeting and greeting and thanking the troops.
Our Rym Brahimi live in the capital city of Iraq.
Hello -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello again, Carol.
Well, indeed, the U.S. secretary of defense in Baghdad at an interesting time when the Bush administration is seeking to announce a formal or an official end to the war with Iraq.
Now, before arriving in Baghdad, Donald Rumsfeld landed at the airport in Basra, in the southern city of Basra. He was met there by British officers.
Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: When one looks back on this effort, I think, and pray indeed, that what will be significant is that a large number of human beings, intelligent and energetic, have been liberated. And that they are out from under the heel of a truly brutal, vicious regime, and that's a good thing. It's not only a good thing for them, it's a good thing for this region, and it's a good thing for the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: A warm reception indeed by British officers, especially as Rumsfeld praised the cooperation of U.S. and British troops.
That said, on the ground in Baghdad, a mixed reception. When we spoke to people about Rumsfeld's arrival, well, there were mixed reactions. Some people saying they were grateful; others saying there's a lot that the U.S. needs to deliver on, basically water, electricity and security, priorities among most in Iraq.
And one example to highlight that concern is what happened in Fallujah. The western town of Fallujah, located about 45 kilometers west of the Iraqi capital, has again been the scene of heightened tensions. At least one person is reported to have been killed when U.S. troops are said to have opened fire on anti-U.S. demonstrators in that town. Now this comes right after another incident in which 15 Iraqis were killed and 53 injured in a shootout between Iraqis and U.S. troops. That incident on Monday night happened when protestors went to a school, where U.S. troops were based, asked them to leave because they wanted to be able to send their kids back to school. That erupted into a shootout.
Not clear who shot first, but definitely very representative of the level of tension, especially as now it's followed by this new incident that occurred this morning in which, again, one person is reported to have been killed and there were a certain number of casualties -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Any steps to be taken to quell the violence there in Fallujah?
BRAHIMI: Well, as far as Fallujah proper is concerned, we were made to understand that the U.S. troops were going to leave that school. Now, it's not sure where they were going to move to. And we also understand that an investigation is under way to determine exactly who shot who first.
That said, the main steps to be done really, if you listen to what people are saying, is they want basic services. There's a lot of tension, because people feel they're dissatisfied. They've been rid maybe of the regime, but they don't have the better life that they say they were promised.
In Baghdad, we understand that in the next 7 to 10 days the number of troops, which is currently 12,000, is going to be boosted to 17,000 to make sure that there is less looting and more security as well.
Back to you -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Thanks for the update -- Rym Brahimi reporting live from Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
