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CNN Live At Daybreak
In Iraq, Search For Illegal Weapons
Aired June 16, 2003 - 05:35 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: In Iraq this morning, a search for illegal weapons and the people who use them against U.S. troops. It is going on west of Baghdad.
CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us live by phone from Falluja -- what's going on there, Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Paula, we're into day two of what's being called Operation Desert Scorpion, where U.S. troops are going in during the night into various communities, arresting people they believe have been involved in a spate of attacks on U.S. troops, looking for illegal weapons, as well. Now, the Operation Desert Scorpion kicked off here in Falluja last night, night before last.
Now, last night the focus of the U.S. operations in this area were on the village of Haldea (ph), which is right outside Falluja, where helicopters and infantrymen who arrived in Humvees and other armored vehicles rounded up, we are told, nine men suspected of involvement in those attacks on U.S. troops.
Just up the road about 60 kilometers from here in Ramadi, another town which has been the site of frequent clashes between U.S. forces and their local opponents, several other men were also arrested for involvement, or for suspicion of involvement in those attacks.
Now, here in Falluja today, we were watching as a large contingent of U.S. troops, including U.S. Army engineers, were involved in clearing up empty lots, clearing away garbage, making, clearing away things so that they could make a soccer field for local children. The people here have mixed emotions, really. Some of them are pleased to see what the Americans are doing, others not so happy. They would like to see the U.S. putting more effort into restoring law and order, into restoring normal electricity and water services and not in municipal beautification -- Paula.
COSTELLO: Oh, it's Carol Costello you're talking to. I know it's confusing sometimes because you can't see who you're talking to from Falluja.
But thanks for your report and for bringing us up to date.
Ben Wedeman live on the line from Falluja.
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 June 16, 2003 - 05:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Iraq this morning, a search for illegal weapons and the people who use them against U.S. troops. It is going on west of Baghdad.
CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us live by phone from Falluja -- what's going on there, Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Paula, we're into day two of what's being called Operation Desert Scorpion, where U.S. troops are going in during the night into various communities, arresting people they believe have been involved in a spate of attacks on U.S. troops, looking for illegal weapons, as well. Now, the Operation Desert Scorpion kicked off here in Falluja last night, night before last.
Now, last night the focus of the U.S. operations in this area were on the village of Haldea (ph), which is right outside Falluja, where helicopters and infantrymen who arrived in Humvees and other armored vehicles rounded up, we are told, nine men suspected of involvement in those attacks on U.S. troops.
Just up the road about 60 kilometers from here in Ramadi, another town which has been the site of frequent clashes between U.S. forces and their local opponents, several other men were also arrested for involvement, or for suspicion of involvement in those attacks.
Now, here in Falluja today, we were watching as a large contingent of U.S. troops, including U.S. Army engineers, were involved in clearing up empty lots, clearing away garbage, making, clearing away things so that they could make a soccer field for local children. The people here have mixed emotions, really. Some of them are pleased to see what the Americans are doing, others not so happy. They would like to see the U.S. putting more effort into restoring law and order, into restoring normal electricity and water services and not in municipal beautification -- Paula.
COSTELLO: Oh, it's Carol Costello you're talking to. I know it's confusing sometimes because you can't see who you're talking to from Falluja.
But thanks for your report and for bringing us up to date.
Ben Wedeman live on the line from Falluja.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
