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CNN Live Today
2 U.S. Soldiers Wounded in Fallujah
Aired June 20, 2003 - 10:11 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Speculation about Saddam Hussein's fate has been rampant ever since he dropped from sight at the outset of the U.S.-led war to depose him. Now, U.S. intelligence agencies are leaning toward the view that he's alive somewhere in Iraq.
CNN's Ben Wedeman is following the development for us.
Hello to you, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reporter: well, it's fairly amusing, in fact to hear that U.S. intelligence agencies are leaning in the direction of the idea that Saddam Hussein is alive, when almost everybody you speak to here in Iraq would have told you that a very long time ago.
Most people have long ago come to the conclusion that the Americans never were able to locate the now-deposed Iraqi president, that he's been out there operating and moving, really, from safehouse to safehouse among the areas that are still loyal to him.
Now, I spent about three weeks in and around -- basically, in western Iraq, an area fiercely loyal still to the Iraqi president. And it was a given, with everyone I spoke to, that Saddam Hussein is alive, there are some who claim they saw him. Others said that they saw top members of the Baath Party leadership. So really, here, this "New York Times" article, these are reports or claims by U.S. intelligence officials that they've somehow come to the conclusion that Saddam Hussein is alive is cause for amusement here in Baghdad -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Certainly, no amusement on the next question I have for you, Ben, about the latest round of attacks in Fallujah. More American soldiers here, right?
WEDEMAN: That is correct. It was a very noisy night in Fallujah, which is predominantly an Arab/Sunni city, about 35 miles to the west of Baghdad. There, an American patrol apparently came under fire from unknown assailants using rocket propelled grenades.
According to one eyewitness a Humvee was hit and several U.S. soldiers were injured. Now an American military spokesman has said that two soldiers were, in fact, hurt in that incident. One slightly wounded and one apparently just took a few bruises.
Now, the attack took place in the general area of one of Fallujah's main power plants. Apparently, a rocket-propelled grenade also hit that power plant, causing a huge fire there and causing electricity to be cut to a major part of that city of about 75, 000.
Now, this operation or, rather, this event or incident, points to the direction that there is a good possibility that in addition to targeting U.S. soldiers, that these opponents to the American presence here are also targeting the infrastructure, and that sort of tactic is obviously going to cause even more problems for a coalition authority that already seems overwhelmed with an excess of many other problems -- Heidi.
COLLINS: It is such a complicated situation, even at this point. Ben Wedeman, thanks so much, live in Baghdad this morning.
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 20, 2003 - 10:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Speculation about Saddam Hussein's fate has been rampant ever since he dropped from sight at the outset of the U.S.-led war to depose him. Now, U.S. intelligence agencies are leaning toward the view that he's alive somewhere in Iraq.
CNN's Ben Wedeman is following the development for us.
Hello to you, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reporter: well, it's fairly amusing, in fact to hear that U.S. intelligence agencies are leaning in the direction of the idea that Saddam Hussein is alive, when almost everybody you speak to here in Iraq would have told you that a very long time ago.
Most people have long ago come to the conclusion that the Americans never were able to locate the now-deposed Iraqi president, that he's been out there operating and moving, really, from safehouse to safehouse among the areas that are still loyal to him.
Now, I spent about three weeks in and around -- basically, in western Iraq, an area fiercely loyal still to the Iraqi president. And it was a given, with everyone I spoke to, that Saddam Hussein is alive, there are some who claim they saw him. Others said that they saw top members of the Baath Party leadership. So really, here, this "New York Times" article, these are reports or claims by U.S. intelligence officials that they've somehow come to the conclusion that Saddam Hussein is alive is cause for amusement here in Baghdad -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Certainly, no amusement on the next question I have for you, Ben, about the latest round of attacks in Fallujah. More American soldiers here, right?
WEDEMAN: That is correct. It was a very noisy night in Fallujah, which is predominantly an Arab/Sunni city, about 35 miles to the west of Baghdad. There, an American patrol apparently came under fire from unknown assailants using rocket propelled grenades.
According to one eyewitness a Humvee was hit and several U.S. soldiers were injured. Now an American military spokesman has said that two soldiers were, in fact, hurt in that incident. One slightly wounded and one apparently just took a few bruises.
Now, the attack took place in the general area of one of Fallujah's main power plants. Apparently, a rocket-propelled grenade also hit that power plant, causing a huge fire there and causing electricity to be cut to a major part of that city of about 75, 000.
Now, this operation or, rather, this event or incident, points to the direction that there is a good possibility that in addition to targeting U.S. soldiers, that these opponents to the American presence here are also targeting the infrastructure, and that sort of tactic is obviously going to cause even more problems for a coalition authority that already seems overwhelmed with an excess of many other problems -- Heidi.
COLLINS: It is such a complicated situation, even at this point. Ben Wedeman, thanks so much, live in Baghdad this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
