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CNN Live Saturday
The New Iraq: Shiite Demands
Aired June 21, 2003 - 18:07 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: The old Iraqi regime is gone. But many Iraqis are clearly not satisfied with the status quo. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports on the rising level of discontent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shiite demonstrators in Baghdad demand, demand and immediate American withdrawal. Demand the formation of a government for the Iraqi people, by the Iraqi people. Demand their fair share of power in a country where Shiites have traditionally been at the bottom of the political pile.
Freedom from Saddam's stranglehold has released a flood of demands and aspirations, all directed at the U.S. led provisional authority.
But U.S. forces already have their hands full trying to crackdown on an increasingly lethal insurgency believed to be inspired and funded by loyalists to the old regime.
American forces continue to carry out raids throughout central Iraq as part of Operation Desert Scorpion. According to U.S. officials at least 90 raids have been carried out since the beginning of the week, resulting in the detention of more than 500 people. Plenty of arrests, but others remain free.
Calling themselves the National Iraqi Commandos Front, four men threaten more such attacks.
"If they want the safety of their soldiers," one of the men read from a statement, "they must leave our pure land immediately. If not we will retaliate for every Iraqi they killed or insulted. The Iraqis have become aware of your big lie, the liberation of Iraq."
They insist they have no allegiance or ties with the old regime.
(on camera): The honeymoon between the United States and Iraq, to the extent that it ever really existed, now seems to be well and truly over. After less than three months of American control many Iraqis from across the religious, political and ethnic spectrum are already calling for a divorce.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE) 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 21, 2003 - 18:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: The old Iraqi regime is gone. But many Iraqis are clearly not satisfied with the status quo. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports on the rising level of discontent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shiite demonstrators in Baghdad demand, demand and immediate American withdrawal. Demand the formation of a government for the Iraqi people, by the Iraqi people. Demand their fair share of power in a country where Shiites have traditionally been at the bottom of the political pile.
Freedom from Saddam's stranglehold has released a flood of demands and aspirations, all directed at the U.S. led provisional authority.
But U.S. forces already have their hands full trying to crackdown on an increasingly lethal insurgency believed to be inspired and funded by loyalists to the old regime.
American forces continue to carry out raids throughout central Iraq as part of Operation Desert Scorpion. According to U.S. officials at least 90 raids have been carried out since the beginning of the week, resulting in the detention of more than 500 people. Plenty of arrests, but others remain free.
Calling themselves the National Iraqi Commandos Front, four men threaten more such attacks.
"If they want the safety of their soldiers," one of the men read from a statement, "they must leave our pure land immediately. If not we will retaliate for every Iraqi they killed or insulted. The Iraqis have become aware of your big lie, the liberation of Iraq."
They insist they have no allegiance or ties with the old regime.
(on camera): The honeymoon between the United States and Iraq, to the extent that it ever really existed, now seems to be well and truly over. After less than three months of American control many Iraqis from across the religious, political and ethnic spectrum are already calling for a divorce.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE) TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
