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CNN Live Today
Tensions in Iraq
Aired July 03, 2003 - 11:08 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops took 10 casualties in Iraq today.
Let's bring in our Baghdad bureau Jane Arraf on the developments there -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, U.S. officials keep saying, of course, that the fact that they don't have Saddam encourages people, at least in the climate of these continued attacks.
But the top military official here, General Ricardo Sanchez, has just said to reporters that he doesn't see the need for more troops, despite the attacks, that the troops here, about 150,000 of them, can handle it themselves.
There were 10 U.S. soldiers wounded today. Three of them wounded on a main Baghdad Street in what has been become increasingly common. A rocket-propelled grenade fired from a passing vehicle. Three American soldiers were wounded in that one. And when they returned fire, an Iraqi was killed.
Now, the aftermath was almost as startling as the attack itself. After their vehicle caught fire, people appeared to be celebrating the attack on it, jumping up and down and, obviously, being quite happy, that there had been this kind of attack.
Further west in the troubled town of Ramadi (ph), six soldiers were wounded when there was another attack by someone on motorcycles. As these continue, General Sanchez says that they will not weaken the military's resolve here.
LT. GEN. RICHARD SANCHEZ, COMMANDER, COALITION JOINT TASK FORCE: The bottom line, there is still a war going on in this country, but there is no crisis. There is no wavering of our commitment, and most importantly, there is no turning back.
ARRAF: Despite that, it is obviously taking a toll on the soldiers here, these almost daily attacks coming at them from almost anywhere. And when you talk to them, they really are concerned about what is happening here -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Jane Arraf in Baghdad, thank you.
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 July 3, 2003 - 11:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops took 10 casualties in Iraq today.
Let's bring in our Baghdad bureau Jane Arraf on the developments there -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, U.S. officials keep saying, of course, that the fact that they don't have Saddam encourages people, at least in the climate of these continued attacks.
But the top military official here, General Ricardo Sanchez, has just said to reporters that he doesn't see the need for more troops, despite the attacks, that the troops here, about 150,000 of them, can handle it themselves.
There were 10 U.S. soldiers wounded today. Three of them wounded on a main Baghdad Street in what has been become increasingly common. A rocket-propelled grenade fired from a passing vehicle. Three American soldiers were wounded in that one. And when they returned fire, an Iraqi was killed.
Now, the aftermath was almost as startling as the attack itself. After their vehicle caught fire, people appeared to be celebrating the attack on it, jumping up and down and, obviously, being quite happy, that there had been this kind of attack.
Further west in the troubled town of Ramadi (ph), six soldiers were wounded when there was another attack by someone on motorcycles. As these continue, General Sanchez says that they will not weaken the military's resolve here.
LT. GEN. RICHARD SANCHEZ, COMMANDER, COALITION JOINT TASK FORCE: The bottom line, there is still a war going on in this country, but there is no crisis. There is no wavering of our commitment, and most importantly, there is no turning back.
ARRAF: Despite that, it is obviously taking a toll on the soldiers here, these almost daily attacks coming at them from almost anywhere. And when you talk to them, they really are concerned about what is happening here -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Jane Arraf in Baghdad, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
