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CNN Live At Daybreak
Army Unit Ambushed: What Went Wrong?
Aired July 10, 2003 - 06:10 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: Rumsfeld's people at the Pentagon have been tracking the chaotic events of March 23, the day 11 soldiers were ambushed and killed in Iraq and 7 others were taken prisoner, among them, Jessica Lynch. According to a draft report, a navigational error put the soldiers in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Bianca Valenzuela from our San Antonio, Texas affiliate KSAT sat down and talked with a father who lost his son that day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDY KIEHL, FATHER: After both vehicles maneuvered several miles under fire, nearly out of the city, both were destroyed. So they had a running gun battle for a great distance.
BIANCA VALENZUELA, KSAT-TV REPORTER (voice-over): Randy Kiehl clutches the report that details the attack against the 507th Maintenance Company last March in Nasiriya. His son, Specialist James Kiehl, among the 11 killed by Iraqi forces during the ambush.
KIEHL: It says it all right here, they did not have enough to defend themselves.
VALENZUELA: In the 15-page military document, the men and women of the 507 are said to have had limited equipment and communication.
KIEHL: After a short amount of time, the batteries went dead. How do they communicate between vehicles with dead batteries, dead radios.
VALENZUELA: The report also detailing how one soldier made a navigational error, but it wasn't a wrong turn as first believed. It reads that military personnel confirmed to continue north towards Nasiriya, which led them straight into heavy enemy fire.
KIEHL: They were given the wrong information.
VALENZUELA: But the attack report makes no mention of disciplinary action. All Randy Kiehl is asking for is accountability.
KIEHL: This report, if it's used constructively, will educate those that made those mistakes so they don't happen again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Bianca Valenzuela from our San Antonio, Texas affiliate KSAT brought us that report.
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 10, 2003 - 06:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Rumsfeld's people at the Pentagon have been tracking the chaotic events of March 23, the day 11 soldiers were ambushed and killed in Iraq and 7 others were taken prisoner, among them, Jessica Lynch. According to a draft report, a navigational error put the soldiers in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Bianca Valenzuela from our San Antonio, Texas affiliate KSAT sat down and talked with a father who lost his son that day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDY KIEHL, FATHER: After both vehicles maneuvered several miles under fire, nearly out of the city, both were destroyed. So they had a running gun battle for a great distance.
BIANCA VALENZUELA, KSAT-TV REPORTER (voice-over): Randy Kiehl clutches the report that details the attack against the 507th Maintenance Company last March in Nasiriya. His son, Specialist James Kiehl, among the 11 killed by Iraqi forces during the ambush.
KIEHL: It says it all right here, they did not have enough to defend themselves.
VALENZUELA: In the 15-page military document, the men and women of the 507 are said to have had limited equipment and communication.
KIEHL: After a short amount of time, the batteries went dead. How do they communicate between vehicles with dead batteries, dead radios.
VALENZUELA: The report also detailing how one soldier made a navigational error, but it wasn't a wrong turn as first believed. It reads that military personnel confirmed to continue north towards Nasiriya, which led them straight into heavy enemy fire.
KIEHL: They were given the wrong information.
VALENZUELA: But the attack report makes no mention of disciplinary action. All Randy Kiehl is asking for is accountability.
KIEHL: This report, if it's used constructively, will educate those that made those mistakes so they don't happen again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Bianca Valenzuela from our San Antonio, Texas affiliate KSAT brought us that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
