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U.S. Trying to Convince Skeptical Iraqis with Video, Photos

Aired July 25, 2003 - 06:32   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: As we've been telling you all morning long, right now another bold step by coalition officials in Iraq. They have let two pool photographers take videotape of Uday and Qusay Hussein's bodies. When we get that videotape in to CNN, we will let you know about it.
But those very graphic photographs -- and we're going to warn you, you're about to see them right now -- they are disturbing. The reason for the latest move, these photographs did not convince the Arab world that these two pictures were indeed of Uday and Qusay Hussein. So, now, of course, coalition forces are allowing photographers to take that videotape.

We want to see where in that process those photographers are, so let's go live to Baghdad and ask Harris Whitbeck.

Good morning -- Harris.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

We are still waiting on word from the pool photographers, who are at Baghdad International Airport. One crew that has been allowed in to take these pictures is from the Al Jazeera television network. That is a clear sign that the U.S. wants to make sure that the Arab world sees this videotape, and perhaps that will help in convincing many, particularly in Iraq, that Saddam Hussein's two elder sons were, in fact, killed a couple of days ago in Mosul.

A lot of skepticism on the streets and a lot of interest in this story. We heard from the city of Najaf that thousands of people have gathered at a mosque there to hear a Shiite cleric, who has been particularly fiery in his anti-American sentiment, so people there seem to be very interested today to hear what he might say about all of this.

On the streets of Baghdad, we've got a lot of skepticism on one hand. On the other hand, a lot of people who have chosen to believe this say that they are happy that Saddam Hussein's two elder sons have died -- Carol.

COSTELLO: A question for you, Harris, and I don't know if you'll be able to answer it. But if Iraqis are skeptical that the photos are real, that they were doctored, might they feel the same way about the videotape?

WHITBECK: Well, you know, it's really hard to say, Carol. But one would think that they might be skeptical as well. I mean, there is -- I don't think anybody can deny the fact that there is a deep sense of mistrust among segments of the Iraqi population directed towards the Americans since the occupation. And that sense of mistrust obviously translates to the skepticism that we are seeing now.

On the other hand, however, there are U.S. military commanders who are working on the ground who say that they have had a good experience with the Iraqi population, that the Iraqi population is collaborating with them and helping them, you know, in terms of intelligence-gathering, in terms of translation and such.

So, it really is a mix, but I do believe that particularly, you know, on the streets of Baghdad and the areas from where Saddam Hussein's family had a lot of influence and where his tribe lives, people have chosen not to believe this.

COSTELLO: All right, Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad this morning. We'll get back to you as soon as that videotape is released.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.




Photos>


Aired July 25, 2003 - 06:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: As we've been telling you all morning long, right now another bold step by coalition officials in Iraq. They have let two pool photographers take videotape of Uday and Qusay Hussein's bodies. When we get that videotape in to CNN, we will let you know about it.
But those very graphic photographs -- and we're going to warn you, you're about to see them right now -- they are disturbing. The reason for the latest move, these photographs did not convince the Arab world that these two pictures were indeed of Uday and Qusay Hussein. So, now, of course, coalition forces are allowing photographers to take that videotape.

We want to see where in that process those photographers are, so let's go live to Baghdad and ask Harris Whitbeck.

Good morning -- Harris.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

We are still waiting on word from the pool photographers, who are at Baghdad International Airport. One crew that has been allowed in to take these pictures is from the Al Jazeera television network. That is a clear sign that the U.S. wants to make sure that the Arab world sees this videotape, and perhaps that will help in convincing many, particularly in Iraq, that Saddam Hussein's two elder sons were, in fact, killed a couple of days ago in Mosul.

A lot of skepticism on the streets and a lot of interest in this story. We heard from the city of Najaf that thousands of people have gathered at a mosque there to hear a Shiite cleric, who has been particularly fiery in his anti-American sentiment, so people there seem to be very interested today to hear what he might say about all of this.

On the streets of Baghdad, we've got a lot of skepticism on one hand. On the other hand, a lot of people who have chosen to believe this say that they are happy that Saddam Hussein's two elder sons have died -- Carol.

COSTELLO: A question for you, Harris, and I don't know if you'll be able to answer it. But if Iraqis are skeptical that the photos are real, that they were doctored, might they feel the same way about the videotape?

WHITBECK: Well, you know, it's really hard to say, Carol. But one would think that they might be skeptical as well. I mean, there is -- I don't think anybody can deny the fact that there is a deep sense of mistrust among segments of the Iraqi population directed towards the Americans since the occupation. And that sense of mistrust obviously translates to the skepticism that we are seeing now.

On the other hand, however, there are U.S. military commanders who are working on the ground who say that they have had a good experience with the Iraqi population, that the Iraqi population is collaborating with them and helping them, you know, in terms of intelligence-gathering, in terms of translation and such.

So, it really is a mix, but I do believe that particularly, you know, on the streets of Baghdad and the areas from where Saddam Hussein's family had a lot of influence and where his tribe lives, people have chosen not to believe this.

COSTELLO: All right, Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad this morning. We'll get back to you as soon as that videotape is released.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.




Photos>