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CNN Live At Daybreak
Photographs Have Not Done Job Completely
Aired July 25, 2003 - 05:32 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: It seems those photographs have not done the job. Coalition forces now trying to convince skeptics in Iraq that Saddam's sons are, in fact, dead, and they're going to do it by videotaping their entire bodies. As we have told you, we expect that video any moment now, and of course that will be graphic. So when we get it and put it on the air, we'll warn you once again.
Let's go live to Baghdad and Harris Whitbeck.
I understand Rym Brahimi was at the airport awaiting that videotape. She's left now. We can't get a hold of her at this moment and we don't know what that means. But tell us what you know right now.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, it means that, in effect, the U.S. authorities here have decided to only let pool press into the morgue where the bodies are being held. But we also understand that in addition to the U.S. or international pool, the Al Jazeera Television Network will have a crew inside the morgue and the implication there, of course, is the United States is very interested in making sure that the Arab world and those who watch Al Jazeera see this videotape, which they say will prove to the minds of those who don't believe this yet that Saddam Hussein's two older sons were killed during this firefight in Mosul two days ago -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Why weren't the photographs enough for Iraqis, Harris?
WHITBECK: It's really hard to say, Carol. I think many people here were quite shocked that people didn't believe it. But I think it has to do with the fact that there is a deep, deep mistrust of American efforts in Iraq since the occupation. I know that when I was talking to people up around Mosul and up around Tikrit, which is Saddam Hussein's hometown, yesterday, I had asked for opinions on the death of Saddam's two older sons.
It would always go back to the broader issues that are affecting them.
You know, they say they have a lack of access to basic services, they have a lack of security. And they keep insisting that their lives have gotten worse since the U.S. occupied Iraq last April. And, again, that's the theme that seems to override them and that, perhaps that's where this mistrust comes from -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad this morning.
And, again, of course, the bodies of Uday and Qusay are at the international airport there in Baghdad. And as you heard Harris say, they're videotaping those bodies right now. We don't know if the bodies will be cleaned up or not, but as soon as we get that videotape in we'll show it to 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 25, 2003 - 05:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It seems those photographs have not done the job. Coalition forces now trying to convince skeptics in Iraq that Saddam's sons are, in fact, dead, and they're going to do it by videotaping their entire bodies. As we have told you, we expect that video any moment now, and of course that will be graphic. So when we get it and put it on the air, we'll warn you once again.
Let's go live to Baghdad and Harris Whitbeck.
I understand Rym Brahimi was at the airport awaiting that videotape. She's left now. We can't get a hold of her at this moment and we don't know what that means. But tell us what you know right now.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, it means that, in effect, the U.S. authorities here have decided to only let pool press into the morgue where the bodies are being held. But we also understand that in addition to the U.S. or international pool, the Al Jazeera Television Network will have a crew inside the morgue and the implication there, of course, is the United States is very interested in making sure that the Arab world and those who watch Al Jazeera see this videotape, which they say will prove to the minds of those who don't believe this yet that Saddam Hussein's two older sons were killed during this firefight in Mosul two days ago -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Why weren't the photographs enough for Iraqis, Harris?
WHITBECK: It's really hard to say, Carol. I think many people here were quite shocked that people didn't believe it. But I think it has to do with the fact that there is a deep, deep mistrust of American efforts in Iraq since the occupation. I know that when I was talking to people up around Mosul and up around Tikrit, which is Saddam Hussein's hometown, yesterday, I had asked for opinions on the death of Saddam's two older sons.
It would always go back to the broader issues that are affecting them.
You know, they say they have a lack of access to basic services, they have a lack of security. And they keep insisting that their lives have gotten worse since the U.S. occupied Iraq last April. And, again, that's the theme that seems to override them and that, perhaps that's where this mistrust comes from -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad this morning.
And, again, of course, the bodies of Uday and Qusay are at the international airport there in Baghdad. And as you heard Harris say, they're videotaping those bodies right now. We don't know if the bodies will be cleaned up or not, but as soon as we get that videotape in we'll show it to 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
