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American Morning
Iraqis Wait for Video of Hussein Corpses
Aired July 25, 2003 - 09:19 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We don't mean to be as cavalier as some of the descriptions have been a bit earlier in our broadcast, but the news out of Baghdad and the details right now of the two sons is quite plain and quite obvious to the journalists who have been there earlier today.
They're describing some sort of facial reconstruction on the bodies of Uday and Qusay. They describe more than 20 bullet hole wounds to each body. And the U.S. military giving a set of reporters a firsthand view at the bodies earlier today.
Harris Whitbeck back in Baghdad for more information on what he is learning in the Iraqi capital. Harris, hello again.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Again, we're waiting the release of that videotape. A lot of people here in Baghdad are also waiting to see that tape to decide once and for all whether they choose to believe the U.S. military when it says that Saddam Hussein's two elder sons were killed during that raid in Mosul two days ago. A lot of interest. A lot of people wondering what exactly they will see when that videotape is released.
HEMMER: Harris, for the doubters, what do they say -- what description do they give you about what raises doubt for them after seeing the photos from yesterday?
WHITBECK: Well, a number of things. They said that the photos didn't show them in profile. It said that they hadn't seen the x-rays that indicated that one of the sons had some platinum in one of his legs. They used the term platinum in one of his legs following an assassination attempt. And they said they just aren't prepared to believe that these two men are dead.
But I think this stems from just the deep sense of mistrust that many Americans feel towards the American occupation force here. And every time you'd ask people their opinions on the deaths of Uday and Qusay, they'd always go back to the fact that the American occupation here has led to a lack of security, a lack of access to basic services. So it seems that that is in the minds of many people.
Now, as the days have gone by, it's been, you know, several hours now since those photographs were released. People are beginning to at least let the possibility that these two individuals were killed enter into their minds.
And we spoke to a journalist today who belongs to the Journalist' Union which was controlled by Uday, and he said for the first time the union will be able to meet, be able to write, report and not have to worry about being told what to say or how to say it.
So there is a mix of reactions, but I think that until those picture, shown on television, that Iraqis can see, there are still going to be a lot of skeptics out there.
HEMMER: To be specific, too, there were some comments offered from Iraqis yesterday on the doubting side that said Uday's face was too swollen, and, therefore, they could not believe that pictures were authentic. But when the x-ray was released of that metal plate in his leg, did that not go a long way in convincing some anyway?
WHITBECK: I think it might have, Bill. But, again, it seems that many people here are just bent on being distrustful of the U.S., no matter what it does or says.
Again that goes back to the actions that have taken place here and to the lack of access to security and electricity, that's what they always go back to. So, again, people might now be more prepared to believe that, but -- and the hope is, the American hope is that this will go a long way towards gaining the trust of the Iraqi people. But there are many people who are just not going to believe it. They've already made up their minds not to believe it.
Now I spoke to a military commander yesterday who operates up around Tikrit, which is the homeland for Saddam Hussein's family. And he said that he has been able, over the past few weeks, to gain the trust and the support of the Iraqi people. He said they are getting a lot of intelligence reports from there. They're getting a lot of cooperation. And that people, the common citizen, if you will, does seem happy to have the American troops around there.
So, again, it's a mix -- a mix of emotions. It's a mix of feelings, and my sense is that it will take several days for the news that we've received today and for the pictures that we will shortly be seeing today to be fully digested. Again, the American hope is that that will help the Iraqi people to be convinced that Saddam's eldest sons were in fact killed.
HEMMER: I think you put your finger on it a few seconds ago when you said you cannot convince everyone. I think the Pentagon quite aware of that listening to the comments from yesterday.
Harris, thanks. We'll talk to you again in a moment. Harris Whitbeck in Baghdad.
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 - 09:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We don't mean to be as cavalier as some of the descriptions have been a bit earlier in our broadcast, but the news out of Baghdad and the details right now of the two sons is quite plain and quite obvious to the journalists who have been there earlier today.
They're describing some sort of facial reconstruction on the bodies of Uday and Qusay. They describe more than 20 bullet hole wounds to each body. And the U.S. military giving a set of reporters a firsthand view at the bodies earlier today.
Harris Whitbeck back in Baghdad for more information on what he is learning in the Iraqi capital. Harris, hello again.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. Again, we're waiting the release of that videotape. A lot of people here in Baghdad are also waiting to see that tape to decide once and for all whether they choose to believe the U.S. military when it says that Saddam Hussein's two elder sons were killed during that raid in Mosul two days ago. A lot of interest. A lot of people wondering what exactly they will see when that videotape is released.
HEMMER: Harris, for the doubters, what do they say -- what description do they give you about what raises doubt for them after seeing the photos from yesterday?
WHITBECK: Well, a number of things. They said that the photos didn't show them in profile. It said that they hadn't seen the x-rays that indicated that one of the sons had some platinum in one of his legs. They used the term platinum in one of his legs following an assassination attempt. And they said they just aren't prepared to believe that these two men are dead.
But I think this stems from just the deep sense of mistrust that many Americans feel towards the American occupation force here. And every time you'd ask people their opinions on the deaths of Uday and Qusay, they'd always go back to the fact that the American occupation here has led to a lack of security, a lack of access to basic services. So it seems that that is in the minds of many people.
Now, as the days have gone by, it's been, you know, several hours now since those photographs were released. People are beginning to at least let the possibility that these two individuals were killed enter into their minds.
And we spoke to a journalist today who belongs to the Journalist' Union which was controlled by Uday, and he said for the first time the union will be able to meet, be able to write, report and not have to worry about being told what to say or how to say it.
So there is a mix of reactions, but I think that until those picture, shown on television, that Iraqis can see, there are still going to be a lot of skeptics out there.
HEMMER: To be specific, too, there were some comments offered from Iraqis yesterday on the doubting side that said Uday's face was too swollen, and, therefore, they could not believe that pictures were authentic. But when the x-ray was released of that metal plate in his leg, did that not go a long way in convincing some anyway?
WHITBECK: I think it might have, Bill. But, again, it seems that many people here are just bent on being distrustful of the U.S., no matter what it does or says.
Again that goes back to the actions that have taken place here and to the lack of access to security and electricity, that's what they always go back to. So, again, people might now be more prepared to believe that, but -- and the hope is, the American hope is that this will go a long way towards gaining the trust of the Iraqi people. But there are many people who are just not going to believe it. They've already made up their minds not to believe it.
Now I spoke to a military commander yesterday who operates up around Tikrit, which is the homeland for Saddam Hussein's family. And he said that he has been able, over the past few weeks, to gain the trust and the support of the Iraqi people. He said they are getting a lot of intelligence reports from there. They're getting a lot of cooperation. And that people, the common citizen, if you will, does seem happy to have the American troops around there.
So, again, it's a mix -- a mix of emotions. It's a mix of feelings, and my sense is that it will take several days for the news that we've received today and for the pictures that we will shortly be seeing today to be fully digested. Again, the American hope is that that will help the Iraqi people to be convinced that Saddam's eldest sons were in fact killed.
HEMMER: I think you put your finger on it a few seconds ago when you said you cannot convince everyone. I think the Pentagon quite aware of that listening to the comments from yesterday.
Harris, thanks. We'll talk to you again in a moment. Harris Whitbeck in Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
