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CNN Live At Daybreak
Hunt for Saddam
Aired July 29, 2003 - 05:31 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: One of Saddam Hussein's bodyguards now in U.S. custody. Does this mean U.S. troops are getting closer to the big prize?
We want to get more on the hunt right now.
Let's go live to Baghdad and Harris Whitbeck -- good morning, Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Actually I'm in Tikrit, Saddam's homeland, and the focus of attention by the U.S. military. This is the area where they staged a raid, a very intense raid which occurred earlier this morning. That raid netted three individuals, one of them, as you said, one of Saddam Hussein's bodyguards, a high ranking bodyguard. The other two a brigadier general who is thought to be one of the leaders of Saddam's Fedayeen, this paramilitary organization that some people think is behind some of the attacks on U.S. forces here. The third individual who was caught is the ex-security manager for most of the palaces that Saddam Hussein had in the Tikrit area.
U.S. military officials say they believe they can get valuable information from these individuals and some people wonder that if Saddam's bodyguard, one of his highest ranking bodyguards was caught in this area, they're wondering if Saddam himself might not be here.
There had been some intelligence this weekend that indicated that he might have been on one of three farms located just across the Tigris River from where we are here. So obviously this area continues to be the focus of a lot of attention on the part of the U.S. military -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck reporting live from Tikrit this morning.
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 29, 2003 - 05:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: One of Saddam Hussein's bodyguards now in U.S. custody. Does this mean U.S. troops are getting closer to the big prize?
We want to get more on the hunt right now.
Let's go live to Baghdad and Harris Whitbeck -- good morning, Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Actually I'm in Tikrit, Saddam's homeland, and the focus of attention by the U.S. military. This is the area where they staged a raid, a very intense raid which occurred earlier this morning. That raid netted three individuals, one of them, as you said, one of Saddam Hussein's bodyguards, a high ranking bodyguard. The other two a brigadier general who is thought to be one of the leaders of Saddam's Fedayeen, this paramilitary organization that some people think is behind some of the attacks on U.S. forces here. The third individual who was caught is the ex-security manager for most of the palaces that Saddam Hussein had in the Tikrit area.
U.S. military officials say they believe they can get valuable information from these individuals and some people wonder that if Saddam's bodyguard, one of his highest ranking bodyguards was caught in this area, they're wondering if Saddam himself might not be here.
There had been some intelligence this weekend that indicated that he might have been on one of three farms located just across the Tigris River from where we are here. So obviously this area continues to be the focus of a lot of attention on the part of the U.S. military -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck reporting live from Tikrit this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
