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CNN Live At Daybreak

Daily Attacks Against American Troops

Aired September 08, 2003 - 05:07   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: President Bush's call for security assistance in Iraq comes amid daily attacks against American troops there.
For the latest incident, we take you live to Baghdad, where we find CNN's Ben Wedeman -- Ben, good morning.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Good morning, Fredericka.

Well, coalition officials, actually, until this morning, were beginning to breathe a bit easier. It had been almost two days since there had been any casualties among their forces. But this morning there was an incident that changed all of that. According to the American military, two U.S. soldiers were wounded when their convoy was driving through the middle of Baghdad, downtown Baghdad, when it went by what they call an IED, an improvised explosive device.

Now, we have a slightly different version of events from eyewitnesses, who told us that three U.S. soldiers were wounded in this incident, two of them apparently seriously, when someone dropped an explosive device from an overpass down onto their convoy.

So exactly what happened isn't quite clear. What is clear, however, here is in Baghdad is that many Iraqis seem to be perplexed by President Bush's address last night, that is, those who watched it. Of course, it was broadcast at 4:30 a.m., so many Iraqis simply weren't up at the time and are not aware of it.

But the ones we spoke to are perplexed because they say before, under Saddam Hussein, terrorism for them was not an issue. Iraq was not, in their opinion, of course, a terrorist state. Now, some of the people we spoke to said that they think that President Bush's address is really American propaganda to make Iraqis look like terrorists.

Now, for a somewhat more profound view of things, we consulted with one Iraqi analyst. This is how he judged the president's speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUBHY HADDAD, IRAQI JOURNALIST: Saddam had his problems with al Qaeda. He didn't, you know, Saddam was a sectarian guy. It didn't work with al Qaeda's principles. There wasn't so much cooperation between both sides. But after the end of Saddam's regime and Saddam being still alive and at large, I presume that it could help, you know, they could come. And, you know, whatever the terrorists, being al Qaeda or any other group, do in Iraq, to attack the American troops or even kill the innocent Iraqi civilians, that, of course, serves Saddam's deeds, in my analysis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: Now, of course, Fredricka, that is one view. But as is said, most Iraqis seem to be somewhat confused that their country has suddenly become a den of terrorists, in the view of the American president -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, that with the borders becoming a lot more porous, as well.

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 September 8, 2003 - 05:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush's call for security assistance in Iraq comes amid daily attacks against American troops there.
For the latest incident, we take you live to Baghdad, where we find CNN's Ben Wedeman -- Ben, good morning.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Good morning, Fredericka.

Well, coalition officials, actually, until this morning, were beginning to breathe a bit easier. It had been almost two days since there had been any casualties among their forces. But this morning there was an incident that changed all of that. According to the American military, two U.S. soldiers were wounded when their convoy was driving through the middle of Baghdad, downtown Baghdad, when it went by what they call an IED, an improvised explosive device.

Now, we have a slightly different version of events from eyewitnesses, who told us that three U.S. soldiers were wounded in this incident, two of them apparently seriously, when someone dropped an explosive device from an overpass down onto their convoy.

So exactly what happened isn't quite clear. What is clear, however, here is in Baghdad is that many Iraqis seem to be perplexed by President Bush's address last night, that is, those who watched it. Of course, it was broadcast at 4:30 a.m., so many Iraqis simply weren't up at the time and are not aware of it.

But the ones we spoke to are perplexed because they say before, under Saddam Hussein, terrorism for them was not an issue. Iraq was not, in their opinion, of course, a terrorist state. Now, some of the people we spoke to said that they think that President Bush's address is really American propaganda to make Iraqis look like terrorists.

Now, for a somewhat more profound view of things, we consulted with one Iraqi analyst. This is how he judged the president's speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUBHY HADDAD, IRAQI JOURNALIST: Saddam had his problems with al Qaeda. He didn't, you know, Saddam was a sectarian guy. It didn't work with al Qaeda's principles. There wasn't so much cooperation between both sides. But after the end of Saddam's regime and Saddam being still alive and at large, I presume that it could help, you know, they could come. And, you know, whatever the terrorists, being al Qaeda or any other group, do in Iraq, to attack the American troops or even kill the innocent Iraqi civilians, that, of course, serves Saddam's deeds, in my analysis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: Now, of course, Fredricka, that is one view. But as is said, most Iraqis seem to be somewhat confused that their country has suddenly become a den of terrorists, in the view of the American president -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, that with the borders becoming a lot more porous, as well.

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