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CNN Live Today
Extended Duty for Guard, Reservists
Aired September 09, 2003 - 10:03 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get reaction from those on duty in Iraq.
Our Jason Bellini is in Tikrit with U.S. troops, and he joins us via videophone.
Jason, hello.
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Good morning.
First, let me tell you a little bit about where I am. You see this pool behind me. Behind me are soldiers from the Fourth Infantry Division who are getting a little bit of R&R. They spend four days here. Every once in a while, they are sent here to this complex. This is one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces, and this is a pool that only he and he alone we're told was allowed to swim in just five months ago.
Now soldiers are rotated through here. I can tell you that we have spoken with some Reservists today to get immediate reaction. And to them, it was news. They hadn't heard anything, And spokespeople here at the Fourth ID said they have heard nothing from the Department of Defense as of yet about this news about the possible extension of service for National Guardsmen and also for Reservists.
The few that we spoke to said they are taking it in stride, that they expected this might happen, that they realized when they signed up it may be more than a six-month deployment over here. Some disappointment, as well, but they are saying places like this are helping out, and that the Army is doing what they can to help make this very difficult duty a little less so -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jason Bellini, not exactly what we expected to see when we went to you in Tikrit. But thanks for that slice of life from that palace of Saddam Hussein. Appreciate it.
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 9, 2003 - 10:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get reaction from those on duty in Iraq.
Our Jason Bellini is in Tikrit with U.S. troops, and he joins us via videophone.
Jason, hello.
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Good morning.
First, let me tell you a little bit about where I am. You see this pool behind me. Behind me are soldiers from the Fourth Infantry Division who are getting a little bit of R&R. They spend four days here. Every once in a while, they are sent here to this complex. This is one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces, and this is a pool that only he and he alone we're told was allowed to swim in just five months ago.
Now soldiers are rotated through here. I can tell you that we have spoken with some Reservists today to get immediate reaction. And to them, it was news. They hadn't heard anything, And spokespeople here at the Fourth ID said they have heard nothing from the Department of Defense as of yet about this news about the possible extension of service for National Guardsmen and also for Reservists.
The few that we spoke to said they are taking it in stride, that they expected this might happen, that they realized when they signed up it may be more than a six-month deployment over here. Some disappointment, as well, but they are saying places like this are helping out, and that the Army is doing what they can to help make this very difficult duty a little less so -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jason Bellini, not exactly what we expected to see when we went to you in Tikrit. But thanks for that slice of life from that palace of Saddam Hussein. Appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
