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CNN Live At Daybreak
Observance in Tikrit
Aired September 11, 2003 - 06:35 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: In Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's ancestral home, U.S. forces gathered for a memorial. Service men and women prayed for the victims of 9/11 and those who've died in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Let's take you live to Tikrit right now for more. That's where Jason Bellini is standing by.
Hello -- Jason.
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Well, let me first tell you where I am. I'm in a tent at the Army's 4th I.D. headquarters, and this is a tent where, as you can see, soldiers are making phone calls. Many of them are making phone calls home to their parents. Some have wives that they're calling today. They can make calls every day, but we've talked to a few people who said their conversations today focused on the events of 9/11.
One soldier I spoke with told me that his parents were more concerned for him than they were for themselves, concerned that something might happen here today. He said that he reassured them, and said he was more worried about them.
So, those are some of the reactions that we've been hearing here today.
Now, there was a ceremony earlier in the day for soldiers. About 100 soldiers chose to attend this ceremony.
Now, the general, General Roy Odiereno (ph), he spoke, and what he said was, why are we standing on the steps of the palace in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit? He said, we're here to liberate a country from a brutal dictator who does not allow his people to have freedom. And he went on to say that all of those people who lost their lives back on September 11 would like nothing more.
And we also spoke with one soldier who told us her feelings today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it's hard to be away from our loved ones, but to protect people from losing their loved ones at home it's worth it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELLINI: Well, I spoke to some really patriotic soldiers here today, who said that this day they feel very strongly, and more strongly about what they're doing here, believing in their mission. The ones that we spoke to said that they want to prevent another 9/11 from happening, and that's why they're here sweating in the desert on this very long tour in Iraq.
Back to you.
COSTELLO: Yes, Jason, I can't help but laugh. There is a soldier behind you waving. A lot of military families watch DAYBREAK, so I'm sure they were glad to get a glimpse of their family member.
BELLINI: Yes, he's probably on the phone, and some people here ask me if they were -- what channel we were, and they were calling home and telling them to watch CNN.
COSTELLO: Yes, I could imagine that's what he's saying right now. Jason Bellini, many thanks. We 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 11, 2003 - 06:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's ancestral home, U.S. forces gathered for a memorial. Service men and women prayed for the victims of 9/11 and those who've died in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Let's take you live to Tikrit right now for more. That's where Jason Bellini is standing by.
Hello -- Jason.
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Well, let me first tell you where I am. I'm in a tent at the Army's 4th I.D. headquarters, and this is a tent where, as you can see, soldiers are making phone calls. Many of them are making phone calls home to their parents. Some have wives that they're calling today. They can make calls every day, but we've talked to a few people who said their conversations today focused on the events of 9/11.
One soldier I spoke with told me that his parents were more concerned for him than they were for themselves, concerned that something might happen here today. He said that he reassured them, and said he was more worried about them.
So, those are some of the reactions that we've been hearing here today.
Now, there was a ceremony earlier in the day for soldiers. About 100 soldiers chose to attend this ceremony.
Now, the general, General Roy Odiereno (ph), he spoke, and what he said was, why are we standing on the steps of the palace in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit? He said, we're here to liberate a country from a brutal dictator who does not allow his people to have freedom. And he went on to say that all of those people who lost their lives back on September 11 would like nothing more.
And we also spoke with one soldier who told us her feelings today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it's hard to be away from our loved ones, but to protect people from losing their loved ones at home it's worth it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELLINI: Well, I spoke to some really patriotic soldiers here today, who said that this day they feel very strongly, and more strongly about what they're doing here, believing in their mission. The ones that we spoke to said that they want to prevent another 9/11 from happening, and that's why they're here sweating in the desert on this very long tour in Iraq.
Back to you.
COSTELLO: Yes, Jason, I can't help but laugh. There is a soldier behind you waving. A lot of military families watch DAYBREAK, so I'm sure they were glad to get a glimpse of their family member.
BELLINI: Yes, he's probably on the phone, and some people here ask me if they were -- what channel we were, and they were calling home and telling them to watch CNN.
COSTELLO: Yes, I could imagine that's what he's saying right now. Jason Bellini, many thanks. We 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.
