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U.S. Troops in Tikrit Hold Solemn Observances of Two-Year Anniversary
Aired September 11, 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: Americans in Baghdad marked the solemn anniversary of 9/11 today. Civilian administrator Paul Bremmer and Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of the U.S. ground forces in Iraq, attended a memorial. About 400 other coalition staffers and soldiers attended the service at the former Republican Palace in Baghdad. And following a moment of silence, a piper with the British forces played "Amazing Grace."
UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIERS: My country 'tis of thee...
Sweet land...
COSTELLO: And soldiers with the 1st Armored Division sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee." You can hear it there. That happened at a prayer breakfast at the Baghdad Airport.
U.S. troops in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's ancestral hometown, also have held solemn observances of today's two year anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
To Tikrit now and Jason Bellini -- hello, Jason.
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning.
Well, in that service this morning, they made reference to the symbolism of being in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, on this, the second anniversary of 9/11. Some emotional speeches. General Ray Odierno said in his speech, "If we don't do it here, it'll happen back in the U.S. and other countries," of course, referring to terrorism. He said, "We are at the tip of the spear on the global war on terrorism."
Now, with me is Specialist Diontrey Brinson.
And you and I just met a short while ago and we were talking a little bit about this. And you seemed to share those same sentiments.
SPEC. DIONTREY BRINSON, U.S. ARMY: Exactly. I felt that the whole 9/11 incident was, just like you said, a terrorist act. But a terrorist act by cowards is what needs to be pointed out. And there's going to be a lot more incidents than that in America's future. Unfortunately I have to say that. But unfortunately I believe that.
But unless America keeps fighting and we keep sending troops into places and we keep fighting and battling the cause that we're fighting right now, these terrorists, you know, they will keep attacking us and attacking us, until they learn not to mess with America. BELLINI: Do you think that your role here is helping to prevent another 9/11?
BRINSON: I hope that my role here and the role of many future soldiers to come helps in not only preventing incidents like 9/11, but helps to just show the world that America is putting a fight towards this whole terrorism thing. And it's just, it's just a terrible tragedy what happened and that's why they had to send soldiers like me here and other soldiers here, to prevent other countries from harboring terrorism and other countries from thinking that they can do those types of acts against us.
BELLINI: So then you feel you're at the tip of the spear.
Specialist Diontrey Brinson, thank you so much for being with us.
We really do appreciate it -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Jason Bellini reporting live from Tikrit this morning.
Many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Anniversary>
Aired September 11, 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: Americans in Baghdad marked the solemn anniversary of 9/11 today. Civilian administrator Paul Bremmer and Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of the U.S. ground forces in Iraq, attended a memorial. About 400 other coalition staffers and soldiers attended the service at the former Republican Palace in Baghdad. And following a moment of silence, a piper with the British forces played "Amazing Grace."
UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIERS: My country 'tis of thee...
Sweet land...
COSTELLO: And soldiers with the 1st Armored Division sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee." You can hear it there. That happened at a prayer breakfast at the Baghdad Airport.
U.S. troops in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's ancestral hometown, also have held solemn observances of today's two year anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
To Tikrit now and Jason Bellini -- hello, Jason.
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning.
Well, in that service this morning, they made reference to the symbolism of being in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, on this, the second anniversary of 9/11. Some emotional speeches. General Ray Odierno said in his speech, "If we don't do it here, it'll happen back in the U.S. and other countries," of course, referring to terrorism. He said, "We are at the tip of the spear on the global war on terrorism."
Now, with me is Specialist Diontrey Brinson.
And you and I just met a short while ago and we were talking a little bit about this. And you seemed to share those same sentiments.
SPEC. DIONTREY BRINSON, U.S. ARMY: Exactly. I felt that the whole 9/11 incident was, just like you said, a terrorist act. But a terrorist act by cowards is what needs to be pointed out. And there's going to be a lot more incidents than that in America's future. Unfortunately I have to say that. But unfortunately I believe that.
But unless America keeps fighting and we keep sending troops into places and we keep fighting and battling the cause that we're fighting right now, these terrorists, you know, they will keep attacking us and attacking us, until they learn not to mess with America. BELLINI: Do you think that your role here is helping to prevent another 9/11?
BRINSON: I hope that my role here and the role of many future soldiers to come helps in not only preventing incidents like 9/11, but helps to just show the world that America is putting a fight towards this whole terrorism thing. And it's just, it's just a terrible tragedy what happened and that's why they had to send soldiers like me here and other soldiers here, to prevent other countries from harboring terrorism and other countries from thinking that they can do those types of acts against us.
BELLINI: So then you feel you're at the tip of the spear.
Specialist Diontrey Brinson, thank you so much for being with us.
We really do appreciate it -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Jason Bellini reporting live from Tikrit this morning.
Many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Anniversary>
