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CNN Live Sunday
The New Iraq -- The Deadliest Month
Aired November 30, 2003 - 11:01 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story this morning, the bloodshed in Iraq for coalition troops. November has been the cruelest month, and the U.S. military expects the casualties to mount as it says insurgents are focusing on soft targets.
Let's go right to Baghdad and speak with CNN's Nic Robertson. Nic, we have seen that death toll climb significantly in the last 24 hours. Here's the latest from Nic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Confirmation coming from coalition officials that the U.S. contractor shot and killed Saturday was a Colombian national. He was shot as he was driving towards the U.S. base north of Baghdad. People in the vehicle with him were also wounded.
Now, at a press briefing late Sunday afternoon, coalition officials said that they could confirm that two South Korean contractors have been injured in an attack. They said that they had early reports about that attack but had very few details on it at that time.
In Baghdad, the flag over the Japanese embassy flying at half- staff. Security tight around there following the death on Saturday of two Japanese diplomats. They were gunned down when they stepped out of their armored vehicle on the way to attending a coalition reconstruction conference.
Also, the bodies of the seven Spanish intelligence officials killed in an ambush south of Baghdad Saturday. The bodies of those Spanish officials flown out to Kuwait where the Spain's defense minister and intelligence chief were waiting for to receive the bodies, the bodies then flown on to Spain, along with the one surviving member managed to survive the ambush when they were attacked, when the Spanish officials were attacked by small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades. One member of the team escaped. He was shot, lightly wounded, got into a passing Iraqi vehicle, and left the scene.
Also today, coalition officials saying that two U.S. service members from the 3rd armored cavalry regiment killed close to the Syrian border. They had reported earlier in the day that one member of the 3rd armored cavalry regiment had been seriously wounded. They also now say that a number of U.S. personnel were also wounded in that particular attack. Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: The grim news about coalition casualties comes two days after the president's unannounced visit to Iraq. President Bush traveled secretly to Baghdad to boost the morale of troops who are the targets of almost daily attacks.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live from the White House with reaction to this latest news. Suzanne?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Bush is coming back this afternoon to Washington. And as you mentioned, of course, this after a weekend at his Crawford ranch, and that surprise visit in Baghdad to the troops really seen as a successful morale booster. But the president, of course, facing the sobering reality, at least four separate attacks in Iraq within the last 24 hours, the culmination of the deadliest month for U.S. soldiers and its allies.
The president really positioning himself for the next 11 months to undergo an aggressive re-election campaign. These dramatic pictures, of course, Bush on Thanksgiving, the White House knows that is bound to help, but at the same time, they realize that they know how things play out in Iraq, on the ground, all very critical to a successful campaign. Democratic presidential hopefuls also know that as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. WESLEY CLARK, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A photo- op, or whatever it was, to Baghdad does not make up for a failed strategy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, General Wesley Clark and others have been very careful. They've been praising President Bush for going over there, for visiting with the troops, at the same time criticizing U.S. policy inside of Iraq.
Now, Sean, the next week or so the president is going to be focusing on domestic issues as well. He's going to be raising money for his campaign and highlighting the strong points of the economy. Sean?
CALLEBS: Remains a busy schedule. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thanks very much.
And we will have more reaction to the president's trip from Wesley Clark. Wolf Blitzer sits down for an exclusive interview with the democratic presidential hopeful. That's coming up at noon eastern time here on CNN on "LATE EDITION."
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 November 30, 2003 - 11:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story this morning, the bloodshed in Iraq for coalition troops. November has been the cruelest month, and the U.S. military expects the casualties to mount as it says insurgents are focusing on soft targets.
Let's go right to Baghdad and speak with CNN's Nic Robertson. Nic, we have seen that death toll climb significantly in the last 24 hours. Here's the latest from Nic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Confirmation coming from coalition officials that the U.S. contractor shot and killed Saturday was a Colombian national. He was shot as he was driving towards the U.S. base north of Baghdad. People in the vehicle with him were also wounded.
Now, at a press briefing late Sunday afternoon, coalition officials said that they could confirm that two South Korean contractors have been injured in an attack. They said that they had early reports about that attack but had very few details on it at that time.
In Baghdad, the flag over the Japanese embassy flying at half- staff. Security tight around there following the death on Saturday of two Japanese diplomats. They were gunned down when they stepped out of their armored vehicle on the way to attending a coalition reconstruction conference.
Also, the bodies of the seven Spanish intelligence officials killed in an ambush south of Baghdad Saturday. The bodies of those Spanish officials flown out to Kuwait where the Spain's defense minister and intelligence chief were waiting for to receive the bodies, the bodies then flown on to Spain, along with the one surviving member managed to survive the ambush when they were attacked, when the Spanish officials were attacked by small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades. One member of the team escaped. He was shot, lightly wounded, got into a passing Iraqi vehicle, and left the scene.
Also today, coalition officials saying that two U.S. service members from the 3rd armored cavalry regiment killed close to the Syrian border. They had reported earlier in the day that one member of the 3rd armored cavalry regiment had been seriously wounded. They also now say that a number of U.S. personnel were also wounded in that particular attack. Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: The grim news about coalition casualties comes two days after the president's unannounced visit to Iraq. President Bush traveled secretly to Baghdad to boost the morale of troops who are the targets of almost daily attacks.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live from the White House with reaction to this latest news. Suzanne?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Bush is coming back this afternoon to Washington. And as you mentioned, of course, this after a weekend at his Crawford ranch, and that surprise visit in Baghdad to the troops really seen as a successful morale booster. But the president, of course, facing the sobering reality, at least four separate attacks in Iraq within the last 24 hours, the culmination of the deadliest month for U.S. soldiers and its allies.
The president really positioning himself for the next 11 months to undergo an aggressive re-election campaign. These dramatic pictures, of course, Bush on Thanksgiving, the White House knows that is bound to help, but at the same time, they realize that they know how things play out in Iraq, on the ground, all very critical to a successful campaign. Democratic presidential hopefuls also know that as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. WESLEY CLARK, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A photo- op, or whatever it was, to Baghdad does not make up for a failed strategy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, General Wesley Clark and others have been very careful. They've been praising President Bush for going over there, for visiting with the troops, at the same time criticizing U.S. policy inside of Iraq.
Now, Sean, the next week or so the president is going to be focusing on domestic issues as well. He's going to be raising money for his campaign and highlighting the strong points of the economy. Sean?
CALLEBS: Remains a busy schedule. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thanks very much.
And we will have more reaction to the president's trip from Wesley Clark. Wolf Blitzer sits down for an exclusive interview with the democratic presidential hopeful. That's coming up at noon eastern time here on CNN on "LATE EDITION."
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
