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CNN Live Sunday

Interview With Nancy Gibbs

Aired December 21, 2003 - 10:07   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.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Just one week after American forces pulled Saddam Hussein from that hole in the ground, "Time" magazine is honoring the American soldier as its "Person of the Year". "Time" says it was using the term "soldier" in its broadest sense to encompass all branches of the military. And there on the very noble- looking cover you see three soldiers from the unit nicknamed the "Tomb Raiders." And, we'll get into who these people are in just a moment, they are featured on the cover. "Time's" editors say, quote, "Uncommon skills and service by U.S. troops in defending freedoms at home and abroad were the rationale behind the choice."
And, joining us now, Nancy Gibbs, the editor-at-large from "Time" magazine joins us from New York to talk a bit about this.

Nancy, thanks very much for being here.

NANCY GIBBS, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Thank you, Sean.

CALLEBS: Was it was an ease decision? We understand it was pretty well received.

GIBBS: It was easy in the sense that, unlike some years where there might be a big economic story, a big discovery in medicine, this year it was very clear what the big story was year was. Our only debate was -- how do we tell the story of this war through the stories of and an individual or individuals.

CALLEBS: And you're making it very clear, you're honoring all branches of the U.S. service there, and the three soldiers who are on the cover there, we have Sergeant Ron Buxton, he's 32-years-old from Lake Ozark, Missouri. And the only female in that unit, Specialist Billie Grimes, 26, and as well, Sergeant Marquette Whiteside, 24- years-old from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. And, tell us about those three individuals because unfortunately, two of "Time's" best people found out just how dangerous it can be find out just how dangerous it can be being in a very dangerous, very unsettling area at a very difficult time in history?

GIBBS: You know, we send reporters to cover a story, we never expect to become a part of it, but two of our people, Michael Weisskopf, the correspondent and James Nachtwey, the photographer, were out on patrol with members of this platoon, they call themselves the "Tomb Raiders," when a grenade was thrown into their Humvee. Michael Weisskopf reached for it to throw it out when it exploded. The other military officials have since told him that that act probably saved the lives of everyone in the Humvee at the time. Michael, fortunately now back, recovering at Walter Reed. Jim is also back in the country, but their reporting for this story really gave them a very up close sense.

CALLEBS: They were embedded with this...

GIBBS: They were embedded with -- that's right. And, they got to see -- you know, what it is like. They went out on more than 30 patrols through one of the most dangerous sections of Baghdad, to see just how much is being asked of soldiers who weren't necessarily originally trained for the kind of mission that they now face.

CALLEBS: Well, give us the headline. What did they come away with, these correspondents, after spending so much time with the troops.

GIBBS: You know, General Sanchez, the commander on the ground in Iraq -- you know, says it well when he says, this is really now, a platoon leader's war. The decisions are no longer just being made -- you know, by the generals. It really is the soldiers on the ground, who are having to make decisions, often in a split second, about when they're raiding a house, when they might see a child with a weapon -- what do you do? That they're being tested in a way that members of our armed forces seldom have in the past.

CALLEBS: Well Nancy, do you hear any frustration from troops? If they went over there for one mission, did it quickly, did it successfully, and now they are mired in something they didn't sign up for.

GIBBS: You certainly hear frustration as you have in every war from every soldier about everything from the food to the mail to when are they going to get to go home, but you know, one survey that was done of the troops over there found that two-thirds of them said that they thought the war was the right thing to do and they were clear what their mission was. Even though, as we've seen, this mission is one that is constantly changing and challenging them.

CALLEBS: Exactly. Nancy Gibbs, thanks very much for joining us, here from "Time" magazine. And, we should point out, more than 400 have paid the ultimate sacrifice, so certainly honoring the American soldier -- really marines, sailors, as well as, airmen. A very, very good idea.

GIBBS: 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







Aired December 21, 2003 - 10:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Just one week after American forces pulled Saddam Hussein from that hole in the ground, "Time" magazine is honoring the American soldier as its "Person of the Year". "Time" says it was using the term "soldier" in its broadest sense to encompass all branches of the military. And there on the very noble- looking cover you see three soldiers from the unit nicknamed the "Tomb Raiders." And, we'll get into who these people are in just a moment, they are featured on the cover. "Time's" editors say, quote, "Uncommon skills and service by U.S. troops in defending freedoms at home and abroad were the rationale behind the choice."
And, joining us now, Nancy Gibbs, the editor-at-large from "Time" magazine joins us from New York to talk a bit about this.

Nancy, thanks very much for being here.

NANCY GIBBS, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Thank you, Sean.

CALLEBS: Was it was an ease decision? We understand it was pretty well received.

GIBBS: It was easy in the sense that, unlike some years where there might be a big economic story, a big discovery in medicine, this year it was very clear what the big story was year was. Our only debate was -- how do we tell the story of this war through the stories of and an individual or individuals.

CALLEBS: And you're making it very clear, you're honoring all branches of the U.S. service there, and the three soldiers who are on the cover there, we have Sergeant Ron Buxton, he's 32-years-old from Lake Ozark, Missouri. And the only female in that unit, Specialist Billie Grimes, 26, and as well, Sergeant Marquette Whiteside, 24- years-old from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. And, tell us about those three individuals because unfortunately, two of "Time's" best people found out just how dangerous it can be find out just how dangerous it can be being in a very dangerous, very unsettling area at a very difficult time in history?

GIBBS: You know, we send reporters to cover a story, we never expect to become a part of it, but two of our people, Michael Weisskopf, the correspondent and James Nachtwey, the photographer, were out on patrol with members of this platoon, they call themselves the "Tomb Raiders," when a grenade was thrown into their Humvee. Michael Weisskopf reached for it to throw it out when it exploded. The other military officials have since told him that that act probably saved the lives of everyone in the Humvee at the time. Michael, fortunately now back, recovering at Walter Reed. Jim is also back in the country, but their reporting for this story really gave them a very up close sense.

CALLEBS: They were embedded with this...

GIBBS: They were embedded with -- that's right. And, they got to see -- you know, what it is like. They went out on more than 30 patrols through one of the most dangerous sections of Baghdad, to see just how much is being asked of soldiers who weren't necessarily originally trained for the kind of mission that they now face.

CALLEBS: Well, give us the headline. What did they come away with, these correspondents, after spending so much time with the troops.

GIBBS: You know, General Sanchez, the commander on the ground in Iraq -- you know, says it well when he says, this is really now, a platoon leader's war. The decisions are no longer just being made -- you know, by the generals. It really is the soldiers on the ground, who are having to make decisions, often in a split second, about when they're raiding a house, when they might see a child with a weapon -- what do you do? That they're being tested in a way that members of our armed forces seldom have in the past.

CALLEBS: Well Nancy, do you hear any frustration from troops? If they went over there for one mission, did it quickly, did it successfully, and now they are mired in something they didn't sign up for.

GIBBS: You certainly hear frustration as you have in every war from every soldier about everything from the food to the mail to when are they going to get to go home, but you know, one survey that was done of the troops over there found that two-thirds of them said that they thought the war was the right thing to do and they were clear what their mission was. Even though, as we've seen, this mission is one that is constantly changing and challenging them.

CALLEBS: Exactly. Nancy Gibbs, thanks very much for joining us, here from "Time" magazine. And, we should point out, more than 400 have paid the ultimate sacrifice, so certainly honoring the American soldier -- really marines, sailors, as well as, airmen. A very, very good idea.

GIBBS: 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