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CNN Live At Daybreak

New Year's Celebrations in Iraq

Aired January 01, 2004 - 06:05   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: They can't drink champagne, dance with their spouses or squeeze into Times Square. So, how did U.S. troops in Iraq celebrate the new year?
For the answer, we take you live to Tikrit now and CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh.

Good morning -- Alphonso. Happy new year.

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning and happy new year to you.

I have to say here in Saddam Hussein's hometown, the former Iraqi leader spent his new year in U.S. custody at an undisclosed location. But here at Fort Operating Base Raider, U.S. troops from the 4th Infantry Division -- the ones that helped catch the former Iraqi leader -- actually had a subdued new year.

At midnight, it was actually quiet here, but earlier on in the evening -- in that evening, fireworks over the skies of sorts for another ceremony called a combat patch ceremony. That allows troops that have served more than 30 days in what the U.S. calls Operation Iraqi Freedom get to wear that new dark green and brown patch on their right shoulder.

It's more of a pomp and circumstance and traditional ceremony. A lot of these troops actually got that patch earlier on this summer, but the ceremony was a little bit of a celebration, a way for the troops to kind of unwind and enjoy some of the New Year's festivities.

Back to you.

COSTELLO: Alphonso Van Marsh reporting live from Tikrit, Iraq, this morning.

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 January 1, 2004 - 06:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: They can't drink champagne, dance with their spouses or squeeze into Times Square. So, how did U.S. troops in Iraq celebrate the new year?
For the answer, we take you live to Tikrit now and CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh.

Good morning -- Alphonso. Happy new year.

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning and happy new year to you.

I have to say here in Saddam Hussein's hometown, the former Iraqi leader spent his new year in U.S. custody at an undisclosed location. But here at Fort Operating Base Raider, U.S. troops from the 4th Infantry Division -- the ones that helped catch the former Iraqi leader -- actually had a subdued new year.

At midnight, it was actually quiet here, but earlier on in the evening -- in that evening, fireworks over the skies of sorts for another ceremony called a combat patch ceremony. That allows troops that have served more than 30 days in what the U.S. calls Operation Iraqi Freedom get to wear that new dark green and brown patch on their right shoulder.

It's more of a pomp and circumstance and traditional ceremony. A lot of these troops actually got that patch earlier on this summer, but the ceremony was a little bit of a celebration, a way for the troops to kind of unwind and enjoy some of the New Year's festivities.

Back to you.

COSTELLO: Alphonso Van Marsh reporting live from Tikrit, Iraq, this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.