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CNN Live At Daybreak
Three U.S. Soldiers Killed in Separate Attacks
Aired February 17, 2004 - 06:07 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. casualties in Iraq are mounting. Three American soldiers have been killed and six wounded in separate roadside attacks within a 24-hour period. The latest deadly roadside bombing took place in the northern city of Tall'afar. Two Iraqi children and a missionary have also been killed in other attacks.
It's not easy thwarting those attacks, and increasingly Iraqi police have become targets. That is significant in many ways.
Let's head live to Baghdad now and our bureau chief there, Jane Arraf.
And, Jane, the attacks also slow down the transfer of power, doesn't it?
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: It sure does, Carol. It's all linked to whether this transfer of power will be able to take place to a transitional government and to a country that's essentially secure enough for the U.S. to play a less visible role.
Now, as you mentioned, three separate attacks killing three U.S. soldiers, all of them homemade bombs, and this in the wake of a dramatic attack in Fallujah. Now, this was on an Iraqi police station, and it was thought to be launched by Iraqis. No suggestion here so far of foreign fighters, but an attack by Iraqis on an Iraqi police station that killed about 25 people, most of them police officers -- all in an apparent attempt to free about 70 prisoners.
Now, in the wake of that, of course, people are asking questions about whether the Iraqi security forces are ready to take over. The U.S. answer is in Fallujah, certainly not, but in other places they hope they're coming up to speed -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jane Arraf reporting live from Baghdad 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 February 17, 2004 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. casualties in Iraq are mounting. Three American soldiers have been killed and six wounded in separate roadside attacks within a 24-hour period. The latest deadly roadside bombing took place in the northern city of Tall'afar. Two Iraqi children and a missionary have also been killed in other attacks.
It's not easy thwarting those attacks, and increasingly Iraqi police have become targets. That is significant in many ways.
Let's head live to Baghdad now and our bureau chief there, Jane Arraf.
And, Jane, the attacks also slow down the transfer of power, doesn't it?
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: It sure does, Carol. It's all linked to whether this transfer of power will be able to take place to a transitional government and to a country that's essentially secure enough for the U.S. to play a less visible role.
Now, as you mentioned, three separate attacks killing three U.S. soldiers, all of them homemade bombs, and this in the wake of a dramatic attack in Fallujah. Now, this was on an Iraqi police station, and it was thought to be launched by Iraqis. No suggestion here so far of foreign fighters, but an attack by Iraqis on an Iraqi police station that killed about 25 people, most of them police officers -- all in an apparent attempt to free about 70 prisoners.
Now, in the wake of that, of course, people are asking questions about whether the Iraqi security forces are ready to take over. The U.S. answer is in Fallujah, certainly not, but in other places they hope they're coming up to speed -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jane Arraf reporting live from Baghdad 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.
