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CNN Live At Daybreak
Mission in Iraq: Suicide Car Bombing
Aired February 23, 2004 - 05:44 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: Let's go quickly to Iraq right now where the week has gotten off to a bloody start.
Brent Sadler joins us live from Baghdad to tell us about this latest explosion in Kirkuk.
Hello -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, good morning, Carol.
There has been another suicide bomb attack again against an Iraqi police station in the northern city of Kirkuk. This one of a string of recent attacks against the newly emerging security forces in Iraq, specifically the police themselves.
Now this method of attack pitted one. We have seen recently here a vehicle packed with explosives, managed apparently to crash at least the outer perimeter of the police station and get part way inside the compound. This happened at a busy time of day when police officers were briefing their men on operations of the day.
Now at about the same time as we were getting reports about this bomb explosion and the aftermath, dozens of injured and at least 10 dead, the U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was paying a visit to Baghdad. A visit clouded in secrecy because of the security nature of the defense secretary's movements. But while he was in the 10th Armored Cavalry Division, it was certainly pointed out by Mr. Rumsfeld that the Iraqi police and other security force units here from the Iraqis are now bearing the brunt of the hostilities. That they are, if you like, in the front line trying to help create the new Iraq and Mr. Rumsfeld was very key on praising a handful of Iraqi police he met in Baghdad earlier today -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Are Iraqis still lining up to become police officers in light of this new gorilla tactic -- Brent?
SADLER: Well, Carol, this has to be one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. And incredibly, yes, recruitment figures maintain strong and about 200,000 Iraqis in all the various security units have now signed on and are continuing to sign on even amidst this continuing bloodshed -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Brent Sadler 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 23, 2004 - 05:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go quickly to Iraq right now where the week has gotten off to a bloody start.
Brent Sadler joins us live from Baghdad to tell us about this latest explosion in Kirkuk.
Hello -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, good morning, Carol.
There has been another suicide bomb attack again against an Iraqi police station in the northern city of Kirkuk. This one of a string of recent attacks against the newly emerging security forces in Iraq, specifically the police themselves.
Now this method of attack pitted one. We have seen recently here a vehicle packed with explosives, managed apparently to crash at least the outer perimeter of the police station and get part way inside the compound. This happened at a busy time of day when police officers were briefing their men on operations of the day.
Now at about the same time as we were getting reports about this bomb explosion and the aftermath, dozens of injured and at least 10 dead, the U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was paying a visit to Baghdad. A visit clouded in secrecy because of the security nature of the defense secretary's movements. But while he was in the 10th Armored Cavalry Division, it was certainly pointed out by Mr. Rumsfeld that the Iraqi police and other security force units here from the Iraqis are now bearing the brunt of the hostilities. That they are, if you like, in the front line trying to help create the new Iraq and Mr. Rumsfeld was very key on praising a handful of Iraqi police he met in Baghdad earlier today -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Are Iraqis still lining up to become police officers in light of this new gorilla tactic -- Brent?
SADLER: Well, Carol, this has to be one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. And incredibly, yes, recruitment figures maintain strong and about 200,000 Iraqis in all the various security units have now signed on and are continuing to sign on even amidst this continuing bloodshed -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Brent Sadler 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
