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CNN Live Saturday
Coalition Forces Turning Over Security To Iraqis
Aired July 19, 2003 - 18:02 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.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now, more on our top story, U.S. casualties in Iraq. An American soldier guarding a bank was ambushed and killed in an attack in Baghdad earlier today. Four other American soldiers also came under attack.
Our Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson brings us all the latest from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In the ancient city of Babylon south of Baghdad, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz gets a history lesson. At a nearby mass grave a lesson from Iraqis about disappointment in the U.S. handling of security.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are talking a lot about one of the generals and the chief of the command there Muhammed (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He is arrested and then we hear he is free now.
ROBERTSON: A message resonating with residents outside a Baghdad Bank, the scene of the one of the most recent attacks on U.S. troops.
"There was a big bang" says this witness. "We came out and saw smoke and flames and a child and other people injured," the overnight rocket grenade and gun attack killing a U.S. soldier on guard duty.
A few hours later four more U.S. soldiers injured when their vehicle hit a home made bomb. At the same time in Baghdad, the coalition opened recruitment centers hoping to build a new Iraqi army.
"I came to volunteer" he says "because there are no jobs. All youths are jobless."
Coalition plans to build 30 battalions over the next two years. The first battalion recruiting now for about 800 soldiers. Coalition commanders also announcing an aggressive push to build a civil defense corps.
GENERAL RICARDO SANCHEZ, U.S. ARMY: But a key aspect of this force will be that it will put us in touch with the Iraqi people and it will have Iraqis patrolling with us every time we go out there.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Under the conflicting pressures of providing security for Iraqis without overtly trampling on their customs and sensitivities and keeping U.S. troops safe from attack, the evolving coalition plan appears increasingly aimed at speeding the transfer of security to the control of Iraqis.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 July 19, 2003 - 18:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now, more on our top story, U.S. casualties in Iraq. An American soldier guarding a bank was ambushed and killed in an attack in Baghdad earlier today. Four other American soldiers also came under attack.
Our Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson brings us all the latest from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In the ancient city of Babylon south of Baghdad, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz gets a history lesson. At a nearby mass grave a lesson from Iraqis about disappointment in the U.S. handling of security.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are talking a lot about one of the generals and the chief of the command there Muhammed (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He is arrested and then we hear he is free now.
ROBERTSON: A message resonating with residents outside a Baghdad Bank, the scene of the one of the most recent attacks on U.S. troops.
"There was a big bang" says this witness. "We came out and saw smoke and flames and a child and other people injured," the overnight rocket grenade and gun attack killing a U.S. soldier on guard duty.
A few hours later four more U.S. soldiers injured when their vehicle hit a home made bomb. At the same time in Baghdad, the coalition opened recruitment centers hoping to build a new Iraqi army.
"I came to volunteer" he says "because there are no jobs. All youths are jobless."
Coalition plans to build 30 battalions over the next two years. The first battalion recruiting now for about 800 soldiers. Coalition commanders also announcing an aggressive push to build a civil defense corps.
GENERAL RICARDO SANCHEZ, U.S. ARMY: But a key aspect of this force will be that it will put us in touch with the Iraqi people and it will have Iraqis patrolling with us every time we go out there.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Under the conflicting pressures of providing security for Iraqis without overtly trampling on their customs and sensitivities and keeping U.S. troops safe from attack, the evolving coalition plan appears increasingly aimed at speeding the transfer of security to the control of Iraqis.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
