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CNN Live At Daybreak
Several Explosions Overnight in Central Baghdad
Aired December 12, 2003 - 05:33 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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there have been several explosions overnight and within the last hour in central Baghdad. Some of them occurring in the high security green zone, where the U.S.-led coalition has its headquarters in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces. Now, despite the explosions, coalition officials say no Americans have been hurt and damage has been minor. Coalition headquarters were targeted last month, as well.
Now, some time this morning we're expecting a decision in the case against Army Lieutenant Colonel Allen West. He is accused of using improper interrogation methods on an Iraqi detainee.
CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh joins us now on the video phone from Tikrit with more details on this -- Alphonso, is there a decision yet?
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not a decision yet, but we understand in a matter of four or five hours the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division may hand down his decision on the case against Lieutenant Colonel Allen West. As you mentioned, he is accused of threatening to kill an Iraqi detainee, of firing his gun near the detainee's head and of allowing his subordinates to actually beat on the detainee after interrogation did not go as well as the Americans wanted it to.
Now, West admits to the charges. He said that he did it. But he says that he did it to get the detainee talking about an alleged assassination plot against West and his troops and he says he did it to save American lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIET. COL. ALLEN WEST: I love the fact that for 20 years I've been a soldier and it's been an honor to serve my country.
MAJ. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, U.S. ARMY: As a leader, you have extra responsibility on it. And that's really the issue here is as a leader what is your responsibility, as a leader. And so that's what I've got to pick through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAN MARSH: Now, it sounds like to me you just heard a statement from the major general -- that's Raymond Odierno -- who was talking about what a difficult decision it would be for him to make. And this is why. Northern Alliance investigating officer has turned in his report based on this incident, saying that the major general has three choices. He could choose to do nothing or he could choose to refer the case to a court martial and if Lieutenant Colonel West is found in violation, he could face up to 11 years in prison. Or he may do what the investigating officer has recommended, and that's issue an Article 15. That's an administrative punishment that has a wide number of options. For example, Lieutenant Colonel West could lose some of his pay or he could lose some of his rank. Technically, he could be ordered to peel potatoes, though a lot of people think that's not going to happen.
We expect the lieutenant colonel to sit down with the commanding general about four or five hours from now and as soon as we get that decision, of course, we'll pass it on to you.
LIN: Alphonso, how much international pressure is weighing in on whatever the decision might be?
VAN MARSH: Well, I'm here at one of the bases in Tikrit in central Iraq and I'm spending a lot of time talking to soldiers and whatnot. And I can tell you what I'm hearing here on the base. A lot of soldiers, a lot of troops here are saying that they want Lieutenant Colonel West to be absolved of the charges because it sends a message on what the top brass, how the top brass thinks about how the rank and file are acting. They're saying this is a very unconventional war and perhaps it's time to think of some very unconventional methods to get information to stop attacks on U.S. troops.
LIN: All right, that decision coming down in about four or five hours.
Thank you very much, Alphonso Van Marsh, covering for us in Tikrit.
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 12, 2003 - 05:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there have been several explosions overnight and within the last hour in central Baghdad. Some of them occurring in the high security green zone, where the U.S.-led coalition has its headquarters in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces. Now, despite the explosions, coalition officials say no Americans have been hurt and damage has been minor. Coalition headquarters were targeted last month, as well.
Now, some time this morning we're expecting a decision in the case against Army Lieutenant Colonel Allen West. He is accused of using improper interrogation methods on an Iraqi detainee.
CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh joins us now on the video phone from Tikrit with more details on this -- Alphonso, is there a decision yet?
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not a decision yet, but we understand in a matter of four or five hours the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division may hand down his decision on the case against Lieutenant Colonel Allen West. As you mentioned, he is accused of threatening to kill an Iraqi detainee, of firing his gun near the detainee's head and of allowing his subordinates to actually beat on the detainee after interrogation did not go as well as the Americans wanted it to.
Now, West admits to the charges. He said that he did it. But he says that he did it to get the detainee talking about an alleged assassination plot against West and his troops and he says he did it to save American lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIET. COL. ALLEN WEST: I love the fact that for 20 years I've been a soldier and it's been an honor to serve my country.
MAJ. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, U.S. ARMY: As a leader, you have extra responsibility on it. And that's really the issue here is as a leader what is your responsibility, as a leader. And so that's what I've got to pick through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAN MARSH: Now, it sounds like to me you just heard a statement from the major general -- that's Raymond Odierno -- who was talking about what a difficult decision it would be for him to make. And this is why. Northern Alliance investigating officer has turned in his report based on this incident, saying that the major general has three choices. He could choose to do nothing or he could choose to refer the case to a court martial and if Lieutenant Colonel West is found in violation, he could face up to 11 years in prison. Or he may do what the investigating officer has recommended, and that's issue an Article 15. That's an administrative punishment that has a wide number of options. For example, Lieutenant Colonel West could lose some of his pay or he could lose some of his rank. Technically, he could be ordered to peel potatoes, though a lot of people think that's not going to happen.
We expect the lieutenant colonel to sit down with the commanding general about four or five hours from now and as soon as we get that decision, of course, we'll pass it on to you.
LIN: Alphonso, how much international pressure is weighing in on whatever the decision might be?
VAN MARSH: Well, I'm here at one of the bases in Tikrit in central Iraq and I'm spending a lot of time talking to soldiers and whatnot. And I can tell you what I'm hearing here on the base. A lot of soldiers, a lot of troops here are saying that they want Lieutenant Colonel West to be absolved of the charges because it sends a message on what the top brass, how the top brass thinks about how the rank and file are acting. They're saying this is a very unconventional war and perhaps it's time to think of some very unconventional methods to get information to stop attacks on U.S. troops.
LIN: All right, that decision coming down in about four or five hours.
Thank you very much, Alphonso Van Marsh, covering for us in Tikrit.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
