Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Marines Arriving for Exercise in Kuwait
Aired September 25, 2002 - 14:07 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More than 2,000 Marines came ashore on a Kuwaiti island today, but officials say Eager Mace, as the joint maneuvers are called, is a regularly scheduled exercise, no more, no less.
CNN's Martin Savidge has a front-row seat, and he joins us now via videophone from Kuwait City -- Marty.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Kyra. Yes, the Marines came in, actually, yesterday and today, have been arriving -- about a thousand of them came in the first wave, and they are preparing -- haven't started yet, but getting ready for, as you mentioned, Operation Eager Mace -- that is a month-long military exercise in conjunction with Kuwaiti military forces. It will involve amphibious landing craft, aircraft overhead, also ground forces as well.
Taking place on Bubiyan Island, very close to the Iraqi border. The Marines came in on two U.S. Navy warships. That would be the USS Denver and also the USS Mount Vernon.
These are members of the 11th MEU. They come out of Camp Pendleton, California. MEU stands for Marine Expeditionary Unit, a name that became familiar to many in Afghanistan. These fighting forces are designed to be self-contained, for at least 15 days out in the field. Many MEUs -- there are a number of them in Afghanistan -- managed to support themselves for a lot longer than that. They bring heavy equipment. They bring everything they need to be self- sufficient out in the field.
And of course, they are coming here for training, but the clear advantage is they spend 30 days, or more, perhaps training with Kuwaiti forces. They learn the terrain. The learn the territory, the temperature, they learn everything about the region, and, of course, very close to Iraq.
So if need be, military strategists could keep the Marines here if they see a future purpose for them, if the military option is played.
That is one exercise. There is another one that is also getting underway on the part of the U.S. Army. Again, as you mentioned, they are stressing here, normal, it had been scheduled far in advance. But as we also point out, it certainly is pretty handy at this particular time -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Martin, what do you know about this other ship that is supposed to be arriving?
SAVIDGE: Well, as you know, Kyra, a MEU is usually made up of about 2,200 Marines. Only have a thousand that have come ashore so far, that we know of.
That is because the major amphibious assault ship, I believe it is Belleau Wood, is not here. It is normally part of this MEU, but it is still sitting off of the Cape of Africa, Cape Horn, I should point out, down near the small nation of Djibouti, and there are a number of U.S. Special Forces down there, and whether or not there is any operation impending remains to be seen, but that is where that vessel is, so half of this unit that would be training up here is still down there. The question is, will they eventually come here, and if so, when is that going to take place?
Right now, apparently they are needed elsewhere -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Martin Savidge from Kuwait City. Thanks Marty.
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 September 25, 2002 - 14:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More than 2,000 Marines came ashore on a Kuwaiti island today, but officials say Eager Mace, as the joint maneuvers are called, is a regularly scheduled exercise, no more, no less.
CNN's Martin Savidge has a front-row seat, and he joins us now via videophone from Kuwait City -- Marty.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Kyra. Yes, the Marines came in, actually, yesterday and today, have been arriving -- about a thousand of them came in the first wave, and they are preparing -- haven't started yet, but getting ready for, as you mentioned, Operation Eager Mace -- that is a month-long military exercise in conjunction with Kuwaiti military forces. It will involve amphibious landing craft, aircraft overhead, also ground forces as well.
Taking place on Bubiyan Island, very close to the Iraqi border. The Marines came in on two U.S. Navy warships. That would be the USS Denver and also the USS Mount Vernon.
These are members of the 11th MEU. They come out of Camp Pendleton, California. MEU stands for Marine Expeditionary Unit, a name that became familiar to many in Afghanistan. These fighting forces are designed to be self-contained, for at least 15 days out in the field. Many MEUs -- there are a number of them in Afghanistan -- managed to support themselves for a lot longer than that. They bring heavy equipment. They bring everything they need to be self- sufficient out in the field.
And of course, they are coming here for training, but the clear advantage is they spend 30 days, or more, perhaps training with Kuwaiti forces. They learn the terrain. The learn the territory, the temperature, they learn everything about the region, and, of course, very close to Iraq.
So if need be, military strategists could keep the Marines here if they see a future purpose for them, if the military option is played.
That is one exercise. There is another one that is also getting underway on the part of the U.S. Army. Again, as you mentioned, they are stressing here, normal, it had been scheduled far in advance. But as we also point out, it certainly is pretty handy at this particular time -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Martin, what do you know about this other ship that is supposed to be arriving?
SAVIDGE: Well, as you know, Kyra, a MEU is usually made up of about 2,200 Marines. Only have a thousand that have come ashore so far, that we know of.
That is because the major amphibious assault ship, I believe it is Belleau Wood, is not here. It is normally part of this MEU, but it is still sitting off of the Cape of Africa, Cape Horn, I should point out, down near the small nation of Djibouti, and there are a number of U.S. Special Forces down there, and whether or not there is any operation impending remains to be seen, but that is where that vessel is, so half of this unit that would be training up here is still down there. The question is, will they eventually come here, and if so, when is that going to take place?
Right now, apparently they are needed elsewhere -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Martin Savidge from Kuwait City. Thanks Marty.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
