Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
U.S. Troops in Kuwait in Shooting Incident
Aired October 14, 2002 - 14:37 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: The body of a U.S. Marine killed last week in Kuwait has been returned home. U.S. troops training in Kuwait were involved today in their third shooting incident in a week.
CNN's Martin Savidge joins us live from Kuwait City -- Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Carol, from Kuwait City.
There's a little bit of a difference of opinion as to what really may have transpired in the desert of northern Kuwait involving U.S. military forces this morning. The Kuwaiti government is saying that it might have been hunting -- but actually I'm getting ahead of myself -- let me give you the official version, coming from the U.S. Embassy, and that is at 10 minutes of 8:00 this morning in northern Kuwait, in an area that is specifically set for military training, U.S. military units reportedly came under fire from two civilian SUVs that were driving by in the area.
Nobody was hit, nobody was hurt, and the U.S. military forces did not return fire. There have been no arrests. And an investigation is reportedly underway by the Kuwaiti government and U.S. military security forces.
Now, the Kuwaiti government, though, is saying there could be a different explanation. This is bird migration season up there in that part of the desert, and it's very popular for hunting. And they think that may have been what the soldiers heard, not direct fire coming to their position.
Either way, though, U.S. military forces here are somewhat nervous because, as you point out, that was the third shooting incident involving the U.S. military here in Kuwait in just the past week. The most serious, of course, was the one that took place last Tuesday on (UNINTELLIGIBLE), when two attackers struck at U.S. Marines during that training exercise there. One U.S. Marine was killed. Another was injured. The two attackers were gunned down, and there are 15 Kuwaitis that are currently being held awaiting trial in that regard.
So right now, this attack is somewhat up in the air as to whether this was a hunting incident or another direct attack against U.S. forces -- Carol.
LIN: Marty, I'm just wondering what your sense is as an American. Is there a strong anti-American sentiment there in Kuwait? How are you being treated? SAVIDGE: No, absolutely not. In fact, we went out and talked to Kuwaitis about this very subject. Have people changed? People thinking differently about the U.S. military presence here? The answer to that is most definitely no. Most Kuwaitis here that we spoke to were absolutely shocked and horrified by the events of last Tuesday. They say that they have a great deal of respect and a great deal of regard for U.S. military forces. They still remember very well it was the coalition and especially U.S. military forces that liberated Kuwait from Iraqi forces back in 1991. They want the Americans here now -- Carol.
LIN: Thank you very much, Marty Savidge, reporting live from Kuwait City.
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 October 14, 2002 - 14:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The body of a U.S. Marine killed last week in Kuwait has been returned home. U.S. troops training in Kuwait were involved today in their third shooting incident in a week.
CNN's Martin Savidge joins us live from Kuwait City -- Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Carol, from Kuwait City.
There's a little bit of a difference of opinion as to what really may have transpired in the desert of northern Kuwait involving U.S. military forces this morning. The Kuwaiti government is saying that it might have been hunting -- but actually I'm getting ahead of myself -- let me give you the official version, coming from the U.S. Embassy, and that is at 10 minutes of 8:00 this morning in northern Kuwait, in an area that is specifically set for military training, U.S. military units reportedly came under fire from two civilian SUVs that were driving by in the area.
Nobody was hit, nobody was hurt, and the U.S. military forces did not return fire. There have been no arrests. And an investigation is reportedly underway by the Kuwaiti government and U.S. military security forces.
Now, the Kuwaiti government, though, is saying there could be a different explanation. This is bird migration season up there in that part of the desert, and it's very popular for hunting. And they think that may have been what the soldiers heard, not direct fire coming to their position.
Either way, though, U.S. military forces here are somewhat nervous because, as you point out, that was the third shooting incident involving the U.S. military here in Kuwait in just the past week. The most serious, of course, was the one that took place last Tuesday on (UNINTELLIGIBLE), when two attackers struck at U.S. Marines during that training exercise there. One U.S. Marine was killed. Another was injured. The two attackers were gunned down, and there are 15 Kuwaitis that are currently being held awaiting trial in that regard.
So right now, this attack is somewhat up in the air as to whether this was a hunting incident or another direct attack against U.S. forces -- Carol.
LIN: Marty, I'm just wondering what your sense is as an American. Is there a strong anti-American sentiment there in Kuwait? How are you being treated? SAVIDGE: No, absolutely not. In fact, we went out and talked to Kuwaitis about this very subject. Have people changed? People thinking differently about the U.S. military presence here? The answer to that is most definitely no. Most Kuwaitis here that we spoke to were absolutely shocked and horrified by the events of last Tuesday. They say that they have a great deal of respect and a great deal of regard for U.S. military forces. They still remember very well it was the coalition and especially U.S. military forces that liberated Kuwait from Iraqi forces back in 1991. They want the Americans here now -- Carol.
LIN: Thank you very much, Marty Savidge, reporting live from Kuwait City.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
