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Navy Continues Persian Gulf Build-Up
Aired November 15, 2002 - 14:36 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Kyra Phillips -- she has been reporting on U.S. troops training for possible action against Iraq.
She is joining us live with what is essentially "Must-See TV." Some very fascinating footage about the training of U.S. Navy SEALS.
Kyra, it is great to see you. What do you have?
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Marty.
Well, if a war with Iraq has to happen you'll definitely see air strikes and, yes, huge force also, not only by land and air, but also from the sea. And that's where the naval special warfare finds its comfort zone within the combat zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS (voice-over): God, country and fast boats.
Speed, stealth and surprise.
Two mantras from navy men with one mission. Combat readiness for sea, air, and land.
You're witnessing naval special warfare, from the rib boats to the Mark 5 special operations craft.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a very low radar signature. We can maneuver extremely well. We can get in and out of places virtually undetected.
PHILLIPS: Navy SEALS and combatant crewmen training together for a potential war against Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're very small. We're elite. We're a tight-knit unit and we can do the kinds of things that others just simply can't.
PHILLIPS: For reasons of military security, we cannot identify these men. We can't even tell you where we are.
But we can show you how these unique warriors train for the nature of their battle ground: the Persian Gulf.
(on camera): The perfect case scenario with any SEALS mission is to get in and out of an area without being seen or heard. But in a high threat situation, these men say anything is possible with enemy forces. So weapons proficiency is paramount.
(voice-over): Firing 50 caliber machine guns and grenade launchers, not easy at sea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Primarily being able to maintain a bead on a target, as you're trying to manually compensate for the pitch and the roll of the small craft, is -- it's both a science and an art form.
PHILLIPS: But marksmanship is just one tool in the special operations arsenal. These frogmen say they're real weapon here is stealth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is basic pistol belt, got the pistol in a holster. Got a little flashlight in here. This is for spare pistol mags -- this is a weapons catch for primary weapon -- move that off to the side and keep that out of the way.
PHILLIPS: Prepared for closed quarter battle, SEALS depend on the Zodiac, moving them to and from any clandestine operation quickly, from underwater recon to demolition.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's small, hard to detect. We can fit a lot of guys, a lot of gear in it. Something happens to it under way while we're out working, we can actually repair it while out to sea.
PHILLIPS: Out to sea, training for every eventuality, day and night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At a moment's notice, whenever the call comes, we are ready, trained, prepared and rehearsed to perform our role, whatever that role may be.
PHILLIPS: A role these men are confident will make a real difference in any conflict with Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS (on camera): Now, Marty, the assets and abilities don't stop there. These men in special ops are parachutists, underwater navigators, combat divers and expert swimmers. They also conduct advanced surveillance, figuring out the location, the routes and the activity of enemy forces -- Marty.
PHILLIPS: Very impressive, Kyra.
Do these SEALS believe they're going to be active anytime soon?
PHILLIPS: Well, it's not a matter of whether they'll believe they're active anytime soon, Marty. As you well know, you spent time out here, they got to be ready to go at a moment's notice. A combatant crewmen, also the SEALS training on a regular basis, ready to go at any moment.
Of course, they don't want to go to war. But if, indeed, it has to happen, they're ready for it.
SAVIDGE: Absolutely. Kyra Phillips, thanks for the wild ride.
We'll see you soon. Be safe.
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 November 15, 2002 - 14:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Kyra Phillips -- she has been reporting on U.S. troops training for possible action against Iraq.
She is joining us live with what is essentially "Must-See TV." Some very fascinating footage about the training of U.S. Navy SEALS.
Kyra, it is great to see you. What do you have?
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Marty.
Well, if a war with Iraq has to happen you'll definitely see air strikes and, yes, huge force also, not only by land and air, but also from the sea. And that's where the naval special warfare finds its comfort zone within the combat zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS (voice-over): God, country and fast boats.
Speed, stealth and surprise.
Two mantras from navy men with one mission. Combat readiness for sea, air, and land.
You're witnessing naval special warfare, from the rib boats to the Mark 5 special operations craft.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a very low radar signature. We can maneuver extremely well. We can get in and out of places virtually undetected.
PHILLIPS: Navy SEALS and combatant crewmen training together for a potential war against Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're very small. We're elite. We're a tight-knit unit and we can do the kinds of things that others just simply can't.
PHILLIPS: For reasons of military security, we cannot identify these men. We can't even tell you where we are.
But we can show you how these unique warriors train for the nature of their battle ground: the Persian Gulf.
(on camera): The perfect case scenario with any SEALS mission is to get in and out of an area without being seen or heard. But in a high threat situation, these men say anything is possible with enemy forces. So weapons proficiency is paramount.
(voice-over): Firing 50 caliber machine guns and grenade launchers, not easy at sea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Primarily being able to maintain a bead on a target, as you're trying to manually compensate for the pitch and the roll of the small craft, is -- it's both a science and an art form.
PHILLIPS: But marksmanship is just one tool in the special operations arsenal. These frogmen say they're real weapon here is stealth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is basic pistol belt, got the pistol in a holster. Got a little flashlight in here. This is for spare pistol mags -- this is a weapons catch for primary weapon -- move that off to the side and keep that out of the way.
PHILLIPS: Prepared for closed quarter battle, SEALS depend on the Zodiac, moving them to and from any clandestine operation quickly, from underwater recon to demolition.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's small, hard to detect. We can fit a lot of guys, a lot of gear in it. Something happens to it under way while we're out working, we can actually repair it while out to sea.
PHILLIPS: Out to sea, training for every eventuality, day and night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At a moment's notice, whenever the call comes, we are ready, trained, prepared and rehearsed to perform our role, whatever that role may be.
PHILLIPS: A role these men are confident will make a real difference in any conflict with Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS (on camera): Now, Marty, the assets and abilities don't stop there. These men in special ops are parachutists, underwater navigators, combat divers and expert swimmers. They also conduct advanced surveillance, figuring out the location, the routes and the activity of enemy forces -- Marty.
PHILLIPS: Very impressive, Kyra.
Do these SEALS believe they're going to be active anytime soon?
PHILLIPS: Well, it's not a matter of whether they'll believe they're active anytime soon, Marty. As you well know, you spent time out here, they got to be ready to go at a moment's notice. A combatant crewmen, also the SEALS training on a regular basis, ready to go at any moment.
Of course, they don't want to go to war. But if, indeed, it has to happen, they're ready for it.
SAVIDGE: Absolutely. Kyra Phillips, thanks for the wild ride.
We'll see you soon. Be safe.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
