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One American Killed, Another Wounded in Kuwait Shooting

Aired January 21, 2003 - 13:07   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: A hit on an American contract worker in Kuwait. The assailants opened fire on a SUV, killing one American and wounding a second. CNN's Martin Savidge is in Kuwait city to tell us the latest on this story -- Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra. The American who was killed in that attack has now been identified as 46-year-old Michael Rene Pouliot of San Diego, California. Authorities have not released the identity of the American who was severely wounded in that attack. There is a very large manhunt that is underway in Kuwait tonight, as well as a very large investigation to try exactly -- try to determine, that is, what happened precisely, and who may have been responsible, and to that end authorities may catch a break.

It turns out that the intersection where this shooting took place is monitored by television cameras, cameras that are used to normally monitor the flow of traffic. Kuwaiti authorities say they are now reviewing those tapes to see if they actually captured the attack on video, and if so, if there's anything on that videotape that may help them identify who the attackers were.

Unclear at this point if there was just one gunman or perhaps more. The incident happened around 9:20 this morning as the two Americans were driving in an SUV on a highway that is about three kilometers away from Camp Doha, the largest U.S. military installation in Kuwait. They came to this intersection where there is a traffic light. Authorities speculate it might have been red or that they had slowed down in some way, and that the gunman was lying in wait in the bushes and trees that line the roadway there and opened fire. The car or SUV was hit at least 24 times. The passenger is the man who was killed instantly. The driver is the one who was wounded. He was taken to a nearby hospital, and then transported once more to the Al Razi Hospital, where he underwent five hours of surgery. Here's how his doctor described his wounds and injuries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MELENKO KIRSIC, AL RAZI HOSPITAL: The prognosis, if there will be no complications which might be with such type of injuries, which -- mainly the infection, is rather good, although the upper arm fracture is bad, Type I (ph). So if there would be no complication regarding the bone healing or the blood supply to the humeral head (ph), prognosis is rather good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: His doctor says the wounded American is a very lucky man. He was shot at least four times. He's listed in stable condition at this hour and under guard by Kuwaiti police for his own protection. No one has claimed responsibility so far -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Marty, let's talk about security for a moment. You and I both spending time in this area, we know that sailors and Marines and soldiers are under strict regulations and guidelines on when they can come in and out of military installations, and what kind of safety precautions they have to take. But what about these contract workers? Are they told specifically how to come back and forth, and are they warned about security issues?

SAVIDGE: Well, I'm sure there is a security brief for all American personnel, be they civilian or military, that have contact with U.S. military forces, and specifically that would work at Camp Doha. There have been a number of incidents previous in Kuwait, some of them have also been fatal.

You may remember, back in October, the Marine that was killed during an attack, the gunmen were shot dead after it. So it is clear that security is on the mind of U.S. authorities here. They would give such a brief, but still, how do you protect the entire nation from an incident like this? And that is what is worrisome not only to the Kuwaiti government, but U.S. military officials as well. It's hard to prevent something like this -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: What about you and your crew, Marty? I mean, you've got to go out on the streets and work stories. How do you feel about this, and are you thinking about security in a different manner?

SAVIDGE: I always think about security. There's not a place I don't go in the world that I don't somehow think about security, and it does cross your mind, there is no doubt about it. We do take precautions. We do accept the advice of experts when it comes to our own safety. We'd be foolish not to. But there's still a story that has to be covered, and I don't know any way to go out there and get it without going in person -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Live from Kuwait, our Martin Savidge. Point well made. 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 January 21, 2003 - 13:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A hit on an American contract worker in Kuwait. The assailants opened fire on a SUV, killing one American and wounding a second. CNN's Martin Savidge is in Kuwait city to tell us the latest on this story -- Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra. The American who was killed in that attack has now been identified as 46-year-old Michael Rene Pouliot of San Diego, California. Authorities have not released the identity of the American who was severely wounded in that attack. There is a very large manhunt that is underway in Kuwait tonight, as well as a very large investigation to try exactly -- try to determine, that is, what happened precisely, and who may have been responsible, and to that end authorities may catch a break.

It turns out that the intersection where this shooting took place is monitored by television cameras, cameras that are used to normally monitor the flow of traffic. Kuwaiti authorities say they are now reviewing those tapes to see if they actually captured the attack on video, and if so, if there's anything on that videotape that may help them identify who the attackers were.

Unclear at this point if there was just one gunman or perhaps more. The incident happened around 9:20 this morning as the two Americans were driving in an SUV on a highway that is about three kilometers away from Camp Doha, the largest U.S. military installation in Kuwait. They came to this intersection where there is a traffic light. Authorities speculate it might have been red or that they had slowed down in some way, and that the gunman was lying in wait in the bushes and trees that line the roadway there and opened fire. The car or SUV was hit at least 24 times. The passenger is the man who was killed instantly. The driver is the one who was wounded. He was taken to a nearby hospital, and then transported once more to the Al Razi Hospital, where he underwent five hours of surgery. Here's how his doctor described his wounds and injuries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MELENKO KIRSIC, AL RAZI HOSPITAL: The prognosis, if there will be no complications which might be with such type of injuries, which -- mainly the infection, is rather good, although the upper arm fracture is bad, Type I (ph). So if there would be no complication regarding the bone healing or the blood supply to the humeral head (ph), prognosis is rather good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: His doctor says the wounded American is a very lucky man. He was shot at least four times. He's listed in stable condition at this hour and under guard by Kuwaiti police for his own protection. No one has claimed responsibility so far -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Marty, let's talk about security for a moment. You and I both spending time in this area, we know that sailors and Marines and soldiers are under strict regulations and guidelines on when they can come in and out of military installations, and what kind of safety precautions they have to take. But what about these contract workers? Are they told specifically how to come back and forth, and are they warned about security issues?

SAVIDGE: Well, I'm sure there is a security brief for all American personnel, be they civilian or military, that have contact with U.S. military forces, and specifically that would work at Camp Doha. There have been a number of incidents previous in Kuwait, some of them have also been fatal.

You may remember, back in October, the Marine that was killed during an attack, the gunmen were shot dead after it. So it is clear that security is on the mind of U.S. authorities here. They would give such a brief, but still, how do you protect the entire nation from an incident like this? And that is what is worrisome not only to the Kuwaiti government, but U.S. military officials as well. It's hard to prevent something like this -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: What about you and your crew, Marty? I mean, you've got to go out on the streets and work stories. How do you feel about this, and are you thinking about security in a different manner?

SAVIDGE: I always think about security. There's not a place I don't go in the world that I don't somehow think about security, and it does cross your mind, there is no doubt about it. We do take precautions. We do accept the advice of experts when it comes to our own safety. We'd be foolish not to. But there's still a story that has to be covered, and I don't know any way to go out there and get it without going in person -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Live from Kuwait, our Martin Savidge. Point well made. 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