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Apache Attack Helicopters Arriving in Kuwait

Aired March 11, 2003 - 13:20   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Troops of the 101st Airborne Division training in the deserts of Kuwait are welcoming some close friends. Their Apache attack helicopters are arriving in Kuwait by ship. That's probably a welcome sight for them.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote is with the 101st at Camp Jersey in Kuwait. He join us through the courtesy of the videophone.

Hello, Ryan.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Miles.

Well, close friends, indeed. In fact, Apache attack helicopters provide what the troops call overwatch over them. In other word, if the troops are on the ground and they get into trouble, they can theoretically call up an apache, and that Apache deals with that trouble, usually with a great deal of ease. So they are good friends of the infantry. The Apaches are now on the flight line. We were out there today at Camp Udari, (ph) saw the first of them. They started arriving over the weekend. The first of them on the "USS Stall (ph)." That's a ship that left about three weeks ago. It made its long trek here. Now those Apaches are on the flight line and operational.

Another ship is arriving -- actually arrived today. It's the "USS Bob Hope." Onboard it, more Apache attack helicopters, along with a lot of other helicopters and vehicles.

Once that ship is unloaded, the 101st says they will have enough of what they call their initial combat power to fulfill any mission that the president might give them, that President Bush might give them. That is very significant. Apaches were used extensively in Afghanistan. They were used extensively used in the Gulf War. In fact, they fired the first shot in the Gulf War. So should there be military action in Iraq. You can expect them to be these Apaches used extensively, and you can expect to see them oftentimes even in front of the soldiers taking out targets, making things safe before the soldiers get in harm's way -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Ryan Chilcote, with the 101st, thanks very much.

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 March 11, 2003 - 13:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Troops of the 101st Airborne Division training in the deserts of Kuwait are welcoming some close friends. Their Apache attack helicopters are arriving in Kuwait by ship. That's probably a welcome sight for them.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote is with the 101st at Camp Jersey in Kuwait. He join us through the courtesy of the videophone.

Hello, Ryan.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Miles.

Well, close friends, indeed. In fact, Apache attack helicopters provide what the troops call overwatch over them. In other word, if the troops are on the ground and they get into trouble, they can theoretically call up an apache, and that Apache deals with that trouble, usually with a great deal of ease. So they are good friends of the infantry. The Apaches are now on the flight line. We were out there today at Camp Udari, (ph) saw the first of them. They started arriving over the weekend. The first of them on the "USS Stall (ph)." That's a ship that left about three weeks ago. It made its long trek here. Now those Apaches are on the flight line and operational.

Another ship is arriving -- actually arrived today. It's the "USS Bob Hope." Onboard it, more Apache attack helicopters, along with a lot of other helicopters and vehicles.

Once that ship is unloaded, the 101st says they will have enough of what they call their initial combat power to fulfill any mission that the president might give them, that President Bush might give them. That is very significant. Apaches were used extensively in Afghanistan. They were used extensively used in the Gulf War. In fact, they fired the first shot in the Gulf War. So should there be military action in Iraq. You can expect them to be these Apaches used extensively, and you can expect to see them oftentimes even in front of the soldiers taking out targets, making things safe before the soldiers get in harm's way -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Ryan Chilcote, with the 101st, thanks very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com