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Live From...

Interview With Cmdr. Paul Haas

Aired March 14, 2003 - 13:39   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: By sea or by air, the USS Abraham Lincoln has it covered. The Navy carrier and its crew are in the Persian Gulf, they are preparing for possible war. And on the mission is our Kyra Phillips, who joins us live right now. She is on the flight deck -- Kyra, hello.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi. Good to hear your voice. We are here on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. You are probably wondering why you can't see me that well. That is because we have to use the red light out here. Right now, they're stacking the deck on the flight deck. All the aircraft, getting them all put together for flight operations tomorrow.

All the pilots have already put in their 18-hour days today. So now the crew is out here, getting things ready for tomorrow. Now, this is the first time we've been able to come to you live via a flight deck, especially in combat theater on a Navy aircraft carrier. Another first thing that is happening is that journalists are embedded for the first time for this possible conflict in Iraq in various areas, various parts of the military.

We're with the Navy here on the carrier. Something else very unique is the situation for everybody aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. We are lucky enough to be able to spend time with our escorts, which happen to be a squadron, a squadron that I spent time with here on the Abraham Lincoln a few months ago, the F-14 Tomcat.

Commander Paul Haas is the commander of that squadron. We're going to talk a little bit about how we've been embedded here. Something new to me, something new to you. Be honest with me. What do you think about the fact that journalists, for the first time, are embedded like this as we possibly enter a war in the next few weeks?

CMDR. PAUL HAAS, U.S. NAVY: It's an interesting concept. It's new to me. I think it is new to everybody on the boat, but quite frankly I think it's a great opportunity for us to be able to tell our story, and maybe share with the folks back home a glimpse into what it is that we do out here that otherwise they wouldn't get a chance to see.

PHILLIPS: And Commander, let's talk about the folks back home. Before I came out here, we were covering a lot of anti-war demonstrations. A lot of people that don't want a war in Iraq. You're out here, eight months now, a couple months longer than your usual deployment. How do you respond to those folks back home that don't want a war? HAAS: It's part of what makes our country great. Everybody has a right to their opinion. Everybody has a right to express themselves, and it's that way every day, day in and day out in our country. There are other countries in the world that don't have -- the citizens don't have that opportunity. I think it's great. If folks feel...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

PHILLIPS: There we go. That is the handler right now. They're organizing the aircraft for fight operations. Go ahead, please finish your thought.

HAAS: I think if people feel passionate about something, they should get out and speak their minds. That is great, that is what makes our country great.

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, the training continues. Things are stepping up. How are you keeping the pilots on the edge? I mean, you are tired. You are frustrated. Dates are changing. You're really not quite sure when it's going to happen. There's a lot of talk of changing of dates.

HAAS: I think, appealing to -- it isn't just the air crew. It's the wonderful maintainers that work on the airplanes. It's the crew on the ship. It's everybody that makes this 5,000-person floating city run.

Appealing to their professionalism and their commitment, reminding them why we're all here, why we raised our right hands and all swore an oath to protect and defend. There's that part of it. So you kind of get -- get to some of the deeper instincts, and then you have to do some things to make it fun, too, just to sort of break the monotony. We had a plane wash out here the other day, where some of the officers got up and did some of the work that some of the junior airmen usually do, and that was a lot of fun for everybody. It turned into a big water fight, so that was great.

PHILLIPS: Got to keep your sense of humor.

HAAS: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Commander Paul Haas, thank you so much. We'll be talking to you, of course, as time continues, and as we spend a number of weeks out here together. Hopefully, we'll be wrapping up soon.

HAAS: I hope so, too.

PHILLIPS: Thank you so much.

HAAS: Thank you, ma'am.

PHILLIPS: All right, guys, we go back to you (ph). We will be bringing more reports to you in the next couple of weeks as things develop. I can tell you, the planning continues. And also, as the commander said, the chances for relaxation and trying to keep things in perspective, on a human level, also continues -- back to you.

KAGAN: Kyra, our viewers are used to sitting you -- seeing you sit in the seat where I am. I am filling in for you today. Give us a better idea of what it means to be embedded, the conditions that you and our crew are living on board this ship, and how long will you be there.

PHILLIPS: That's a really good question. When we first arrived, and we got into our berthing areas, we arrived later than the other journalists. There are almost 30 of us on board, and we have the pleasure of sleeping in nice, comfortable cots.

It is not as bad as you probably think, but it is tight quarters. There's about eight of us journalists in a small berthing area. We eat with everybody. We're sleeping at the same time with everybody. We're out here working, putting in those long days with everybody. And truly getting a sense of what it's like to be out here, preparing for a possible war. Of course, a lot of things I can't talk about. That if, indeed, things get underway, I'll be able to tell you a lot more.

KAGAN: All right. Well, we look forward to those reports. And, of course, it goes without saying, be safe out there, and take care of our CNN crew, as well. Kyra Phillips, on board the USS Abraham.

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 14, 2003 - 13:39   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: By sea or by air, the USS Abraham Lincoln has it covered. The Navy carrier and its crew are in the Persian Gulf, they are preparing for possible war. And on the mission is our Kyra Phillips, who joins us live right now. She is on the flight deck -- Kyra, hello.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi. Good to hear your voice. We are here on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. You are probably wondering why you can't see me that well. That is because we have to use the red light out here. Right now, they're stacking the deck on the flight deck. All the aircraft, getting them all put together for flight operations tomorrow.

All the pilots have already put in their 18-hour days today. So now the crew is out here, getting things ready for tomorrow. Now, this is the first time we've been able to come to you live via a flight deck, especially in combat theater on a Navy aircraft carrier. Another first thing that is happening is that journalists are embedded for the first time for this possible conflict in Iraq in various areas, various parts of the military.

We're with the Navy here on the carrier. Something else very unique is the situation for everybody aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. We are lucky enough to be able to spend time with our escorts, which happen to be a squadron, a squadron that I spent time with here on the Abraham Lincoln a few months ago, the F-14 Tomcat.

Commander Paul Haas is the commander of that squadron. We're going to talk a little bit about how we've been embedded here. Something new to me, something new to you. Be honest with me. What do you think about the fact that journalists, for the first time, are embedded like this as we possibly enter a war in the next few weeks?

CMDR. PAUL HAAS, U.S. NAVY: It's an interesting concept. It's new to me. I think it is new to everybody on the boat, but quite frankly I think it's a great opportunity for us to be able to tell our story, and maybe share with the folks back home a glimpse into what it is that we do out here that otherwise they wouldn't get a chance to see.

PHILLIPS: And Commander, let's talk about the folks back home. Before I came out here, we were covering a lot of anti-war demonstrations. A lot of people that don't want a war in Iraq. You're out here, eight months now, a couple months longer than your usual deployment. How do you respond to those folks back home that don't want a war? HAAS: It's part of what makes our country great. Everybody has a right to their opinion. Everybody has a right to express themselves, and it's that way every day, day in and day out in our country. There are other countries in the world that don't have -- the citizens don't have that opportunity. I think it's great. If folks feel...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

PHILLIPS: There we go. That is the handler right now. They're organizing the aircraft for fight operations. Go ahead, please finish your thought.

HAAS: I think if people feel passionate about something, they should get out and speak their minds. That is great, that is what makes our country great.

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, the training continues. Things are stepping up. How are you keeping the pilots on the edge? I mean, you are tired. You are frustrated. Dates are changing. You're really not quite sure when it's going to happen. There's a lot of talk of changing of dates.

HAAS: I think, appealing to -- it isn't just the air crew. It's the wonderful maintainers that work on the airplanes. It's the crew on the ship. It's everybody that makes this 5,000-person floating city run.

Appealing to their professionalism and their commitment, reminding them why we're all here, why we raised our right hands and all swore an oath to protect and defend. There's that part of it. So you kind of get -- get to some of the deeper instincts, and then you have to do some things to make it fun, too, just to sort of break the monotony. We had a plane wash out here the other day, where some of the officers got up and did some of the work that some of the junior airmen usually do, and that was a lot of fun for everybody. It turned into a big water fight, so that was great.

PHILLIPS: Got to keep your sense of humor.

HAAS: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Commander Paul Haas, thank you so much. We'll be talking to you, of course, as time continues, and as we spend a number of weeks out here together. Hopefully, we'll be wrapping up soon.

HAAS: I hope so, too.

PHILLIPS: Thank you so much.

HAAS: Thank you, ma'am.

PHILLIPS: All right, guys, we go back to you (ph). We will be bringing more reports to you in the next couple of weeks as things develop. I can tell you, the planning continues. And also, as the commander said, the chances for relaxation and trying to keep things in perspective, on a human level, also continues -- back to you.

KAGAN: Kyra, our viewers are used to sitting you -- seeing you sit in the seat where I am. I am filling in for you today. Give us a better idea of what it means to be embedded, the conditions that you and our crew are living on board this ship, and how long will you be there.

PHILLIPS: That's a really good question. When we first arrived, and we got into our berthing areas, we arrived later than the other journalists. There are almost 30 of us on board, and we have the pleasure of sleeping in nice, comfortable cots.

It is not as bad as you probably think, but it is tight quarters. There's about eight of us journalists in a small berthing area. We eat with everybody. We're sleeping at the same time with everybody. We're out here working, putting in those long days with everybody. And truly getting a sense of what it's like to be out here, preparing for a possible war. Of course, a lot of things I can't talk about. That if, indeed, things get underway, I'll be able to tell you a lot more.

KAGAN: All right. Well, we look forward to those reports. And, of course, it goes without saying, be safe out there, and take care of our CNN crew, as well. Kyra Phillips, on board the USS Abraham.

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