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Majority of Kurds Oppose, Fear Saddam's Regime
Aired April 01, 2003 - 13:00 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Jane Arraf is standing by with the latest -- Jane.
JANE AFFRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, there's just been a series of explosion in the ridge behind us, which is the Iraqi front line. There were two fighter planes, which dropped four bombs. The explosion strong enough to send shockwaves across the valley to where we're standing. As I said, this is the Iraqi front line and it has been the subject of repeated bombings for the past several days.
There was a lull today, following attacks yesterday, with planes flying low enough to indicate that they weren't getting -- they weren't fearing any anti-aircraft fire. This has picked up again this evening. We're also hearing loud explosions from the direction of Mosul and Kirkuk. Of course, those two major cities. Now, any offensive towards there by troops would have to wait for more U.S. troops here. Although we're seeing a build up in U.S. forces there certainly isn't the strength yet for a northern front -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jane, we here a lot about the Kurds in the north. Most of them, I suspect based on what we are hearing, clearly support what the United States is doing. On Iraqi television yesterday, you might have seen it, there was some pictures of Kurds supporting Saddam Hussein.
As best as you can tell, from where you are, where you've been you've covered this story for a long time, are there Kurds who strongly support Saddam Hussein or is that simply Iraqi propaganda?
ARRAF: Well, Wolf, the Kurds who strongly support Saddam Hussein would pretty well be in Iraqi-controlled territory. There are really no -- because the country has been -- we have to be honest about this essentially split since 1991, it is part of Iraq, obviously, northern Iraq, and Kurdish officials say they feel Iraqi, they're committed to the territory integrity, do not want to break away, but it is very different here. And Kurds take it personally. When you ask them how they feel, they always say they're afraid of Saddam the Iraqi president.
On the other side there are -- certainly, a large Kurdish population in Baghdad and a large Kurdish population still in many cities. And those Kurd, some of them, have been taken in by the Iraqi regime, co-opted into the Iraqi regime if you will, they are supported by the Iraqi regime there. But certainly they are on the other side of line. You will not find many people here in support of the Iraqi regime in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jane Arraf, doing some excellent reporting for all of us, thanks, Jane, 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 April 1, 2003 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Jane Arraf is standing by with the latest -- Jane.
JANE AFFRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, there's just been a series of explosion in the ridge behind us, which is the Iraqi front line. There were two fighter planes, which dropped four bombs. The explosion strong enough to send shockwaves across the valley to where we're standing. As I said, this is the Iraqi front line and it has been the subject of repeated bombings for the past several days.
There was a lull today, following attacks yesterday, with planes flying low enough to indicate that they weren't getting -- they weren't fearing any anti-aircraft fire. This has picked up again this evening. We're also hearing loud explosions from the direction of Mosul and Kirkuk. Of course, those two major cities. Now, any offensive towards there by troops would have to wait for more U.S. troops here. Although we're seeing a build up in U.S. forces there certainly isn't the strength yet for a northern front -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jane, we here a lot about the Kurds in the north. Most of them, I suspect based on what we are hearing, clearly support what the United States is doing. On Iraqi television yesterday, you might have seen it, there was some pictures of Kurds supporting Saddam Hussein.
As best as you can tell, from where you are, where you've been you've covered this story for a long time, are there Kurds who strongly support Saddam Hussein or is that simply Iraqi propaganda?
ARRAF: Well, Wolf, the Kurds who strongly support Saddam Hussein would pretty well be in Iraqi-controlled territory. There are really no -- because the country has been -- we have to be honest about this essentially split since 1991, it is part of Iraq, obviously, northern Iraq, and Kurdish officials say they feel Iraqi, they're committed to the territory integrity, do not want to break away, but it is very different here. And Kurds take it personally. When you ask them how they feel, they always say they're afraid of Saddam the Iraqi president.
On the other side there are -- certainly, a large Kurdish population in Baghdad and a large Kurdish population still in many cities. And those Kurd, some of them, have been taken in by the Iraqi regime, co-opted into the Iraqi regime if you will, they are supported by the Iraqi regime there. But certainly they are on the other side of line. You will not find many people here in support of the Iraqi regime in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jane Arraf, doing some excellent reporting for all of us, thanks, Jane, 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
