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Is Saddam Hussein Speech Proof He's Alive?
Aired April 04, 2003 - 14:05 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: Two weeks of war and speculation, and then two taped appearances today by the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein. The first an unannounced prerecorded speech on Iraqi television in which he urged his people to fight, and I'm quoting now, "with what you have available."
But is it really him? Our national security correspondent David Ensor has been trying to find out.
David, give us the latest assessment, what you're hearing from your sources.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, they are doing an analysis of both of the tapes that were broadcast today. And the first thing that usually comes through is the voice analysis. We may hear that later today. That we haven't heard yet, however.
Still, the fact that on that tape, in which he addressed the Iraqi nation, he referred to an incident that occurred after March 19. He referred to the incident where an Apache helicopter came down, and where the Iraqis claimed that a particular villager, a particular farmer had, in fact, brought it down with a bolt -- an old bolt-action rifle, something the U.S. contests.
Still, that incident referred to on the speech is the first real evidence, U.S. officials say, suggesting that Saddam Hussein is still alive, following a very serious attempt to kill him on March 19.
So that is a very significant development. Obviously there is no final conclusion, because they have to check the voice, they have to make sure this really is Saddam Hussein, who is famous for using doubles on some occasions.
Now, the other tape that came on the air a little while after that was also of great interest. This time, we're seeing Saddam Hussein on the streets of Baghdad, cheered by a crowd of people, who are not all that many in number, but are obviously extremely proud and pleased to see him. Presumably, some of his closest supporters are among them.
This tape, again, has to be analyzed carefully, and again, officials are saying, it could be a body double. In the past, Saddam Hussein has used doubles in situations where he has to go out in the street amongst crowds. He is worried about his security. And there is more than one double that has been used in the past, including one, some officials say, that has had cosmetic surgery to look -- to make him look even more like Saddam Hussein.
So there's the question on that tape, is it Saddam Hussein? And there's one other question, when was it recorded? There is some indication on part of the tape, some smoke in the background, suggesting that it probably is contemporary, that it probably has been recorded since the bombing of Baghdad began. But it's not definitive, and U.S. officials are still examining it, Wolf.
BLITZER: I assume they'll also be examining whether there's any power, any clear signs of electricity in that daytime shot of Saddam Hussein in that crowd, if any of the street lights are on, or any of the traffic lights are on, or any other sign, because, as we know, this is now the second day that the power grid to Baghdad has been shut down.
I assume they'll be looking closely at that. When do they expect to get a preliminary assessment on both of these tapes, David?
ENSOR: I think you'll be hearing, I hope from me, later in the day, a preliminary assessment of the voice on the broadcast tape. And that, in a way, is the most interesting one in intelligence terms, because there he does speak about something that happened after March 19, and that would be sort of more definitive proof that he survived that attack and is still alive and still trying to be in charge, Wolf.
BLITZER: David Ensor, 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 April 4, 2003 - 14:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Two weeks of war and speculation, and then two taped appearances today by the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein. The first an unannounced prerecorded speech on Iraqi television in which he urged his people to fight, and I'm quoting now, "with what you have available."
But is it really him? Our national security correspondent David Ensor has been trying to find out.
David, give us the latest assessment, what you're hearing from your sources.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, they are doing an analysis of both of the tapes that were broadcast today. And the first thing that usually comes through is the voice analysis. We may hear that later today. That we haven't heard yet, however.
Still, the fact that on that tape, in which he addressed the Iraqi nation, he referred to an incident that occurred after March 19. He referred to the incident where an Apache helicopter came down, and where the Iraqis claimed that a particular villager, a particular farmer had, in fact, brought it down with a bolt -- an old bolt-action rifle, something the U.S. contests.
Still, that incident referred to on the speech is the first real evidence, U.S. officials say, suggesting that Saddam Hussein is still alive, following a very serious attempt to kill him on March 19.
So that is a very significant development. Obviously there is no final conclusion, because they have to check the voice, they have to make sure this really is Saddam Hussein, who is famous for using doubles on some occasions.
Now, the other tape that came on the air a little while after that was also of great interest. This time, we're seeing Saddam Hussein on the streets of Baghdad, cheered by a crowd of people, who are not all that many in number, but are obviously extremely proud and pleased to see him. Presumably, some of his closest supporters are among them.
This tape, again, has to be analyzed carefully, and again, officials are saying, it could be a body double. In the past, Saddam Hussein has used doubles in situations where he has to go out in the street amongst crowds. He is worried about his security. And there is more than one double that has been used in the past, including one, some officials say, that has had cosmetic surgery to look -- to make him look even more like Saddam Hussein.
So there's the question on that tape, is it Saddam Hussein? And there's one other question, when was it recorded? There is some indication on part of the tape, some smoke in the background, suggesting that it probably is contemporary, that it probably has been recorded since the bombing of Baghdad began. But it's not definitive, and U.S. officials are still examining it, Wolf.
BLITZER: I assume they'll also be examining whether there's any power, any clear signs of electricity in that daytime shot of Saddam Hussein in that crowd, if any of the street lights are on, or any of the traffic lights are on, or any other sign, because, as we know, this is now the second day that the power grid to Baghdad has been shut down.
I assume they'll be looking closely at that. When do they expect to get a preliminary assessment on both of these tapes, David?
ENSOR: I think you'll be hearing, I hope from me, later in the day, a preliminary assessment of the voice on the broadcast tape. And that, in a way, is the most interesting one in intelligence terms, because there he does speak about something that happened after March 19, and that would be sort of more definitive proof that he survived that attack and is still alive and still trying to be in charge, Wolf.
BLITZER: David Ensor, 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
