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American Troops Enter Hillah Without Resistance
Aired April 09, 2003 - 15:44 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.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Despite the apparent fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, American forces still face pockets of resistance from forces loyal to the Iraqi president. As they moved into the city of Hillah about 50 miles south of Baghdad, members of the 101st Airborne Division expected to have a fight on their hands. But that wasn't the case. CNN's Ryan Chilcote is embedded with troops in that area.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Soldiers from the 101st Airborne's 3rd Brigade came into downtown Hillah ready for a fight. Seizing a courthouse with their guns blazing, they went from room to room in search of Iraqi fighters. Nothing more than a portrait of Saddam Hussein hanging impotently on the wall to stop them.
Instead of armed resistance, the Rocisans (ph) they had to fight their way through streets of cheering crowds and public displays of affection.
(on camera): What is amazing to see is exactly how quickly the resistance to U.S. forces in Hillah melted away. Just yesterday the Rocisans were engaged in a major firefight here.
(voice-over): Today the Screaming Eagles began a war for hearts and minds, giving fuel to a water treatment plant and a power station of sorts. Still many Iraqis said it will take time for the Americans to win their trust. One man telling the two-star...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't want to be at the first -- at the last point -- at the critical point you make friendship with him, or reconcile with him or anything like that. That any honest Iraqi person wish to see a good man controlling Iraq, not the substitute won by another bad one.
CHILCOTE: For now there is a vacuum here and Hillah home to the Old Babylon and this palace, which many here say Saddam was building for himself, as part of his campaign to build a New Babylon, are under American control. The only question now is, what to do next.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, with the 101st Airborne in Hillah, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 9, 2003 - 15:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Despite the apparent fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, American forces still face pockets of resistance from forces loyal to the Iraqi president. As they moved into the city of Hillah about 50 miles south of Baghdad, members of the 101st Airborne Division expected to have a fight on their hands. But that wasn't the case. CNN's Ryan Chilcote is embedded with troops in that area.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Soldiers from the 101st Airborne's 3rd Brigade came into downtown Hillah ready for a fight. Seizing a courthouse with their guns blazing, they went from room to room in search of Iraqi fighters. Nothing more than a portrait of Saddam Hussein hanging impotently on the wall to stop them.
Instead of armed resistance, the Rocisans (ph) they had to fight their way through streets of cheering crowds and public displays of affection.
(on camera): What is amazing to see is exactly how quickly the resistance to U.S. forces in Hillah melted away. Just yesterday the Rocisans were engaged in a major firefight here.
(voice-over): Today the Screaming Eagles began a war for hearts and minds, giving fuel to a water treatment plant and a power station of sorts. Still many Iraqis said it will take time for the Americans to win their trust. One man telling the two-star...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't want to be at the first -- at the last point -- at the critical point you make friendship with him, or reconcile with him or anything like that. That any honest Iraqi person wish to see a good man controlling Iraq, not the substitute won by another bad one.
CHILCOTE: For now there is a vacuum here and Hillah home to the Old Babylon and this palace, which many here say Saddam was building for himself, as part of his campaign to build a New Babylon, are under American control. The only question now is, what to do next.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, with the 101st Airborne in Hillah, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
