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Iraqis Believe Tape is of Saddam Hussein
Aired July 04, 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: First, now, Iraq. Is it for real? Another message from Saddam Hussein. Coincidence or not? It follows the announcement of the bounty on his head placed there by the United States.
Those who know the voice say it sounds authentic. It was purportedly taped 20 days ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SADDAM HUSSEIN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAQ (through translator): I would like to clarify that my friends and my brothers from the leadership are present in Iraq now. Therefore, I greet them, greet you and greet them with Muhahadin (ph) in the occupation forces prisons and in the battlefield. I honor their sacrifices and heroism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The tape emerged after another night of attacks in Iraq. One American is dead, at least 17 others injured.
CNN's Jane Arraf, standing by in Baghdad to tell us more -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we've been asking people about that tape, whether they think it's really Saddam and to a person, they do.
They've been listening to that voice for more than 30 years. One man told us that he heard it so often on the radio, it was as if he was hearing the voice of his own child. He knew it so well.
Now a lot of people had shivers down their spine in hearing it.
The message he calls for more attacks on U.S. and British forces. He calls them infidels, but the main thing is he says he's still here, still in Baghdad and that is the $25 million question. Is he still alive?
But whether it's him or not, whether he's alive or not, these attacks continue. And in the latest, according to the U.S. military, 16 people wounded, 16 U.S. soldiers wounded in a mortar attack on an Army post near the town of Belad (ph), north of Baghdad. Now, two of those are still being treated, 14 were treated and released.
But in the same area early this morning, the U.S. military says they overtook an attempted ambush and killed 11 Iraqis who were trying to fire rocket propelled grenades and heavy fire at them, this after an American soldier was killed guarding a museum in Baghdad.
Now the attacks continue but troops are trying to keep up morale with a bit of celebration on this July 4. They held barbecues. Some of them, a lucky few, met film star Arnold Schwarzenegger. They had concerts and they generally tried to commemorate the day, despite the sobering news -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jane, it was just the other day, we were talking about the Iraq museum and you were giving us a tour. Now, this shooting has taken place. Has this affected the security around the museum now?
ARRAF: It's certainly affected the security throughout the city. Now, the attack last night was originally reported to be the death of the soldier guarding the Iraqi museum, which is the archeology museum. It was then revised to make clear that it was actually another museum, the Baghdad municipal museum, which is not far away.
But that was being guarded by soldiers in a Bradley and the soldier who was killed was actually killed while he was standing in the gun turret. It's an indication that the attacks are really becoming more daring. We're seeing not only an apparent increase in attacks most days, but a diversity in the scope in the way they're launched.
Now it seems that this is coming more and more in the sort of guerilla attacks that are extremely hard to combat. And certainly soldiers are on alert for those unexpected attacks coming out of seemingly nowhere -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Of course, we're talking so much about that lately, but even with the violence taking place, Jane, a lot of VIPs coming to the area. You mentioned Arnold Schwarzenegger. What is it doing for the troops and the people in the area? Is this building morale?
ARRAF: He is building morale, certainly. Anything that provides a diversion. The cynical among us would say that he's also promoting his career, but certainly, anything that provides a diversion -- excuse me -- from the heat and from the danger would certainly be welcome.
This is such a tough job for these troops. A lot of them are really young, they're really far from home. They don't even get to phone home. It's not only the infrastructure of the country that's in shambles, it's really the lack of communication is really quite sad.
A lot of them are living on MREs, Meals Ready to Eat, and it is increasingly dangerous out there in the street. And they still feel that they're here to do a good job and that they're going to do that good job but a lot of them are increasingly wondering what they signed up for. It's going to long haul. And certainly anything like concerts, barbecues, even a simple hamburger and the ability to have a beer is a welcome change -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jane Arraf, understandable. Thank you so much.
Well, the new attacks raise the number of U.S. deaths in Iraq since President Bush announced the end of the major combat. The official toll since May 1 is 27 dead in hostilities, 43 dead of other causes.
Yesterday the commander of allied forces in Iraq says the United States is still at war.
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 July 4, 2003 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: First, now, Iraq. Is it for real? Another message from Saddam Hussein. Coincidence or not? It follows the announcement of the bounty on his head placed there by the United States.
Those who know the voice say it sounds authentic. It was purportedly taped 20 days ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SADDAM HUSSEIN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAQ (through translator): I would like to clarify that my friends and my brothers from the leadership are present in Iraq now. Therefore, I greet them, greet you and greet them with Muhahadin (ph) in the occupation forces prisons and in the battlefield. I honor their sacrifices and heroism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The tape emerged after another night of attacks in Iraq. One American is dead, at least 17 others injured.
CNN's Jane Arraf, standing by in Baghdad to tell us more -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we've been asking people about that tape, whether they think it's really Saddam and to a person, they do.
They've been listening to that voice for more than 30 years. One man told us that he heard it so often on the radio, it was as if he was hearing the voice of his own child. He knew it so well.
Now a lot of people had shivers down their spine in hearing it.
The message he calls for more attacks on U.S. and British forces. He calls them infidels, but the main thing is he says he's still here, still in Baghdad and that is the $25 million question. Is he still alive?
But whether it's him or not, whether he's alive or not, these attacks continue. And in the latest, according to the U.S. military, 16 people wounded, 16 U.S. soldiers wounded in a mortar attack on an Army post near the town of Belad (ph), north of Baghdad. Now, two of those are still being treated, 14 were treated and released.
But in the same area early this morning, the U.S. military says they overtook an attempted ambush and killed 11 Iraqis who were trying to fire rocket propelled grenades and heavy fire at them, this after an American soldier was killed guarding a museum in Baghdad.
Now the attacks continue but troops are trying to keep up morale with a bit of celebration on this July 4. They held barbecues. Some of them, a lucky few, met film star Arnold Schwarzenegger. They had concerts and they generally tried to commemorate the day, despite the sobering news -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jane, it was just the other day, we were talking about the Iraq museum and you were giving us a tour. Now, this shooting has taken place. Has this affected the security around the museum now?
ARRAF: It's certainly affected the security throughout the city. Now, the attack last night was originally reported to be the death of the soldier guarding the Iraqi museum, which is the archeology museum. It was then revised to make clear that it was actually another museum, the Baghdad municipal museum, which is not far away.
But that was being guarded by soldiers in a Bradley and the soldier who was killed was actually killed while he was standing in the gun turret. It's an indication that the attacks are really becoming more daring. We're seeing not only an apparent increase in attacks most days, but a diversity in the scope in the way they're launched.
Now it seems that this is coming more and more in the sort of guerilla attacks that are extremely hard to combat. And certainly soldiers are on alert for those unexpected attacks coming out of seemingly nowhere -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Of course, we're talking so much about that lately, but even with the violence taking place, Jane, a lot of VIPs coming to the area. You mentioned Arnold Schwarzenegger. What is it doing for the troops and the people in the area? Is this building morale?
ARRAF: He is building morale, certainly. Anything that provides a diversion. The cynical among us would say that he's also promoting his career, but certainly, anything that provides a diversion -- excuse me -- from the heat and from the danger would certainly be welcome.
This is such a tough job for these troops. A lot of them are really young, they're really far from home. They don't even get to phone home. It's not only the infrastructure of the country that's in shambles, it's really the lack of communication is really quite sad.
A lot of them are living on MREs, Meals Ready to Eat, and it is increasingly dangerous out there in the street. And they still feel that they're here to do a good job and that they're going to do that good job but a lot of them are increasingly wondering what they signed up for. It's going to long haul. And certainly anything like concerts, barbecues, even a simple hamburger and the ability to have a beer is a welcome change -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jane Arraf, understandable. Thank you so much.
Well, the new attacks raise the number of U.S. deaths in Iraq since President Bush announced the end of the major combat. The official toll since May 1 is 27 dead in hostilities, 43 dead of other causes.
Yesterday the commander of allied forces in Iraq says the United States is still at war.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
