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Bush: Deadly Attacks Are Part of War to Liberate Iraq as Another U.S. Soldier Killed in Ambush
Aired July 21, 2003 - 15:29 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin in Iraq and the president's reaction to the guerrilla-style war there. President Bush today says the deadly attacks are part of the war to liberate Iraq. This as another U.S. soldier is killed in an ambush today. With more on all this, we are joined now by CNN's Nic Robertson live in Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inch by inch, the aftermath of the latest guerrilla-style attack on U.S. forces is cleared off the scorched tarmac, the carcass of a Humvee lifted towards a waiting truck.
LT. COL. JOHN KEN, U.S. ARMY: There was two people killed and three injured. The injuries, one American soldier was killed and one Iraqi was killed.
ROBERTSON: Thirty dollars, the cost of renting the truck, to get rid of the wreckage from this Baghdad highway.
(on camera): Although the precise details of this attack are not yet clear, it appears to have been very similar to previous attacks, a remote-controlled explosive device set off by people waiting for the U.S. troops to pass by.
(voice-over): Security still tight, no attackers spotted when the troops arrived, but praise for Iraqis who witnessed the explosion.
KEN: They immediately went to the vehicle. And they cut out the -- the seat belts were stuck, and they cut two soldiers out of the seat belts. And with the subsequent fire, they may have saved their lives.
ROBERTSON: Fearful of retribution by the attackers, the father and son declined to describe on camera how they saved U.S. lives. Even Iraqi police, who rushed to help, now distance themselves.
LT. SHAKER ABID AL AMEER, IRAQI POLICE (through translator): I have nothing to do with the American forces. My interest is my countrymen. I am here to protect them from the Americans and Israelis.
ROBERTSON: The recovery complete, troops pull out, and looters move in, Scavenging the charred remains of the Humvee. "This is a new line of business," he says. "We need something good for Iraq, for our future. We need the killings and explosions to be over and done."
Slim pickings for these entrepreneurs of misfortune.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(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
Another U.S. Soldier Killed in Ambush>
Aired July 21, 2003 - 15:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin in Iraq and the president's reaction to the guerrilla-style war there. President Bush today says the deadly attacks are part of the war to liberate Iraq. This as another U.S. soldier is killed in an ambush today. With more on all this, we are joined now by CNN's Nic Robertson live in Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inch by inch, the aftermath of the latest guerrilla-style attack on U.S. forces is cleared off the scorched tarmac, the carcass of a Humvee lifted towards a waiting truck.
LT. COL. JOHN KEN, U.S. ARMY: There was two people killed and three injured. The injuries, one American soldier was killed and one Iraqi was killed.
ROBERTSON: Thirty dollars, the cost of renting the truck, to get rid of the wreckage from this Baghdad highway.
(on camera): Although the precise details of this attack are not yet clear, it appears to have been very similar to previous attacks, a remote-controlled explosive device set off by people waiting for the U.S. troops to pass by.
(voice-over): Security still tight, no attackers spotted when the troops arrived, but praise for Iraqis who witnessed the explosion.
KEN: They immediately went to the vehicle. And they cut out the -- the seat belts were stuck, and they cut two soldiers out of the seat belts. And with the subsequent fire, they may have saved their lives.
ROBERTSON: Fearful of retribution by the attackers, the father and son declined to describe on camera how they saved U.S. lives. Even Iraqi police, who rushed to help, now distance themselves.
LT. SHAKER ABID AL AMEER, IRAQI POLICE (through translator): I have nothing to do with the American forces. My interest is my countrymen. I am here to protect them from the Americans and Israelis.
ROBERTSON: The recovery complete, troops pull out, and looters move in, Scavenging the charred remains of the Humvee. "This is a new line of business," he says. "We need something good for Iraq, for our future. We need the killings and explosions to be over and done."
Slim pickings for these entrepreneurs of misfortune.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(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
Another U.S. Soldier Killed in Ambush>
