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Deadly Cooperation in Iraq

Aired August 05, 2003 - 15:07   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: Some Iraqis who are helping American forces bring order out of chaos in their country are facing danger, even death. They're being labeled traitors and infidels.
CNN's Rym Brahimi has the story of one young man from Baghdad whose cooperation with U.S. troops cost him his life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was Almed (ph) Al-Kardaghy's world: heavy metal, guitars and magazines. His love for that music improved his knowledge of English. In May, the 27-year-old guitarist and computer science student began working as an interpreter for the U.S. military. But last month, his world abruptly came to an end.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I hugged him and there was a hole where a bullet hit his head. I so wish there was life in him and that I could save him, but it was too late.

BRAHIMI: His parents say their son had been threatened by students, who called him a traitor for working with the Americans. Despite that, Almed continued his job with those his parents say he described as friends.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He didn't care about the money. He did it because he found in them people who understood him. They had cultural affinities.

BRAHIMI: The C.D. player near his bed was a gift from his American co-workers. They also exchanged pictures.

(on camera): Almed had been on a death list, one of many like these circulated around Baghdad, calling on Iraqis to kill informants, newly appointed officials, policemen and interpreters, punishment for being so-called spies, traitors and infidels. The U.S. authorities say they are aware of the problem, but, in reality, there's only so much they can do.

(voice-over): The lists put considerable pressure on those who cooperate.

COL. BILL RABENA, U.S. ARMY: There are still a dying faction that support Saddam. The Saddam Fedayeen are out there. It may not have anything to do with that, but there are some fanatical groups out there. BRAHIMI: With the increase of threats, U.S. troops and military police have tried to protect the identity of their interpreters. When on raids, the interpreters wear masks. Some, like this young man who asked us to call him Barry, have had to move away from their families.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they tried to kill me and they ask every day about me in my area. But they can't find me, because I change my place every day. And I live now in secret place.

BRAHIMI: He says people like him are helping Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told some people, we need to work together. We need to work besides the soldiers to build Iraq, to build the new country. And they don't like that. They don't understand. The soldier, he left his country, he left his family and he came here to help us. We need to work beside him.

BRAHIMI: A point of view Almed's father still remembers discussing with his son.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): That's why he became an interpreter. In his view and in my view, personally, translating is a humanitarian job, helping two sides communicate.

BRAHIMI: Almed's parent don't speak English. His mother says she didn't understand his music, but he would translate his favorite songs to her. And, she says, they were all about peace.

Rym Brahimi, 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






Aired August 5, 2003 - 15:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Some Iraqis who are helping American forces bring order out of chaos in their country are facing danger, even death. They're being labeled traitors and infidels.
CNN's Rym Brahimi has the story of one young man from Baghdad whose cooperation with U.S. troops cost him his life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This was Almed (ph) Al-Kardaghy's world: heavy metal, guitars and magazines. His love for that music improved his knowledge of English. In May, the 27-year-old guitarist and computer science student began working as an interpreter for the U.S. military. But last month, his world abruptly came to an end.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I hugged him and there was a hole where a bullet hit his head. I so wish there was life in him and that I could save him, but it was too late.

BRAHIMI: His parents say their son had been threatened by students, who called him a traitor for working with the Americans. Despite that, Almed continued his job with those his parents say he described as friends.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He didn't care about the money. He did it because he found in them people who understood him. They had cultural affinities.

BRAHIMI: The C.D. player near his bed was a gift from his American co-workers. They also exchanged pictures.

(on camera): Almed had been on a death list, one of many like these circulated around Baghdad, calling on Iraqis to kill informants, newly appointed officials, policemen and interpreters, punishment for being so-called spies, traitors and infidels. The U.S. authorities say they are aware of the problem, but, in reality, there's only so much they can do.

(voice-over): The lists put considerable pressure on those who cooperate.

COL. BILL RABENA, U.S. ARMY: There are still a dying faction that support Saddam. The Saddam Fedayeen are out there. It may not have anything to do with that, but there are some fanatical groups out there. BRAHIMI: With the increase of threats, U.S. troops and military police have tried to protect the identity of their interpreters. When on raids, the interpreters wear masks. Some, like this young man who asked us to call him Barry, have had to move away from their families.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they tried to kill me and they ask every day about me in my area. But they can't find me, because I change my place every day. And I live now in secret place.

BRAHIMI: He says people like him are helping Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I told some people, we need to work together. We need to work besides the soldiers to build Iraq, to build the new country. And they don't like that. They don't understand. The soldier, he left his country, he left his family and he came here to help us. We need to work beside him.

BRAHIMI: A point of view Almed's father still remembers discussing with his son.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): That's why he became an interpreter. In his view and in my view, personally, translating is a humanitarian job, helping two sides communicate.

BRAHIMI: Almed's parent don't speak English. His mother says she didn't understand his music, but he would translate his favorite songs to her. And, she says, they were all about peace.

Rym Brahimi, 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