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CNN Live Today
British Troops Try to Reach Out to Civilians in Southern Iraq
Aired March 27, 2003 - 10:04 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Christiane Amanpour is near the southern Iraq town of Basra and joined British troops as they tried to reach out to civilians.
Christiane, what's the latest from there?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, just want to sort out, perhaps, clear a bit of the fog of war which is descended over the last 24 hours on one particular issue.
Overnight we were having reports from embedded reporter and from CENTCOM that some column, maybe 120 vehicles strong, of Iraqi armored vehicles and tanks had burst out south Basra and taken on by U.S. airpower. Well, early this morning, we were told by the British that was only three tanks that had come out Basra, and that they were apparently taken out by airpower and destroyed.
In addition, in another location, some 14 British tanks took on about 14 Iraqi tanks in southern Iraq and apparently destroyed them and got four companies of infantry soldiers on the run.
Now, as far as Basra is concerned, that continues there, British exchanging artillery with Iraqi resistance, the military who's resisting inside the town. But in addition, Britain trying to, as you say, reach out to the civilian population today. Pictures of Iraqi civilians coming out of Basra, as far as they can from perhaps outskirts of the city, and going up to the British who are there in their tanks and vehicles, and I think asking for some food, some help, in any event chatting to those (ph).
The British are trying to wage almost a two or three-front campaign. One, the heavy metal tack on Iraqi soldiers and irregular soldiers, which are putting up spirited resistance and trying to take out of political leadership in Basra. They are also trying to fight a sort of counterinsurgency, as well as reach out to civilians and try to gem them on side in other ways.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMANPOUR: This is what the British call soft operations, military action aimed at counter insurgency and trying to win hearts and minds. The British are setting up checkpoints all long from the road, from the border up to Basra, not only to secure the area military, but also to try to show to show the population they are in control and to try instill some confidence.
2NT LT. ANDY SHAND, BRITISH ARMY: Obviously there is a hard line militia which is working in this area to try and basically intimidate people and stop them speaking us. So part of our role, one of our key roles is to make the civilian population feel safe. If they feel safe, they'll talk us to. And obviously, we'll get intelligence, than that will help us greatly.
AMANPOUR: British soldiers tell us they have found ammunition and artillery rounds along the road, possibly to be used to ambush them. But on this day, the Iraqis driving by are mostly good-natured and cooperate readily with the military searches. Some wave white flags as they approach the checkpoints, and many tell us they are still afraid. They don't know exactly who's in charge yet.
Others say they welcome the allies' arrival, and Saddam's eventual departure.
But most of the people tell us they are hungry and thirsty. When soldiers asked to see inside these barrels, they found them filled not with weapons, but water, collected from the recent rainfall. And we watch these women scoop water from puddles on the ground.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AMANPOUR: So the humanitarian situation is becoming quite severe, in terms of the fact that people do need clean drinking water and they are desperately scrambling for food. We've had low levels humanitarian aid supplied already by vehicle from Kuwait. They amount to packets of water and food, and they are still awaiting what has been promised, and that is a big British ship of several hundred tons of food, water, blankets and the like to come in and to help the people of this region physically, and also to try to win over their hearts and minds. That's the phrase we are hearing a lot of over here right now -- Paula.
ZAHN: Christiane, it was heart breaking to see that picture of those women taking that pooled water from the puddle and ultimately probably using that as drinking water. What else can you tell us about how desperate these people are?
AMANPOUR: Well, mostly it is that -- it's the water and lack of food. When we ask people why is it they don't have things, why have are thirsty, why they don't have enough food, they say two things, one, because the electricity is cut off in a lot of areas, unable to get the water pumped through the pipes, piped through the taps, and that means the water purification plants are also down. So whatever comes out is not fit for drinking.
And secondly, in terms of food, we were asking, what is it, why don't you have enough? We've heard reports you have been stockpiling. People say they do have some stockpiles, but they're afraid to go out in cities such as Basra, where there are artillery (UNINTELLIGIBLE) continuing. There is a fight going between the British and Iraqi military. People are not sure quite what to do. They are afraid to go out to shops and things like that. So, there is -- and this is a poor part of Iraq. Traditionally, people relied heavily on the U.N. oil for food program. So it's a potential dire situation. There are no reports catastrophic hunger right now, but certainly they do want to get humanitarian supplies in.
ZAHN: Christiane, thanks so much for that report. Appreciate it. Back to bill now in Kuwait City -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Paula, thanks.
We're going to tick off a number of our embedded reporters right now.
Christiane is in Iraq, but she is not embedded, but Walt Rodgers is with the 7th Cav, and so, too, is Martin Savidge with the Marines in southern Iraq. I believe that was the last time we heard from you, Marty.
Let's start with Mr. Savidge, again, imbedded with the U.S. Marines. Marty, good evening.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Bill.
The sun just setting here in this part of southern Iraq, as you mentioned. We are just at the north of the Euphrates River, and welcome to what is a sort of spontaneous military base for the U.S. Marines that has blossomed here in this part of southern Iraq. That is what they call a TAA, a tactical assembly area in military jargon. It is basically a base that can spring up quickly that is secure. There is a heavily armed perimeter around it, and it is a base of operations for the Marines for the moment. Now You can have a set up like this that last for a couple of hours, that last for a couple of days. It's been home to the 1st Battalion 7th Marines for about the last 48 hours, and it's been from here that the Marines have been launching their efforts to secure the very vital supply line that runs into northern Kuwait.
The first night they were given the task of protecting a very large shipment of fuel coming in, there was a firefight that broke out that we witnessed as we road along with the Marines.
Last I know, things were a lot quieter, not to say that it was totally peaceful. There were shots exchanged in the dark, especially as there convoys moving along that supply line.
But here is the way that the Marines, at least from this vantage point, are dealing with it. It's a two-fold operation. Number one, any time, they meet resistance or any they are fired upon, they return fire in a very heavy fashion. It's usually with heavy weapons, .50 caliber machine guns, Mark 19 automatic weapons. That's an explosive device. And then you of course have the Marines with their M-16s. They want to make sure that whoever is firing at them learns a lesson, and that lesson is don't tread on us. They're out to make a point if you fire on U.S. military forces, you will receive a lot more back in return than you can spend send upon them.
And there is another message, another effort, and that is that military units going into villages where they have been receiving fire during the daylight time, and meeting with leaders there, or meeting with the civilians, and warning them, saying look, if you are housing, if you are harboring in a some way, if this village to these Fedayeen that have been launching attacks against us, it's got to stop, because it puts your village in danger, it puts your people in danger. It means that the civilian population who are not combatants are potentially targets, because if you can't tell the good from the bad, it's a very dangerous situation when the military starts opening fire.
So it appears, at least in the last 24 hours, that tactic has worked. It's a lot quieter on supply lines, and the supplies are rolling in like you would not believe -- Bill.
HEMMER: I bet, Marty. Thanks.
Martin Savidge there, embedded with U.S. Marines.
Marty mentioned the sun going down. Ryan Chilcote is with the 101st. Let's put things up further north with the 101st, and Ryan where the sun is now setting there.
Good evening, Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I'll let you look at the sun. The sand and dust have finally settled here at the 101st Airborne's base inside Iraq, in central Iraq in fact. You will remember we had a 48-hour, month than 48-hour brutal sandstorm here that really grounded the entire helicopter fleet of the 101st Airborne and really disoriented a lot of people on ground.
But before we show you what happened, I would like to show you video of what happened just before that sandstorm, because finally our equipment is working, I want to show some of these pictures we took.
This is the red sky just before the sandstorm. As one soldier put it, this is the calm before the storm. The sky went stark red, and it was absolutely amazing, very eerie.
Like I said, it was not only did this sandstorm ground the fleet of helicopters, but it also disoriented a lot of people on the ground, and according to U.S. military, it also disoriented at least six Iraqi soldiers, because yesterday afternoon, six Iraqis in an SUV actually drove right up to this base, not understanding where they were. They were spotted by some U.S. soldiers, surrounded and with weapons, and immediately surrendered to those soldiers that were taken into custody.
The U.S. military commanders here at this base say they believe these six men were couriers for a paramilitary group that is very loyal to President Saddam Hussein. They say these men were bringing money and instructions to some Ba'ath Party leaders in nearby towns. I actually had an opportunity to see the Iraqi men a little bit later, and I spoke with a U.S. soldier, one of the soldiers who was guarding them. I asked him to compare the conditions that the Iraqis were being held in with the conditions that the American POWs, at least how he believes American POWs are being held here in inside Iraq.
Here's what he had to say about that:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. MICHAEL TITUS, 101ST AIRBORNE: I think that regardless of what they do, you know, we're not them, and just because, you know, somebody else does that, you know, Golden Rule -- do unto others as you had done unto them. And makes our resolve fight stronger, because we don't want to get captured, it makes their resolve to fight less, if they get captured they know they'll be treated humanly, they're going to get fed, they're going to shelter and medical treatment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHILCOTE: Now, as you can hear, pretty windy there. A little bit about the conditions. When I was there, I saw the U.S. soldiers bring some blankets to those Iraqis. The soldier you just heard from, he also promised to build some kind of shelter. They really wanted to improve the conditions for those Iraqis that they captured. I think they were caught a bit off guard. This base was only established about four days ago. And although they were expecting Iraqis to either surrender or be captured. They weren't expecting it quite so quickly.
Another quick note, at least one of the six Iraqis was given some medical attention. One of the doctors treated him with some medicine for asthma. So, these soldiers were really focused on trying to improve conditions for the Iraqis. As you heard from the soldier, they really believe that is part of the formula for their success here inside Iraq.
Back to you.
HEMMER: Interesting stuff. Ryan, thanks. And Sanjay told us earlier, when he was embedded with that forward operating base, that 70 percent of the operations were actually performed on Iraqi soldiers as opposed to coalition troops.
Ryan Chilcote there, Marty Savidge there before him. Walt Rodgers getting a much-need rest, at least for a time. Walt's with the 7th Cav and join us live with the sun going down.
Walter, good evening.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.
The 7th U.S. cavalry has now been reinforced by elements of the 3rd Infantry Division, but for 72 hours prior to that, the 7th Cavalry was out on its own, coming under almost continuous fire for two and a half days, continuous Iraqi fire. There were points when the 7th Cavalry was moving forward when in point of fact it was on its own. It was only U.S. unit out in front and north of Euphrates River, and it faced more than a few serious counter attack, particularly crazy horse troop counterattacks from the Iraqis, and then came the most difficult assignment of all for the 7th Cavalry, hold a bridgehead, preventing Iraqi counterattack from Baghdad that might have reinforced the Iraqi garrison at An Najaf.
One of the soldiers who was commanding a tank at that particular outpost is Sergeant Paul Wheatley.
Sergeant Wheatley, you were sitting in a tank alone, must have been very lonely last night when all you a convoy aisle Iraqi armored units moving your way. You've got three tanks, two Bradley vehicles to fight off a huge force coming your way. What was it like sitting out there in dark?
SGT. PAUL WHEATLEY, U.S. ARMY TANK COMMANDER: Very scary. I also knew that the Air Force has picked them up, and I knew they were moving, and I was hoping and praying artillery and aircraft could take some of them out so they would either split up and disperse and run the other way, or not have to fight off 1,000 vehicles.
RODGERS: When the B-52s started dropping the bombs, could you hear the bombs?
WHEATLEY: Yes, sir.
RODGERS: We're hearing incoming. We're not sure what it is. We see some stuff in the sky. We may have to break this off. I think we're going to break off this live shot for the time being. We're not sure what we see up there.
Goodbye. We've got to dive for vehicles, we think. See you. Bye.
HEMMER: All right, Walt. Get cover there.
Walt Rodgers again, Charlie Miller (ph) there, embedded with the 7th Cav in central Iraq, and don't want to keep you on the air, Walt, certainly when something like that is happening. They have had a very rough go at it, moving well into Iraqi territory, well about 220 miles into Iraq, as we look at these images, we don't want to put our reporters in harm's way in any way. But the imbedded reports we're getting oftentimes give us the information, valuable information from the battlefield at the same time that the Pentagon is receiving it. It's never been done this way before.
And we're sticking with this image here. I'm listening to it in my ear -- I can't see it, but Walt Rodgers for several days has been on the air virtually nonstop for us here at CNN.
Earlier today, he did report that the 7th Cav was going hunker down for about 48 hours and get some much-needed rest. The 3rd ID, the 3rd Infantry Division, which has got an awful lot of firepower now meeting with up 7th Cav in that part of Iraq. That's something that the coalition forces were looking forward to for quite some time, trying to get that firepower in there and get the reinforcements.
It's my understanding, you see some at least smoke trails in the sky there. You heard Walter say the possibility of incoming. It's been a nonstop battle. He described for one time, they went for a 72- hour period where there's nothing but combat off and on for the 7th Cav. The scouting unit for the 3rd ID. They get way in front of the unit, try to find a safe passage up through the southern and central part of Iraq, trying to clear the way for rest men and women that follow on.
So we'll check back in with Walter as get more information. But again, that is live. That you see it the same way we do, Paula, live here on television. I know I've said it many times in the past, but this is military. This war. This is combat like we've never seen before.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Iraq>
Aired March 27, 2003 - 10:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Christiane Amanpour is near the southern Iraq town of Basra and joined British troops as they tried to reach out to civilians.
Christiane, what's the latest from there?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, just want to sort out, perhaps, clear a bit of the fog of war which is descended over the last 24 hours on one particular issue.
Overnight we were having reports from embedded reporter and from CENTCOM that some column, maybe 120 vehicles strong, of Iraqi armored vehicles and tanks had burst out south Basra and taken on by U.S. airpower. Well, early this morning, we were told by the British that was only three tanks that had come out Basra, and that they were apparently taken out by airpower and destroyed.
In addition, in another location, some 14 British tanks took on about 14 Iraqi tanks in southern Iraq and apparently destroyed them and got four companies of infantry soldiers on the run.
Now, as far as Basra is concerned, that continues there, British exchanging artillery with Iraqi resistance, the military who's resisting inside the town. But in addition, Britain trying to, as you say, reach out to the civilian population today. Pictures of Iraqi civilians coming out of Basra, as far as they can from perhaps outskirts of the city, and going up to the British who are there in their tanks and vehicles, and I think asking for some food, some help, in any event chatting to those (ph).
The British are trying to wage almost a two or three-front campaign. One, the heavy metal tack on Iraqi soldiers and irregular soldiers, which are putting up spirited resistance and trying to take out of political leadership in Basra. They are also trying to fight a sort of counterinsurgency, as well as reach out to civilians and try to gem them on side in other ways.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMANPOUR: This is what the British call soft operations, military action aimed at counter insurgency and trying to win hearts and minds. The British are setting up checkpoints all long from the road, from the border up to Basra, not only to secure the area military, but also to try to show to show the population they are in control and to try instill some confidence.
2NT LT. ANDY SHAND, BRITISH ARMY: Obviously there is a hard line militia which is working in this area to try and basically intimidate people and stop them speaking us. So part of our role, one of our key roles is to make the civilian population feel safe. If they feel safe, they'll talk us to. And obviously, we'll get intelligence, than that will help us greatly.
AMANPOUR: British soldiers tell us they have found ammunition and artillery rounds along the road, possibly to be used to ambush them. But on this day, the Iraqis driving by are mostly good-natured and cooperate readily with the military searches. Some wave white flags as they approach the checkpoints, and many tell us they are still afraid. They don't know exactly who's in charge yet.
Others say they welcome the allies' arrival, and Saddam's eventual departure.
But most of the people tell us they are hungry and thirsty. When soldiers asked to see inside these barrels, they found them filled not with weapons, but water, collected from the recent rainfall. And we watch these women scoop water from puddles on the ground.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
AMANPOUR: So the humanitarian situation is becoming quite severe, in terms of the fact that people do need clean drinking water and they are desperately scrambling for food. We've had low levels humanitarian aid supplied already by vehicle from Kuwait. They amount to packets of water and food, and they are still awaiting what has been promised, and that is a big British ship of several hundred tons of food, water, blankets and the like to come in and to help the people of this region physically, and also to try to win over their hearts and minds. That's the phrase we are hearing a lot of over here right now -- Paula.
ZAHN: Christiane, it was heart breaking to see that picture of those women taking that pooled water from the puddle and ultimately probably using that as drinking water. What else can you tell us about how desperate these people are?
AMANPOUR: Well, mostly it is that -- it's the water and lack of food. When we ask people why is it they don't have things, why have are thirsty, why they don't have enough food, they say two things, one, because the electricity is cut off in a lot of areas, unable to get the water pumped through the pipes, piped through the taps, and that means the water purification plants are also down. So whatever comes out is not fit for drinking.
And secondly, in terms of food, we were asking, what is it, why don't you have enough? We've heard reports you have been stockpiling. People say they do have some stockpiles, but they're afraid to go out in cities such as Basra, where there are artillery (UNINTELLIGIBLE) continuing. There is a fight going between the British and Iraqi military. People are not sure quite what to do. They are afraid to go out to shops and things like that. So, there is -- and this is a poor part of Iraq. Traditionally, people relied heavily on the U.N. oil for food program. So it's a potential dire situation. There are no reports catastrophic hunger right now, but certainly they do want to get humanitarian supplies in.
ZAHN: Christiane, thanks so much for that report. Appreciate it. Back to bill now in Kuwait City -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Paula, thanks.
We're going to tick off a number of our embedded reporters right now.
Christiane is in Iraq, but she is not embedded, but Walt Rodgers is with the 7th Cav, and so, too, is Martin Savidge with the Marines in southern Iraq. I believe that was the last time we heard from you, Marty.
Let's start with Mr. Savidge, again, imbedded with the U.S. Marines. Marty, good evening.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Bill.
The sun just setting here in this part of southern Iraq, as you mentioned. We are just at the north of the Euphrates River, and welcome to what is a sort of spontaneous military base for the U.S. Marines that has blossomed here in this part of southern Iraq. That is what they call a TAA, a tactical assembly area in military jargon. It is basically a base that can spring up quickly that is secure. There is a heavily armed perimeter around it, and it is a base of operations for the Marines for the moment. Now You can have a set up like this that last for a couple of hours, that last for a couple of days. It's been home to the 1st Battalion 7th Marines for about the last 48 hours, and it's been from here that the Marines have been launching their efforts to secure the very vital supply line that runs into northern Kuwait.
The first night they were given the task of protecting a very large shipment of fuel coming in, there was a firefight that broke out that we witnessed as we road along with the Marines.
Last I know, things were a lot quieter, not to say that it was totally peaceful. There were shots exchanged in the dark, especially as there convoys moving along that supply line.
But here is the way that the Marines, at least from this vantage point, are dealing with it. It's a two-fold operation. Number one, any time, they meet resistance or any they are fired upon, they return fire in a very heavy fashion. It's usually with heavy weapons, .50 caliber machine guns, Mark 19 automatic weapons. That's an explosive device. And then you of course have the Marines with their M-16s. They want to make sure that whoever is firing at them learns a lesson, and that lesson is don't tread on us. They're out to make a point if you fire on U.S. military forces, you will receive a lot more back in return than you can spend send upon them.
And there is another message, another effort, and that is that military units going into villages where they have been receiving fire during the daylight time, and meeting with leaders there, or meeting with the civilians, and warning them, saying look, if you are housing, if you are harboring in a some way, if this village to these Fedayeen that have been launching attacks against us, it's got to stop, because it puts your village in danger, it puts your people in danger. It means that the civilian population who are not combatants are potentially targets, because if you can't tell the good from the bad, it's a very dangerous situation when the military starts opening fire.
So it appears, at least in the last 24 hours, that tactic has worked. It's a lot quieter on supply lines, and the supplies are rolling in like you would not believe -- Bill.
HEMMER: I bet, Marty. Thanks.
Martin Savidge there, embedded with U.S. Marines.
Marty mentioned the sun going down. Ryan Chilcote is with the 101st. Let's put things up further north with the 101st, and Ryan where the sun is now setting there.
Good evening, Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I'll let you look at the sun. The sand and dust have finally settled here at the 101st Airborne's base inside Iraq, in central Iraq in fact. You will remember we had a 48-hour, month than 48-hour brutal sandstorm here that really grounded the entire helicopter fleet of the 101st Airborne and really disoriented a lot of people on ground.
But before we show you what happened, I would like to show you video of what happened just before that sandstorm, because finally our equipment is working, I want to show some of these pictures we took.
This is the red sky just before the sandstorm. As one soldier put it, this is the calm before the storm. The sky went stark red, and it was absolutely amazing, very eerie.
Like I said, it was not only did this sandstorm ground the fleet of helicopters, but it also disoriented a lot of people on the ground, and according to U.S. military, it also disoriented at least six Iraqi soldiers, because yesterday afternoon, six Iraqis in an SUV actually drove right up to this base, not understanding where they were. They were spotted by some U.S. soldiers, surrounded and with weapons, and immediately surrendered to those soldiers that were taken into custody.
The U.S. military commanders here at this base say they believe these six men were couriers for a paramilitary group that is very loyal to President Saddam Hussein. They say these men were bringing money and instructions to some Ba'ath Party leaders in nearby towns. I actually had an opportunity to see the Iraqi men a little bit later, and I spoke with a U.S. soldier, one of the soldiers who was guarding them. I asked him to compare the conditions that the Iraqis were being held in with the conditions that the American POWs, at least how he believes American POWs are being held here in inside Iraq.
Here's what he had to say about that:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. MICHAEL TITUS, 101ST AIRBORNE: I think that regardless of what they do, you know, we're not them, and just because, you know, somebody else does that, you know, Golden Rule -- do unto others as you had done unto them. And makes our resolve fight stronger, because we don't want to get captured, it makes their resolve to fight less, if they get captured they know they'll be treated humanly, they're going to get fed, they're going to shelter and medical treatment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHILCOTE: Now, as you can hear, pretty windy there. A little bit about the conditions. When I was there, I saw the U.S. soldiers bring some blankets to those Iraqis. The soldier you just heard from, he also promised to build some kind of shelter. They really wanted to improve the conditions for those Iraqis that they captured. I think they were caught a bit off guard. This base was only established about four days ago. And although they were expecting Iraqis to either surrender or be captured. They weren't expecting it quite so quickly.
Another quick note, at least one of the six Iraqis was given some medical attention. One of the doctors treated him with some medicine for asthma. So, these soldiers were really focused on trying to improve conditions for the Iraqis. As you heard from the soldier, they really believe that is part of the formula for their success here inside Iraq.
Back to you.
HEMMER: Interesting stuff. Ryan, thanks. And Sanjay told us earlier, when he was embedded with that forward operating base, that 70 percent of the operations were actually performed on Iraqi soldiers as opposed to coalition troops.
Ryan Chilcote there, Marty Savidge there before him. Walt Rodgers getting a much-need rest, at least for a time. Walt's with the 7th Cav and join us live with the sun going down.
Walter, good evening.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.
The 7th U.S. cavalry has now been reinforced by elements of the 3rd Infantry Division, but for 72 hours prior to that, the 7th Cavalry was out on its own, coming under almost continuous fire for two and a half days, continuous Iraqi fire. There were points when the 7th Cavalry was moving forward when in point of fact it was on its own. It was only U.S. unit out in front and north of Euphrates River, and it faced more than a few serious counter attack, particularly crazy horse troop counterattacks from the Iraqis, and then came the most difficult assignment of all for the 7th Cavalry, hold a bridgehead, preventing Iraqi counterattack from Baghdad that might have reinforced the Iraqi garrison at An Najaf.
One of the soldiers who was commanding a tank at that particular outpost is Sergeant Paul Wheatley.
Sergeant Wheatley, you were sitting in a tank alone, must have been very lonely last night when all you a convoy aisle Iraqi armored units moving your way. You've got three tanks, two Bradley vehicles to fight off a huge force coming your way. What was it like sitting out there in dark?
SGT. PAUL WHEATLEY, U.S. ARMY TANK COMMANDER: Very scary. I also knew that the Air Force has picked them up, and I knew they were moving, and I was hoping and praying artillery and aircraft could take some of them out so they would either split up and disperse and run the other way, or not have to fight off 1,000 vehicles.
RODGERS: When the B-52s started dropping the bombs, could you hear the bombs?
WHEATLEY: Yes, sir.
RODGERS: We're hearing incoming. We're not sure what it is. We see some stuff in the sky. We may have to break this off. I think we're going to break off this live shot for the time being. We're not sure what we see up there.
Goodbye. We've got to dive for vehicles, we think. See you. Bye.
HEMMER: All right, Walt. Get cover there.
Walt Rodgers again, Charlie Miller (ph) there, embedded with the 7th Cav in central Iraq, and don't want to keep you on the air, Walt, certainly when something like that is happening. They have had a very rough go at it, moving well into Iraqi territory, well about 220 miles into Iraq, as we look at these images, we don't want to put our reporters in harm's way in any way. But the imbedded reports we're getting oftentimes give us the information, valuable information from the battlefield at the same time that the Pentagon is receiving it. It's never been done this way before.
And we're sticking with this image here. I'm listening to it in my ear -- I can't see it, but Walt Rodgers for several days has been on the air virtually nonstop for us here at CNN.
Earlier today, he did report that the 7th Cav was going hunker down for about 48 hours and get some much-needed rest. The 3rd ID, the 3rd Infantry Division, which has got an awful lot of firepower now meeting with up 7th Cav in that part of Iraq. That's something that the coalition forces were looking forward to for quite some time, trying to get that firepower in there and get the reinforcements.
It's my understanding, you see some at least smoke trails in the sky there. You heard Walter say the possibility of incoming. It's been a nonstop battle. He described for one time, they went for a 72- hour period where there's nothing but combat off and on for the 7th Cav. The scouting unit for the 3rd ID. They get way in front of the unit, try to find a safe passage up through the southern and central part of Iraq, trying to clear the way for rest men and women that follow on.
So we'll check back in with Walter as get more information. But again, that is live. That you see it the same way we do, Paula, live here on television. I know I've said it many times in the past, but this is military. This war. This is combat like we've never seen before.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Iraq>
