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American Morning

Interview With Arab Journalist

Aired March 31, 2003 - 9:05   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In another part of Iraq, in the town of Basra, we know the fighting has been fierce in and around that town. At the end of last week, a group of independent journalists went by convoy, trying to get inside the city. What they found inside, though, as soon as they flipped on a satellite phone, incoming mortars started to come at their position. A number of journalists had to scramble.
We're told that several of them have now been taken in custody and brought to Baghdad. Essam al-Ghalib was one of the journalists who was there who saw it all, but he got out. Earlier today, I talked to him not just about that experience, but also what he is finding out now from irregular Iraqi people inside of Basra and coming out of Basra, and how they're reacting now to the war in their country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: How much control do the paramilitaries have over the civilian population? Are they keeping them inside? Are they forcing them into the fight? Were you able to get a good read of that?

ESSAM AL-GHALIB, "ARAB NEWS": We didn't see any of that ourselves, but from the reports we were getting from the people leaving, is that the Iraqi army were in civilian clothes, entering people's homes by force and forcing them to stay there.

HEMMER: That's what they were telling you?

AL-GHALIB: Yes.

HEMMER: How many people relayed stories like that?

AL-GHALIB: Many, many, many families.

HEMMER: When you interview and talk to Iraqis with your camera rolling, with your microphone in their face, they say one thing about Saddam Hussein. But you tell me once the camera is turned off they talk in a completely different tone. What is the difference and how do you know that?

AL-GHALIB: Well, I asked 19-year-old man in Safwan why they were doing that. On camera they were chanting, "With our blood, with our souls, we will die for you, Saddam." But off camera it is something completely different.

And I asked them, "Why are you doing this, especially with Kuwaiti TV crews there and all the help you are getting is from the Kuwaiti Red Cross society in Safwan?" He said that as the U.S. and the U.K. withdraw and Saddam continues to stay, that anyone that is voicing any opposition to him will be hunted down. And eventually not only he or she will be killed, but his entire family.

HEMMER: How is it that over decades of Baath Party rule they have been able to get this control over their own people?

AL-GHALIB: Fear. Fear. I mean a quarter of the population is Baath Party. That's what I was told. In order for you to get any kind of benefits, in order for you to go to school, if order for you to hold a good job, you have to be a member of the Baath Party. And at least 25 percent of the people of Iraq are Baath Party member. Maybe on paper, but maybe not in their hearts.

HEMMER: What are they saying right now about the U.S. and the British. Do they truly feel like they are on the verge of liberation or do they not buy that?

AL-GHALIB: They don't want Saddam. They're very happy to be getting rid of Saddam. They just don't agree with the method that's being used. A lot of families are getting killed.

A lot of innocent people are getting killed that otherwise would not have been put in that situation. But everyone is happy to be getting rid of Saddam. They just wish there was another way to do it.

HEMMER: When the Americans talk about winning their hearts and minds, do you see that as possible when you ask them about that? Do they believe that?

AL-GHALIB: It is possible, but it is going to take the fulfillment of the promises of humanitarian aid. I mean everyone is telling us, OK, Saddam was here before, but we had food, we had water, we had electricity, we had jobs, stores, we had a life. Now Saddam is gone but we've got nothing. We've got no food, we've got no water. People in Umm Qasr are being told by the U.K. forces that are there, the people in charge of the town, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Essam al-Ghalib is a writer for "The Arab News". That's an English newspaper out of Saudi Arabia. He says again that humanitarian aid is absolutely necessary. And the United States and Britain have to do a major PR campaign. His words, "a major PR campaign throughout the entire country of Iraq."

And I also asked whether or not he plans to go back in. He says yes, hopefully within 24 hours. A brave man going without the military escort to try to get a story inside of Basra. Paula, back to you.

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 March 31, 2003 - 9:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In another part of Iraq, in the town of Basra, we know the fighting has been fierce in and around that town. At the end of last week, a group of independent journalists went by convoy, trying to get inside the city. What they found inside, though, as soon as they flipped on a satellite phone, incoming mortars started to come at their position. A number of journalists had to scramble.
We're told that several of them have now been taken in custody and brought to Baghdad. Essam al-Ghalib was one of the journalists who was there who saw it all, but he got out. Earlier today, I talked to him not just about that experience, but also what he is finding out now from irregular Iraqi people inside of Basra and coming out of Basra, and how they're reacting now to the war in their country.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: How much control do the paramilitaries have over the civilian population? Are they keeping them inside? Are they forcing them into the fight? Were you able to get a good read of that?

ESSAM AL-GHALIB, "ARAB NEWS": We didn't see any of that ourselves, but from the reports we were getting from the people leaving, is that the Iraqi army were in civilian clothes, entering people's homes by force and forcing them to stay there.

HEMMER: That's what they were telling you?

AL-GHALIB: Yes.

HEMMER: How many people relayed stories like that?

AL-GHALIB: Many, many, many families.

HEMMER: When you interview and talk to Iraqis with your camera rolling, with your microphone in their face, they say one thing about Saddam Hussein. But you tell me once the camera is turned off they talk in a completely different tone. What is the difference and how do you know that?

AL-GHALIB: Well, I asked 19-year-old man in Safwan why they were doing that. On camera they were chanting, "With our blood, with our souls, we will die for you, Saddam." But off camera it is something completely different.

And I asked them, "Why are you doing this, especially with Kuwaiti TV crews there and all the help you are getting is from the Kuwaiti Red Cross society in Safwan?" He said that as the U.S. and the U.K. withdraw and Saddam continues to stay, that anyone that is voicing any opposition to him will be hunted down. And eventually not only he or she will be killed, but his entire family.

HEMMER: How is it that over decades of Baath Party rule they have been able to get this control over their own people?

AL-GHALIB: Fear. Fear. I mean a quarter of the population is Baath Party. That's what I was told. In order for you to get any kind of benefits, in order for you to go to school, if order for you to hold a good job, you have to be a member of the Baath Party. And at least 25 percent of the people of Iraq are Baath Party member. Maybe on paper, but maybe not in their hearts.

HEMMER: What are they saying right now about the U.S. and the British. Do they truly feel like they are on the verge of liberation or do they not buy that?

AL-GHALIB: They don't want Saddam. They're very happy to be getting rid of Saddam. They just don't agree with the method that's being used. A lot of families are getting killed.

A lot of innocent people are getting killed that otherwise would not have been put in that situation. But everyone is happy to be getting rid of Saddam. They just wish there was another way to do it.

HEMMER: When the Americans talk about winning their hearts and minds, do you see that as possible when you ask them about that? Do they believe that?

AL-GHALIB: It is possible, but it is going to take the fulfillment of the promises of humanitarian aid. I mean everyone is telling us, OK, Saddam was here before, but we had food, we had water, we had electricity, we had jobs, stores, we had a life. Now Saddam is gone but we've got nothing. We've got no food, we've got no water. People in Umm Qasr are being told by the U.K. forces that are there, the people in charge of the town, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Essam al-Ghalib is a writer for "The Arab News". That's an English newspaper out of Saudi Arabia. He says again that humanitarian aid is absolutely necessary. And the United States and Britain have to do a major PR campaign. His words, "a major PR campaign throughout the entire country of Iraq."

And I also asked whether or not he plans to go back in. He says yes, hopefully within 24 hours. A brave man going without the military escort to try to get a story inside of Basra. Paula, back to you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com