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American Morning
Talk with Dr. Hussain Al Shahristani
Aired April 01, 2003 - 09:26 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: As coalition battles continue for control of cities in central and southern Iraq, the fighting moves door to door, in many cases endangering, we are told, not only U.S. troops, but the civilians, the Iraqis they encounter. There are reports that once coalition forces move out, paramilitary troops move in, threatening and killing civilians. Can the Iraqis be better protected? Let's talk about that live in Kuwait with Dr. Hussain Al Shahristani, as scientist who escaped Iraq back in 1991. He is now working on behalf of a number of humanitarian organizations, trying to bring relief to the Iraqi civilian population.
Nice to see you, doctor.
DR. HUSSAIN AL SHAHRISTANI, IRAQI REFUGEE COUNCIL: Tell us about this whole thing about going to door to door and why you believe it's more dangerous for Iraqi civilians?
Well, the coalition troops have entered some Iraqi towns along the Euphrates, on their way up to the north, and when they were either won't come in these towns or even people just by watching them and showing signs of relief of being rid of Saddam, the people then left, and the troops moved out, and the people were left without protection. Saddam's forces came in the next day and executed whoever was on the streets watching or welcoming these troops.
Now, this cannot go on. This is basically...
HEMMER: One second. How many people were killed?
AL SHAHRISTANI: More than ten people were killed in the town, in a small town called Kibil (ph), north of Nasiriyah, on the way to Somalia. This was almost six days ago, and that is taking place in other small towns. Even in Safwan, Saddam's Fedayeen loyalists have been active, shooting at whoever had shown signs of relief of being rid of the regime.
HEMMER: Is this the paramilitary doing this? Is it Baath Party members? Is it both?
AL SHAHRISTANI: It's both. Actually, it's Fedayeen Saddam, who are the paramilitary, the Baath, and also some of the security people are moving really around from one town to another, hitting, shooting, killing, executing, and the coalition forces have the responsibility under the international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population they come in contact with.
HEMMER: At this point, they would have to occupy each town and occupy every inch of Iraq to keep it safe?
AL SHAHRISTANI: Well, that's their responsibility. You either don't enter a town, leave it as it is, or once you occupy it, you are responsible under international humanitarian law for the protection of the civilians. You cannot leave them unprotected.
HEMMER: I think it would serve our viewers well to know how the Baath Party has control over the Iraqi civilian population. How is it, based on what I understand as a former Soviet system, at play in Iraq that operates on fear?
AL SHAHRISTANI: Absolutely. It has been much worse than the old Soviet system. Saddam's regime has seeded an informer in every street. People have been required, children, to report on their parents, and what they do at home when Saddam is on television at night. I mean, the whole society has been controlled through a security apparatus. There are thirty (ph) secret organizations, and people are afraid to speak to their own family members. So there are informants throughout the country, and people realize, unless they are protected, there is no way that they are going to show this content to the regime, and that's we are not seeing.
HEMMER: You make an excellent point. And I think as more troops get in there, perhaps, and again, as more of these cities get secured in the southern part of Iraq, perhaps what you are talking about can indeed take place. Thanks for sharing. And stick around. I want to talk to you more in a moment, OK.
Dr. Al Shahristani, thanks. Left Iraq back in 1991.
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 April 1, 2003 - 09:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: As coalition battles continue for control of cities in central and southern Iraq, the fighting moves door to door, in many cases endangering, we are told, not only U.S. troops, but the civilians, the Iraqis they encounter. There are reports that once coalition forces move out, paramilitary troops move in, threatening and killing civilians. Can the Iraqis be better protected? Let's talk about that live in Kuwait with Dr. Hussain Al Shahristani, as scientist who escaped Iraq back in 1991. He is now working on behalf of a number of humanitarian organizations, trying to bring relief to the Iraqi civilian population.
Nice to see you, doctor.
DR. HUSSAIN AL SHAHRISTANI, IRAQI REFUGEE COUNCIL: Tell us about this whole thing about going to door to door and why you believe it's more dangerous for Iraqi civilians?
Well, the coalition troops have entered some Iraqi towns along the Euphrates, on their way up to the north, and when they were either won't come in these towns or even people just by watching them and showing signs of relief of being rid of Saddam, the people then left, and the troops moved out, and the people were left without protection. Saddam's forces came in the next day and executed whoever was on the streets watching or welcoming these troops.
Now, this cannot go on. This is basically...
HEMMER: One second. How many people were killed?
AL SHAHRISTANI: More than ten people were killed in the town, in a small town called Kibil (ph), north of Nasiriyah, on the way to Somalia. This was almost six days ago, and that is taking place in other small towns. Even in Safwan, Saddam's Fedayeen loyalists have been active, shooting at whoever had shown signs of relief of being rid of the regime.
HEMMER: Is this the paramilitary doing this? Is it Baath Party members? Is it both?
AL SHAHRISTANI: It's both. Actually, it's Fedayeen Saddam, who are the paramilitary, the Baath, and also some of the security people are moving really around from one town to another, hitting, shooting, killing, executing, and the coalition forces have the responsibility under the international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population they come in contact with.
HEMMER: At this point, they would have to occupy each town and occupy every inch of Iraq to keep it safe?
AL SHAHRISTANI: Well, that's their responsibility. You either don't enter a town, leave it as it is, or once you occupy it, you are responsible under international humanitarian law for the protection of the civilians. You cannot leave them unprotected.
HEMMER: I think it would serve our viewers well to know how the Baath Party has control over the Iraqi civilian population. How is it, based on what I understand as a former Soviet system, at play in Iraq that operates on fear?
AL SHAHRISTANI: Absolutely. It has been much worse than the old Soviet system. Saddam's regime has seeded an informer in every street. People have been required, children, to report on their parents, and what they do at home when Saddam is on television at night. I mean, the whole society has been controlled through a security apparatus. There are thirty (ph) secret organizations, and people are afraid to speak to their own family members. So there are informants throughout the country, and people realize, unless they are protected, there is no way that they are going to show this content to the regime, and that's we are not seeing.
HEMMER: You make an excellent point. And I think as more troops get in there, perhaps, and again, as more of these cities get secured in the southern part of Iraq, perhaps what you are talking about can indeed take place. Thanks for sharing. And stick around. I want to talk to you more in a moment, OK.
Dr. Al Shahristani, thanks. Left Iraq back in 1991.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
