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American Morning
CENTCOM Investigates Friendly Fire in Northern Iraq
Aired April 06, 2003 - 09:08 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, ANCHOR: We are going to send it back to Bill now in Kuwait City -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, ANCHOR: Heidi, following up more again about this report of a friendly fire incident on the northern front, in the northern part of Iraq, special forces, in coordination with Kurdish fighters.
To the Pentagon and Patty Davis for more on what we're learning now. Patty, good morning there.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
The U.S. Central Command says that it is investigating that possible friendly fire, incident killing some U.S. Special forces and Kurdish troops near Mosul in Iraq. And whether or not coalition forces played a role.
Now, but as far as the reports of an attack on a convoy of Russian diplomats leaving Baghdad, U.S. Central Command says that its initial reports now reveal that no coalition troops or forces were operating in that area, the incident taking place in an Iraqi- controlled area, says U.S. Central Command.
Now meanwhile, as you heard Walt Rodgers report, that the squeeze continuing to be put on Baghdad itself. As he reported, Baghdad now completely encircled. Yesterday, coalition forces are saying that two to 3,000 Iraqis were killed in the attack on Baghdad.
Tanks rolling in again today, air missions, 24/7, to support those ground troops going into Baghdad.
Now today, U.S. Defense officials are turning to Iraq's future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: What we want to make sure is that all Iraqis are free to participate in building the future government of their country. There have been very important groups, including the Iraqi National Congress, that have been struggling for the freedom of Iraq, in northern Iraq and abroad for many years.
But there are many people inside the country who are still living in fear of the regime and not able to express their views. So we need a process that brings everyone together.
(END VIDEO CLIP) DAVIS: The U.S. is saying that it continues to target Iraqi television. It has had some trouble taking it out. And that's been its goal now for some time. But it's saying that some of these transmission points are mobile, some are located in civilian areas, and quite hard to target without killing civilians in the process. So it's being very careful with that -- Bill.
HEMMER: Patty, quickly, another thing. They're talking about CENTCOM today, was the number of what's considered foreign fighters reporting to duty in Iraq.
Is there a firm number that the Pentagon believes right now, perhaps from Sudan, perhaps from Egypt, who are now fighting on behalf of the Iraqis in the battle zone?
DAVIS: I have not seen a firm number. But today, Vince Brooks of Central Command did talk about an incident in which coalition forces attacked in Salman Pak (ph) and in fact killed and captured some Egyptians, some Sudanese fighters and also destroyed tanks, armored personnel carriers, buildings.
And they believe that these possibly could have terrorist links. They're saying, though, no specific group they found evidence of that these people are connected to. But just from where they're from, Egypt and Sudan, gives them a lot of questions about whether they have terrorist connections or not -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right. Thanks, Patty. Patty Davis, working the angle there at the Pentagon.
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 6, 2003 - 09:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, ANCHOR: We are going to send it back to Bill now in Kuwait City -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, ANCHOR: Heidi, following up more again about this report of a friendly fire incident on the northern front, in the northern part of Iraq, special forces, in coordination with Kurdish fighters.
To the Pentagon and Patty Davis for more on what we're learning now. Patty, good morning there.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
The U.S. Central Command says that it is investigating that possible friendly fire, incident killing some U.S. Special forces and Kurdish troops near Mosul in Iraq. And whether or not coalition forces played a role.
Now, but as far as the reports of an attack on a convoy of Russian diplomats leaving Baghdad, U.S. Central Command says that its initial reports now reveal that no coalition troops or forces were operating in that area, the incident taking place in an Iraqi- controlled area, says U.S. Central Command.
Now meanwhile, as you heard Walt Rodgers report, that the squeeze continuing to be put on Baghdad itself. As he reported, Baghdad now completely encircled. Yesterday, coalition forces are saying that two to 3,000 Iraqis were killed in the attack on Baghdad.
Tanks rolling in again today, air missions, 24/7, to support those ground troops going into Baghdad.
Now today, U.S. Defense officials are turning to Iraq's future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: What we want to make sure is that all Iraqis are free to participate in building the future government of their country. There have been very important groups, including the Iraqi National Congress, that have been struggling for the freedom of Iraq, in northern Iraq and abroad for many years.
But there are many people inside the country who are still living in fear of the regime and not able to express their views. So we need a process that brings everyone together.
(END VIDEO CLIP) DAVIS: The U.S. is saying that it continues to target Iraqi television. It has had some trouble taking it out. And that's been its goal now for some time. But it's saying that some of these transmission points are mobile, some are located in civilian areas, and quite hard to target without killing civilians in the process. So it's being very careful with that -- Bill.
HEMMER: Patty, quickly, another thing. They're talking about CENTCOM today, was the number of what's considered foreign fighters reporting to duty in Iraq.
Is there a firm number that the Pentagon believes right now, perhaps from Sudan, perhaps from Egypt, who are now fighting on behalf of the Iraqis in the battle zone?
DAVIS: I have not seen a firm number. But today, Vince Brooks of Central Command did talk about an incident in which coalition forces attacked in Salman Pak (ph) and in fact killed and captured some Egyptians, some Sudanese fighters and also destroyed tanks, armored personnel carriers, buildings.
And they believe that these possibly could have terrorist links. They're saying, though, no specific group they found evidence of that these people are connected to. But just from where they're from, Egypt and Sudan, gives them a lot of questions about whether they have terrorist connections or not -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right. Thanks, Patty. Patty Davis, working the angle there at the Pentagon.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
