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American Morning

Three U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq

Aired September 19, 2003 - 07:15   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The area around Saddam Hussein's hometown continues to be a dangerous region for U.S. troops. Late last night, three American soldiers were killed in an attack near Tikrit.
Walt Rodgers is live in Baghdad for us this morning.

Walt -- good morning. What's the latest on this attack?

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Well, the soldiers who were killed and the two wounded were with the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division. They were on a night mission last night, going to check out some sites from which U.S. soldiers had been fired upon by rocket-propelled grenades in previous times.

So, theoretically, they were going to ambush someone who had been using those sites. In fact, they turned out to have been ambushed.

This raises a very interesting question, because in all night engagements, U.S. forces should have the advantage because of their night vision goggles, their ability to see in the dark. You have to wonder when U.S. soldiers are ambushed at night, when they're stalking someone else, if perhaps the Iraqis might not have had had access to night vision goggles, and the playing field would have been somewhat leveled.

As we said, three dead U.S. soldiers, ambushed very close to one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces on the east bank of the Tigris River. No further details at this point, but, again, this came as quite a surprise, U.S. soldiers getting ambushed at night by Iraqis -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: All right, Walt, thanks for that update.

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Aired September 19, 2003 - 07:15   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The area around Saddam Hussein's hometown continues to be a dangerous region for U.S. troops. Late last night, three American soldiers were killed in an attack near Tikrit.
Walt Rodgers is live in Baghdad for us this morning.

Walt -- good morning. What's the latest on this attack?

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Well, the soldiers who were killed and the two wounded were with the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division. They were on a night mission last night, going to check out some sites from which U.S. soldiers had been fired upon by rocket-propelled grenades in previous times.

So, theoretically, they were going to ambush someone who had been using those sites. In fact, they turned out to have been ambushed.

This raises a very interesting question, because in all night engagements, U.S. forces should have the advantage because of their night vision goggles, their ability to see in the dark. You have to wonder when U.S. soldiers are ambushed at night, when they're stalking someone else, if perhaps the Iraqis might not have had had access to night vision goggles, and the playing field would have been somewhat leveled.

As we said, three dead U.S. soldiers, ambushed very close to one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces on the east bank of the Tigris River. No further details at this point, but, again, this came as quite a surprise, U.S. soldiers getting ambushed at night by Iraqis -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: All right, Walt, thanks for that update.

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