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American Morning
Resisting Attacks in Iraq
Aired January 12, 2004 - 08:33 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: Attacks against U.S. soldiers in Iraq are down 22 percent since the capture of Saddam Hussein. Military officers tell "USA Today" that recent U.S. offensives have also helped quiet the resistance.
Meanwhile, some American soldiers have taken a creative step to protect themselves from roadside bombs.
Satinder Binder has some details from us -- for us, rather, north of Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At this workshop north of Baghdad, soldiers weld tons of steel on to their Humvees. Inspired by the 1979 cult movie "Mad Max," they call themselves "the road warriors."
Operations Officer Robert Curran shows me some of the results of their unique operating style.
MAJ. ROBERT CURRAN, 181ST TRANSPORTATION BATTALION: Great protection, this will stop machine gun round of 7.62 mm.
BINDRA: Six hundred other flatbed trucks have been outfitted with heavy heavy-caliber machine guns and grenade launchers, shielded by steel.
CURRAN: This is the most friendliest lemonade stand, yet most deadly in country. And, as you can see, soldier ingenuity took charge.
BINDRA: In soldier lingo, this gun position is a "dog house," but no one is complaining about being in there, or in this gun position, because it, too, is wrapped around in steel.
SGT. 1ST CL. STEVE HOWELL, 181ST TRANSPORTATION BATTALION: For the most part, everybody likes it, because initially we didn't have the availability of the armor plating. So, we were kind of rolling out there naked.
BINDRA: Now, these soldiers say they can display some naked aggression to intimidate insurgents. Their casualty rate, too, is down, and no one has been injured in the past few weeks.
(on camera): Every day on average the 181st Transportation Battalion puts out 250 trucks on the dangerous roads here. In that time span, they all traveled 25,000 miles, or 40,000 kilometers, delivering 5,000 tons of supplies.
(voice-over): A sense of mission bonds regular soldiers, Reservists and the National Guard together.
SGT. DOREEN JENSEN, 181ST TRANSPORTATION BATTALION: We're all going to go back united and being so proud of what we've been able to accomplish here.
BINDRA: No one here takes survival for granted, but as they hit the road, the road warriors tell me they'll continue to soldier on in style.
Satinder Bindra, CNN, Balad, Iraq.
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 January 12, 2004 - 08:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Attacks against U.S. soldiers in Iraq are down 22 percent since the capture of Saddam Hussein. Military officers tell "USA Today" that recent U.S. offensives have also helped quiet the resistance.
Meanwhile, some American soldiers have taken a creative step to protect themselves from roadside bombs.
Satinder Binder has some details from us -- for us, rather, north of Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At this workshop north of Baghdad, soldiers weld tons of steel on to their Humvees. Inspired by the 1979 cult movie "Mad Max," they call themselves "the road warriors."
Operations Officer Robert Curran shows me some of the results of their unique operating style.
MAJ. ROBERT CURRAN, 181ST TRANSPORTATION BATTALION: Great protection, this will stop machine gun round of 7.62 mm.
BINDRA: Six hundred other flatbed trucks have been outfitted with heavy heavy-caliber machine guns and grenade launchers, shielded by steel.
CURRAN: This is the most friendliest lemonade stand, yet most deadly in country. And, as you can see, soldier ingenuity took charge.
BINDRA: In soldier lingo, this gun position is a "dog house," but no one is complaining about being in there, or in this gun position, because it, too, is wrapped around in steel.
SGT. 1ST CL. STEVE HOWELL, 181ST TRANSPORTATION BATTALION: For the most part, everybody likes it, because initially we didn't have the availability of the armor plating. So, we were kind of rolling out there naked.
BINDRA: Now, these soldiers say they can display some naked aggression to intimidate insurgents. Their casualty rate, too, is down, and no one has been injured in the past few weeks.
(on camera): Every day on average the 181st Transportation Battalion puts out 250 trucks on the dangerous roads here. In that time span, they all traveled 25,000 miles, or 40,000 kilometers, delivering 5,000 tons of supplies.
(voice-over): A sense of mission bonds regular soldiers, Reservists and the National Guard together.
SGT. DOREEN JENSEN, 181ST TRANSPORTATION BATTALION: We're all going to go back united and being so proud of what we've been able to accomplish here.
BINDRA: No one here takes survival for granted, but as they hit the road, the road warriors tell me they'll continue to soldier on in style.
Satinder Bindra, CNN, Balad, Iraq.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
