Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
Kuwait Prepares for War
Aired December 29, 2002 - 11:06 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: As tensions between the United States and Iraq remain high, the tiny emirate of Kuwait is watching and waiting to see what happens there. Just over a decade ago, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait propelled the U.S. to take up arms against Baghdad, and today Kuwaitis are taking no chances. The story now from CNN's Ryan Chilcote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An Iraqi SCUD missile lands just short of Kuwait's airport. Firemen rush to put out the flames. Emergency workers attend to casualties. Men in masks look for signs of chemicals. Yellow smoke plays the part of deadly nerve gas. It's all part of Kuwait's largest civil defense drill ever. A clear sign that Kuwait is stepping up its preparations, preparing for the worst from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
COL. ABDULAZIZ AL-MALALLAN, KUWAIT CIVIL DEF. FORCES: Everybody knows maybe because the American army are using the Kuwait lines, maybe, like I told you for attacking Iraq if there is a war. And he is, you know, and everybody knows he is full of (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Maybe he will go out of his mind and he will attack us.
CHILCOTE: Civil defense officials engineered explosions at three locations throughout Kuwait City to simulate a SCUD missile attack. A mock drill modeled on real attacks that Iraq launched on Saudi Arabia and Israel during the first Gulf War.
(on camera): It's all very spectacular, but it's been staged for the cameras, and no one really knows if and when it will happen for real.
(voice-over): The uncertainty of an attack is what makes it so difficult to role play, where, when, and with what.
Kuwait's government has reportedly began stockpiling gas masks and smallpox vaccines, but there was little mention of them in an evacuation drill later in the day at the stock market. At times, the drills looked deadly serious. At times no more serious than an elementary school fire drill.
The feeling here is mixed. Most believe the U.S. Army will protect them.
(on camera): I see the preparations at the stock market. Have you any preparation at home? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually. No. No.
CHILCOTE (voice-over): While others fear that in so doing, their protector could provoke neighboring Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are very afraid. And hopefully there is no war. But what to do?
CHILCOTE: The Kuwaiti government has set aside the equivalent of more than $300 million to prepare for any possible war. It's a dark future this country is starting to bank on.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Kuwait.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 December 29, 2002 - 11:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: As tensions between the United States and Iraq remain high, the tiny emirate of Kuwait is watching and waiting to see what happens there. Just over a decade ago, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait propelled the U.S. to take up arms against Baghdad, and today Kuwaitis are taking no chances. The story now from CNN's Ryan Chilcote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An Iraqi SCUD missile lands just short of Kuwait's airport. Firemen rush to put out the flames. Emergency workers attend to casualties. Men in masks look for signs of chemicals. Yellow smoke plays the part of deadly nerve gas. It's all part of Kuwait's largest civil defense drill ever. A clear sign that Kuwait is stepping up its preparations, preparing for the worst from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
COL. ABDULAZIZ AL-MALALLAN, KUWAIT CIVIL DEF. FORCES: Everybody knows maybe because the American army are using the Kuwait lines, maybe, like I told you for attacking Iraq if there is a war. And he is, you know, and everybody knows he is full of (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Maybe he will go out of his mind and he will attack us.
CHILCOTE: Civil defense officials engineered explosions at three locations throughout Kuwait City to simulate a SCUD missile attack. A mock drill modeled on real attacks that Iraq launched on Saudi Arabia and Israel during the first Gulf War.
(on camera): It's all very spectacular, but it's been staged for the cameras, and no one really knows if and when it will happen for real.
(voice-over): The uncertainty of an attack is what makes it so difficult to role play, where, when, and with what.
Kuwait's government has reportedly began stockpiling gas masks and smallpox vaccines, but there was little mention of them in an evacuation drill later in the day at the stock market. At times, the drills looked deadly serious. At times no more serious than an elementary school fire drill.
The feeling here is mixed. Most believe the U.S. Army will protect them.
(on camera): I see the preparations at the stock market. Have you any preparation at home? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually. No. No.
CHILCOTE (voice-over): While others fear that in so doing, their protector could provoke neighboring Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are very afraid. And hopefully there is no war. But what to do?
CHILCOTE: The Kuwaiti government has set aside the equivalent of more than $300 million to prepare for any possible war. It's a dark future this country is starting to bank on.
Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Kuwait.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
