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CNN Sunday Morning

U.S. Troops Mount Search for Resistance Fighters in Iraq

Aired June 15, 2003 - 11:00   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: To Iraq now. U.S. troops get aggressive in their search for resistance fighters. The operation is being called "Desert Scorpion" and the first phase hit the town of Fallujah, known for opposition to the U.S. presence there. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad at this hour. Hello, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. Yes, this operation "Desert Scorpion" does seem to be one of the extensive yet launched by U.S. forces in Iraq. As you mentioned, the initial focus is around the town -- is in the town of Fallujah. Began with midnight raids on various places in the city.

Among other things, they arrested people who are believed to be possibly behind the attacks on U.S. forces in that town, and there have been a fair number of such attacks. Many clashes, in fact, between Iraqis and American forces in that city.

They're also looking for illegal weapons. Midnight Saturday was the expiration of the deadline for Iraqis to turn in their weapons. Basically, under this amnesty that just ended, Iraqis are allowed to keep weapons in their homes or offices for self-defense. But they can only have AK-47 assault rifles or smaller weapons and pistols. They cannot have anything larger. And we do know that in Iraq, many people have been able to salvage in the chaos that followed the war lots of weaponry, lots of very heavy weaponry. And therefore, the Americans want to round those weapons up and arrest the dealers in those weapons.

Now, in addition to cracking down, the Americans are -- have something of a carrot policy, as well, that they're trying out in Fallujah. Today, they started to pump free gas for the Iraqis. This, an effort to win the hearts and minds, so to speak, of a rather reluctant population. Fallujah being an Arab Sunni stronghold. The Arab Sunnis, of course, were the core of support for the deposed regime of Saddam Hussein, and now the Americans would like to win some of those people over and cut down on the level of very palpable hostility towards them. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right. Ben Wedeman, thank you very much, from Baghdad.

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 June 15, 2003 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: To Iraq now. U.S. troops get aggressive in their search for resistance fighters. The operation is being called "Desert Scorpion" and the first phase hit the town of Fallujah, known for opposition to the U.S. presence there. CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad at this hour. Hello, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. Yes, this operation "Desert Scorpion" does seem to be one of the extensive yet launched by U.S. forces in Iraq. As you mentioned, the initial focus is around the town -- is in the town of Fallujah. Began with midnight raids on various places in the city.

Among other things, they arrested people who are believed to be possibly behind the attacks on U.S. forces in that town, and there have been a fair number of such attacks. Many clashes, in fact, between Iraqis and American forces in that city.

They're also looking for illegal weapons. Midnight Saturday was the expiration of the deadline for Iraqis to turn in their weapons. Basically, under this amnesty that just ended, Iraqis are allowed to keep weapons in their homes or offices for self-defense. But they can only have AK-47 assault rifles or smaller weapons and pistols. They cannot have anything larger. And we do know that in Iraq, many people have been able to salvage in the chaos that followed the war lots of weaponry, lots of very heavy weaponry. And therefore, the Americans want to round those weapons up and arrest the dealers in those weapons.

Now, in addition to cracking down, the Americans are -- have something of a carrot policy, as well, that they're trying out in Fallujah. Today, they started to pump free gas for the Iraqis. This, an effort to win the hearts and minds, so to speak, of a rather reluctant population. Fallujah being an Arab Sunni stronghold. The Arab Sunnis, of course, were the core of support for the deposed regime of Saddam Hussein, and now the Americans would like to win some of those people over and cut down on the level of very palpable hostility towards them. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right. Ben Wedeman, thank you very much, from Baghdad.

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