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CNN Sunday Morning

U.S. Convoy Attacked in Iraq

Aired June 29, 2003 - 07:07   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.


KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Turning the spotlight now to Iraq. This morning in Baghdad, another attack on a U.S. convoy. Two soldiers have been wounded, an Iraqi civilian is dead. Ben Wedeman is live in Baghdad with more on this.
You know, Ben, the frequency of these attacks against coalition forces do seem to be increasing?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they certainly do. Two incidents basically to report this morning. This one incident in the early morning hours when a U.S. convoy on its way along highway 8, which is the main road that connects the center of the city with the airport, came under attack, apparently hit by what's being described as an unidentified explosive device.

Now that tack left one Iraqi civilian dead and two U.S. soldiers wounded. In addition to that, also in Baghdad late Saturday night, an attack on a -- on U.S. soldiers guarding the Iraqi National Museum. They apparently were hit by grenades fired from a passing red Volkswagen. No casualties in that case.

And of course, these are really just the incidents that are being reported, but you know, I've been all around Iraq in the last month and a half speaking to U.S. soldiers. And basically, in many parts of the country, they're coming under fire almost every night. So I think we really have to step back, stop always looking at the trees, and look at the forest. And the forest says there is a war going on. The war against Saddam Hussein may be over, but the new war, it's a guerrilla war against a variety of individuals in groups who for one reason or another are dissatisfied with the U.S. and also the British presence here in Iraq. And they are taking up arms against these troops.

OSBORN: Ben, a forest is an excellent example of -- a metaphor, if you will, of what some of the dangers they're facing there. I wanted to ask you briefly, there are some reports of Iraqis who cooperate with the coalition themselves being targeted as well? You hearing anything about that?

WEDEMAN: Yes, we've seen in that several places, actually. For instance, I was up in Tikrit a few weeks ago. And there were reports, for instance, that people -- merchants who were selling to U.S. troops in that city, which is of course the birthplace of Saddam Hussein, merchants were being targeted by local loyalists to the old regime for selling and dealing with the Americans troops. We've also seen, for instance, electrical workers who are trying to restore power here in cooperation with the Americans, also go -- coming under attack. Two of them, in fact, were killed just a few days ago. So this is another problem.

And of course, it will have a drastic ripple on effect among all those Iraqis who are willing to cooperate with the Americans.

OSBORN: Ben Wedeman, live in Baghdad. Thank you very much.

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 29, 2003 - 07:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Turning the spotlight now to Iraq. This morning in Baghdad, another attack on a U.S. convoy. Two soldiers have been wounded, an Iraqi civilian is dead. Ben Wedeman is live in Baghdad with more on this.
You know, Ben, the frequency of these attacks against coalition forces do seem to be increasing?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they certainly do. Two incidents basically to report this morning. This one incident in the early morning hours when a U.S. convoy on its way along highway 8, which is the main road that connects the center of the city with the airport, came under attack, apparently hit by what's being described as an unidentified explosive device.

Now that tack left one Iraqi civilian dead and two U.S. soldiers wounded. In addition to that, also in Baghdad late Saturday night, an attack on a -- on U.S. soldiers guarding the Iraqi National Museum. They apparently were hit by grenades fired from a passing red Volkswagen. No casualties in that case.

And of course, these are really just the incidents that are being reported, but you know, I've been all around Iraq in the last month and a half speaking to U.S. soldiers. And basically, in many parts of the country, they're coming under fire almost every night. So I think we really have to step back, stop always looking at the trees, and look at the forest. And the forest says there is a war going on. The war against Saddam Hussein may be over, but the new war, it's a guerrilla war against a variety of individuals in groups who for one reason or another are dissatisfied with the U.S. and also the British presence here in Iraq. And they are taking up arms against these troops.

OSBORN: Ben, a forest is an excellent example of -- a metaphor, if you will, of what some of the dangers they're facing there. I wanted to ask you briefly, there are some reports of Iraqis who cooperate with the coalition themselves being targeted as well? You hearing anything about that?

WEDEMAN: Yes, we've seen in that several places, actually. For instance, I was up in Tikrit a few weeks ago. And there were reports, for instance, that people -- merchants who were selling to U.S. troops in that city, which is of course the birthplace of Saddam Hussein, merchants were being targeted by local loyalists to the old regime for selling and dealing with the Americans troops. We've also seen, for instance, electrical workers who are trying to restore power here in cooperation with the Americans, also go -- coming under attack. Two of them, in fact, were killed just a few days ago. So this is another problem.

And of course, it will have a drastic ripple on effect among all those Iraqis who are willing to cooperate with the Americans.

OSBORN: Ben Wedeman, live in Baghdad. Thank you very much.

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