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CNN Sunday Morning
More U.S. Casualties in Iraq
Aired December 07, 2003 - 09:07 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning to Iraq, where there have been more U.S. casualties. CNN's Walter Rodgers joining us now live from the Iraqi capital of Baghdad with the very latest from there.
Good afternoon to you there, Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi. The commander of U.S. ground forces here in Iraq again said today the United States forces are winning in Iraq. Still, General Ricardo Sanchez said there remains some 5,000 Iraqi guerrillas out there opposing the U.S. forces. And when asked specifically how much longer U.S. forces would be required here, he could not give an answer.
Indeed, he seemed to suggest the U.S. commitment here is open- ended. Still, General Sanchez said that his forces are trying to keep the Iraqi guerrillas off balance, but he seemed to be also warning Americans to be prepared for more and increasing casualties in the months ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. RICARDO SANCHEZ: We're going to have some periods where there will be increased violence in the coming months. And in terms of length, you know, whether we are talking years, at that point it would be speculation on my part. But I think clearly through the spring and into the June timeframe we ought to expect to have a continued violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RODGERS: Another U.S. soldier was killed in one of those roadside bomb explosions up in Mosul. He was from the 101st Airborne. And two other soldiers accompanying him were injured.
Here in Baghdad, two Iraqis were killed as a rocket misfired. That rocket was to be directed at U.S. forces. The casualties, the fatalities, however, were two Iraqis. And as the hunt for Saddam Hussein goes on, again, the U.S. forces are saying they're having very little success except that he does appear to be moving about this country continuously.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The killing or capturing of Saddam Hussein will have an impact on the level of violence, but it will not end it. At least not immediately. That is not the end-all solution to the problem that we're facing here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RODGERS: Even as the predictions of violence continue here in Iraq, the U.S. is trying to transfer more and more security responsibility to the Iraqi forces here, the civil defense units and the Iraqi army. The target is to create a new Iraqi defense force of some 40,000 troops -- they're far from that at this time -- and another 40,000 Iraqi civil defense troops as well. Again, the idea is the Bush administration trying to transfer civilian -- responsibility for security in this country to the Iraqis and away from American troops, taking the Americans out of the Iraqi gun and bomb sites -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Walt Rogers, live from Baghdad this morning. Walt, thanks so 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 December 7, 2003 - 09:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning to Iraq, where there have been more U.S. casualties. CNN's Walter Rodgers joining us now live from the Iraqi capital of Baghdad with the very latest from there.
Good afternoon to you there, Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi. The commander of U.S. ground forces here in Iraq again said today the United States forces are winning in Iraq. Still, General Ricardo Sanchez said there remains some 5,000 Iraqi guerrillas out there opposing the U.S. forces. And when asked specifically how much longer U.S. forces would be required here, he could not give an answer.
Indeed, he seemed to suggest the U.S. commitment here is open- ended. Still, General Sanchez said that his forces are trying to keep the Iraqi guerrillas off balance, but he seemed to be also warning Americans to be prepared for more and increasing casualties in the months ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. RICARDO SANCHEZ: We're going to have some periods where there will be increased violence in the coming months. And in terms of length, you know, whether we are talking years, at that point it would be speculation on my part. But I think clearly through the spring and into the June timeframe we ought to expect to have a continued violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RODGERS: Another U.S. soldier was killed in one of those roadside bomb explosions up in Mosul. He was from the 101st Airborne. And two other soldiers accompanying him were injured.
Here in Baghdad, two Iraqis were killed as a rocket misfired. That rocket was to be directed at U.S. forces. The casualties, the fatalities, however, were two Iraqis. And as the hunt for Saddam Hussein goes on, again, the U.S. forces are saying they're having very little success except that he does appear to be moving about this country continuously.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The killing or capturing of Saddam Hussein will have an impact on the level of violence, but it will not end it. At least not immediately. That is not the end-all solution to the problem that we're facing here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RODGERS: Even as the predictions of violence continue here in Iraq, the U.S. is trying to transfer more and more security responsibility to the Iraqi forces here, the civil defense units and the Iraqi army. The target is to create a new Iraqi defense force of some 40,000 troops -- they're far from that at this time -- and another 40,000 Iraqi civil defense troops as well. Again, the idea is the Bush administration trying to transfer civilian -- responsibility for security in this country to the Iraqis and away from American troops, taking the Americans out of the Iraqi gun and bomb sites -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Walt Rogers, live from Baghdad this morning. Walt, thanks so 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
