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CNN Live Sunday

State of Disorder in Iraq

Aired April 27, 2003 - 16:13   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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: The demise of the Saddam Hussein regime also meant the end of Iraqi law. A state of disorder replacing a state of ordered oppression. CNN's Rula Amin has more now on the challenges facing those trying to bring stability literally out of chaos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Iraqi traffic policeman showed up for work at their former offices after U.S. officials appealed to them to return to their jobs. But there was a surprise waiting for them. They were asked to take off their epaulets. They had been stripped of their ranks. Each star is worth four years of service, they explained. And they were asked to fill these applications to apply for their own jobs. They say they were devastated. This father of three says he's been working as a policeman for 32 years, and now it's all wasted. He has to start from zero again. "For years we were unable to utter one word of criticism," he says. "We thought we are starting a new era, but this is not fair either." They all used to work for Saddam Hussein's government. Maybe that's why, I asked them.

"We had to be members of the ruling Ba'ath Party," says another policeman. "We had to, otherwise we wouldn't have advanced in our careers." But even if these policeman are back at work, they don't know how to go about it. Their headquarters had been ransacked and then burned. The major loss is here. The department's records and documents. All lost. They were burned and with it, people's car registration, licenses and claims for stolen cars, all to ashes. They considered it a waste to try to salvage anything. "We can't enforce the law," says this man. "Whose law would we enforce? We have no authority to issue a ticket."

It is a dilemma facing all aspects of life here in the absence of a central authority. This is the courthouse in Baghdad. Judges and secretaries bide their time outside. The courtroom has been looted and there is no power. This is the judge's chamber. The ultimate source for law and order in any country. Here, as well, virtually all records have been burned, including the sample authority. A mother and daughter come to the hotel where all the journalists are staying. They want to complain after their house was robbed the night before. "We have no one else to complain to," the mother says. "The armed robbers stole their money and jewelry, it was a terrifying night," they said. "There's no state, no security. We don't want to stay in this country any more. Living in any tent anywhere else is better. Give us our passports and we will go." But that is not possible. This is the Iraqi department that issues the passports. It has been burnt as well. Rula Amin, CNN, Baghdad.

(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 April 27, 2003 - 16:13   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: The demise of the Saddam Hussein regime also meant the end of Iraqi law. A state of disorder replacing a state of ordered oppression. CNN's Rula Amin has more now on the challenges facing those trying to bring stability literally out of chaos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Iraqi traffic policeman showed up for work at their former offices after U.S. officials appealed to them to return to their jobs. But there was a surprise waiting for them. They were asked to take off their epaulets. They had been stripped of their ranks. Each star is worth four years of service, they explained. And they were asked to fill these applications to apply for their own jobs. They say they were devastated. This father of three says he's been working as a policeman for 32 years, and now it's all wasted. He has to start from zero again. "For years we were unable to utter one word of criticism," he says. "We thought we are starting a new era, but this is not fair either." They all used to work for Saddam Hussein's government. Maybe that's why, I asked them.

"We had to be members of the ruling Ba'ath Party," says another policeman. "We had to, otherwise we wouldn't have advanced in our careers." But even if these policeman are back at work, they don't know how to go about it. Their headquarters had been ransacked and then burned. The major loss is here. The department's records and documents. All lost. They were burned and with it, people's car registration, licenses and claims for stolen cars, all to ashes. They considered it a waste to try to salvage anything. "We can't enforce the law," says this man. "Whose law would we enforce? We have no authority to issue a ticket."

It is a dilemma facing all aspects of life here in the absence of a central authority. This is the courthouse in Baghdad. Judges and secretaries bide their time outside. The courtroom has been looted and there is no power. This is the judge's chamber. The ultimate source for law and order in any country. Here, as well, virtually all records have been burned, including the sample authority. A mother and daughter come to the hotel where all the journalists are staying. They want to complain after their house was robbed the night before. "We have no one else to complain to," the mother says. "The armed robbers stole their money and jewelry, it was a terrifying night," they said. "There's no state, no security. We don't want to stay in this country any more. Living in any tent anywhere else is better. Give us our passports and we will go." But that is not possible. This is the Iraqi department that issues the passports. It has been burnt as well. Rula Amin, CNN, Baghdad.

(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