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CNN Live Sunday
The Ali Baba Market
Aired April 27, 2003 - 18:26 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: A lot of what looters hauled off during the fall of Baghdad is now showing up on the streets for sale. In Basra, the illegal booty has created a new route of goods and services for desperate Iraqis. And CNN's John Vause has the story from the Ali Baba market.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the new thriving commerce in Basra, what we're told, an illegal market selling illegal goods. The British call it Ali Baba, after the 40 thieves. The merchants here deny it, but everyone knows it. This is the business end for the looters.
(on camera): No pictures, no pictures?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No pictures, no pictures.
VAUSE: Why not?
(voice-over): Here, almost everything is for sale. Streetlights, $3 U.S.; computer monitors, $3; shower heads, yes, $3 as well. And that's before the haggling begins. Even a motorcycle. That will cost $300.
In fact, the Ali Baba market is behind a mini building boom in Basra. Mohammed Sallen just bought new tiles for his house, and oh what a bargain. Before the war, one tile would cost 1,000 dinars, less than $1, but now that's all he paid for each box of 12.
MOHAMMED SALLEN, CUSTOMER (through translator): In the Islamic way, I ask the person selling the stuff if it is stolen or not. If he says not, then I can buy it. If he says it is stolen, then I won't buy it.
VAUSE: The looters are still picking over the Sheraton just across the street. Maisen Abdilah is selling what he says are the hotel's fluorescent light covers and shelving.
MAISEN ABDILAH, MERCHANT (through translator): I know it's not right to take this stuff. But how am I going to buy dinner for my family? They haven't had food for three or four days.
VAUSE: Others are more ambitious. Through a hole in a security wall at this steelworks, they loaded it up with as many steel beams as they could cram onto trucks, tractors, buses, or haul away with donkeys. And where did it all end up?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No TV. No TV.
VAUSE: Ali Baba strikes again.
(on camera): It would be wrong to give the impression that everyone in Basra is buying stolen goods. Despite all the bargains, some refuse to shop here, because, they say, it is against Islam, and also this is not the future they want for Iraq.
John Vause, CNN, Basra.
(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 - 18:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of what looters hauled off during the fall of Baghdad is now showing up on the streets for sale. In Basra, the illegal booty has created a new route of goods and services for desperate Iraqis. And CNN's John Vause has the story from the Ali Baba market.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the new thriving commerce in Basra, what we're told, an illegal market selling illegal goods. The British call it Ali Baba, after the 40 thieves. The merchants here deny it, but everyone knows it. This is the business end for the looters.
(on camera): No pictures, no pictures?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No pictures, no pictures.
VAUSE: Why not?
(voice-over): Here, almost everything is for sale. Streetlights, $3 U.S.; computer monitors, $3; shower heads, yes, $3 as well. And that's before the haggling begins. Even a motorcycle. That will cost $300.
In fact, the Ali Baba market is behind a mini building boom in Basra. Mohammed Sallen just bought new tiles for his house, and oh what a bargain. Before the war, one tile would cost 1,000 dinars, less than $1, but now that's all he paid for each box of 12.
MOHAMMED SALLEN, CUSTOMER (through translator): In the Islamic way, I ask the person selling the stuff if it is stolen or not. If he says not, then I can buy it. If he says it is stolen, then I won't buy it.
VAUSE: The looters are still picking over the Sheraton just across the street. Maisen Abdilah is selling what he says are the hotel's fluorescent light covers and shelving.
MAISEN ABDILAH, MERCHANT (through translator): I know it's not right to take this stuff. But how am I going to buy dinner for my family? They haven't had food for three or four days.
VAUSE: Others are more ambitious. Through a hole in a security wall at this steelworks, they loaded it up with as many steel beams as they could cram onto trucks, tractors, buses, or haul away with donkeys. And where did it all end up?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No TV. No TV.
VAUSE: Ali Baba strikes again.
(on camera): It would be wrong to give the impression that everyone in Basra is buying stolen goods. Despite all the bargains, some refuse to shop here, because, they say, it is against Islam, and also this is not the future they want for Iraq.
John Vause, CNN, Basra.
(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
