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CNN Live Sunday

In Baghdad, Little Gratitude for U.S. Cleanup

Aired May 18, 2003 - 16:16   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: Doing a good deed is a tough sell for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, especially when frustrated Iraqis are suspicious. CNN's John Vause explains the difficult fix U.S. soldiers find themselves in as they try to lend a hand.
(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just after dawn, they arrive. U.S. soldiers, more than 100. The residents here looked on, bemused at first, a little unsure. Is this a raid, a crack down. Liberation reloaded? No, the Army calls this Task Force Neighborhood. It's a bit like Habitat for Humanity. Cleanup day courtesy of the 5th Corps of Engineers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are coming in here and trying to do a lot of good stuff for the folks.

VAUSE: But some folks are hard to please. Like Khalil Fakhri Khalar.

KHALIL FAKRHI KHALAR, BAGHDAD RESIDENT (through translator): The children are terrified by the big machines, they're panicked and disturbed. Instead of bringing in these machines, they should offer the work to the local people.

VAUSE: Still, Khalil was first in line for the free dental work. Two of his teeth were pulled. The local garbage collector was unhappy. He thought he would lose his job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Shall I go home? Shall I not work?

VAUSE: For the primary school, four brand new picnic tables. A tight squeeze for the 1,000 students enrolled here. Thanks for the tables, the head mistress told me. But she would prefer a safe school with regular power and water. And Sabah Talal Al-Awsi, who has lived here all his life is totally unimpressed.

SABAH TALAL AL-AWSI, BAGHDAD RESIDENT (through translator): Cleaning is not our concern, but the gas, electricity, and water, that is what matters.

VAUSE: Still the camouflage netting in the soccer goals was a big hit with the kids.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you got to start somewhere. And so we're starting in the poorest, most disadvantaged neighborhoods, coming in and making a difference.

VAUSE (on camera): This is the second Baghdad neighborhood the Americans have cleaned up, well, sort of. They're saying now, 81 to go. It's all about winning the Iraqis over one load of garbage at a time.

John Vause, 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 May 18, 2003 - 16:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Doing a good deed is a tough sell for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, especially when frustrated Iraqis are suspicious. CNN's John Vause explains the difficult fix U.S. soldiers find themselves in as they try to lend a hand.
(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just after dawn, they arrive. U.S. soldiers, more than 100. The residents here looked on, bemused at first, a little unsure. Is this a raid, a crack down. Liberation reloaded? No, the Army calls this Task Force Neighborhood. It's a bit like Habitat for Humanity. Cleanup day courtesy of the 5th Corps of Engineers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are coming in here and trying to do a lot of good stuff for the folks.

VAUSE: But some folks are hard to please. Like Khalil Fakhri Khalar.

KHALIL FAKRHI KHALAR, BAGHDAD RESIDENT (through translator): The children are terrified by the big machines, they're panicked and disturbed. Instead of bringing in these machines, they should offer the work to the local people.

VAUSE: Still, Khalil was first in line for the free dental work. Two of his teeth were pulled. The local garbage collector was unhappy. He thought he would lose his job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Shall I go home? Shall I not work?

VAUSE: For the primary school, four brand new picnic tables. A tight squeeze for the 1,000 students enrolled here. Thanks for the tables, the head mistress told me. But she would prefer a safe school with regular power and water. And Sabah Talal Al-Awsi, who has lived here all his life is totally unimpressed.

SABAH TALAL AL-AWSI, BAGHDAD RESIDENT (through translator): Cleaning is not our concern, but the gas, electricity, and water, that is what matters.

VAUSE: Still the camouflage netting in the soccer goals was a big hit with the kids.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you got to start somewhere. And so we're starting in the poorest, most disadvantaged neighborhoods, coming in and making a difference.

VAUSE (on camera): This is the second Baghdad neighborhood the Americans have cleaned up, well, sort of. They're saying now, 81 to go. It's all about winning the Iraqis over one load of garbage at a time.

John Vause, 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