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CNN Live Sunday
U.S. Troops Get R&R in Heart of Baghdad
Aired November 23, 2003 - 10:33 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: According to the Associated Press, thousands of Americans in Iraq are heading home for two weeks of rest and relaxation. But some troops are getting some R&R in the heart of Baghdad. Matthew Chance takes us on a tour of Freedom Rest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is where soldiers stuck in Baghdad get to rest. A former Republican Guard complex now refitted for the U.S. army. Troops here are under strict orders to relax, even if there is risk of mortar attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The way I feel about this place, this is awesome, get us out here, get us a little bit of time off, but then again, it's still in Baghdad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want you all to have fun, that's what this is about.
CHANCE: But with months of tense patrols behind them, these troops see any chance of fun as a godsend. The daily threat of attacks they face outside can be eased if only for a few days.
You know, when you get off the truck, you can see in their faces some distresses, the tensions that they face out there daily. And we try to bring them in right away and get them into an environment to where they can relieve that stress in that time within a few minutes.
CHANCE: What that means here is getting out of uniform and eating a good meal. Few would choose R&R in Baghdad, but comfort food and civilian clothes make it much easier to swallow.
CHANCE (on camera): What do you intend to do here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just relax, sleep in, watch some TV, you know, and maybe swim in the pool. Pool is something I'm looking forward to.
CHANCE (voice over): Military officials say plans to rotate everyone out are just too ambitious.
CHANCE (on camera): U.S. military is getting its biggest troop rotation since the Vietnam War. But every single soldier will get a chance for two weeks at home. For some a whole year of combat operations in Iraq will be broken by just three days at Freedom Rest. (voice over): This may not be as good as home for these soldiers or even near, but in Iraq, it is the closest they will get.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Freedom Rest in 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 November 23, 2003 - 10:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: According to the Associated Press, thousands of Americans in Iraq are heading home for two weeks of rest and relaxation. But some troops are getting some R&R in the heart of Baghdad. Matthew Chance takes us on a tour of Freedom Rest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is where soldiers stuck in Baghdad get to rest. A former Republican Guard complex now refitted for the U.S. army. Troops here are under strict orders to relax, even if there is risk of mortar attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The way I feel about this place, this is awesome, get us out here, get us a little bit of time off, but then again, it's still in Baghdad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want you all to have fun, that's what this is about.
CHANCE: But with months of tense patrols behind them, these troops see any chance of fun as a godsend. The daily threat of attacks they face outside can be eased if only for a few days.
You know, when you get off the truck, you can see in their faces some distresses, the tensions that they face out there daily. And we try to bring them in right away and get them into an environment to where they can relieve that stress in that time within a few minutes.
CHANCE: What that means here is getting out of uniform and eating a good meal. Few would choose R&R in Baghdad, but comfort food and civilian clothes make it much easier to swallow.
CHANCE (on camera): What do you intend to do here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just relax, sleep in, watch some TV, you know, and maybe swim in the pool. Pool is something I'm looking forward to.
CHANCE (voice over): Military officials say plans to rotate everyone out are just too ambitious.
CHANCE (on camera): U.S. military is getting its biggest troop rotation since the Vietnam War. But every single soldier will get a chance for two weeks at home. For some a whole year of combat operations in Iraq will be broken by just three days at Freedom Rest. (voice over): This may not be as good as home for these soldiers or even near, but in Iraq, it is the closest they will get.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Freedom Rest in 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
