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CNN Live Sunday
Brutal Attack Kills 2 American Soldiers
Aired November 23, 2003 - 16:02 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: We report about American soldiers killed in Iraq all too often, but there was a particularly brutal attack against U.S. troops in northern Iraq today. And in Baghdad the U.S. military is taking action a day after a dangerously close call.
Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is joining us from the Iraqi capital with details on both of those stories. And Walter, disturbing reports of the soldiers that were killed in Mosul today.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: That's true, Catherine. Before today, the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq were treated as an unfortunate part of the mission. But that routine acceptance of soldiers' deaths may not be so easy after today's events.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RODGERS (voice-over): Two dead American soldiers lying under a sheet in an Iraqi street. The army says there was an auto accident and shooting ensued. Eyewitnesses in Mosul, however report a more grisly killing, the soldiers' throats were slit, they said. Then bystanders looted the dead soldiers' personal belongings, according to the Iraqi eyewitnesses. In Baghdad an American general appeared unusually tense upset, but he would not go further.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: It is our policy that we do not go into the specific details on injuries sustained by soldiers, and just as a matter of good taste we would suggest the media does the same.
RODGERS: Another American soldier was killed north of Baghdad in Baqubah by a roadside bomb. Still the U.S. says it is winning.
KIMMITT: This is an enemy that cannot defeat us militarily. In engagement after engagement we see the enemy breaking off, running away, and militarily their attacks are becoming more and more insignificant to us.
RODGERS: This attack and flee tactic, however, is a basic tenet of guerrilla warfare, which Americans now face here. Additionally, the U.S. military said this surge in attacks may be tied to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when Iraqis feel their Muslim roots most deeply and the non-Muslim American forces, especially now, are seen as foreign occupiers. Again, Iraqis seen cooperating with the Americans, like the police, are being targeted. Witness the suicide bombs at two police stations Saturday. One senior police officer told CNN his officers are now worried about going to work.
Additionally, the Iraqi colonel responsible for the security of these oil fields was also assassinated Sunday. Officials also report the DHL cargo plane crippled on landing approach Saturday had two, not just one, missile fired at it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RODGERS: The U.S. military now says the shortcomings in Iraq continue to stem from a lack of good intelligence on the ground. One general said the army still does not know if there is one person leading the resistance to the American coalition forces here or whether it's a number of cells, Iraqi resistance cells, leading the attacks against the Americans -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, Walter. Walter Rodgers, thank you.
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 - 16:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: We report about American soldiers killed in Iraq all too often, but there was a particularly brutal attack against U.S. troops in northern Iraq today. And in Baghdad the U.S. military is taking action a day after a dangerously close call.
Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is joining us from the Iraqi capital with details on both of those stories. And Walter, disturbing reports of the soldiers that were killed in Mosul today.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: That's true, Catherine. Before today, the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq were treated as an unfortunate part of the mission. But that routine acceptance of soldiers' deaths may not be so easy after today's events.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RODGERS (voice-over): Two dead American soldiers lying under a sheet in an Iraqi street. The army says there was an auto accident and shooting ensued. Eyewitnesses in Mosul, however report a more grisly killing, the soldiers' throats were slit, they said. Then bystanders looted the dead soldiers' personal belongings, according to the Iraqi eyewitnesses. In Baghdad an American general appeared unusually tense upset, but he would not go further.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: It is our policy that we do not go into the specific details on injuries sustained by soldiers, and just as a matter of good taste we would suggest the media does the same.
RODGERS: Another American soldier was killed north of Baghdad in Baqubah by a roadside bomb. Still the U.S. says it is winning.
KIMMITT: This is an enemy that cannot defeat us militarily. In engagement after engagement we see the enemy breaking off, running away, and militarily their attacks are becoming more and more insignificant to us.
RODGERS: This attack and flee tactic, however, is a basic tenet of guerrilla warfare, which Americans now face here. Additionally, the U.S. military said this surge in attacks may be tied to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when Iraqis feel their Muslim roots most deeply and the non-Muslim American forces, especially now, are seen as foreign occupiers. Again, Iraqis seen cooperating with the Americans, like the police, are being targeted. Witness the suicide bombs at two police stations Saturday. One senior police officer told CNN his officers are now worried about going to work.
Additionally, the Iraqi colonel responsible for the security of these oil fields was also assassinated Sunday. Officials also report the DHL cargo plane crippled on landing approach Saturday had two, not just one, missile fired at it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RODGERS: The U.S. military now says the shortcomings in Iraq continue to stem from a lack of good intelligence on the ground. One general said the army still does not know if there is one person leading the resistance to the American coalition forces here or whether it's a number of cells, Iraqi resistance cells, leading the attacks against the Americans -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, Walter. Walter Rodgers, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
