Military

DATE=7/24/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ / U-S TROOP REACTION (L O)

NUMBER=2-305780

BYLINE=ALISHA RYU

DATELINE=BAGHDAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S troops in Iraq are welcoming the news of the deaths of Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay. But as V-O-A Correspondent Alisha Ryu reports from Baghdad, they remain worried that supporters of Iraq's former ruler could launch revenge attacks that may take the lives of many more soldiers in the coming weeks.

TEXT: U-S troops here are already on the highest alert possible, following attacks in which more than 40 American soldiers have died since May 1st.

With the death of Saddam's two sons Tuesday, some soldiers express hope that the situation will soon change.

The Hussein brothers once controlled the feared security and military units of Saddam's regime. Remnants of those units have been blamed for most of the attacks against U-S forces.

Sitting inside a stiflingly hot Bradley fighting vehicle, guarding a bridge near downtown Baghdad, U-S Army Captain Michael Sekerak (PRONO: Suh keh'rek) says he believes the deaths could discourage many supporters of Saddam Hussein from carrying out more attacks.

/// SEKERAK ACT ///

I think it will definitely help in stopping the resistance movement that's trying to deter our efforts here. Hopefully, the population will realize that supporting the old regime is a lost cause and more will be willing to help us in the future.

/// END ACT ///

But other soldiers say they are not convinced that the deaths of the sons will improve the security situation.

A U-S military policeman, who does not want to be identified, says he has come under fire several times in Baghdad from attackers proclaiming loyalty to Saddam Hussein. He says he is certain that these loyalists will not put down their arms easily and many would use the deaths of the Hussein brothers as a cause for revenge killings.

/// MILITARY POLICEMAN ACT ///

I think they're still strong and active. I really do. But we're always ready though. We'll continue to do our jobs.

/// END ACT ///

On Wednesday, the commander of coalition forces in Iraq, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, warned that there could be what he termed a short-term spike in attacks against U-S forces.

Since Tuesday, four U-S soldiers have been killed in ambushes near the northern city of Mosul. That is the same city where American troops, on Tuesday, killed the two sons during a fierce shoot-out. The dead soldiers belonged to the 101st Airborne Division, the unit that carried out the assault.

There is no indication that the attacks on the soldiers were revenge killings. But the troops here remain wary of the possibility that, at least for the time being, the demise of Saddam Hussein's sons could increase, not decrease, the threats against them. (SIGNED)

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