DATE=2/25/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39072
TITLE=REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: GULF CRISIS
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=KUWAIT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: V-O-A CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER HAS BEEN IN THE PERSIAN
GULF FOR THE PAST TEN DAYS, REPORTING ON DEVELOPMENTS IN GULF
COUNTRIES. IN THIS REPORT, HE SHARES SOME OBSERVATIONS FROM HIS
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK.
TEXT: THE KUWAIT WATERFRONT BRINGS BACK A VIVID MEMORY. ON THIS
TRIP, I STOOD JUST ABOUT AT THE SAME SPOT WHERE, ON FEBRUARY
28TH, 1991, I WAS INTERVIEWING A PALESTINIAN RELIEF WORKER JUST
AFTER NOON, WHEN THE SKY BECAME TOTALLY DARK. THE CAUSE, OF
COURSE -- THE OIL FIELD FIRES, SET BY IRAQI TROOPS BEFORE THEY
FLED.
-0-
THE LATEST IRAQ CRISIS LED TO THE ASSEMBLY OF A VERY POWERFUL
NAVAL ARMADA IN THE GULF. THE UNITED STATES ALONE ASSEMBLED TWO
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, AN AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP, TWO MISSILE
CRUISERS, FIVE DESTROYERS, AND A NUMBER OF SUPPORT VESSELS.
A TRIP TO ONE OF THE BIG SHIPS WAS ON EVERY REPORTERS LIST OF
THINGS TO DO.
LIFE ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER -- LIKE THE GEORGE WASHINGTON --
CONDUCTING CONSTANT TRAINING MISSIONS, MEANS DAYS WITHOUT REGULAR
HOURS. ACTUALLY, FOR THE FLIGHT CREWS, A FEW HOURS OFF-DUTY AND
MANY HOURS ON. THE SAILORS AND PILOTS ABOARD THE GEORGE
WASHINGTON HAD BEEN ON DUTY IN THE GULF SINCE LAST NOVEMBER AND
HAD BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO A RETURN TO THEIR HOME PORT OF
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA IN MARCH. THE IRAQ CRISIS CHANGED ALL THAT.
ON BOARD A CARRIER, ONE ALTERNATES BETWEEN A STRANGE BELOW-DECKS
WORLD OF CONSTANT CLIMBING FROM ONE DECK TO ANOTHER -- THE SHIP
IS 24 STORIES TALL -- WITH NO SENSE OF MOTION AT ALL.
/// AIRCRAFT NOISE - HOLD UNDER ///
ON THE FLIGHT DECK IT IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. THE NOISE AND
ACTIVITY ARE CONSTANT AND NERVE-RATTLING. WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN AT
THE GULF WATERS, THE SPEED OF THE SHIP IS APPARENT.
AND THERE WAS A SMALL TASTE OF WHAT JET PILOTS EXPERIENCE EVERY
TIME THEY TAKE OFF AND LAND FROM A CARRIER.
/// AIRPORT TAKEOFF - UP - AND FADE OUT ///
THE TAKEOFF BY CATAPULT IS SUDDEN -- SCARY -- AND EXHILARATING,
ONCE YOU ARE SURE THE PLANE IS REALLY FLYING!
-0-
MASS DEMONSTRATIONS ARE NOTHING NEW IN THE WORLD, BUT TELEVISION
HAS BROUGHT IN A NEW PHENOMENON -- DEMONSTRATORS IN NON-ENGLISH
SPEAKING COUNTRIES CARRYING SIGNS WRITTEN IN ENGLISH.
/// DEMONSTRATION NOISE - FADE UNDER ///
KNOWING TELEVISION CAMERAS ARE THERE, THE MARCHERS ARE ADDRESSING
-- NOT THEIR OWN LEADERS -- BUT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
THIS WAS NOTICEABLE IN SOME OF THE ANTI-AMERICAN RALLIES IN
BAGHDAD. THAT'S A CHANGE. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, ANTI-AMERICAN
RALLIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST WERE CONDUCTED IN ARABIC.
-0-
KUWAIT CITY SEEMS TO ME TO HAVE MORE LUXURY CARS PER PERSON THAN
ANYWHERE BUT HONG KONG. THE BRIGHTLY-LIT CORNICHE ALONG THE
BEAUTIFUL BEACH FRONT WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC ON THE EVE OF
NATIONAL DAY. THERE WERE FERRARIS, AND ROLLS ROYCES, CADILLACS,
B-M-W'S, AND A BEWILDERING VARIETY OF FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE LUXURY
SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES.
-0-
NOW THAT THE TENSIONS HAVE EASED, KUWAITIS TELL FOREIGNERS THEY
ARE HAPPY THE IRAQI PEOPLE WON'T BE BOMBARDED. BUT THEY ALSO SAY
THEY WANT AN END TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S RULE IN BAGHDAD. SOME ARE
REMEMBERING THE WAY IT WAS ALMOST EXACTLY SEVEN YEARS AGO, WHEN
THE IRAQI OCCUPATION WAS ENDED. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/JWH
25-Feb-98 6:40 AM EST (1140 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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