Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/11/03

TYPE=SPECIAL REPORT

TITLE=BASRA / SCENE (L-O)

NUMBER=9-13

BYLINE=WILLIAM CHIEN

DATELINE=BASRA

INTRO: Coalition forces took control of the southern Iraq city of Basra several days ago. Since then, reports have emerged of looting and chaos. V-O-A's William Chien went to Basra for this report.

TEXT: Entering Iraq, the signs of war are everywhere. Many villages are empty. A number of them destroyed by fire. Closer to Basra, the amount of destroyed vehicles and other property strewn alongside the road increases. Then, as if passing an invisible barrier as one enters Basra, the destruction lessens. Clear evidence that the British had made spare use of heavy weapons when advancing into the city.

Mobs of people stand on the streets shouting at each other. It is impossible to discern what they are arguing about. Our truck stops at an intersection in the southern part of the city, hundreds of locals surround us. We brace ourselves for the unknown.

/// ACT CROWD NOISE. FADE ///

Red Cross workers are used to this kind of situation. They ask British soldiers to push the crowd back until they are 20 meters from the truck. When this is done, the people are allowed to approach the truck one at a time. After each person takes a box of humanitarian aid supplies, Red Cross workers use a red pen to mark his or her collar, ostensibly to prevent them from returning to receive more than one package. Of the three times this reporter has ventured into Iraq to witness the distribution of humanitarian aid supplies, this time is the most orderly.

As local man complains to me about the last two days' looting and robbing. He says that even though British tanks are stopped along most major streets, a number of homes have been robbed in broad daylight by people wielding AK-47s. The bandits take everything: electric appliances, jewelry, cash. The man tells me that the bandits rob common people and clean out government offices and schools. He asks me to ask the authorities to immediately establish order.

Our truck moves on to a small hamlet in the southern suburbs of Basra and unloads the remaining aid supplies. The clothing worn by the villagers is ragged and most of them look to be quite hungry and exhausted. A local man, named Said, speaks to me in English. He tells me about the situation in his village:

/// ACT VILLAGER ///

Normally, we work in the ground, grow crops, cultivating. Now, we don't have enough supplies. Saddam harmed his people. Democracy will not be like this.

///ACT END///

As I leave Basra to return to my base in Kuwait City, I can see that the looting has already subsided. With food supplies pouring into the city, it would seem the city will soon have enough to eat. Said shouts to me that he hopes the police, but no Baathists, will soon return to their jobs. There is hope. (Signed)

NEB/WCH/RH