DVD Transfer 76 (CNN Gulf War Coverage from January 16-17, 1991)

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(c)1991 Cable News Network-WarnerMedia

This contains coverage from the January 16-17, 1991 CNN coverage of the beginning of the Gulf War; where an American-led military coalition sought to - and succeeded in - ousting the forces of Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein from Kuwait (Hussein's forces had moved into Kuwait on August 2, 1990 and had their collective eyes on Saudi Arabia; which would have potentially put Saddam in control of world oil markets). Saddam eventually was forced out by February 28; and the success of the mission - with relatively few coalition casualties - proved the final breaking of the American military in terms of stepping out of the military malaise in the aftermath of Vietnam and for President George H.W. Bush (whose poll numbers soared to the high 80s and at least one poll having his approval rating as high as 91%) in shedding the last vestiges of his reputation as a "wimp" that had developed during his time as Ronald Reagan's Vice-President (though Bush's vulnerability would be domestic policy; with an economic recession and a Republican base enraged at Bush for signing a 1990 budget agreement that increased taxes in spite of Bush's repeated pledge in 1988 not to raise taxes {"Read my lips, no new taxes"}; both of which contributed heavily to Bush's defeat at the hands of Bill Clinton). This also was unquestionably the high-water mark for CNN, which gained international acclaim for their coverage - especially for the reports by Bernard Shaw, John Holliman and Peter Arnett from the Al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad as the air attacks began (not universally; as Arnett in particularly would be criticized for being overly willing to parrot the Iraqi talking points as their reports were cleared by Iraqi censors). In any event, it's a far cry from what CNN has deteriorated into in recent years.

The first 2 hours are from January 16, 1991 around 7:50 p.m. (the first strikes beginning a little after 6:30 p.m. Eastern) and include some of the first reports from Shaw, Holliman and Arnett; David French (not the National Review columnist) interviewing James Blackwell of the Center for Strategic Studies; Senior White House Correspondent Charles Bierbauer's report on the upcoming speech by President Bush; a report from Doug James in Amman, Jordan; Charles Jaco reporting from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Wolf Blitzer reporting from the Pentagon; a second report from Baghdad and of a planned press briefing following the President's speech; an interview with former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger; still more strikes on Baghdad (causing Bernard Shaw in a bit of gallows humor to quip "Clearly I've never been there, but this feels like the center of Hell"); a report on communications capabilities by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and what the objectives were (chief objective: free Kuwait) with the exact start time of the Presidential address at 9:01 p.m.; Richard Blystone {in Jerusalem} interviewing Israeli Health Minister Ehud Olmert; Jeanne Moos' report from the United Nations; an announcement that CNN had temporarily lost contact with what they called the "Boys from Baghdad"; another report from Wolf Blitzer (this time in his office awaiting the press briefing following the Oval Office address); report from Bill Hartley at CNN's Business Desk in New York on the economic impact of the start of the war in Japan and futures trading before it's announced communications have been restored; a false alarm in Dhahran; John Sweeney's report from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; another Baghdad update (Shaw points out that Larry Doyle, a former colleague of his at CBS News and 2 other CBS reporters were safe); Tom Mintier reporting from First Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA (the Hampton Roads area being one of two regions with large Navy populations) and Robert Vito reporting from San Diego, CA (with both reporters interviewing the wives of sailors shipped overseas to fight); return to Amman (Doug James notes King Hussein was monitoring events and a remark by Jordan University's Kamel Abu Jaber complaining that if Bush could call for Kuwait to be freed why not call for a Palestinian state) and reports on protests outside the White House.

We then move to the speech by President George H.W. Bush; who begins by explaining that the U.S., U.N. and other Arab countries had tried to convince Saddam to leave Kuwait peacefully; what's being targeted and goals (force Saddam's forces out of Kuwait/have Iraq comply with UN objectives) and in response to the question of why not use sanctions longer: "The world could wait no longer"; mentions the order to prevail ASAP and vow that this won't be another Vietnam; Bush then noting progress in regards to the Cold War nearing an end (this leading to Bush's infamous "new world order" remark) and hopes that no nation could stand against united world; his noting that this was an all-volunteer military; quotes from some of the troops and closing with a pledge to bring the troops home ASAP.

Returning to coverage; Charles Jaco reports high-level Saudi officials note all Saudi and American planes returned safely; Ralph Begleiter reporting from the State Department on coalition strikes and reaction to Prince Bandar meeting with Secretary of State James Baker; reaction from CNN's Baghdad crew and Bernard Shaw's interview with a woman named Ingrid on bomb shelter conditions; a report from the BBC that Iraq launched 5 Scud missiles; Jaco reading a statement by Gen. Schwarzkopf. Then after a report from Independence, MO and another Charles Jaco report are skipped; we go to the press conference held by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney (introduced by Defense Department spokesman - and future NBC News justice correspondent - Pete Williams)

We then move to the following day; with Daybreak coverage anchored by Bob Cain and Bobbie Battista; with a report from Egypt on 50 Iraqis deserting to join the Allies; an FA-18 U.S. Hornet missing; launch of Tomahawk missile; interview with FAA spokesman Paul Steucke; an early morning report by Richard Roth in Tel Aviv (which Saddam threatened would be the first target of Iraqi missiles); including remarks from former Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin; report of military briefing starting at 10:00 a.m. (approx. 9:40 a.m.); Jeff Flock reporting from a barber shop in Independence, MO; Doug James reporting on Jordanian border with Iraq reopening to allow more refugees; Frank Sesno report from White House on President Bush meeting with Congressional leaders; Mary Tillotson report from Capitol Hill; 2 Allied planes (1 American; 1 British) missing; Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA; Senate Armed Services Committee and who surprised many by voting against sending troops) discussing prospect of air superiority; interview with retired Col. Trevor Dupuy; Riyadh military briefly (mostly in Arabic with a translator arriving late) by Joint Arab Forces Brigadier General Fahd Al-Jarbou; Dow up 93.32 points; Charles Feldman report from UN; Gene Randall report from Pentagon of briefing by Defense Secretary Cheney and Gen. Powell (1 American and 2 British casualties confirmed); Powell emphasizes mission to "eject" Saddam from Kuwait; communications finally restored to Baghdad; explanation of what was used; remarks from Speaker of the House Thomas Foley (D-WA) and Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME; Minority Leader Bob Dole {R-KS} is seen but not heard here); British Prime Minister John Major addressing the House of Commons; trouble for the Baghdad crew as high-level Iraqi officials were trying to halt any live reports (no pictures due to Iraqi TV station suffering damage/no TV at hotel due to power outages); videotape footage of Saddam praying towards Mecca; the Bush family being seen at a church service in Fort Myer, VA and the CNN reports from Baghdad officially cease by order of Iraq and report by Jan Hopkins at NYSE (Dow gains drop to 81 points; oil price plummeting)

The next segment is a repeat from the last live report from Baghdad and a tape (confirmed when someone hit rewind on Iraq's feed) of a speech by Saddam blasting Arab leaders and specifically the Saudis for joining the American coalition. We then have a brief report from Reid Collins in Washington; another White House report by Frank Sesno and reaction from the troops.

Later in the afternoon or evening (January 17); we have a fragment of a report by Gene Randall; Richard Blystone on U.S. efforts to convince Israel to stay on the sidelines; Israeli and Palestinian reaction; responses from World War II and Vietnam vets in Independence, MO; Lou Waters noting the Dow finished up 114.6 points; Tony Clark report from Amman on Jordanian state of affairs; a report from the Pentagon that the Allies were targeting Baghdad again and that 3 Allied planes were lost (Iraq had a much larger claim of 55); a phone report from Ali Salem in Kuwait City; it's noted by the female co-anchor (didn't see where she was identified and I have no idea who she is) that the Baghdad crew is still unable to be contacted; Bill Hartley noting the 114.6 point gain was the largest in history, also noting light sweet crude dropped a record $10.56 and the 30-year bond posted its highest gain in 3 years while gold, silver and the dollar dropped; a report from Greg Lefevre at the San Francisco Stock Exchange on cops booking anti-war protestors; Bob Franken report from Capitol Hill on dueling resolutions regarding the Gulf War (the Republican resolution said that they supported the troops and President Bush; the Democrats charged that adding Bush's name made it overly partisan) and remarks by Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-IN) along with Sec. Cheney briefing the Senate and being en route to do likewise with the House; an interview with former CIA Director William Colby (who was replaced in that post just over 15 years earlier by Bush); more troop reaction and reaction from Israel (including a statement by Defense Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) in report by Linda Scherzer in Jerusalem; Libya's Muammar el-Qaddafi calling for an international conference to settle bombing and Jeanne Moos reporting from UN.

Next; still no word from the Baghdad crew (11:30 a.m. was the time of the last uncensored report); Wolf Blitzer report on carpet-bombing against Iraqi Republican Guard; Charles Bierbauer report on cautious reaction from President Bush; report on prayer service and briefings Bush received; reaction from earlier by Speaker Foley, Senate Majority Leader Mitchell and Senate Minority Leader Dole; Mikhail Gorbachev giving the reaction from the Kremlin; Charles Jaco report on B-52 strikes in Dhahran (2:20 a.m. Saudi time); Ralph Begleiter reporting an information "war" is underway followed by a recap of reports from the initial strikes; USS Wisconsin footage fragment; another interview with Ali Salem; Bill Hartley market report; Bob Franken reporting that the Senate resolution mentioning support of troops and the President as Commander-in-Chief approved 98-0 with footage of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Bob Dole (R-KS)

The final segment is anchored by Lou Dobbs and includes reports from Larry Register in Jerusalem (Israel under Civil Defense Alert); Wolf Blitzer on 2 SCUD missiles landing south of Tel Aviv; those in Dhahran - including Charles Jaco's crew - ordered to move to bomb shelter; report by David French with commentary by James Blackwell; Israeli ministry officially in state of war alert and report of incoming attack (Blackwell notes that those in Israel must follow authorities, especially considering that it was unknown if the missiles contained chemical warheads); Defense Department spokesman Pete Williams confirms 8 SCUD missiles launched; phone call for Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Nathan Diamond; Linda Scherzer and Larry Register reporting from Jerusalem bureau wearing gas masks; phone interview with Richard Roth in Tel Aviv; Charles Bierbauer reports he first learned of this attack while in the office of White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater; Aliza Prizner in Holon; statement by Israel's Eli Cohen that the media members can take off their masks but must remain in the same room; Wolf Blitzer reports that Israel is planning to retaliate; Israeli instructions being translated into Russian for recent emigres from the USSR; Linda Scherzer explains the atropene injections (to remove any gases one was exposed to) and other precautionary measures; Charles Jaco makes his first report in 2 hours (around 4:25 a.m. Saudi time); BBC correspondent Michael McMillen interviewed by Larry Register in Jerusalem; missiles fired near Saudi Arabia - with Jaco's crew again forced to flee to shelter; Wolf Blitzer notes that none of the SCUD missiles fired at Israel had chemical warheads; IDF spokesman Col. Ra'anan Gissin interviewed by Richard Roth on number of SCUDS fired; CNN producer Jim Miller reports near Dhahran; Wolf reads official Pentagon statement and remarks by Pete Williams; IDF report suggests Iraq fired up to 12 SCUDS; David French interviews James Blackwell on what Israel could do to respond; U.S. reports that most but not all Iraqi fixed missile sites hit. We see the beginning of Catherine Crier's interview with stringer Stefan Kotsonis in Turkey before the tape ran out.

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