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CNN Live At Daybreak

Hussein Invites Congress to Iraq

Aired August 06, 2002 - 06:04   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Possibly anticipating a decision, Saddam Hussein has invited members of Congress to Iraq to check suspected weapons sites, and Iraq has also offered to resume arms inspections talks with the United Nations. The White House is not impressed by Iraq's moves.

CNN's Rym Brahimi has an update now from Baghdad.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, well, you know, Iraqi officials don't usually respond to media reports or statements being made through the media, so they will be waiting for Kofi Annan's written response to actually react to what he has to say about their invitation for the U.N. chief inspectors to come to Baghdad.

The foreign minister is in Amman to hold talks with Jordanian officials right now. The president, Saddam Hussein, had a very high- level meeting again yesterday, telling his tough military and political advisers that there was no need to fear an enemy that was probably more equipped than they were and better equipped, because they had enough resolve as Iraqi people to face that threat.

The press has been reacting to this, the U.S. dismissing the offer to bring in the U.N. chief inspector. They say that President Bush's comments and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's comments are hysterical (ph). They say that they are actually revealing the truth -- what they call the true evil nature of the U.S.'s intentions toward Iraq.

At the same time, Carol, there has been some sort of charm offensive or an attempt at a charm offensive for the international public opinion, really. That's what you were mentioning about that invitation for members of Congress to come and visit Iraq, with experts in chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, was about. It's also -- there is also -- they are also basically telling the world opinion, well, we're being flexible, it's the U.S. that's being stubborn -- Carol.

COSTELLO: But does anyone really believe that if Congress goes to Iraq -- members of Congress goes to Iraq that the factories there wouldn't be hidden in some way?

BRAHIMI: Well, the wording of the invitation is what you have to look at here, Carol. What they say is they don't say, come in and look, search throughout Iraq to see -- you know, to see everything and look everywhere. They say, come into Iraq, and take a look at the places that your reports allege we are producing weapons of mass destruction. So that's one thing.

The other thing is I think that it's more of a media coup that they're trying to do, basically trying to tell the world opinion that, well, we're being flexible. You see, we're telling them to come in. We are opening up. Why aren't they responding? And I think this is really how we have to interpret this invitation -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Got you. Tell us about the demonstrations that have been going on in Iraq.

BRAHIMI: Well, Carol, there were a few demonstrations, quite big ones yesterday, one of them the usual U.S. flag burning, and another one, a military -- sort of military parade. These were actually Baath party members marching in the streets of Baghdad. They are actually school teachers, university teachers, they are government employees, students, graduates, so really people from all walks of life that all belong to the ruling Baath party.

The message here is, well, we are prepared and we all stick to our leader. We are all united behind our leader, Saddam Hussein. That's, of course, the message, again, for public consumption. What people really tell you when they talk to you privately is, in fact, they are quite worried about what's going to happen -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I'm sure they are. Thank you, Rym Brahimi reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

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