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If U.S. Moves Against Saddam Hussein, It'll Find Eager Allies Among Kurds
Aired August 13, 2002 - 12:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Speaking about war with Iraq, if and when the U.S. does move to dislodge Saddam Hussein, it'll find eager allies among Iraqi Kurds. That is the word CNN's Wolf Blitzer is hearing in Washington today, and he joins us now live with more -- Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Carol. I just spoke with one of the major Iraqi Kurdish leaders, the Iraqi opposition figures who have been here in Washington over this past several days, meeting with high-ranking Bush administration officials.
And for the first time now, Jalal Talibani, who is the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, a group that controls a big chunk of northern Iraq, is saying he has offered the United States access to bases, facilities in northern Iraq as part of the effort to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime in Baghdad.
Here's an excerpt of the interview I just conducted with Jalal Talabani.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JALAL AL TALABANI, PATRIOTIC UNION, KURDISTAN: As I told our friends, the American army will be very warmly welcomed in Iraqi Kurdistan, in contrary to the rumors.
BLITZER: So you, sir, just to be precise on this point, the United States U.S. military forces would be welcomed to use areas in northern Iraq...
AL TALABANI: Very much welcome. They would be welcomed. And, believe me, the United States is very popular now in Iraqi Kurdistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Talibani says he made this proposal during meetings over the past few days with Vice President Dick Cheney, the secretary of state, the secretary defense, and other high-ranking U.S. military and political leaders. At the same time he acknowledged that if the U.S. were to accept this offer, it could draw fire on the Iraqi military. Indeed, there could be a chemical warfare response against the Kurds in northern Iraq. This wouldn't be the first time that would occur, and I asked Talibani how he would deal with that contingency.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AL TALABANI: We are asking for protection for our people from chemical weapons, from biological weapons, which we are expecting, because if -- the regime will be in danger to fall. I think they will try to use it unless they are not be able to do it, because this strike would be very strong that they cannot reach their arms and use it against the people.
BLITZER: So are you asking the United States for gear, for equipment, to protect your people for the potential use of chemical weapons?
AL TALABANI: Yes.
BLITZER: What did they say to you?
AL TALABANI: I think their response was positive.
BLITZER: They will help you?
AL TALABANI: I hope so. They promised to help, to protect. Even Mr. Dick Cheney was clear, when we asked him about the protection of the Kurdish people, he said we will do it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Talibani and other Iraqi opposition figures have been here in Washington. They emerged from all of the meetings with high- ranking Bush administration officials convinced that the United States will, in the end, use military force against Saddam Hussein to achieve what Washington calls regime change in Baghdad.
U.S. officials told me after my interview with Talibani, that the Iraqi Kurds in the past have made these proposals privately, but this is the first time they believe that the Iraqi Kurds, the opposition, is going public with an invitation to the United States to establish bases in northern Iraq, areas that the Kurds control.
Talibani says that several of the bases need a lot of repair, airstrips need work, but they are ready to work with the United States.
Earlier today, the Secretary of State Colin Powell said those meetings with the Iraqi opposition leaders have been important, and the U.S. is still considering what to do next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: This is one of a series of meetings we will be holding to measure the effectiveness of the opposition elements, to measure how each of them interacts with the others, and to see what possibilities exist if and when regime change takes place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The Iraqi opposition figures incest their ultimate goal after Saddam Hussein is a democratic state of Iraq, one that would be extensive autonomy for the Kurds in the north, Shiites in the south -- Carol.
LIN: Thank you very much, Wolf Blitzer
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