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Weapons Inspectors Ready to Return to Iraq

Aired September 17, 2002 - 12:26   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As for the inspectors, they say they have been ready to go back since the moment they left, in December 1998. They are just awaiting for that green light from UN headquarters.
CNN's Richard Roth is there.

Richard, how soon could it happen?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN UN CORRESPONDENT: It will be a gradual period of time according to the leader of the UN weapons inspectors, Dr. Hans Blix.

There are hundreds of people on the -- quote -- roster of this UN weapons inspection agency, and they have to, in some cases, leave their current jobs, they have to get shots, transportation has to be arranged, there are a whole series of complicated procedures. It does not just happen overnight, and the first thing is they are going to wait to see what kind of late guidance they get from a potentially divided Security Council.

PHILLIPS: What is the process for the inspectors, Richard, once they do go in?

ROTH: When they do go in, what will have to happen is more problems, more things to work out. They have not been there since December 1998. They need to inspect their old headquarters in Baghdad, potentially set up new headquarters in the north and the south, in the cities of Mosul and Basra. They need to deal with the minders who follow them and accompany them everywhere they go, perhaps in many cases tipping off the Iraqis as to what the eventual raid or surprise inspection location will be. They also have to worry about the technology. They have to go back to at least where they were inspecting and then eventually decide what else could they do, what are the new places?

PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, from the UN. Thank you.

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Aired September 17, 2002 - 12:26   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: As for the inspectors, they say they have been ready to go back since the moment they left, in December 1998. They are just awaiting for that green light from UN headquarters.
CNN's Richard Roth is there.

Richard, how soon could it happen?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN UN CORRESPONDENT: It will be a gradual period of time according to the leader of the UN weapons inspectors, Dr. Hans Blix.

There are hundreds of people on the -- quote -- roster of this UN weapons inspection agency, and they have to, in some cases, leave their current jobs, they have to get shots, transportation has to be arranged, there are a whole series of complicated procedures. It does not just happen overnight, and the first thing is they are going to wait to see what kind of late guidance they get from a potentially divided Security Council.

PHILLIPS: What is the process for the inspectors, Richard, once they do go in?

ROTH: When they do go in, what will have to happen is more problems, more things to work out. They have not been there since December 1998. They need to inspect their old headquarters in Baghdad, potentially set up new headquarters in the north and the south, in the cities of Mosul and Basra. They need to deal with the minders who follow them and accompany them everywhere they go, perhaps in many cases tipping off the Iraqis as to what the eventual raid or surprise inspection location will be. They also have to worry about the technology. They have to go back to at least where they were inspecting and then eventually decide what else could they do, what are the new places?

PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, from the UN. Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com