Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Iraq Reacts to U.S. Threats of War
Aired September 21, 2002 - 12:01 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.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq is rejecting any U.N. resolution that threatens war, and says it will refuse to go along with any unfavorable resolution from the Security Council. That's according to Iraqi government-controlled media reports this morning. Let's go right now to CNN's Rula Amin, for the view from Baghdad -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Renay, early this afternoon, there was a statement on Iraq News Agency, on behalf of the Iraqi leadership that says that Iraq will not deal with any new Security Council resolution that is contrary to what had been agreed upon with Kofi Annan. And it said that the U.S. is trying to push for a new, bad resolution, in terms that the news agency used. The statement followed a meeting by -- chaired by either Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, attended by some of the ruling Baath Party members and some of his cabinet.
Now, the statement was very brief. No further details. The Iraqis are very concerned. They say they are aware that their compromise to allow the inspectors back may not avert war. They have been accusing the United States of trying and planning to push for a military showdown no matter what Iraq did, and they are concerned as the U.S. is trying hard to push for a new resolution by the United Nations, one that has new, more tough guidelines for the inspectors on how they will do their job here and probably some kind of authorization to use force against Baghdad if Iraq doesn't comply -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: Rula, concerning the consequences, if Iraq does not comply, as you said, are there any -- is there any reaction from Baghdad regarding General Tommy Frank's statements today, saying that the U.S. is prepared for war with Iraq?
AMIN: We have not heard a specific reaction to this statement, but however, Iraqi officials have been pointing to different statements coming from Washington talking about war with Iraq, and they say this actually proves their suspicions that the weapons of mass destruction is not the issue, the return of the inspectors is not the issue, that it's just a pretext that the U.S. is using in order to launch an attack against Iraq, because they say the U.S. is interested in controlling Iraq and its oil.
They have been very skeptical of that (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but they are hoping that by demonstrating some flexibility, they will win some support from members like Russia and China, members of the Security Council, who will try to push for to give Iraq some time, maybe to test Iraq on its promise that it will give the inspectors the unfettered access the inspectors are demanding -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: That is CNN's Rula Amin, reporting live from Baghdad. Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 21, 2002 - 12:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq is rejecting any U.N. resolution that threatens war, and says it will refuse to go along with any unfavorable resolution from the Security Council. That's according to Iraqi government-controlled media reports this morning. Let's go right now to CNN's Rula Amin, for the view from Baghdad -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Renay, early this afternoon, there was a statement on Iraq News Agency, on behalf of the Iraqi leadership that says that Iraq will not deal with any new Security Council resolution that is contrary to what had been agreed upon with Kofi Annan. And it said that the U.S. is trying to push for a new, bad resolution, in terms that the news agency used. The statement followed a meeting by -- chaired by either Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, attended by some of the ruling Baath Party members and some of his cabinet.
Now, the statement was very brief. No further details. The Iraqis are very concerned. They say they are aware that their compromise to allow the inspectors back may not avert war. They have been accusing the United States of trying and planning to push for a military showdown no matter what Iraq did, and they are concerned as the U.S. is trying hard to push for a new resolution by the United Nations, one that has new, more tough guidelines for the inspectors on how they will do their job here and probably some kind of authorization to use force against Baghdad if Iraq doesn't comply -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: Rula, concerning the consequences, if Iraq does not comply, as you said, are there any -- is there any reaction from Baghdad regarding General Tommy Frank's statements today, saying that the U.S. is prepared for war with Iraq?
AMIN: We have not heard a specific reaction to this statement, but however, Iraqi officials have been pointing to different statements coming from Washington talking about war with Iraq, and they say this actually proves their suspicions that the weapons of mass destruction is not the issue, the return of the inspectors is not the issue, that it's just a pretext that the U.S. is using in order to launch an attack against Iraq, because they say the U.S. is interested in controlling Iraq and its oil.
They have been very skeptical of that (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but they are hoping that by demonstrating some flexibility, they will win some support from members like Russia and China, members of the Security Council, who will try to push for to give Iraq some time, maybe to test Iraq on its promise that it will give the inspectors the unfettered access the inspectors are demanding -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: That is CNN's Rula Amin, reporting live from Baghdad. Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
