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American Morning
Iraq Promises 'Fierce War' if Attacked
Aired September 30, 2002 - 07:07 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq issued more threats over the weekend promising America that it would suffer heavy losses in what it called a "fierce war" if it is attacked.
Rula Amin is standing by in Baghdad and joins us now live with more.
Good morning -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
The Iraqis are saying they know that the fact they accepted the return of the inspectors without conditions may not be enough to avert war, and they are preparing for the worst. They are preparing to defend their country, they say.
And they are warning Americans, the American people specifically, that if they come here, if they send their soldiers here, the Iraqis are going to fight back.
But at the same time, the Iraqi government seems to be focused now on trying to get the inspectors to come to Baghdad to start the inspection routine -- the inspection regime, so that they will try to do that before the U.S. manages to get the Security Council to issue a new resolution. The Iraqis are concerned if there is a new resolution from the Security Council, it's going to have much tougher demands on Baghdad. It will have, maybe, some kind of authorization to use force against Iraq if it's perceived not to comply or not to cooperate.
So, it's the first time that we see the Iraqis still anxious to have the inspectors back here. They say they will give them unfettered access; that they have gotten rid of their weapons of mass destruction. And if the inspectors are here, they are going to verify that statement that Iraq is clear of all weapons of mass destruction -- Paula.
ZAHN: Rula, they say they will allow unfettered access, but if you go back to the resolutions, inspectors -- the old resolutions, inspectors would have been barred from inspecting some eight presidential palace sites. Is there any suggestion that the Iraqis would change their minds about that and allow the inspectors into those sites?
AMIN: Well, their starting position for now is that, even Hans Blix, the weapons chief inspector, said that those guidelines are still valid; they still apply. And this is what will guide the inspectors when they get here, if they get here. But the Iraqis are -- they are aware that there are attempts to have a new resolution. And they are, for now, saying they don't want to deal with any U.N. resolution that would have measures that would harm the Iraqi people. That's the term they used.
But I think they are leaving themselves some room for flexibility in order to be able to deal with any new resolution. However, they are trying to soften it down at least -- Paula.
ZAHN: Rula Amin reporting from Baghdad this morning -- thanks so much for that update.
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 30, 2002 - 07:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq issued more threats over the weekend promising America that it would suffer heavy losses in what it called a "fierce war" if it is attacked.
Rula Amin is standing by in Baghdad and joins us now live with more.
Good morning -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
The Iraqis are saying they know that the fact they accepted the return of the inspectors without conditions may not be enough to avert war, and they are preparing for the worst. They are preparing to defend their country, they say.
And they are warning Americans, the American people specifically, that if they come here, if they send their soldiers here, the Iraqis are going to fight back.
But at the same time, the Iraqi government seems to be focused now on trying to get the inspectors to come to Baghdad to start the inspection routine -- the inspection regime, so that they will try to do that before the U.S. manages to get the Security Council to issue a new resolution. The Iraqis are concerned if there is a new resolution from the Security Council, it's going to have much tougher demands on Baghdad. It will have, maybe, some kind of authorization to use force against Iraq if it's perceived not to comply or not to cooperate.
So, it's the first time that we see the Iraqis still anxious to have the inspectors back here. They say they will give them unfettered access; that they have gotten rid of their weapons of mass destruction. And if the inspectors are here, they are going to verify that statement that Iraq is clear of all weapons of mass destruction -- Paula.
ZAHN: Rula, they say they will allow unfettered access, but if you go back to the resolutions, inspectors -- the old resolutions, inspectors would have been barred from inspecting some eight presidential palace sites. Is there any suggestion that the Iraqis would change their minds about that and allow the inspectors into those sites?
AMIN: Well, their starting position for now is that, even Hans Blix, the weapons chief inspector, said that those guidelines are still valid; they still apply. And this is what will guide the inspectors when they get here, if they get here. But the Iraqis are -- they are aware that there are attempts to have a new resolution. And they are, for now, saying they don't want to deal with any U.N. resolution that would have measures that would harm the Iraqi people. That's the term they used.
But I think they are leaving themselves some room for flexibility in order to be able to deal with any new resolution. However, they are trying to soften it down at least -- Paula.
ZAHN: Rula Amin reporting from Baghdad this morning -- thanks so much for that update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
