Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
U.S. Preparing for War in Case Iraq Does Not Comply
Aired November 15, 2002 - 05:31 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Despite Iraq's acceptance of the U.N. resolution, the U.S. is preparing for war just in case Iraq does not comply.
And CNN's Kyra Phillips went along with the U.S. Navy SEALS on a training exercise.
She's joining us now by videophone from Kuwait with her report -- hello, Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Catherine, I guess good afternoon, from Kuwait City here.
Yes, we have spent the past month getting to know all the different types of squadrons and units that are out here in the Persian Gulf preparing for a potential war against Iraq. Most recently, we got to spend time with the naval special warfare. That's the special operation groups that are out here in the Persian Gulf. More specifically, we spent time with the Navy SEALS and the special warfare combatant crewmen.
You'll probably be able to see some of the pictures now as I talk about the training mission that we observed out in the Persian Gulf. Basically what you have here is a combined special operations force. You've got the combatant crewmen who operate the special operations watercraft, from the Mark 5 to the rib boats. The capabilities of these watercraft are amazing. We're talking about speed, stealth, weapons capabilities. We observed how these men work on their weapons proficiency with .50 caliber machine guns and grenade launchers, working together, preparing for a potential war against Iraq.
And then after spending time with the special forces, as you know, in the past couple of weeks we were also out spending time with the USS Abraham Lincoln, the carrier that's out in the Persian Gulf. We got to know all aspects of the battle group that's preparing for a potential war. We were able to go along on an F-14 mission, one of the crucial squadrons involved in this battle group. There are also a number of f18 squadrons. We were able to ride along on an air to air combat training mission, see how they practice visual bombing, hitting their targets just perfectly.
Also, they're out there patrolling the no fly zone, as you know, over Iraq, making sure that Saddam Hussein is complying with U.N. resolutions, seeing how they train on a daily basis and we will continue to be following U.S. troops and forces out here and seeing how they are preparing. Coming up in the next hour, as you know, we'll bring you our special report with the naval special warfare. And so you'll be able to see firsthand how special operations forces are training out in the Persian Gulf -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, you'll tell us more about that reconnaissance mission?
PHILLIPS: Yes, that's right. That's another squadron we spent time with, Catherine, the p3 squadron, the Screaming Eagles, a very important squadron in a potential war against Iraq. They're out daily and nightly taking pictures and surveilling Iraq and Iran and other countries out in the Persian Gulf, trying to observe what the activity is going on, from weapons capability to military buildup. Very interesting and a very important mission within the battle group out here -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, Kyra, we'll see you in the next hour.
That's CNN's Kyra Phillips.
Thanks.
And coming up, CBS' Richard Roth will report live from the United Nations as the weapons inspectors prepare to resume formal inspections. A live report at 6:30 Eastern time from Richard.
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 November 15, 2002 - 05:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Despite Iraq's acceptance of the U.N. resolution, the U.S. is preparing for war just in case Iraq does not comply.
And CNN's Kyra Phillips went along with the U.S. Navy SEALS on a training exercise.
She's joining us now by videophone from Kuwait with her report -- hello, Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Catherine, I guess good afternoon, from Kuwait City here.
Yes, we have spent the past month getting to know all the different types of squadrons and units that are out here in the Persian Gulf preparing for a potential war against Iraq. Most recently, we got to spend time with the naval special warfare. That's the special operation groups that are out here in the Persian Gulf. More specifically, we spent time with the Navy SEALS and the special warfare combatant crewmen.
You'll probably be able to see some of the pictures now as I talk about the training mission that we observed out in the Persian Gulf. Basically what you have here is a combined special operations force. You've got the combatant crewmen who operate the special operations watercraft, from the Mark 5 to the rib boats. The capabilities of these watercraft are amazing. We're talking about speed, stealth, weapons capabilities. We observed how these men work on their weapons proficiency with .50 caliber machine guns and grenade launchers, working together, preparing for a potential war against Iraq.
And then after spending time with the special forces, as you know, in the past couple of weeks we were also out spending time with the USS Abraham Lincoln, the carrier that's out in the Persian Gulf. We got to know all aspects of the battle group that's preparing for a potential war. We were able to go along on an F-14 mission, one of the crucial squadrons involved in this battle group. There are also a number of f18 squadrons. We were able to ride along on an air to air combat training mission, see how they practice visual bombing, hitting their targets just perfectly.
Also, they're out there patrolling the no fly zone, as you know, over Iraq, making sure that Saddam Hussein is complying with U.N. resolutions, seeing how they train on a daily basis and we will continue to be following U.S. troops and forces out here and seeing how they are preparing. Coming up in the next hour, as you know, we'll bring you our special report with the naval special warfare. And so you'll be able to see firsthand how special operations forces are training out in the Persian Gulf -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, you'll tell us more about that reconnaissance mission?
PHILLIPS: Yes, that's right. That's another squadron we spent time with, Catherine, the p3 squadron, the Screaming Eagles, a very important squadron in a potential war against Iraq. They're out daily and nightly taking pictures and surveilling Iraq and Iran and other countries out in the Persian Gulf, trying to observe what the activity is going on, from weapons capability to military buildup. Very interesting and a very important mission within the battle group out here -- Catherine.
CALLAWAY: All right, Kyra, we'll see you in the next hour.
That's CNN's Kyra Phillips.
Thanks.
And coming up, CBS' Richard Roth will report live from the United Nations as the weapons inspectors prepare to resume formal inspections. A live report at 6:30 Eastern time from Richard.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
