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CNN Live At Daybreak
Qatar Could Play Big Role in Possible War
Aired December 05, 2002 - 05:10 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The tiny nation of Qatar in the Persian Gulf could play a big role in a U.S. led attack on Iraq. For the last several weeks, the Defense Department's Central Command has been assembling a headquarters, the first outside of the United States, at one of two bases in that tiny country.
Our John Vause is there to tell us how U.S. troops are prepping for war -- good morning, John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, Central Command, as you say, have been shipping those compartments here to Qatar for weeks. That, in fact, has been part of this operation, called Internal Look. It's the first time Operation Internal Look has been held outside the United States. And what Central Command is saying is basically by moving the command position here, it's giving CENTCOM a greater degree of flexibility.
General Tommy Franks can come here, he can deal face to face with his commanders in the field, he can also be right on the battle lines, if you like, and it also cuts down, just from a logistic point of view, all that travel between Tampa and this part of the world.
Now, those compartments which been moved here, they're being set up about 10 miles or so outside the capital of Doha. Now, along with the computer and the communications hardware, they're also shipping living quarters for about the 600 personnel who will take part in Operation Internal Look, which will begin next week.
Now, we're told by some senior CENTCOM officials that those living quarters are pretty comfortable -- air conditioned tents, for example, something which Army troops certainly aren't accustomed to, certainly not in this part of the world.
Now, as far as how long it will be here, all senior CENTCOM officials will say is that it will remain here for the time being once that Operation International Look is over. Now, the other main area of interest here in Qatar is the Al Udeid Air Base. Now, the official line for the, what Al Udeid is being used for is Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It's a high security air base just outside Doha, the capital. It's surrounded by miles of fence, concrete barriers, as well. You can see a flag in the distance. We drove past their earlier today. You could see Qatari guards on the gates there. They're armed with M-16s. We thought we saw some U.S. personnel there, as well.
And if we look at some satellite imagery of that base, we can see what the main attraction of the Al Udeid Air Base is, and that's its runway. It's the longest runway in this region, four and a half thousand meters. That's about three miles long. It can take the biggest military planes that the United States has. And that's the big attraction for the Al Udeid Air Base.
Also on that satellite imagery, if we have it up, we can also see what is believed to be warehouses, air conditioned warehouses which could be stockpiling munitions. Now, it's important to note that Al Udeid is owned and operated by the Qataris. It was a classic case of build it and the Americans will come, and the American or the U.S. military is here by invitation of the Qatari government -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Got you.
John Vause reporting from Qatar this morning.
With all of that said, the Pentagon is also reportedly getting ready for a major call-up of National Guard troops and reservists. The "New York Times" says as many as 10,000 reserve troops could be called up in the next few days. But that's only the first wave. If there is a war with Iraq, the "Times" reports the number of reservists that'll get called up could top a quarter of a million troops.
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 December 5, 2002 - 05:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The tiny nation of Qatar in the Persian Gulf could play a big role in a U.S. led attack on Iraq. For the last several weeks, the Defense Department's Central Command has been assembling a headquarters, the first outside of the United States, at one of two bases in that tiny country.
Our John Vause is there to tell us how U.S. troops are prepping for war -- good morning, John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, Central Command, as you say, have been shipping those compartments here to Qatar for weeks. That, in fact, has been part of this operation, called Internal Look. It's the first time Operation Internal Look has been held outside the United States. And what Central Command is saying is basically by moving the command position here, it's giving CENTCOM a greater degree of flexibility.
General Tommy Franks can come here, he can deal face to face with his commanders in the field, he can also be right on the battle lines, if you like, and it also cuts down, just from a logistic point of view, all that travel between Tampa and this part of the world.
Now, those compartments which been moved here, they're being set up about 10 miles or so outside the capital of Doha. Now, along with the computer and the communications hardware, they're also shipping living quarters for about the 600 personnel who will take part in Operation Internal Look, which will begin next week.
Now, we're told by some senior CENTCOM officials that those living quarters are pretty comfortable -- air conditioned tents, for example, something which Army troops certainly aren't accustomed to, certainly not in this part of the world.
Now, as far as how long it will be here, all senior CENTCOM officials will say is that it will remain here for the time being once that Operation International Look is over. Now, the other main area of interest here in Qatar is the Al Udeid Air Base. Now, the official line for the, what Al Udeid is being used for is Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It's a high security air base just outside Doha, the capital. It's surrounded by miles of fence, concrete barriers, as well. You can see a flag in the distance. We drove past their earlier today. You could see Qatari guards on the gates there. They're armed with M-16s. We thought we saw some U.S. personnel there, as well.
And if we look at some satellite imagery of that base, we can see what the main attraction of the Al Udeid Air Base is, and that's its runway. It's the longest runway in this region, four and a half thousand meters. That's about three miles long. It can take the biggest military planes that the United States has. And that's the big attraction for the Al Udeid Air Base.
Also on that satellite imagery, if we have it up, we can also see what is believed to be warehouses, air conditioned warehouses which could be stockpiling munitions. Now, it's important to note that Al Udeid is owned and operated by the Qataris. It was a classic case of build it and the Americans will come, and the American or the U.S. military is here by invitation of the Qatari government -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Got you.
John Vause reporting from Qatar this morning.
With all of that said, the Pentagon is also reportedly getting ready for a major call-up of National Guard troops and reservists. The "New York Times" says as many as 10,000 reserve troops could be called up in the next few days. But that's only the first wave. If there is a war with Iraq, the "Times" reports the number of reservists that'll get called up could top a quarter of a million troops.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
