Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Interview with Donald Rumsfeld
Aired December 12, 2002 - 06:04 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: This morning, Donald Rumsfeld is in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. He's getting a closer look at war games there and touring a military base that will play a key role if the United States does go to war against Iraq.
Rumsfeld spoke to our Wolf Blitzer in a one-on-one interview, and Wolf asked him if the military is ready to go to war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Is the U.S. military right now ready, if the president were to give that order to go into battle?
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The United States is capable of doing what the president might ask it to do.
BLITZER: Let me rephrase the question. Have you signed off on a plan that would get this job done quickly?
RUMSFELD: The job of the Department of Defense in any country, the ministry of defense, has an obligation to do planning, and we've been doing it for decades, as you know well as a former Pentagon correspondent. And we always have plans prepared for various contingencies. In every corner of the globe, we've taken the time to -- invested the time to make those kinds of plans.
BLITZER: You're a hands-on kind of secretary of defense. Are you satisfied with the plan that is now in the works?
RUMSFELD: Well, you know, as things change, circumstances change, one needs to make adjustments in calibrations, and we do that on a fairly continuous, real-time basis.
BLITZER: Basically what you're saying is that you like the plan.
RUMSFELD: Sure. I think General Franks and his team have done a very good job, but that as he and I both know, as new information becomes available, new intelligence, things, events occur, different countries offer assistance, why, adjustments and calibrations are made.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And right now, Rumsfeld is holding a town meeting with hundreds of troops in Qatar. At the half-hour, we'll take you there live for all of the live action that's occurring there now. Coming up today on "SHOWDOWN IRAQ," by the way, a one-on-one interview. We'll hear more of that interview with the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. That was done about 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and the rest of the interview will air today at noon Eastern Time, 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
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 12, 2002 - 06:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, Donald Rumsfeld is in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. He's getting a closer look at war games there and touring a military base that will play a key role if the United States does go to war against Iraq.
Rumsfeld spoke to our Wolf Blitzer in a one-on-one interview, and Wolf asked him if the military is ready to go to war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Is the U.S. military right now ready, if the president were to give that order to go into battle?
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The United States is capable of doing what the president might ask it to do.
BLITZER: Let me rephrase the question. Have you signed off on a plan that would get this job done quickly?
RUMSFELD: The job of the Department of Defense in any country, the ministry of defense, has an obligation to do planning, and we've been doing it for decades, as you know well as a former Pentagon correspondent. And we always have plans prepared for various contingencies. In every corner of the globe, we've taken the time to -- invested the time to make those kinds of plans.
BLITZER: You're a hands-on kind of secretary of defense. Are you satisfied with the plan that is now in the works?
RUMSFELD: Well, you know, as things change, circumstances change, one needs to make adjustments in calibrations, and we do that on a fairly continuous, real-time basis.
BLITZER: Basically what you're saying is that you like the plan.
RUMSFELD: Sure. I think General Franks and his team have done a very good job, but that as he and I both know, as new information becomes available, new intelligence, things, events occur, different countries offer assistance, why, adjustments and calibrations are made.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And right now, Rumsfeld is holding a town meeting with hundreds of troops in Qatar. At the half-hour, we'll take you there live for all of the live action that's occurring there now. Coming up today on "SHOWDOWN IRAQ," by the way, a one-on-one interview. We'll hear more of that interview with the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. That was done about 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and the rest of the interview will air today at noon Eastern Time, 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
