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CNN Live At Daybreak

Predator: Two-Edged Sword

Aired December 31, 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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: More now on that Predator payback in Iraq.
CNN's Jamie McIntyre says that the Pentagon is developing the unmanned plane into a double-edged sword.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESEPONDENT (on camera): On Friday, the U.S. Central Command announced that coalition aircraft had taken out a highly-mobile target about 85 miles southeast of Baghdad. Now, we learn through Pentagon sources that that strike was conducted not by conventional manned aircraft, but by the Predator unmanned spy plane armed with a Hellfire missile.

This highlights the offensive role that Predators are now playing in the war over Iraq, planes that in the past had simply been reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. This came just four days after Iraqi MIGs shot down a Predator in the southern no-fly zone. It's not clear whether that Predator was armed.

But Pentagon sources also indicate the Predators are being armed not just with Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, but also with Stinger air-to-air missiles.

So, in the future, those Iraqi MIGs may have to worry about being shot down by the unmanned planes.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 31, 2002 - 06:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: More now on that Predator payback in Iraq.
CNN's Jamie McIntyre says that the Pentagon is developing the unmanned plane into a double-edged sword.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESEPONDENT (on camera): On Friday, the U.S. Central Command announced that coalition aircraft had taken out a highly-mobile target about 85 miles southeast of Baghdad. Now, we learn through Pentagon sources that that strike was conducted not by conventional manned aircraft, but by the Predator unmanned spy plane armed with a Hellfire missile.

This highlights the offensive role that Predators are now playing in the war over Iraq, planes that in the past had simply been reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. This came just four days after Iraqi MIGs shot down a Predator in the southern no-fly zone. It's not clear whether that Predator was armed.

But Pentagon sources also indicate the Predators are being armed not just with Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, but also with Stinger air-to-air missiles.

So, in the future, those Iraqi MIGs may have to worry about being shot down by the unmanned planes.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.