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CNN Live At Daybreak
Saddam Hussein: 'America Will be Harmed'
Aired January 30, 2003 - 06:03 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: Let's head to Baghdad now to see what Saddam Hussein is saying today. Nic Robertson is live there.
Now, he's talking tough and very emotional -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Very tough, Carol, indeed laying out a defensive strategy we just haven't heard before. We've seen him over the last few weeks meeting with top officials here, the last couple of days ratcheting that up, meeting with dozens of top military commanders at the same time, last night laying out just how they would defend Iraq. He said, we would have multiple lines of defense, the gaps between those lines carefully calculated, the supplies all well-figured out. The United States, he said, if they invaded with armor and infantry, they would run out of aggression, if you will, when they hit those lines of defense. They just wouldn't be prepared for what Iraq had ready for it.
And he also said that it just isn't in the interest of the people of the United States for them to attack Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ (through translator): If they have illusions, by god, America will be harmed. It is not in the American people's interest that such harm come to it, its reputation and economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Tough talk, Carol, on the first time we've heard this defensive strategy laid out in this way.
COSTELLO: And of course, Nic, we're not exactly sure what that defensive strategy is.
ROBERTSON: That's right. We can't go look at it, we don't get shown it, we're not briefed by defense officials here to know what it is. Publicly, this is the first time the president laid out how he plans to deal with any invading force here. What we see is what we see around the city here in Baghdad. It does seem almost a situation like normal. We don't see huge changes here at least -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.
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 January 30, 2003 - 06:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's head to Baghdad now to see what Saddam Hussein is saying today. Nic Robertson is live there.
Now, he's talking tough and very emotional -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Very tough, Carol, indeed laying out a defensive strategy we just haven't heard before. We've seen him over the last few weeks meeting with top officials here, the last couple of days ratcheting that up, meeting with dozens of top military commanders at the same time, last night laying out just how they would defend Iraq. He said, we would have multiple lines of defense, the gaps between those lines carefully calculated, the supplies all well-figured out. The United States, he said, if they invaded with armor and infantry, they would run out of aggression, if you will, when they hit those lines of defense. They just wouldn't be prepared for what Iraq had ready for it.
And he also said that it just isn't in the interest of the people of the United States for them to attack Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ (through translator): If they have illusions, by god, America will be harmed. It is not in the American people's interest that such harm come to it, its reputation and economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Tough talk, Carol, on the first time we've heard this defensive strategy laid out in this way.
COSTELLO: And of course, Nic, we're not exactly sure what that defensive strategy is.
ROBERTSON: That's right. We can't go look at it, we don't get shown it, we're not briefed by defense officials here to know what it is. Publicly, this is the first time the president laid out how he plans to deal with any invading force here. What we see is what we see around the city here in Baghdad. It does seem almost a situation like normal. We don't see huge changes here at least -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
