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CNN Live At Daybreak
Iraq's State-Run Media Keeping Up Rhetorical Barrage
Aired January 30, 2003 - 05:32 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: President Bush is stating his case for a possible war with Iraq. During a visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mr. Bush says if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, the United States will do it for him. He also links the war on terror to the Iraqi leader.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The war on terror extends beyond just a shadowy terrorist network. The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein and his willingness to terrorize himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Today, Mr. Bush will be talking with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and Italy's prime minister. And tomorrow the president meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Camp David in rural Maryland.
And as Iraq's state run media keeps up the rhetorical barrage against the United States and Saddam Hussein is disclosing some battle plans in the event of an attack.
CNN's Nic Robertson joining us now live from Baghdad with more on that -- good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
This very strong language coming from President Saddam Hussein in meetings with his top military commanders. We've seen this over a number of days recently now. He sits down at a long table with all those military commanders. He briefs them. It's morale boosting. But this time he really laid out some defense strategy we just haven't heard before. He said it's important our enemy doesn't think that we are an easy kill. He said that the enemy should be, would be unprepared for all our defenses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ: They think that the Iraqi people and military will react in a disorganized, unfocused and chaotic way to their landing forces. But they are not counting on Iraq being prepared for this by its detailed drills and facing the landing force, starting with the shepherds in the desert to the farmers behind the plows. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, these detailed defenses he talks about or consecutive lines of defense, he said each gap between the lines carefully calculated, the supplies carefully calculated and laid out. So this is the first time we've heard him set out this defensive structure -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad.
Many thanks to you.
Iraq is the topic of our State Department producer Elise Lavitt's (ph) wake up call. That will happen at the top of the next hour.
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 - 05:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is stating his case for a possible war with Iraq. During a visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mr. Bush says if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, the United States will do it for him. He also links the war on terror to the Iraqi leader.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The war on terror extends beyond just a shadowy terrorist network. The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein and his willingness to terrorize himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Today, Mr. Bush will be talking with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and Italy's prime minister. And tomorrow the president meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Camp David in rural Maryland.
And as Iraq's state run media keeps up the rhetorical barrage against the United States and Saddam Hussein is disclosing some battle plans in the event of an attack.
CNN's Nic Robertson joining us now live from Baghdad with more on that -- good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
This very strong language coming from President Saddam Hussein in meetings with his top military commanders. We've seen this over a number of days recently now. He sits down at a long table with all those military commanders. He briefs them. It's morale boosting. But this time he really laid out some defense strategy we just haven't heard before. He said it's important our enemy doesn't think that we are an easy kill. He said that the enemy should be, would be unprepared for all our defenses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ: They think that the Iraqi people and military will react in a disorganized, unfocused and chaotic way to their landing forces. But they are not counting on Iraq being prepared for this by its detailed drills and facing the landing force, starting with the shepherds in the desert to the farmers behind the plows. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, these detailed defenses he talks about or consecutive lines of defense, he said each gap between the lines carefully calculated, the supplies carefully calculated and laid out. So this is the first time we've heard him set out this defensive structure -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad.
Many thanks to you.
Iraq is the topic of our State Department producer Elise Lavitt's (ph) wake up call. That will happen at the top of the next hour.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
