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American Morning
Bust Meets With Blair; Interview With Kuwaiti Analyst
Aired January 31, 2003 - 09:02 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: A timetable -- or timetable, that is, for a war against Iraq could be discussed when President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair hold talks today at Camp David. Those contingency plans are expected to be on the agenda just in case Iraq doesn't disarm.
Later on in this hour, our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour will have an exclusive interview with Mr. Blair. But first, let's go to Suzanne Malveaux, who is standing by at the White House with the very latest on what we can expect -- good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. It is really a critical meeting between the president and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr. Blair arrived at Andrews Air Force Base last night. The two leaders will be meeting this afternoon at Camp David.
The key issues here -- first of all, one of the questions, how much longer to allow the weapons inspectors to continue their job. If military action is necessary, when would it start, who would be the members among this U.S.-led coalition.
But really, the critical question that we expect to come out of this meeting is whether or not there should be a second U.N. Security Council resolution, one that would set a deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply and if he did not, would authorize the use of military action.
Now, you may recall, Paula, it was last year, the Bush administration was dead set against this idea of a second resolution. They really felt that it was a delay that would only allow Saddam Hussein more time to stall.
Well, now, the administration really wants to see that if this is going to work, perhaps it will be able to win over some other U.S. allies, namely, the French, and perhaps provide some well-needed cover for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as others who, as you know, face their own opposition in their own countries to military action.
What we're going to see in the days to come, of course, is the president really campaigning, making a strong case against Saddam Hussein, the need, possibly, for military action. It will be very interesting to see what comes out of this meeting this afternoon.
It was just yesterday, the president met with the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia. He also met with the prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, saying that yes, Saddam Hussein has weeks, he doesn't have months. That there is a possibility, there is a way out of this, a peaceful solution if Saddam Hussein were to voluntarily leave the country, but the administration does not believe that's going to happen. That's why, in addition to campaigning, they're also war planning as well -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Suzanne. Suzanne Malveaux reporting from the White House this morning.
Time to go back to Kuwait City and yes, indeed, Bill Hemmer is standing by now. We missed you at the top of the hour there.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, certainly did. A bit of a technical SNAFU, a TS we call it. Back now.
Listen, here in Kuwait, the U.S. State Department warning Americans here to consider leaving immediately, urging many embassy workers to go now and telling private citizens here to make their own arrangements to get out. How safe are Americans here?
Sami al-Faraj is president of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies and a military strategist. He is our guest now here live in Kuwait City. Good evening to you, good to have you here.
Are safe are Americans in your country today?
SAMI AL-FARAJ, PRESIDENT, KUWAIT CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: Well, I think they are as safe as they could be. We've been working for months to secure the civilian population in Kuwait.
You should take into consideration that we are under lots of constraints. International, because of the escalation and the crisis itself, the speed of logistics itself, the speed of the arrival of the American forces here, the shortages of manpower we have actually to defend civilian population of Kuwait City. Take into consideration that Kuwaitis live on 10 percent of Kuwaiti land, the others are like would-be oil fields, and the Americans are occupying now 25 percent, so if we had shortages to cover 10 percent, you imagine if we were required to cover 25 percent.
HEMMER: What does it say, though, about the national guard here in Kuwait that set out to protect the U.S. troops as they move about the country? What does that indicate about safety and security here?
AL-FARAJ: No, I think it is a process we have started, been planned. And, tomorrow, we will start the first stage. The first stage will require like Kuwaiti troops of the army -- regular army to come for the aid of the civil police itself, and for the national guard. So all the elements of security forces we have will be deployed as from tomorrow, and this state would be escalated within a few days and, hopefully, by the 15th of February, we will be like in full alert. We will be in full gear to defend.
HEMMER: What I find quite interesting, and correct me if my math is wrong here, but if tomorrow is the beginning of the setup for the security system, it's going to take 21 days total to be at full strength. Is that -- does that indicate three weeks from now, something may be looming on that day after?
AL-FARAJ: Well, actually, we have shortages and defects in the system. We are trying to repair them. What we are doing today is basically what we can do at our best. We can only deploy because just suddenly and by coincidence, the mobilization was stopped -- the law of mobilization is under review from last year. We cannot call the reserves. We have to rely on whatever is in service today.
HEMMER: So you're indicating that Kuwait is doing what it can within its own power at this point?
(CROSSTALK)
AL-FARAJ: Exactly. Within 15 days, what we are working on today basically is to fine-tune things and, also, to synchronize. This is the first attempt in our history that we synchronize. We deploy armed forces in the city. We are a civil society and this is an (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to see troops in Kuwait City, but this shows the extremities of the situation we are working with.
HEMMER: The other thing that is quite interesting is that there is going to be some monitoring of what is preached in the mosques throughout Kuwait City. Why is that? Have you detected some sort of message that could be anti-American here?
AL-FARAJ: Of course there is. Of course there is. But what the Americans should notice is, basically, that the majority of the population support the presence of U.S. troops. Actually, everybody looks at it as, you know, it is time we pay back for the America, what it has done for us and the liberation, and what you notice in Kuwait in exception of other areas of the Arab world, you don't have demonstrations...
HEMMER: Very true, very true.
AL-FARAJ: We have only individuals doing that. And whenever you are going to a city, you find reception from the people.
HEMMER: I have heard that firsthand, and it is most appreciated, too. Wherever we go, they reassure us about the relationship. Sami Al-Faraj, thanks for talking with us.
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 31, 2003 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: A timetable -- or timetable, that is, for a war against Iraq could be discussed when President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair hold talks today at Camp David. Those contingency plans are expected to be on the agenda just in case Iraq doesn't disarm.
Later on in this hour, our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour will have an exclusive interview with Mr. Blair. But first, let's go to Suzanne Malveaux, who is standing by at the White House with the very latest on what we can expect -- good morning, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. It is really a critical meeting between the president and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr. Blair arrived at Andrews Air Force Base last night. The two leaders will be meeting this afternoon at Camp David.
The key issues here -- first of all, one of the questions, how much longer to allow the weapons inspectors to continue their job. If military action is necessary, when would it start, who would be the members among this U.S.-led coalition.
But really, the critical question that we expect to come out of this meeting is whether or not there should be a second U.N. Security Council resolution, one that would set a deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply and if he did not, would authorize the use of military action.
Now, you may recall, Paula, it was last year, the Bush administration was dead set against this idea of a second resolution. They really felt that it was a delay that would only allow Saddam Hussein more time to stall.
Well, now, the administration really wants to see that if this is going to work, perhaps it will be able to win over some other U.S. allies, namely, the French, and perhaps provide some well-needed cover for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as others who, as you know, face their own opposition in their own countries to military action.
What we're going to see in the days to come, of course, is the president really campaigning, making a strong case against Saddam Hussein, the need, possibly, for military action. It will be very interesting to see what comes out of this meeting this afternoon.
It was just yesterday, the president met with the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia. He also met with the prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, saying that yes, Saddam Hussein has weeks, he doesn't have months. That there is a possibility, there is a way out of this, a peaceful solution if Saddam Hussein were to voluntarily leave the country, but the administration does not believe that's going to happen. That's why, in addition to campaigning, they're also war planning as well -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks, Suzanne. Suzanne Malveaux reporting from the White House this morning.
Time to go back to Kuwait City and yes, indeed, Bill Hemmer is standing by now. We missed you at the top of the hour there.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, certainly did. A bit of a technical SNAFU, a TS we call it. Back now.
Listen, here in Kuwait, the U.S. State Department warning Americans here to consider leaving immediately, urging many embassy workers to go now and telling private citizens here to make their own arrangements to get out. How safe are Americans here?
Sami al-Faraj is president of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies and a military strategist. He is our guest now here live in Kuwait City. Good evening to you, good to have you here.
Are safe are Americans in your country today?
SAMI AL-FARAJ, PRESIDENT, KUWAIT CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: Well, I think they are as safe as they could be. We've been working for months to secure the civilian population in Kuwait.
You should take into consideration that we are under lots of constraints. International, because of the escalation and the crisis itself, the speed of logistics itself, the speed of the arrival of the American forces here, the shortages of manpower we have actually to defend civilian population of Kuwait City. Take into consideration that Kuwaitis live on 10 percent of Kuwaiti land, the others are like would-be oil fields, and the Americans are occupying now 25 percent, so if we had shortages to cover 10 percent, you imagine if we were required to cover 25 percent.
HEMMER: What does it say, though, about the national guard here in Kuwait that set out to protect the U.S. troops as they move about the country? What does that indicate about safety and security here?
AL-FARAJ: No, I think it is a process we have started, been planned. And, tomorrow, we will start the first stage. The first stage will require like Kuwaiti troops of the army -- regular army to come for the aid of the civil police itself, and for the national guard. So all the elements of security forces we have will be deployed as from tomorrow, and this state would be escalated within a few days and, hopefully, by the 15th of February, we will be like in full alert. We will be in full gear to defend.
HEMMER: What I find quite interesting, and correct me if my math is wrong here, but if tomorrow is the beginning of the setup for the security system, it's going to take 21 days total to be at full strength. Is that -- does that indicate three weeks from now, something may be looming on that day after?
AL-FARAJ: Well, actually, we have shortages and defects in the system. We are trying to repair them. What we are doing today is basically what we can do at our best. We can only deploy because just suddenly and by coincidence, the mobilization was stopped -- the law of mobilization is under review from last year. We cannot call the reserves. We have to rely on whatever is in service today.
HEMMER: So you're indicating that Kuwait is doing what it can within its own power at this point?
(CROSSTALK)
AL-FARAJ: Exactly. Within 15 days, what we are working on today basically is to fine-tune things and, also, to synchronize. This is the first attempt in our history that we synchronize. We deploy armed forces in the city. We are a civil society and this is an (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to see troops in Kuwait City, but this shows the extremities of the situation we are working with.
HEMMER: The other thing that is quite interesting is that there is going to be some monitoring of what is preached in the mosques throughout Kuwait City. Why is that? Have you detected some sort of message that could be anti-American here?
AL-FARAJ: Of course there is. Of course there is. But what the Americans should notice is, basically, that the majority of the population support the presence of U.S. troops. Actually, everybody looks at it as, you know, it is time we pay back for the America, what it has done for us and the liberation, and what you notice in Kuwait in exception of other areas of the Arab world, you don't have demonstrations...
HEMMER: Very true, very true.
AL-FARAJ: We have only individuals doing that. And whenever you are going to a city, you find reception from the people.
HEMMER: I have heard that firsthand, and it is most appreciated, too. Wherever we go, they reassure us about the relationship. Sami Al-Faraj, thanks for talking with us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
