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CNN Live At Daybreak

Going Global

Aired February 05, 2003 - 06:37   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: We want to go global now for more on the showdown with Iraq as the United States prepares to present its case.
Senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is in London, our senior European political correspondent Robin Oakley in Paris, and our Martin Savidge in Kuwait.

Let's begin with Walter in London -- Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

If any American is capable of persuading the British public that there is indeed a case to be made for war against Saddam Hussein, it is going to be Secretary of State Colin Powell. His soft-spoken but firm demeanor plays very well here as opposed to the more -- sometimes more abrasive tone of the president of the United States. Still, it's going to be an extraordinarily difficult sell, even with evidence.

The latest polls in Britain show 81 percent of the public opposed to war without yet another United Nations resolution approving the use of force against Saddam Hussein.

I was out on the streets of London two days ago. Again, overwhelming resistance to the concept of force against Iraq at this point, although the British are receptive. The most difficult sell will be trying to persuade the British of an alleged link between al Qaeda, that is Osama bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein.

Tony Blair is having a difficult time both at home and in France yesterday. Look at this headline. The French telling Mr. Blair, no, we are not signing up with the United States and Britain for war against Saddam.

For a look at the French picture, a closer look, here's my colleague, Robin Oakley, in Paris.

ROBIN OAKLEY, SENIOR EUROPEAN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Walt.

And certainly opinion here in France is much the same as in Britain as far as the general public are concerned. Some 80 percent opposing the use of military force against Saddam Hussein.

Jacques Chirac, the French president, making it clear in that meeting with Tony Blair yesterday that he still believes that the U.N. weapons inspectors must be allowed time to do their work. He says the last thing that part of the world wants is another war.

But at the same time, they are hedging their bets to some extent in France. The aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, sailed for the eastern Mediterranean yesterday. Advanced electronics are being fitted to some French planes, and officers are visiting the U.S. command in Florida.

So, the French have not ruled out forever the possibility of using force. They're going to listen very carefully, officials say, to what Colin Powell has to say, but they still want the emphasis on the U.N. inspectors.

And now for a view from closer to where any military action might be, over to my colleague, Martin Savidge, in Kuwait City.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Robin, very much.

When it comes about the prospect of possibly getting ready for war, it is the numbers that tell the whole story here in Kuwait. Last week, total U.S. troops said to be in country, 30,000. Today, it's now being reported 45,000 U.S. troops have arrived in Kuwait. That's a significant increase, and they keep on coming, as well as the military supplies.

Soon, you will see joint military exercises starting to take place. All of the various units -- the Marines, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy -- beginning to train together as one. For that, they need more room. The Ministry of Defense in Kuwait said, all right, you're going to get it. Take a look at this map here. They say as of February 15, the entire northern territory of Kuwait will be declared a military zone. No civilians allowed in that area. It's a massive area, over half the country of Kuwait -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Martin Savidge, many thanks to you; Robin and Walter as well.

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 February 5, 2003 - 06:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to go global now for more on the showdown with Iraq as the United States prepares to present its case.
Senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is in London, our senior European political correspondent Robin Oakley in Paris, and our Martin Savidge in Kuwait.

Let's begin with Walter in London -- Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

If any American is capable of persuading the British public that there is indeed a case to be made for war against Saddam Hussein, it is going to be Secretary of State Colin Powell. His soft-spoken but firm demeanor plays very well here as opposed to the more -- sometimes more abrasive tone of the president of the United States. Still, it's going to be an extraordinarily difficult sell, even with evidence.

The latest polls in Britain show 81 percent of the public opposed to war without yet another United Nations resolution approving the use of force against Saddam Hussein.

I was out on the streets of London two days ago. Again, overwhelming resistance to the concept of force against Iraq at this point, although the British are receptive. The most difficult sell will be trying to persuade the British of an alleged link between al Qaeda, that is Osama bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein.

Tony Blair is having a difficult time both at home and in France yesterday. Look at this headline. The French telling Mr. Blair, no, we are not signing up with the United States and Britain for war against Saddam.

For a look at the French picture, a closer look, here's my colleague, Robin Oakley, in Paris.

ROBIN OAKLEY, SENIOR EUROPEAN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Walt.

And certainly opinion here in France is much the same as in Britain as far as the general public are concerned. Some 80 percent opposing the use of military force against Saddam Hussein.

Jacques Chirac, the French president, making it clear in that meeting with Tony Blair yesterday that he still believes that the U.N. weapons inspectors must be allowed time to do their work. He says the last thing that part of the world wants is another war.

But at the same time, they are hedging their bets to some extent in France. The aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, sailed for the eastern Mediterranean yesterday. Advanced electronics are being fitted to some French planes, and officers are visiting the U.S. command in Florida.

So, the French have not ruled out forever the possibility of using force. They're going to listen very carefully, officials say, to what Colin Powell has to say, but they still want the emphasis on the U.N. inspectors.

And now for a view from closer to where any military action might be, over to my colleague, Martin Savidge, in Kuwait City.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Robin, very much.

When it comes about the prospect of possibly getting ready for war, it is the numbers that tell the whole story here in Kuwait. Last week, total U.S. troops said to be in country, 30,000. Today, it's now being reported 45,000 U.S. troops have arrived in Kuwait. That's a significant increase, and they keep on coming, as well as the military supplies.

Soon, you will see joint military exercises starting to take place. All of the various units -- the Marines, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy -- beginning to train together as one. For that, they need more room. The Ministry of Defense in Kuwait said, all right, you're going to get it. Take a look at this map here. They say as of February 15, the entire northern territory of Kuwait will be declared a military zone. No civilians allowed in that area. It's a massive area, over half the country of Kuwait -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Martin Savidge, many thanks to you; Robin and Walter as well.

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