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American Morning
Interview With Former Weapons Inspector
Aired February 14, 2003 - 09:32 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Chief inspector Hans Blix is less than an hour away from giving a very crucial report to the United Nations. Let's check in with Richard Roth, who is standing by at the U.N. to get a preview of what he might have to say. Good morning again, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH: Good morning, Paula. It's important what Blix and ElBaradei, the two leading inspectors, say, but the real discussions and importance may be what the Security Council discusses soon after their report. That's still a divided council, and Blix and ElBaradei will not determine whether a war ensues from this report, but their facts may tilt some views in the Security Council, though, at this point, it could be unlikely.
Here's Mohamed ElBaradei, the doctor general of the International Atomic Energy Agency arriving for a meeting with the German foreign minister Fischer. You will also see Hans Blix this morning. Less than a hour ago, here he is arriving at United Nations headquarters.
There are many meetings on the sidelines before and after the presentations by the inspectors. Well, what are they likely to say, these two leading investigators? Well, no one knows for sure. They're still updating, probably, right until the very moment of their delivery putting some fine tuning to it, but some areas of cooperation that Blix may note would be more cooperation on U-2 surveillance flights, though, since Iraq delivered a letter saying they would accept these planes, and some more conditions seem to be indicated by Iraq. These planes have not been flying since the inspectors have returned.
Another area of cooperation, private interviews with scientists. There have been half a dozen or so since Blix delivered his last report, but they have not been conducted outside of the Iraqi territory, and that's something the United States doesn't like.
Areas where Blix will say Iraq has not cooperated, there could be many in this area. Chemical and biological agents. The United Nations inspectors still want to know and account for areas such as VX nerve agent, mustard gas, anthrax, things like that. Also other areas of noncooperation regard the Al Samoud II missile. Blix's special missile panel has concluded that the missile was flown beyond the 93- mile allowable range. Iraq says without guidance systems on board, it will never pass 93 miles.
These are missiles that may not be lengthy in range as the Scuds of 1991, but it's something that the U.S. and U.K. are serious violations -- back to you. ZAHN: Thanks, Richard, and we will be coming back to you in about 20 minutes or so as our special coverage gets underway. Thanks so much.
President Bush says the U.N. must show some backbone on Iraq, or it might fade into history as an organization that's irrelevant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You have got to decide, if you lay down the resolution, does it mean anything? The United Nations Security Council can now decide whether or not it has the resolve to enforce its resolutions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZAHN: While the Bush administration is pushing for a tougher stand on Iraq, key allies France, Russia, and China urging that the inspectors be given more time.
Would more inspectors or more time make a difference? Let's check in with former U.N. weapons inspector Terence Taylor, who has some thoughts on that, and joins us now from Orlando, Florida. Welcome back.
TERENCE TAYLOR, FORMER U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Nice to be with you.
ZAHN: Before we get back to the specifics of inspection, your quick reaction to what was said in the Iraqi parliament today where, basically, Saddam ordered that individuals and companies in private and mixed sectors are banned from importing or producing weapons of mass destruction.
TAYLOR: Well, I think it really depends on how much -- how you think that is meaningful. I think legislation, or statements in parliament and so on are really not sufficient to meet the terms of the obligations on Iraq under the U.N. Security Council resolution, and so -- I mean, with the record of the kind of things that go on in the regime, these legal steps are, I think, are pretty superficial.
ZAHN: You have probably heard a little bit of what Richard Roth has just had to say about the mixed bag that Hans Blix might be presenting at the U.N. just about 35 minutes from now. Did anything leap out at you?
TAYLOR: Well, not really. I mean, I think the thing that still sticks in my mind is that some of the things that Dr. Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei are looking for -- for example, the agreement for the U-2 aircraft overflights, that is the high altitude surveillance aircraft -- well, that is still just procedure, and in fact, this is not new for Iraq.
During the 1990s, as I know, I and my colleagues had the U-2 surveillance aircraft for most of the time we were there, so this is not a big step forward for Iraq. They don't like it, of course, but on the other hand, it's not a big step for them to hand this over.
What they really still have not done, and I think what Dr. Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei will report to the Security Council is that they haven't handed over any substantial new information to do with the banned weapons programs at all. I think that's a big sticking point.
ZAHN: So if they say that, then what do you expect the response of China, France, and Germany to be, particularly at a time when they are expected to call for much more inspection time?
TAYLOR: Well, I think they'll pick up on points of cooperation. For example, as I mentioned, if they agree to the U-2 surveillance aircraft overflights, they'll say, Well, here's a demonstration of some cooperation. They are allowing inspectors full access, they have begun to allow interviews with scientists without minders being present, but of course, still in Iraq.
So I think they'll pick up on those points of cooperation, and say, Well, we need to give the inspectors more time. And indeed, I suspect the chief inspectors themselves will say, Well, to do our job, we need more time and perhaps more inspectors and so on. But I don't think that's going to satisfy the United Kingdom, the United States, and a number of other countries, too.
ZAHN: And I know you have long felt that the Iraqis have not been in compliance, that they have cooperated on certain things, but not others. At the end of the day, if more inspection time is allowed, what do you realistically think it will yield?
TAYLOR: Well, I don't think it will yield very much in a short period of time. I mean, looking back in the 1990s -- I'm sorry to have to keep looking back, but I think that's very direct experience of the same kind of thing -- Iraq did dribble out some new information from time to time, but I think we'll just see more of the same, and I think a decision is required by governments as to whether they need to allow more time, or whether they have got to press ahead with this and solve the problem in the next few months.
ZAHN: Terence Taylor, we will be relying on your expertise throughout the morning. Always good to see you. Thanks for spending a little time with us this morning.
TAYLOR: Thank you very much.
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 14, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Chief inspector Hans Blix is less than an hour away from giving a very crucial report to the United Nations. Let's check in with Richard Roth, who is standing by at the U.N. to get a preview of what he might have to say. Good morning again, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH: Good morning, Paula. It's important what Blix and ElBaradei, the two leading inspectors, say, but the real discussions and importance may be what the Security Council discusses soon after their report. That's still a divided council, and Blix and ElBaradei will not determine whether a war ensues from this report, but their facts may tilt some views in the Security Council, though, at this point, it could be unlikely.
Here's Mohamed ElBaradei, the doctor general of the International Atomic Energy Agency arriving for a meeting with the German foreign minister Fischer. You will also see Hans Blix this morning. Less than a hour ago, here he is arriving at United Nations headquarters.
There are many meetings on the sidelines before and after the presentations by the inspectors. Well, what are they likely to say, these two leading investigators? Well, no one knows for sure. They're still updating, probably, right until the very moment of their delivery putting some fine tuning to it, but some areas of cooperation that Blix may note would be more cooperation on U-2 surveillance flights, though, since Iraq delivered a letter saying they would accept these planes, and some more conditions seem to be indicated by Iraq. These planes have not been flying since the inspectors have returned.
Another area of cooperation, private interviews with scientists. There have been half a dozen or so since Blix delivered his last report, but they have not been conducted outside of the Iraqi territory, and that's something the United States doesn't like.
Areas where Blix will say Iraq has not cooperated, there could be many in this area. Chemical and biological agents. The United Nations inspectors still want to know and account for areas such as VX nerve agent, mustard gas, anthrax, things like that. Also other areas of noncooperation regard the Al Samoud II missile. Blix's special missile panel has concluded that the missile was flown beyond the 93- mile allowable range. Iraq says without guidance systems on board, it will never pass 93 miles.
These are missiles that may not be lengthy in range as the Scuds of 1991, but it's something that the U.S. and U.K. are serious violations -- back to you. ZAHN: Thanks, Richard, and we will be coming back to you in about 20 minutes or so as our special coverage gets underway. Thanks so much.
President Bush says the U.N. must show some backbone on Iraq, or it might fade into history as an organization that's irrelevant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You have got to decide, if you lay down the resolution, does it mean anything? The United Nations Security Council can now decide whether or not it has the resolve to enforce its resolutions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZAHN: While the Bush administration is pushing for a tougher stand on Iraq, key allies France, Russia, and China urging that the inspectors be given more time.
Would more inspectors or more time make a difference? Let's check in with former U.N. weapons inspector Terence Taylor, who has some thoughts on that, and joins us now from Orlando, Florida. Welcome back.
TERENCE TAYLOR, FORMER U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Nice to be with you.
ZAHN: Before we get back to the specifics of inspection, your quick reaction to what was said in the Iraqi parliament today where, basically, Saddam ordered that individuals and companies in private and mixed sectors are banned from importing or producing weapons of mass destruction.
TAYLOR: Well, I think it really depends on how much -- how you think that is meaningful. I think legislation, or statements in parliament and so on are really not sufficient to meet the terms of the obligations on Iraq under the U.N. Security Council resolution, and so -- I mean, with the record of the kind of things that go on in the regime, these legal steps are, I think, are pretty superficial.
ZAHN: You have probably heard a little bit of what Richard Roth has just had to say about the mixed bag that Hans Blix might be presenting at the U.N. just about 35 minutes from now. Did anything leap out at you?
TAYLOR: Well, not really. I mean, I think the thing that still sticks in my mind is that some of the things that Dr. Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei are looking for -- for example, the agreement for the U-2 aircraft overflights, that is the high altitude surveillance aircraft -- well, that is still just procedure, and in fact, this is not new for Iraq.
During the 1990s, as I know, I and my colleagues had the U-2 surveillance aircraft for most of the time we were there, so this is not a big step forward for Iraq. They don't like it, of course, but on the other hand, it's not a big step for them to hand this over.
What they really still have not done, and I think what Dr. Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei will report to the Security Council is that they haven't handed over any substantial new information to do with the banned weapons programs at all. I think that's a big sticking point.
ZAHN: So if they say that, then what do you expect the response of China, France, and Germany to be, particularly at a time when they are expected to call for much more inspection time?
TAYLOR: Well, I think they'll pick up on points of cooperation. For example, as I mentioned, if they agree to the U-2 surveillance aircraft overflights, they'll say, Well, here's a demonstration of some cooperation. They are allowing inspectors full access, they have begun to allow interviews with scientists without minders being present, but of course, still in Iraq.
So I think they'll pick up on those points of cooperation, and say, Well, we need to give the inspectors more time. And indeed, I suspect the chief inspectors themselves will say, Well, to do our job, we need more time and perhaps more inspectors and so on. But I don't think that's going to satisfy the United Kingdom, the United States, and a number of other countries, too.
ZAHN: And I know you have long felt that the Iraqis have not been in compliance, that they have cooperated on certain things, but not others. At the end of the day, if more inspection time is allowed, what do you realistically think it will yield?
TAYLOR: Well, I don't think it will yield very much in a short period of time. I mean, looking back in the 1990s -- I'm sorry to have to keep looking back, but I think that's very direct experience of the same kind of thing -- Iraq did dribble out some new information from time to time, but I think we'll just see more of the same, and I think a decision is required by governments as to whether they need to allow more time, or whether they have got to press ahead with this and solve the problem in the next few months.
ZAHN: Terence Taylor, we will be relying on your expertise throughout the morning. Always good to see you. Thanks for spending a little time with us this morning.
TAYLOR: Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
