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CNN Live At Daybreak
What Are They Saying in Baghdad About President's Comments?
Aired February 26, 2003 - 05:03 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: We want to get right to the latest developments now in the showdown with Iraq. Saddam Hussein tells CBS, and I'm quoting here, "We will die here," meaning he will not seek asylum someplace else. His comments air tonight. Iraq tells U.N. weapons inspectors it has found two bombs, including one possibly filled with a biological agent. And in Washington, the White House is waiting for the Turkish parliament to decide if it will allow thousands of U.S. troops to be based there.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld talked about the possibility of war with Iraq in an interview with the Arab television network Al Jazeera. He says he hopes military force won't have to be used. Rumsfeld says Saddam Hussein, though, has three choices.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: One is to cooperate and he hasn't done it. And we wish he would. A second choice is to do nothing and lead to a potential conflict, which is everyone's last choice. And a third choice is to leave the country and have someone in that country that the Iraqi people want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: President Bush is again challenging the U.N. to honor its word and make certain Iraq is disarmed and the president repeats that the U.S. won't wait for Security Council support before acting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's all kinds of estimates about the cost of war. But the risk of doing nothing, the risk of the security of this country being jeopardized at the hands of a madman with weapons of mass destruction far exceeds the risks of any action we may be forced to take.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And a reminder for you, our Larry King talks to Dan Rather about that Saddam Hussein interview tomorrow night. You can catch that interview right here at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific Time.
So what are they saying in Baghdad about their president's comments on an American television network?
We want to get right to that.
Our Nic Robertson is standing by live in Baghdad -- good morning.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, no direct comment about the interview yet. We did see President Saddam Hussein meeting with some of his top interior ministry police and law enforcement officials on television last night. His words to them and them to him that they would vow to protect the security and integrity of Iraq.
Now, about the meeting with, an interview with CBS anchor Dan Rather, he, Dan Rather asked President Saddam Hussein if he would get rid of the al-Samoud 2 missiles. The Iraqi leader said that he was and Iraq was complying with everything the U.N. weapons inspectors were asking them to do, that they had complied before and that they would comply in the future.
However, Mr. Rather pushed him on that issue, whether or not he would destroy these banned missiles. Now, the Iraqi leader here said that Iraq didn't have any missiles that were outside of the U.N.'s range, and he said that the missiles, that they had been destroyed already -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic, we have word that Iraq has discovered other weapons, though. Can you tell us about those weapons?
ROBERTSON: The weapons inspectors have gone out to another site today, a biological site. This was a place in these new documents that Iraqi officials have provided to the U.N. inspectors here, that detailed where Iraq unilaterally destroyed some aerial bombs containing biological agents. Now, a few weeks ago, Iraqi officials put this proposal to U.N. weapons chief Hans Blix about how to go to this site, how to analyze what there was there, how to make a determination what Iraq had disposed of there.
Hans Blix at that time said that he thought that perhaps this wouldn't provide enough clear and accurate information. But for the third day now, inspectors at this site where Iraqi officials have already begun to dig up some of the bomb fragments and pieces at that disposal site -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.
Many thanks to you.
We'll get a European perspective on the Iraqi situation in the next hour of DAYBREAK when we talk with our Christiane Amanpour, who is in London.
And what might a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq look like? Our Web site explores that question. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.
Well, Baghdad is apparently bracing for the expected U.S. assault as the Pentagon puts the final touches on its war plans.
CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre looks at the latest military moves and countermoves.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A U.S. military transport ship prepares to unload equipment at a port in southern Turkey as the Turkish parliament considers an agreement in principle that would allow 62,000 U.S. troops to be based there. Deployment of troops to Turkey will essentially complete the U.S. military buildup and set the stage for war with Iraq any time after the U.N. either accepts or rejects the latest disarmament resolution.
RUMSFELD: Clearly, you give up strategic surprise when you decide you want to flow forces over a prolonged period of months. You do not necessarily give up tactical surprise.
MCINTYRE: Meanwhile, Iraq continues to make defensive moves. Pentagon sources say U.S. reconnaissance photos show that dozens of flatbed trucks are on the move north of Baghdad. Pentagon officials suspect Iraq plans to use the heavy equipment transport vehicles to reposition tanks and armored vehicles to fortify the defense of Baghdad or perhaps other high value assets such as the Kirkuk oil fields or Saddam Hussein's ancestral home of Takrit.
Pentagon planners also fear one reason Saddam Hussein is so reluctant to destroy his al-Samoud missiles is that with their 150 kilometer plus range, they may be his best weapon to deliver chemical or biological weapons against advancing U.S. troops.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to use air strikes in the no fly zones to prepare the battlefield. One of three strikes Tuesday was against an Astros multiple rocket launcher spotted near the southern port town of Basra, close enough to hit U.S. troops massed across the border in Kuwait.
(on camera): So far, no al-Samoud missiles have been spotted in the no fly zones. If they are found there, Pentagon officials say they would be taken out in a heartbeat.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And turning to the Turkish parliament now and its debate over allowing thousands of U.S. troops to come ashore, putting this in perspective for you, there are 550 seats in the Turkish parliament. Three hundred sixty-three are held by the ruling Justice and Development Party. The opposition and independent seats total 187. Sixty members of the ruling party say they may abstain from this vote. A majority of those present must vote in favor of the proposal for it to pass.
Now, if all 550 members show up, it will take 276 yes votes to pass. And while the Turkish parliament decides, American warships carrying troops and equipment are waiting, just waiting in the Mediterranean. Our Jane Arraf joins us now live from Iskenderun, Turkey, where the U.S. Navy ship Cappella (ph) has docked with a load full of equipment -- and, Jane, they're just staying on board and waiting.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, those ships that actually have the Fourth Infantry Division troops are further offshore. They're waiting for that approval that you mentioned from the parliament in Ankara. That's expected to come tomorrow. And until that comes, they will not approach this port.
But that doesn't mean that there isn't military activity going on here. What we've got is the ship that you mentioned docked yesterday. And it is unloading Patriot missiles. What we're seeing are the Patriot missile launchers and the missiles themselves in those boxes with camouflage. They are right here on the dock waiting to be loaded onto hundreds of trucks that are also waiting here, that have been leased by the U.S. military.
Now, these missiles would be deployed along Turkey's border with Iraq. And this is part of a previous debate at NATO. These are NATO missiles, which Turkey had asked for to defend itself against any attack by its neighbor. They have finally arrived, but what we are waiting for, as you point out, is approval by parliament, either approval or rejection, in fact, it's still not clear as to whether the Fourth Infantry Division troops, the combat troops, can approach this port and unload -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, Jane, we expected a decision yesterday. A decision won't come today. A vote may come tomorrow. So what's up with that?
ARRAF: Well, I guess the bottom line is this really is a very difficult and complicated decision and no matter which way parliament decides, it's going to have repercussions on them. This war is wildly unpopular here. Polls still show that more than 90 percent of Turks are opposed to it.
So what the government is asking them to do is go to parliament and vote yes to allow 62,000 American soldiers to be stationed on Turkish bases, to go in and attack Iraq from the north. Not immensely popular, no matter how much money they're being given. That's essentially why the delay. They're trying to get the political support so when this does come a vote in parliament, they'll vote yes -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Understand.
Jane Arraf, thanks so 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
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Aired February 26, 2003 - 05:03 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 get right to the latest developments now in the showdown with Iraq. Saddam Hussein tells CBS, and I'm quoting here, "We will die here," meaning he will not seek asylum someplace else. His comments air tonight. Iraq tells U.N. weapons inspectors it has found two bombs, including one possibly filled with a biological agent. And in Washington, the White House is waiting for the Turkish parliament to decide if it will allow thousands of U.S. troops to be based there.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld talked about the possibility of war with Iraq in an interview with the Arab television network Al Jazeera. He says he hopes military force won't have to be used. Rumsfeld says Saddam Hussein, though, has three choices.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: One is to cooperate and he hasn't done it. And we wish he would. A second choice is to do nothing and lead to a potential conflict, which is everyone's last choice. And a third choice is to leave the country and have someone in that country that the Iraqi people want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: President Bush is again challenging the U.N. to honor its word and make certain Iraq is disarmed and the president repeats that the U.S. won't wait for Security Council support before acting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's all kinds of estimates about the cost of war. But the risk of doing nothing, the risk of the security of this country being jeopardized at the hands of a madman with weapons of mass destruction far exceeds the risks of any action we may be forced to take.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And a reminder for you, our Larry King talks to Dan Rather about that Saddam Hussein interview tomorrow night. You can catch that interview right here at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific Time.
So what are they saying in Baghdad about their president's comments on an American television network?
We want to get right to that.
Our Nic Robertson is standing by live in Baghdad -- good morning.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, no direct comment about the interview yet. We did see President Saddam Hussein meeting with some of his top interior ministry police and law enforcement officials on television last night. His words to them and them to him that they would vow to protect the security and integrity of Iraq.
Now, about the meeting with, an interview with CBS anchor Dan Rather, he, Dan Rather asked President Saddam Hussein if he would get rid of the al-Samoud 2 missiles. The Iraqi leader said that he was and Iraq was complying with everything the U.N. weapons inspectors were asking them to do, that they had complied before and that they would comply in the future.
However, Mr. Rather pushed him on that issue, whether or not he would destroy these banned missiles. Now, the Iraqi leader here said that Iraq didn't have any missiles that were outside of the U.N.'s range, and he said that the missiles, that they had been destroyed already -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic, we have word that Iraq has discovered other weapons, though. Can you tell us about those weapons?
ROBERTSON: The weapons inspectors have gone out to another site today, a biological site. This was a place in these new documents that Iraqi officials have provided to the U.N. inspectors here, that detailed where Iraq unilaterally destroyed some aerial bombs containing biological agents. Now, a few weeks ago, Iraqi officials put this proposal to U.N. weapons chief Hans Blix about how to go to this site, how to analyze what there was there, how to make a determination what Iraq had disposed of there.
Hans Blix at that time said that he thought that perhaps this wouldn't provide enough clear and accurate information. But for the third day now, inspectors at this site where Iraqi officials have already begun to dig up some of the bomb fragments and pieces at that disposal site -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.
Many thanks to you.
We'll get a European perspective on the Iraqi situation in the next hour of DAYBREAK when we talk with our Christiane Amanpour, who is in London.
And what might a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq look like? Our Web site explores that question. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.
Well, Baghdad is apparently bracing for the expected U.S. assault as the Pentagon puts the final touches on its war plans.
CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre looks at the latest military moves and countermoves.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A U.S. military transport ship prepares to unload equipment at a port in southern Turkey as the Turkish parliament considers an agreement in principle that would allow 62,000 U.S. troops to be based there. Deployment of troops to Turkey will essentially complete the U.S. military buildup and set the stage for war with Iraq any time after the U.N. either accepts or rejects the latest disarmament resolution.
RUMSFELD: Clearly, you give up strategic surprise when you decide you want to flow forces over a prolonged period of months. You do not necessarily give up tactical surprise.
MCINTYRE: Meanwhile, Iraq continues to make defensive moves. Pentagon sources say U.S. reconnaissance photos show that dozens of flatbed trucks are on the move north of Baghdad. Pentagon officials suspect Iraq plans to use the heavy equipment transport vehicles to reposition tanks and armored vehicles to fortify the defense of Baghdad or perhaps other high value assets such as the Kirkuk oil fields or Saddam Hussein's ancestral home of Takrit.
Pentagon planners also fear one reason Saddam Hussein is so reluctant to destroy his al-Samoud missiles is that with their 150 kilometer plus range, they may be his best weapon to deliver chemical or biological weapons against advancing U.S. troops.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to use air strikes in the no fly zones to prepare the battlefield. One of three strikes Tuesday was against an Astros multiple rocket launcher spotted near the southern port town of Basra, close enough to hit U.S. troops massed across the border in Kuwait.
(on camera): So far, no al-Samoud missiles have been spotted in the no fly zones. If they are found there, Pentagon officials say they would be taken out in a heartbeat.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And turning to the Turkish parliament now and its debate over allowing thousands of U.S. troops to come ashore, putting this in perspective for you, there are 550 seats in the Turkish parliament. Three hundred sixty-three are held by the ruling Justice and Development Party. The opposition and independent seats total 187. Sixty members of the ruling party say they may abstain from this vote. A majority of those present must vote in favor of the proposal for it to pass.
Now, if all 550 members show up, it will take 276 yes votes to pass. And while the Turkish parliament decides, American warships carrying troops and equipment are waiting, just waiting in the Mediterranean. Our Jane Arraf joins us now live from Iskenderun, Turkey, where the U.S. Navy ship Cappella (ph) has docked with a load full of equipment -- and, Jane, they're just staying on board and waiting.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, those ships that actually have the Fourth Infantry Division troops are further offshore. They're waiting for that approval that you mentioned from the parliament in Ankara. That's expected to come tomorrow. And until that comes, they will not approach this port.
But that doesn't mean that there isn't military activity going on here. What we've got is the ship that you mentioned docked yesterday. And it is unloading Patriot missiles. What we're seeing are the Patriot missile launchers and the missiles themselves in those boxes with camouflage. They are right here on the dock waiting to be loaded onto hundreds of trucks that are also waiting here, that have been leased by the U.S. military.
Now, these missiles would be deployed along Turkey's border with Iraq. And this is part of a previous debate at NATO. These are NATO missiles, which Turkey had asked for to defend itself against any attack by its neighbor. They have finally arrived, but what we are waiting for, as you point out, is approval by parliament, either approval or rejection, in fact, it's still not clear as to whether the Fourth Infantry Division troops, the combat troops, can approach this port and unload -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, Jane, we expected a decision yesterday. A decision won't come today. A vote may come tomorrow. So what's up with that?
ARRAF: Well, I guess the bottom line is this really is a very difficult and complicated decision and no matter which way parliament decides, it's going to have repercussions on them. This war is wildly unpopular here. Polls still show that more than 90 percent of Turks are opposed to it.
So what the government is asking them to do is go to parliament and vote yes to allow 62,000 American soldiers to be stationed on Turkish bases, to go in and attack Iraq from the north. Not immensely popular, no matter how much money they're being given. That's essentially why the delay. They're trying to get the political support so when this does come a vote in parliament, they'll vote yes -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Understand.
Jane Arraf, thanks so 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
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