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CNN Live Today
Iraq Destroys More Missiles
Aired March 03, 2003 - 10:08 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The United Nations says that Iraq has destroyed more of its banned Al Samoud 2 missiles, but Baghdad says that cooperation could end if it appears that war is about to start.
We go now to the Iraqi capital, where our CNN senior international Nic Robertson is standing by -- Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, according to U.N. officials here today, Iraq has destroyed other six of the Al Samoud missiles. That brings the total to ten, at least 80-plus still to go. U.N. officials and Iraqi officials say there are about 100 of those Al Samoud missiles here.
Also, the U.N. says that two warheads have been destroyed today. However, Iraqi officials have said that if the United States appears to act in an illegal way, meaning outside of the framework of the United Nations, appears to head towards war, then they will stop destroying the Al Samoud missiles.
Also, the same official, President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser, saying that Iraqi people and the world would not get to see the pictures of the missiles being destroyed. The reason for that, he said, was that Iraqi people would be too upset if these pictures were released. He said that wouldn't be happening. He also appealed to people of the United States, the taxpayers, saying that don't go to war with Iraq. It will cost you $80 billion. Much cheaper, he said, for the U.N. inspectors to continue their work. That costs $80 million a year, and he said that is paid for by the Iraqi people through the oil for food program. He said if the United States has coordinates for some of Iraq's chemical and biological agents, if they believe they have it, why not give that to the inspectors and save the money of war?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMER AL-SAADI, IRAQI SCIENTIFIC ADVISER: If they note coordinates -- because you need an input for this weapon to hit its target. That is, if you have the coordinates of that bunker, it would be much easier and less costly and much faster to provide those coordinates to UNMOVIC. They'll do the job free of charge at no cost to the American taxpayer. Wouldn't you agree?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, Iraqi officials also planning, we are told, to give the U.N. another report about their VX and anthrax in about a week's time. That report will give the U.N. more detail about how Iraqi officials think the U.N. can set about going to sites where Iraq has disposed of these agents and determining from soil samples just how much of these agents were disposed of there. The U.N. has already said that he (ph) thinks Iraq's proposal will probably not work because the results just will not show adequately how much of the agents were disposed there -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic, I imagine there is a lot going on in Iraq right now, not only do you have the destruction of some of those missiles taking place, but are there signs that you see right around Baghdad, where you are or elsewhere around the country, visible signs that shows the country is getting ready for war?
ROBERTSON: One does get sense of that, that there are moves towards it in the civilian areas. Certainly, people have been digging wells in their garden, if they can, stocking up a little bit more on food. On the streets, you don't see panic setting in, but there are a few visible indicators as you drive around the country that the country is preparing itself for war.
Also heard from Saddam Hussein on television late yesterday, talking to his top commanders, explaining some of the new tactics they plan to use, training for urban warfare. That is something new we haven't heard about that before. Also, they talked about -- the commanders talked about the fact that they've been given two months' worth of ammunition. That also something new. We hadn't heard this before -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Nic, thank you 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
Aired March 3, 2003 - 10:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The United Nations says that Iraq has destroyed more of its banned Al Samoud 2 missiles, but Baghdad says that cooperation could end if it appears that war is about to start.
We go now to the Iraqi capital, where our CNN senior international Nic Robertson is standing by -- Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, according to U.N. officials here today, Iraq has destroyed other six of the Al Samoud missiles. That brings the total to ten, at least 80-plus still to go. U.N. officials and Iraqi officials say there are about 100 of those Al Samoud missiles here.
Also, the U.N. says that two warheads have been destroyed today. However, Iraqi officials have said that if the United States appears to act in an illegal way, meaning outside of the framework of the United Nations, appears to head towards war, then they will stop destroying the Al Samoud missiles.
Also, the same official, President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser, saying that Iraqi people and the world would not get to see the pictures of the missiles being destroyed. The reason for that, he said, was that Iraqi people would be too upset if these pictures were released. He said that wouldn't be happening. He also appealed to people of the United States, the taxpayers, saying that don't go to war with Iraq. It will cost you $80 billion. Much cheaper, he said, for the U.N. inspectors to continue their work. That costs $80 million a year, and he said that is paid for by the Iraqi people through the oil for food program. He said if the United States has coordinates for some of Iraq's chemical and biological agents, if they believe they have it, why not give that to the inspectors and save the money of war?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMER AL-SAADI, IRAQI SCIENTIFIC ADVISER: If they note coordinates -- because you need an input for this weapon to hit its target. That is, if you have the coordinates of that bunker, it would be much easier and less costly and much faster to provide those coordinates to UNMOVIC. They'll do the job free of charge at no cost to the American taxpayer. Wouldn't you agree?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, Iraqi officials also planning, we are told, to give the U.N. another report about their VX and anthrax in about a week's time. That report will give the U.N. more detail about how Iraqi officials think the U.N. can set about going to sites where Iraq has disposed of these agents and determining from soil samples just how much of these agents were disposed of there. The U.N. has already said that he (ph) thinks Iraq's proposal will probably not work because the results just will not show adequately how much of the agents were disposed there -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic, I imagine there is a lot going on in Iraq right now, not only do you have the destruction of some of those missiles taking place, but are there signs that you see right around Baghdad, where you are or elsewhere around the country, visible signs that shows the country is getting ready for war?
ROBERTSON: One does get sense of that, that there are moves towards it in the civilian areas. Certainly, people have been digging wells in their garden, if they can, stocking up a little bit more on food. On the streets, you don't see panic setting in, but there are a few visible indicators as you drive around the country that the country is preparing itself for war.
Also heard from Saddam Hussein on television late yesterday, talking to his top commanders, explaining some of the new tactics they plan to use, training for urban warfare. That is something new we haven't heard about that before. Also, they talked about -- the commanders talked about the fact that they've been given two months' worth of ammunition. That also something new. We hadn't heard this before -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Nic, thank you 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
