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CNN Live Today
U.S. Sets Up Patriot Batteries in Israel
Aired March 04, 2003 - 11:07 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 showdown with Iraq is fast approaching critical mass at the United Nations.
Our senior United Nations correspondent Richard Roth is with us once again -- Richard, good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. I think there was a John Lennon song, involving "No. 9 Dream."
The U.S. is certainly dreaming of nine votes to get a new resolution on Iraq that the U.S., U.K. and Spain has introduced, but it's tough going.
So far, publicly, only four votes in favor, and they need nine without a veto. Today, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. John Negroponte was asked would Washington take the resolution off the table if it thought it wouldn't get the votes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: We haven't crossed that bridge. We're at a state now where we're in the process of working with the cosponsors of trying to mobilize the necessary support for that resolution, and we believe that support should be there, and we are not facing that kind of situation, and I think we'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it, but we don't think we should have to come to that point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The United States has dismissed Iraq's recent destruction of some Al Samoud 2 missiles. Hans Blix, you see there meeting with European parliamentarians today. He is the chief weapons inspector. He will deliver his updated report, including the Al Samouds on Friday. There's also been a lot of talk about if the U.S. went alone without a U.N. sanctioning vote, would this destroy the credibility of the United Nations? Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed that point today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: There are suggestions that if the Security Council does not vote for action, then its credibility would be mortally wounded. I tend to believe that if the council were to manage to come together and resolve this crisis effectively and successfully, the credibility and the influence of the council will be enhanced. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Kofi Annan called the destruction, dismantling of some of the Al Samoud 2 missiles a positive development, but he refused to say whether this justified calling off any war plans, saying that is in the hands of the U.N. Security Council.
KAGAN: Richard, not to diminish this, covering it like a sporting event, but there are scorecards to keep here, and the one I'm interested in is the uncommitted numbers of the Security Council, the people still on the fence -- if you look -- you can see this graphic with us, Richard?
ROTH: Yes, I can.
KAGAN: First of all, making sure that's up to date.
ROTH: Well, it's not a full baseball lineup, but it is up to date. And basically today, Mexico, one of those undecideds, walked in and told reporters diplomacy means compromise. There had been speculation that Mexico, Pakistan leaning the U.S. way. It is way too early still to determine that. Everybody wants to see what Hans Blix says on Friday, and a lot of people don't want to be left holding the bag. They will want to go with the crowd. And one noncommitted six diplomat told me, We don't want to vote, because they might be exposed and pressured to have to decide. They would love for the big powers -- the U.S. on one side, Russia, France on the other -- to come to some sort of compromise, so those uncommitted six do not have to raise their hands one way or the other.
KAGAN: Well, I think it was last Thursday afternoon you and I were watching a lot of these ambassadors come out. You saw the frustration the Chilean ambassador, almost kind of lose it there in front of the microphone and really demand for the permanent members of the Security Council to get their act together, to not put this pressure on these other countries.
ROTH: That's what they're hoping. CNN's Andrea Koppel at the State Department reporting a low-key meeting between Secretary of State Powell and the Mexican foreign minister. The U.S. is trying, around the globe, to round up the votes to maybe to compromise a little bit on its new resolution, which the U.S. ambassador today called very simple and unexceptional. So the quest for the votes will continue.
KAGAN: Richard Roth at the U.N. Thank you -- Leon.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. In the meantime, there are both words and deeds underway and happening in Iraq to consider this morning. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein delivered a message of defiance today to mark the Islamic new year, but at the same time, Iraq did continue its destruction of missiles, as demanded by the U.N.
Let's check in now with our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson. He has got the latest for us right now from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi officials saying today that they are destroying 2 to 3 Al Samoud missiles. They also say that they're destroying parts of an Al Samoud 2 missile launcher. That was something else that Hans Blix, the U.N. weapons chief has said Iraq must destroy. Also, Iraqi officials say they are destroying part of a casting chamber. Again, another item of missile manufacture that the U.N. weapons chief said Iraq had to destroy.
Iraqi officials say the pace of work perhaps a little slower today. That's because it is a holiday here in Iraq. It is the Islamic new year. President Saddam Hussein had a speech read on Iraqi television for the Islamic new year. In that speech, many references to Islam's history. Also saying that the Iraqi people would be victorious if they were armed with their faith, he said, that the despots would be defeated, and that their arrogance would not benefit them, an apparent reference there to the United States and the possibility of war at this time.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Meanwhile, Israel is preparing to protect its citizens during any war between the U.S. and Iraq. Patriot anti-missile batteries are being deployed throughout the country as a backup defense system.
Our Kelly Wallace joins us live from Tel Aviv, and she has more on that story -- Kelly, hello.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, as you can see, the day is coming to a close here. Hard for you to make out, but behind me you can see some of these American Patriot anti-missile missiles. These are here, as you said, to try and protect this neighborhood, this Tel Aviv area, from any Iraqi Scud attacks.
This is part of the tremendous coordination that is going on between the United States and Israel. The United States very much does not want to see Israel get involved in any war if the U.S. goes to war with Iraq. And so we saw many of these Patriot missiles deployed throughout the day today and overnight. Also on hand throughout Israel, 600 American soldiers who will be here and will be operating these Patriot missiles.
Many officials believe that this equipment is a lot better than it was 12 years ago. They say these Patriots have the missiles -- have a larger warhead. They also say the software is better and, therefore, these Patriots should be more accurate.
What the U.S. and Israel want to do is prevent what happened in 1991, and that's when we all can remember 39 Iraqi Scuds hit Israel during that Gulf War. Many believe the Patriots just didn't do a very good job. They did not prevent those Scuds from hitting Israel, and so a lot of hope that these Patriots will do a better job.
There are a couple of other reasons, though, the U.S. and Israel are more confident and feel they're more prepared. No. 1, the Americans are loaning the Israelis an early warning system. This means that the Israelis will have about six minutes of warning time if Iraq launches any Scud in the direction of Israel. That is twice the time of the warning it had during the Gulf War. And also, Israel has something now that it didn't have 12 years ago. It has a missile defense system, a highly touted $2 billion system that could intercept Scuds at least 30 miles into the air.
So again, lots of coordination. As we know, Israel didn't retaliate in 1991 for those Iraqi Scud attacks. The U.S., again, wants to keep Israel out of this, and is hoping this coordination will prevent any grounds for Israel to feel that it needs to get involved -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Well, on that very note there, any kind of commitment from the Israeli government not to retaliate if Iraq does hit it?
WALLACE: No commitment, Daryn, but we're told, privately, officials say there's sort of a mutual understanding, that the United States certainly understands Israel's position. Israel also understands the United States's concerns about not wanting Israel to get involved.
So the thinking, or the understanding is, Israel will stay out of it, but if there is an attack that involves a large number of deaths or if there is an attack involving a chemical or biological weapon, some officials say privately Israel might feel it is forced and must get involved -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kelly Wallace from Tel Aviv -- Kelly, thank you.
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 4, 2003 - 11:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: The showdown with Iraq is fast approaching critical mass at the United Nations.
Our senior United Nations correspondent Richard Roth is with us once again -- Richard, good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. I think there was a John Lennon song, involving "No. 9 Dream."
The U.S. is certainly dreaming of nine votes to get a new resolution on Iraq that the U.S., U.K. and Spain has introduced, but it's tough going.
So far, publicly, only four votes in favor, and they need nine without a veto. Today, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. John Negroponte was asked would Washington take the resolution off the table if it thought it wouldn't get the votes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: We haven't crossed that bridge. We're at a state now where we're in the process of working with the cosponsors of trying to mobilize the necessary support for that resolution, and we believe that support should be there, and we are not facing that kind of situation, and I think we'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it, but we don't think we should have to come to that point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The United States has dismissed Iraq's recent destruction of some Al Samoud 2 missiles. Hans Blix, you see there meeting with European parliamentarians today. He is the chief weapons inspector. He will deliver his updated report, including the Al Samouds on Friday. There's also been a lot of talk about if the U.S. went alone without a U.N. sanctioning vote, would this destroy the credibility of the United Nations? Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed that point today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: There are suggestions that if the Security Council does not vote for action, then its credibility would be mortally wounded. I tend to believe that if the council were to manage to come together and resolve this crisis effectively and successfully, the credibility and the influence of the council will be enhanced. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Kofi Annan called the destruction, dismantling of some of the Al Samoud 2 missiles a positive development, but he refused to say whether this justified calling off any war plans, saying that is in the hands of the U.N. Security Council.
KAGAN: Richard, not to diminish this, covering it like a sporting event, but there are scorecards to keep here, and the one I'm interested in is the uncommitted numbers of the Security Council, the people still on the fence -- if you look -- you can see this graphic with us, Richard?
ROTH: Yes, I can.
KAGAN: First of all, making sure that's up to date.
ROTH: Well, it's not a full baseball lineup, but it is up to date. And basically today, Mexico, one of those undecideds, walked in and told reporters diplomacy means compromise. There had been speculation that Mexico, Pakistan leaning the U.S. way. It is way too early still to determine that. Everybody wants to see what Hans Blix says on Friday, and a lot of people don't want to be left holding the bag. They will want to go with the crowd. And one noncommitted six diplomat told me, We don't want to vote, because they might be exposed and pressured to have to decide. They would love for the big powers -- the U.S. on one side, Russia, France on the other -- to come to some sort of compromise, so those uncommitted six do not have to raise their hands one way or the other.
KAGAN: Well, I think it was last Thursday afternoon you and I were watching a lot of these ambassadors come out. You saw the frustration the Chilean ambassador, almost kind of lose it there in front of the microphone and really demand for the permanent members of the Security Council to get their act together, to not put this pressure on these other countries.
ROTH: That's what they're hoping. CNN's Andrea Koppel at the State Department reporting a low-key meeting between Secretary of State Powell and the Mexican foreign minister. The U.S. is trying, around the globe, to round up the votes to maybe to compromise a little bit on its new resolution, which the U.S. ambassador today called very simple and unexceptional. So the quest for the votes will continue.
KAGAN: Richard Roth at the U.N. Thank you -- Leon.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. In the meantime, there are both words and deeds underway and happening in Iraq to consider this morning. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein delivered a message of defiance today to mark the Islamic new year, but at the same time, Iraq did continue its destruction of missiles, as demanded by the U.N.
Let's check in now with our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson. He has got the latest for us right now from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi officials saying today that they are destroying 2 to 3 Al Samoud missiles. They also say that they're destroying parts of an Al Samoud 2 missile launcher. That was something else that Hans Blix, the U.N. weapons chief has said Iraq must destroy. Also, Iraqi officials say they are destroying part of a casting chamber. Again, another item of missile manufacture that the U.N. weapons chief said Iraq had to destroy.
Iraqi officials say the pace of work perhaps a little slower today. That's because it is a holiday here in Iraq. It is the Islamic new year. President Saddam Hussein had a speech read on Iraqi television for the Islamic new year. In that speech, many references to Islam's history. Also saying that the Iraqi people would be victorious if they were armed with their faith, he said, that the despots would be defeated, and that their arrogance would not benefit them, an apparent reference there to the United States and the possibility of war at this time.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Meanwhile, Israel is preparing to protect its citizens during any war between the U.S. and Iraq. Patriot anti-missile batteries are being deployed throughout the country as a backup defense system.
Our Kelly Wallace joins us live from Tel Aviv, and she has more on that story -- Kelly, hello.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, as you can see, the day is coming to a close here. Hard for you to make out, but behind me you can see some of these American Patriot anti-missile missiles. These are here, as you said, to try and protect this neighborhood, this Tel Aviv area, from any Iraqi Scud attacks.
This is part of the tremendous coordination that is going on between the United States and Israel. The United States very much does not want to see Israel get involved in any war if the U.S. goes to war with Iraq. And so we saw many of these Patriot missiles deployed throughout the day today and overnight. Also on hand throughout Israel, 600 American soldiers who will be here and will be operating these Patriot missiles.
Many officials believe that this equipment is a lot better than it was 12 years ago. They say these Patriots have the missiles -- have a larger warhead. They also say the software is better and, therefore, these Patriots should be more accurate.
What the U.S. and Israel want to do is prevent what happened in 1991, and that's when we all can remember 39 Iraqi Scuds hit Israel during that Gulf War. Many believe the Patriots just didn't do a very good job. They did not prevent those Scuds from hitting Israel, and so a lot of hope that these Patriots will do a better job.
There are a couple of other reasons, though, the U.S. and Israel are more confident and feel they're more prepared. No. 1, the Americans are loaning the Israelis an early warning system. This means that the Israelis will have about six minutes of warning time if Iraq launches any Scud in the direction of Israel. That is twice the time of the warning it had during the Gulf War. And also, Israel has something now that it didn't have 12 years ago. It has a missile defense system, a highly touted $2 billion system that could intercept Scuds at least 30 miles into the air.
So again, lots of coordination. As we know, Israel didn't retaliate in 1991 for those Iraqi Scud attacks. The U.S., again, wants to keep Israel out of this, and is hoping this coordination will prevent any grounds for Israel to feel that it needs to get involved -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Well, on that very note there, any kind of commitment from the Israeli government not to retaliate if Iraq does hit it?
WALLACE: No commitment, Daryn, but we're told, privately, officials say there's sort of a mutual understanding, that the United States certainly understands Israel's position. Israel also understands the United States's concerns about not wanting Israel to get involved.
So the thinking, or the understanding is, Israel will stay out of it, but if there is an attack that involves a large number of deaths or if there is an attack involving a chemical or biological weapon, some officials say privately Israel might feel it is forced and must get involved -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kelly Wallace from Tel Aviv -- Kelly, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
