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American Morning

U.S. Patriot Anti-Missile Batteries Deployed in Tel Aviv

Aired March 04, 2003 - 09:26   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yet another sign that Israel is getting ready for war. Overnight U.S. Patriot anti-missile batteries deployed in Tel Aviv neighborhoods.
For more on this to Tel Aviv and Kelly Wallace standing by one of the Patriot missile batteries.

Kelly, hello.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

Well, there are a lot of questions about the effectiveness of the Patriot after the 1991 Gulf War, when the Patriots failed to stop 39 Iraqi SCUDs from hitting Israel. Well, American and Israeli officials say they are a lot more confident this time, because they say this equipment is a lot better. They say these American Patriot anti- missile missiles are more effective. They say that the missiles have larger warheads.

They also say the software is better to improve accuracy.

And they also say this is not going to be Israel's only line of defense. Israel now has an Arrow missile defense system, something it didn't have in 1991, so Israeli and American officials, Bill, say they're much more confident and more prepared if, they say, Iraq does attack, and if they say there is another war with Iraq.

HEMMER: Kelly Wallace in Tel Aviv. Kelly, thanks.

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 - 09:26   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yet another sign that Israel is getting ready for war. Overnight U.S. Patriot anti-missile batteries deployed in Tel Aviv neighborhoods.
For more on this to Tel Aviv and Kelly Wallace standing by one of the Patriot missile batteries.

Kelly, hello.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

Well, there are a lot of questions about the effectiveness of the Patriot after the 1991 Gulf War, when the Patriots failed to stop 39 Iraqi SCUDs from hitting Israel. Well, American and Israeli officials say they are a lot more confident this time, because they say this equipment is a lot better. They say these American Patriot anti- missile missiles are more effective. They say that the missiles have larger warheads.

They also say the software is better to improve accuracy.

And they also say this is not going to be Israel's only line of defense. Israel now has an Arrow missile defense system, something it didn't have in 1991, so Israeli and American officials, Bill, say they're much more confident and more prepared if, they say, Iraq does attack, and if they say there is another war with Iraq.

HEMMER: Kelly Wallace in Tel Aviv. Kelly, thanks.

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