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CNN Live At Daybreak
Too Little, Too Late for Iraq?
Aired March 06, 2003 - 06:06 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: Colin Powell heads to the United Nations today for a two-day diplomatic blitz on Iraq. Ahead of Hans Blix's report tomorrow, Powell is trying to fight U.N. resistance to a war against Saddam Hussein. Powell says the Iraqi leader has a double mission against the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Iraq's too little, too late gestures are meant not just to deceive and delay action by the international community. He has as one of his major goals to divide the international community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, how is Saddam Hussein responding? Well, he's invoking the specter of Vietnam, warning the United States that it could get itself involved in something it can't win.
We take you live to Iraq, to Baghdad and Nic Robertson.
Tell us more -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, this morning, we've heard from Iraqi officials that they've destroyed another six Al Samoud 2 missiles.
Last night, we heard President Saddam Hussein talking for the first time about the Al Samoud 2 missiles. He told his top military commanders that the destruction of these missiles would not hurt the morale of the people and the morale of the military.
We also heard him talk about, or apparently talk about, the U.S. fleet that's building in the Persian Gulf. He talked about ships that are capable -- ships that are capable of serving 20,000 meals a day, that have nine floors. But he said to his military commanders, where are the wheels on these ships? How are they going to get to Baghdad? And he told them the war for Baghdad will be fought by the fighters on the ground.
This was a real morale-boosting speech, and it was echoed in the newspapers here this morning, a headline saying that "The invaders will die and their graves will be in the deserts of Iraq" -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Saddam Hussein also mentioned Afghanistan in that pep talk to his people. Tell us more about that. ROBERTSON: Carol, his speech was very broad last night. It's not been unusual at this time to hear President Saddam Hussein talking to his military commanders, talking to his other officials. His points that he's making here about Afghanistan, of all of the other points he was making, were to his military commanders.
It is very clear that he is trying to shore up support, not only for himself, not only for the leadership within the country, but amongst the people as well, so that they feel, because this war appears to be coming very quickly towards Iraq at this time, building up support and belief in the country and in the leadership that they can weather this, and that's the context of his references to Afghanistan -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad.
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 6, 2003 - 06:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Colin Powell heads to the United Nations today for a two-day diplomatic blitz on Iraq. Ahead of Hans Blix's report tomorrow, Powell is trying to fight U.N. resistance to a war against Saddam Hussein. Powell says the Iraqi leader has a double mission against the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Iraq's too little, too late gestures are meant not just to deceive and delay action by the international community. He has as one of his major goals to divide the international community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, how is Saddam Hussein responding? Well, he's invoking the specter of Vietnam, warning the United States that it could get itself involved in something it can't win.
We take you live to Iraq, to Baghdad and Nic Robertson.
Tell us more -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, this morning, we've heard from Iraqi officials that they've destroyed another six Al Samoud 2 missiles.
Last night, we heard President Saddam Hussein talking for the first time about the Al Samoud 2 missiles. He told his top military commanders that the destruction of these missiles would not hurt the morale of the people and the morale of the military.
We also heard him talk about, or apparently talk about, the U.S. fleet that's building in the Persian Gulf. He talked about ships that are capable -- ships that are capable of serving 20,000 meals a day, that have nine floors. But he said to his military commanders, where are the wheels on these ships? How are they going to get to Baghdad? And he told them the war for Baghdad will be fought by the fighters on the ground.
This was a real morale-boosting speech, and it was echoed in the newspapers here this morning, a headline saying that "The invaders will die and their graves will be in the deserts of Iraq" -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Saddam Hussein also mentioned Afghanistan in that pep talk to his people. Tell us more about that. ROBERTSON: Carol, his speech was very broad last night. It's not been unusual at this time to hear President Saddam Hussein talking to his military commanders, talking to his other officials. His points that he's making here about Afghanistan, of all of the other points he was making, were to his military commanders.
It is very clear that he is trying to shore up support, not only for himself, not only for the leadership within the country, but amongst the people as well, so that they feel, because this war appears to be coming very quickly towards Iraq at this time, building up support and belief in the country and in the leadership that they can weather this, and that's the context of his references to Afghanistan -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
