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CNN Live At Daybreak

China, France, Germany and Russia Say No

Aired March 06, 2003 - 05:32   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: Let's turn now to the showdown with Iraq and some significant developments. China, France, Germany and Russia say no. The foreign ministers of those nations say their governments will not allow a new U.S. resolution authorizing force against Iraq. Washington orders two Iraqi diplomats at the U.N. expelled for, quoting here, "activities outside the scope of their official functions." And there are reports that the British government is working on a compromise amendment to the U.S.-backed resolution on Iraq. Those reports say the compromise would set a deadline giving Iraq a little more time to disarm.
The opposition to the U.S. resolution, a possible compromise, the U.S. military buildup, we have a lot to talk about this morning.

So let's go to the center of the turmoil.

Nic Robertson joins us live from Baghdad -- hello, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Well, six more Al Samoud missiles due to be destroyed today. Indeed, Iraqi officials say that destruction should be completed already. That would bring the total to 34 of the Al Samoud missiles destroyed since Iraqi officials started that Saturday. That would be about one quarter of their declared number of Al Samoud missiles.

We've also heard President Saddam Hussein talk on television for the first time about the Al Samoud 2 missiles in what appeared to be a moral boosting speech with some of his military commanders.

In that speech he said that the destruction of the Al Samoud missiles would not damage the fighters and the people's morale. He also talked about or appeared to talk about, at least, the U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf. He said that he had heard these ships had nine floors on them, that they can serve 2,000 meals a day -- or 20,000 meals a day. But he said where are their wheels? These ships cannot come to Baghdad. He told his commanders that the fight for the country would be won on the ground. That was his message, a very much morale boosting speech. And, indeed, echoed in newspaper headlines today, one headline saying that Iraqi soldiers would turn the deserts of Iraq into a graveyard for the invaders -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Something else important militarily, the we. Tell us what it's like now in Iraq.

ROBERTSON: It is beginning to warm up. This wind we're experiencing today, it's the first time we've had such a warm wind. It appears to be blowing at least a lot of the time from the south, coming up off the deserts there. This is really an indication of the change in seasons here. We've heard a lot of talk about how the temperature could affect the outcome of a possible war. We've heard about how the increasing temperatures could affect the capabilities and abilities of the soldiers on the ground.

What we feel here now in Baghdad is the beginning of that warm season arriving in the last couple of days. Temperatures really beginning to rise noticeably -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And the wind stronger, too.

Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

Along with final military preparations, the possible timing for an attack is also in the mix.

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 - 05:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's turn now to the showdown with Iraq and some significant developments. China, France, Germany and Russia say no. The foreign ministers of those nations say their governments will not allow a new U.S. resolution authorizing force against Iraq. Washington orders two Iraqi diplomats at the U.N. expelled for, quoting here, "activities outside the scope of their official functions." And there are reports that the British government is working on a compromise amendment to the U.S.-backed resolution on Iraq. Those reports say the compromise would set a deadline giving Iraq a little more time to disarm.
The opposition to the U.S. resolution, a possible compromise, the U.S. military buildup, we have a lot to talk about this morning.

So let's go to the center of the turmoil.

Nic Robertson joins us live from Baghdad -- hello, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Well, six more Al Samoud missiles due to be destroyed today. Indeed, Iraqi officials say that destruction should be completed already. That would bring the total to 34 of the Al Samoud missiles destroyed since Iraqi officials started that Saturday. That would be about one quarter of their declared number of Al Samoud missiles.

We've also heard President Saddam Hussein talk on television for the first time about the Al Samoud 2 missiles in what appeared to be a moral boosting speech with some of his military commanders.

In that speech he said that the destruction of the Al Samoud missiles would not damage the fighters and the people's morale. He also talked about or appeared to talk about, at least, the U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf. He said that he had heard these ships had nine floors on them, that they can serve 2,000 meals a day -- or 20,000 meals a day. But he said where are their wheels? These ships cannot come to Baghdad. He told his commanders that the fight for the country would be won on the ground. That was his message, a very much morale boosting speech. And, indeed, echoed in newspaper headlines today, one headline saying that Iraqi soldiers would turn the deserts of Iraq into a graveyard for the invaders -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Something else important militarily, the we. Tell us what it's like now in Iraq.

ROBERTSON: It is beginning to warm up. This wind we're experiencing today, it's the first time we've had such a warm wind. It appears to be blowing at least a lot of the time from the south, coming up off the deserts there. This is really an indication of the change in seasons here. We've heard a lot of talk about how the temperature could affect the outcome of a possible war. We've heard about how the increasing temperatures could affect the capabilities and abilities of the soldiers on the ground.

What we feel here now in Baghdad is the beginning of that warm season arriving in the last couple of days. Temperatures really beginning to rise noticeably -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And the wind stronger, too.

Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

Along with final military preparations, the possible timing for an attack is also in the mix.

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