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Look at Timeline Situation

Aired March 10, 2003 - 05:02   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: And this is a critical week in the global crisis with Iraq. Let's look at the timeline on the situation. The White House has told Security Council members to be ready to vote by tomorrow on a new U.S.-British resolution on Iraq. The U.N. says Iraq has indicated it will submit a more detailed report, possibly this week, on the nerve gas and anthrax it claims to have destroyed back in 1991. And the new resolution pushed by Washington sets a March 17th deadline for Iraq's full, unconditional and immediate cooperation in revealing its weapons prohibited by the United Nations.
So let's get reaction to this diplomatic drama playing out at the United Nations and in Iraq.

Our Rym Brahimi is in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

She joins us now -- hello, Rym.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Carol.

Well, this morning again more Al Samoud 2 missiles destroyed. Six of them, according to Iraqi officials, will be destroyed today. Now, that will bring up to some 52 the number of Al Samoud missiles destroyed. That's a little less than half the total estimated number of missiles. There are estimated to be about 120 or 130 of those banned missiles, between those that are still, that were still being made as they were taken out for destruction and those that were deployed, those that were stored elsewhere. A number of warheads, as well, have been destroyed and inspectors are out at those sites verifying that all this is taking place.

Now, General Hossam Amin, who is the Iraqi official in charge of the National Monitoring Directorate, the counterpart to the inspectors, spoke to reporters yesterday, saying that Iraq was intensely cooperating with the inspectors -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Rym Brahimi bringing us up to date live from Baghdad this morning.

Secretary of State Colin Powell has been busy pushing all the diplomatic buttons he can and trying to win backing for the latest resolution. He was a guest on CNN's "Late Edition," where he was asked about what President Bush would do if the resolution fails in the Security Council.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: If we don't get the vote, the president then will have to make a judgment as to whether or not we're prepared now to lead a coalition of the willing to disarm Saddam Hussein, to change the regime, because that seems to be the only way to get him to disarm. And I would not prejudge what the president might do, but I think the president has spoken rather clearly on this point for many, many months.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Powell adds he believes some progress has been made with the 10 elected members of the Security Council, but, of course, the French remain opposed to it.

And we do have reaction on the proposed resolution this morning from our Robin Oakley in London, our Jim Bittermann in Paris.

Let's start with Jim in France -- good morning.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

The French are just as busy as Colin Powell is. His counterpart, Dominique de Villepin, is this morning visiting countries in Africa, Angola, Cameroon and Guinea, all of whom are on the Security Council of the United Nations, all of whom have ability to either vote for the U.S.-British resolution or abstain or vote against it.

However, their vote against it is not as strong as the veto power that France and Russia have. Those are two countries that have at least held out their options to potentially veto any kind of resolution before the United Nations.

France has not said one way or another whether it might do that, but last week some of Jacques Chirac's, President Jacques Chirac's own party members said that using a veto would be like shooting the United States in the back. However, over the weekend and this morning, some of his party members were saying that if France has to use a veto to stop that U.N. resolution, it should go ahead and do it.

President Chirac also had some phone conversations over the weekend with Schroeder in Germany, the chancellor in Germany, and also with Vladimir Putin in Russia.

In the case of Putin, Chirac said that he sees exactly eye to eye with Vladimir Putin on how to approach this situation -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Understand.

Jim Bittermann, thanks.

On to London now and reaction from there to this proposed resolution and the latest with Iraq.

Our senior European political correspondent Robin Oakley comes aboard for that -- Robin, what's happening over the pond?

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, the British are very, very keen to see this second U.N. resolution go through. Nobody has more at stake in that resolution than Tony Blair because of the lack of support both in the street in Britain and among his own Labor Party M.P.s for military action against Saddam Hussein without the sanction of the United Nations. And there's been a big shock for Tony Blair overnight here because Clair Short, one member of his cabinet, perhaps the most outspoken, emotional member of his cabinet, who's had her doubts all along about any military action against Saddam Hussein, has specifically sought an interview last night in which she said she would resign from the government if there wasn't specific U.N. backing both for any military action and for a U.N. reconstruction of Iraq rather than one led by the United States afterwards.

She's described Tony Blair's attitude as utterly reckless and it means that he faces an even bigger parliamentary rebellion if he doesn't get that second vote through -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We'll see what happens Tuesday.

Thanks, Robin.

Turkey is back in the mix. A Turkish politician is claiming victory in a special election. That's important because it renews hope that Turkey may now put out the welcome mat for U.S. ground troops.

CNN's Harris Whitbeck has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Traditional celebrations of a political victory that might well change the course of Turkish politics, U.S.-Turkish relations and the possible war with Iraq. Justice and Development Party leader Tayyip Erdogan was elected to parliament and as chief of the ruling party, he is expected to become Turkey's newest prime minister.

The change in government, U.S. officials say, has raised hopes that Turkey will reconsider letting some 62,000 U.S. troops establish a ground attack against Iraq from the north. So much so that U.S. Ambassador Robert Pearson spent more than three hours meeting with the ruling party leaders on Sunday, fine tuning the proposal that parliament turned down once.

ROBERT PEARSON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: I think this gives a very positive stimulus to our efforts and we will continue to work as, and give this our very best efforts to see if we can finalize all the details.

WHITBECK: Analysts say a second motion should have a better chance of passage. Recent demonstrations against Turkey in Kurdish controlled northern Iraq have many Turks demanding a say should war break out. The fear is that Iraqi Kurds would try to establish an independent state, rounding up Turkish Kurds who have fought for independence in Turkey, as well.

SEMIH IDIZ, ANALYST: I think it has made blood boil a little on the Turkish side. So, you know, now there is the notion that, you know, something is going to happen there, Turkey was very right in wanting to be -- establish a presence there and therefore this is why the motion must pass.

WHITBECK: While the United States has already been moving military equipment to border staging areas, it needs the authorization for troop movements to come quickly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Be sure to catch CNN this afternoon when we take you live to Kuwait, where thousands of U.S. troops are getting ready for what they may face if war breaks out. That's 5:30 Eastern, 2:30 Pacific Time. That's in the afternoon.

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 10, 2003 - 05:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And this is a critical week in the global crisis with Iraq. Let's look at the timeline on the situation. The White House has told Security Council members to be ready to vote by tomorrow on a new U.S.-British resolution on Iraq. The U.N. says Iraq has indicated it will submit a more detailed report, possibly this week, on the nerve gas and anthrax it claims to have destroyed back in 1991. And the new resolution pushed by Washington sets a March 17th deadline for Iraq's full, unconditional and immediate cooperation in revealing its weapons prohibited by the United Nations.
So let's get reaction to this diplomatic drama playing out at the United Nations and in Iraq.

Our Rym Brahimi is in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

She joins us now -- hello, Rym.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Carol.

Well, this morning again more Al Samoud 2 missiles destroyed. Six of them, according to Iraqi officials, will be destroyed today. Now, that will bring up to some 52 the number of Al Samoud missiles destroyed. That's a little less than half the total estimated number of missiles. There are estimated to be about 120 or 130 of those banned missiles, between those that are still, that were still being made as they were taken out for destruction and those that were deployed, those that were stored elsewhere. A number of warheads, as well, have been destroyed and inspectors are out at those sites verifying that all this is taking place.

Now, General Hossam Amin, who is the Iraqi official in charge of the National Monitoring Directorate, the counterpart to the inspectors, spoke to reporters yesterday, saying that Iraq was intensely cooperating with the inspectors -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Rym Brahimi bringing us up to date live from Baghdad this morning.

Secretary of State Colin Powell has been busy pushing all the diplomatic buttons he can and trying to win backing for the latest resolution. He was a guest on CNN's "Late Edition," where he was asked about what President Bush would do if the resolution fails in the Security Council.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: If we don't get the vote, the president then will have to make a judgment as to whether or not we're prepared now to lead a coalition of the willing to disarm Saddam Hussein, to change the regime, because that seems to be the only way to get him to disarm. And I would not prejudge what the president might do, but I think the president has spoken rather clearly on this point for many, many months.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Powell adds he believes some progress has been made with the 10 elected members of the Security Council, but, of course, the French remain opposed to it.

And we do have reaction on the proposed resolution this morning from our Robin Oakley in London, our Jim Bittermann in Paris.

Let's start with Jim in France -- good morning.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

The French are just as busy as Colin Powell is. His counterpart, Dominique de Villepin, is this morning visiting countries in Africa, Angola, Cameroon and Guinea, all of whom are on the Security Council of the United Nations, all of whom have ability to either vote for the U.S.-British resolution or abstain or vote against it.

However, their vote against it is not as strong as the veto power that France and Russia have. Those are two countries that have at least held out their options to potentially veto any kind of resolution before the United Nations.

France has not said one way or another whether it might do that, but last week some of Jacques Chirac's, President Jacques Chirac's own party members said that using a veto would be like shooting the United States in the back. However, over the weekend and this morning, some of his party members were saying that if France has to use a veto to stop that U.N. resolution, it should go ahead and do it.

President Chirac also had some phone conversations over the weekend with Schroeder in Germany, the chancellor in Germany, and also with Vladimir Putin in Russia.

In the case of Putin, Chirac said that he sees exactly eye to eye with Vladimir Putin on how to approach this situation -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Understand.

Jim Bittermann, thanks.

On to London now and reaction from there to this proposed resolution and the latest with Iraq.

Our senior European political correspondent Robin Oakley comes aboard for that -- Robin, what's happening over the pond?

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, the British are very, very keen to see this second U.N. resolution go through. Nobody has more at stake in that resolution than Tony Blair because of the lack of support both in the street in Britain and among his own Labor Party M.P.s for military action against Saddam Hussein without the sanction of the United Nations. And there's been a big shock for Tony Blair overnight here because Clair Short, one member of his cabinet, perhaps the most outspoken, emotional member of his cabinet, who's had her doubts all along about any military action against Saddam Hussein, has specifically sought an interview last night in which she said she would resign from the government if there wasn't specific U.N. backing both for any military action and for a U.N. reconstruction of Iraq rather than one led by the United States afterwards.

She's described Tony Blair's attitude as utterly reckless and it means that he faces an even bigger parliamentary rebellion if he doesn't get that second vote through -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We'll see what happens Tuesday.

Thanks, Robin.

Turkey is back in the mix. A Turkish politician is claiming victory in a special election. That's important because it renews hope that Turkey may now put out the welcome mat for U.S. ground troops.

CNN's Harris Whitbeck has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Traditional celebrations of a political victory that might well change the course of Turkish politics, U.S.-Turkish relations and the possible war with Iraq. Justice and Development Party leader Tayyip Erdogan was elected to parliament and as chief of the ruling party, he is expected to become Turkey's newest prime minister.

The change in government, U.S. officials say, has raised hopes that Turkey will reconsider letting some 62,000 U.S. troops establish a ground attack against Iraq from the north. So much so that U.S. Ambassador Robert Pearson spent more than three hours meeting with the ruling party leaders on Sunday, fine tuning the proposal that parliament turned down once.

ROBERT PEARSON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: I think this gives a very positive stimulus to our efforts and we will continue to work as, and give this our very best efforts to see if we can finalize all the details.

WHITBECK: Analysts say a second motion should have a better chance of passage. Recent demonstrations against Turkey in Kurdish controlled northern Iraq have many Turks demanding a say should war break out. The fear is that Iraqi Kurds would try to establish an independent state, rounding up Turkish Kurds who have fought for independence in Turkey, as well.

SEMIH IDIZ, ANALYST: I think it has made blood boil a little on the Turkish side. So, you know, now there is the notion that, you know, something is going to happen there, Turkey was very right in wanting to be -- establish a presence there and therefore this is why the motion must pass.

WHITBECK: While the United States has already been moving military equipment to border staging areas, it needs the authorization for troop movements to come quickly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Be sure to catch CNN this afternoon when we take you live to Kuwait, where thousands of U.S. troops are getting ready for what they may face if war breaks out. That's 5:30 Eastern, 2:30 Pacific Time. That's in the afternoon.

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