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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Is Iraq Rigging Oil Fields to Blow?; Did U.N. Inspectors Downplay Secret System to Deliver Chemical Weapons?

Aired March 10, 2003 - 17:00   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.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Showdown: Iraq. Baghdad prepares for war. Are the oil fields already rigged to blow?

The Iraqi weapons you didn't hear about. Did U.N. inspectors downplay secret system to deliver chemical weapons?

Dawn patrol. We'll take you into the skies over Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being able to fly over the country and the terrain that you may potentially have to operate in will always give you an advantage.

A last ditch diplomatic offensive to clear the way for war. But opponents of military action are also pressing hard and waving a new veto threat.

And a bigger catch than Osama bin Laden himself? We'll get the inside story and take your questions.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's Monday, March 10, 2003. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

It's been a day of major developments in the showdown with Iraq. Here are the latest:

The French president, Jacques, Chirac, vowed his nation will vote against any U.N. resolution that would lead to war -- quote -- "no matter what the circumstances."

Moscow made clear where it stands. The foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, said Russia believes no further resolutions are necessary, warning that if an ultimatum is put to a vote, Russia, too, will vote no.

And the United States charged that U.N. inspectors buried evidence about Iraqi secret weapons, including drone aircraft that can disperse deadly germs or poison gas. The chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is meeting right now with the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council behind doors. We're standing by there for the latest. We'll have details as soon as they emerge.

But we begin with a new U.S. report saying Iraq is placing explosives at its northern oil fields. CNN military analysts say Iraq could blow up those oil fields and the ones in the south if war breaks out, in a bid to slow advancing allied troops. Iraq did just that as its forces were driven out of Kuwait during the first Persian Gulf war a dozen years ago. If Iraq destroys its own oil fields, there could also be a major longterm impact.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the latest on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are signs Iraq has moved explosives into its northern oil fields near Kirkuk, U.S. officials tell CNN. That would set the stage for a possible environmental disaster if Saddam Hussein orders the 500 northern oil wells destroyed.

At the White House, officials declined to confirm specifics, but noted it's reminiscent of Iraq's destruction of Kuwait's oil field as troops retreated to Baghdad.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: If we enter into hostilities, this will be a pattern that will be repeated many times, just as in 1991.

STARR: U.S. officials say there is also activity in the south, at the Rumaila oil fields near Kuwait. Iraqi infantry troops have been seen moving through the area, which contains 1,000 oil wells. Officials confirmed weeks ago that large amounts of explosives have been moved south.

But in the north, the new intelligence about explosives at Kirkuk, the first indicator that the Iraqi regime will go to the ultimate lengths to keep those oil fields from local Kurdish control.

The Pentagon says it could cost $50 billion to rebuild Iraq's oil industry. Revenue from oil now seen as vital to financing the reconstruction of postwar Iraq. Oil experts believe Iraq will have problems rejoining the postwar international oil market.

GEORGE BERANEK, PETROLEUM FINANCE CO.: That's going to depend not only on whether there's any damage to the infrastructure during a war, but how stable a government is and how stable the civil situation is in Iraq after a war.

STARR (on camera): If there is war, U.S. troops are now poised to move quickly to both the northern and southern oil fields to keep Saddam Hussein's government from blowing them up.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Iraqi leaders are disputing the latest U.S. claims.

For more on that, let's go to our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson. He's in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi officials reacting angrily to reports that they may be placing explosives around their oil wells. A spokesman from Iraq's Ministry of Information said it is ridiculous and that this latest American lie doesn't even deserve a response.

We've heard today from U.N. weapons inspectors that Iraq has destroyed another six al-Samoud 2 missiles along with three war heads. That is now 52 al-Samoud missiles that Iraq has destroyed, approximately one half of their total declared infantry of the al- Samoud 2 missiles.

Also the U.N. today reporting that it has held a private interview with an Iraqi individual who was involved in Iraq's past weapons of mass destruction program, that he was involved in -- in Iraq's unilateral destruction of chemical precursor agents that went into making chemical weapons.

Now the U.N. has been pushing very hard to hold interviews with people who have that kind of knowledge. The U.N. for the first time putting such details forward about one of their private interviews. Also we're seeing on Iraqi television President Saddam Hussein meeting with a Russian envoy, the speaker of Russia's Duma, brought a personal message from President Putin to President Saddam Hussein. That message that President Putin is opposed to military intervention in Iraq, and that he supports the work of the U.N. weapons inspectors and he supports the primacy of the U.N. at this time.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And as we mentioned, the United Nations Security Council is meeting right now behind closed doors. The chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is attending that meeting.

For the latest, let's go to our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth at the U.N. -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf.

Right now they're behind closed doors. They've just started discussing things. Many ambassadors didn't want to comment on the way in. But several did, of course. This is a meeting that was not going to result in any type of vote today. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte leading the procession of the diplomats in, the British ambassador, Sir Jeremy Greenstock there. And basically -- according to the British and the United States here, do not look for a vote tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: I think it's highly unlikely we'll have a vote on the resolution tomorrow. What I intend to suggest to the other delegates and I'm sure Ambassador Greenstock and our Spanish colleague will be proposing the same thing, is that we be prepared to vote on the resolution some time later this week but not tomorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The resolution, of course, says that Iraq must disarm and announce its weapons of mass destruction, if it possesses any, by the 17th of March.

Several countries, those uncommitted, Wolf, do not want to give that date because they think it's just not long enough for Iraq to have time to cooperate.

BLITZER: All right. Richard Roth at United Nations. And Richard, we're check back with you throughout this hour to see what's going on behind those closed doors.

The U.N. Security Council, of course, has 15 members. Only four so far, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Bulgaria have voiced strong support for a new resolution backing potential military action against Iraq. Five security council members, France, Germany, Russia, Syria and China oppose a new resolution. The other six nations, Guinea, Mexico, Pakistan, Angola, Cameroon and Chile remain undecided.

The French president, Jacques Chirac, confirmed today France will indeed veto any U.N. resolution that includes a war ultimatum against Iraq. This is the first time France has made its veto threat explicit. We have reports coming up from Britain, Russia and Turkey. But let's begin in Paris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BITTERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jim Bitterman in Paris, where Jacques Chirac cleared up months of ambiguity and speculation about whether France would veto any resolution before the United Nations Security Council by saying that France would, and there would be no circumstances under which France would hesitate if it felt that veto was necessary.

France also says, and believes, according to Jacques Chirac, that the inspections process is working. He believes that only the inspectors can say when it's not working, and he says so far there is nothing to indicate that the inspections are leading to a dead end.

He said that the way France sees it, the United States will not get the nine votes it needs from the Security Council to pass the resolution so, in fact, it will not have to use its veto.

Now, on several other points, he was asked if there would be permanent damage done to French-U.S. relations because of the stance that France is taking in the Security Council. And he said, No, on the contrary. He's going to take George Bush at his word when he says that France and Germany are old friends and would continue to be so. And he said it would be a dangerous precedent if the United States were to go to war in Iraq without the backing of the United Nations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Robin Oakley in London, where Tony Blair is facing new pressures in his battle to win support for military action against Saddam Hussein.

Claire Short, the international development secretary in his cabinet, has accused him of being reckless with the future of the U.N. and the future of his own government. She says she'll resign from his cabinet if he doesn't win Security Council backing for military action.

Already Tony Blair has had a rebellion from 122 of his MPs. That number is now likely to increase with junior parliamentary bag carriers in his team threatening that they too are likely to resign. Public opinion is going the same way, with only 15 percent ready to support Tony Blair in military action if there isn't U.N. sanction for it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: I'm Jill Dougherty in Moscow.

We're witnessing a game of high political stakes for Russia. Its first direct threat that it would use its veto against that resolution supported by the United States, Britain and Spain that would authorize the use of force against Iraq. The threat coming from Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIA FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Russia is openly stating that if draft of the resolution containing unfillable, ultimatum-type demands that was submitted to the U.N. is put on the vote, Russia will vote against it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOUGHERTY: This is a game that with very high stakes for Russia because after all, the United States has made it very clear to Russia that there could be a political and economic price to pay if Russia does use its veto. And finally, the man who will ultimately make the decision, President Vladimir Putin, has not publicly said how he will come down on this issue.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is Harris Whitbeck in Ankara, Turkey. A new government is expected to be sworn in here within days. Tayyip Erdogan, currently the leader of the country's ruling party, was elected a member of parliament on Sunday. He will be sworn in to the parliament either Tuesday or Wednesday, and shortly after that become Turkey's new prime minister. That is seen as a new opportunity for the government to put forth a motion before parliament that would allow U.S. troops to be placed in Turkey to establish a northern front against Saddam Hussein should war erupt.

No word yet on when parliament might hear that second motion, but ruling party leaders say that they still need more clarification on what Turkey's role might be in a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq -- Wolf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Harris Whitbeck and all of our reporters, thanks very much.

Those U.S. ships still off the coast -- the coastline of Turkey if there is a change in the Turkish parliament decision whether to allow some 62,000 U.S troops to be stationed in Turkey for possible invasion into northern Iraq.

The Bush administration is pushing hard to clear the way for the possibility of war. Let's go live to our senior White House correspondent, John King.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And Wolf, despite the reports you just heard, just played on the show, White House officials say they are making some progress in the search for votes. The nine votes needed to pass that U.N. Security Council resolution. Of course, the threat of a veto from France stings here at the White House. The administration is showing some flexibility as the negotiations continue and the lobbying is being led by the president himself.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KING (voice-over): A day of urgent telephone diplomacy and a smile despite the enormous stakes.

FLEISCHER: If the United Nations fails to act, that means the United Nations will not be the international body that disarms Saddam Hussein. Another international body will disarm Saddam Hussein.

KING: But if the White House loses at the Security Council this week, that other international body would be an Ad Hoc coalition assembled by President Bush in defiance of the United Nations.

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: Without the authority of the Security Council the legitimacy and support for any such action will be seriously impaired.

KING: So every effort is being made to round up the votes. This conversation with President Jiang Zemin of China, one of many urgent calls played by the president. In addition to China, Mr. Bush's call list included the leaders of Japan, South Africa, Turkey, Senegal, Nigeria, Oman and Spain. Of that list China and Spain are Security Council members.

Secretary of State Powell had lunch with Guinea's foreign minister and phoned Security Council members Angola, Mexico and Pakistan as well as Security Council allies Spain and Britain. With the calls came some flexibility. Sources tell CNN U.S. Officials are open to adding specific disarmament demands on Iraq and perhaps even moving the March 17 deadline back a few days if it brings a Security Council majority.

FLEISCHER: There are ideas being explored and looked at and so it is too soon to say what the final document that will be voted on will include.

KING: But at administration says it is adamant that the Council will vote this week on a resolution clearing for war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

And so far, at least, one name glaringly missing from the president's call list, that of the French President Jacques Chirac. It has been five weeks since the two leaders last spoke. And Mr. Chirac, of course, leading the opposition at the United Nations. And after weeks of playing down this rift, U.S. officials now say a French veto on the Security Council would cause at least short-term damage to the relationship -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John, when I interviewed the Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday he left open a little wiggle room on the language in this new resolution and also on the date as you point out, March 17.

How much of a delay could there -- further delay could there be in pushing that date back if the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, for example says, let's wait a little longer?

KING: U.S. officials say they're willing to wait a little longer. They won't define little just yet, Wolf. Secretary Powell was here this afternoon for a meeting. His press secretary, Richard Boucher, just walked down the driveway -- excuse me -- moments ago. He says some progress is being made.

U.S. officials say the president says if it is moved from March 17, it has to be a matter of just a few days whether to get the votes this he would go from a few days to perhaps a week or so, that is the subject of the diplomacy, the intense diplomacy. The president involved, the secretary of state, obviously, the diplomats up in New York. They're saying a few days. We just don't know exactly what that means.

BLITZER: All right, John King at the White House, thanks very much.

And this important note, we're standing by at the U.N. Security Council. They're meeting behind closed doors right now. If they emerge -- if anyone emerges from that meeting with Dr. Hans Blix and the 15 members of the Security Council, they'll be coming to the microphones. We'll go there live. Stand by for that.

Here's your chance to weigh in on this important story, our web question of the day is this, "Who has more credibility on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, President Bush or U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix?"

Please vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, I'd like to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That is also where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

Drones over Baghdad: could Iraq use these banned weapons to deliver chemical agents?

And strap on your seat belt, a front seat ride on a U.S. fighter jet flying into Iraq.

All that's coming up.

But first, today's news quiz.

Which two countries fought the shortest war in recorded history: The United States and Iraq; France and Germany; United States and Grenada; England and Zanzibar?

The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The United States says what it calls buried evidence in the latest U.N. weapons inspects report offers more proof Iraq is not disarming. At issue, unmanned aerial vehicle or drones which the U.S. says could be used to spray biological or chemical weapons.

Our national security correspondent David Ensor is joining us live with details -- David.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, when Hans Blix made his latest presentation on Iraq, he quickly brushed over the fact that, though it is in the written report, was his inspectors found a new type of pilotless drone in Iraq that could be used to spread chemical or biological weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR (voice-over): Blix should have highlighted it, say U.S. officials. FLEISCHER: The fuel capacities of these drones may violate the 150 kilometer in position on Iraq separate and apart from the fact that it can contain chemical or biological weapons.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I think we should be concerned. It seems to me that this information on the drones, which I know UNMOVIC is evaluating, but it was information available last week should be of concern to everyone.

ENSOR: The Blix report says the newly discovered drone or drones have a wing span of 7.45 meters or almost 25 feet. U.S. officials say the inspectors have actually found such an aircraft and they estimate it can fly about 200 miles, well over the limit imposed by the U.N. and carry 50 kilograms of liquid. As one official put it "that's a lot of anthrax."

In his presentation to the U.N. last month, Secretary Powell pointed to evidence Iraq may have a drone that can fly 500 kilometers nonstop. And showed pictures of another type, a plane adapted to spray without a pilot on board. U.S. officials also cite evidence of another new kind of weapon.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: There is a chemical munition that Iraq has developed based on South African cluster bomb technology, but this ones been modified in order to spray chemical weapons instead of operating as a cluster bomb.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: They say they will highlight these discoveries and more evidence from U.S. intelligence in coming days. As they seek to convince undecided members of the U.N. Security Council to vote for a resolution giving Iraq until March 17 to start disarming in earnest -- Wolf.

BLITZER: David Ensor with a critically important issue. Thanks, David, very much.

For more now on these drones what they can do, what they can't do we turn to our aviation expert, Miles O'Brien. He standing by at CNN center in Atlanta.

Tell us all about these drones, Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, in a nutshell they can do anything an airplane does. It doesn't take too much to rig up an aircraft to operate without a pilot, and over the course of Iraqi history, that's precisely what they've done.

Now, today we've been hearing about perhaps some new generation of drone, which they have been developing, but over the course of the years, we have seen in the West and have watched as Iraq developed drone versions of Soviet bloc fighters and trainers. Let's take a look at some of the aircraft that they have outfitted for pilotless missions. This one is the L-29, it's a Czechoslovak aircraft, goes at about 400 miles an hour, first flew in the early '60s. Jet trainer with two seats. And there are about a dozen drone versions that were discovered in Iraq in 1998.

The key here is to look at these pods. Those are designed to give it additional range. Fuel pods, according to U.N. inspectors who had been in that region, they've been retrofitted to carry either chemical or biological weapons, perhaps sarin or VX or maybe anthrax.

Another aircraft that is involved is the MiG 21. You may recall when Colin Powell made his case before the United Nations, he mentioned this particular aircraft as a drone specifically. It is a much faster aircraft, has a long range, has these air-to-air missiles and Iraq has about 15 to 25 of them total.

But the air-to-air missiles are not the issue here. What we have been told is that they've been able to rig up an aerial spraying device beneath the wings, not unlike what you'd use for crop dusting.

Now what is the scenario? Let's take a look quickly. This is what Saddam Hussein would like to see if he were to use a chemical weapon carrying drone. The aircraft would take off -- obviously we're talking about something that has a tremendous amount of range, a couple of hundred miles -- goes up, and it either can be controlled by somebody on the ground using a joystick or whatever or can have a preloaded in-flight path, go over to, say, Kuwait and dispense the chemicals.

Now, this is really something that is not designed necessarily to increase casualty counts, but more is a weapon of terror, because of its -- the prospects of using chemical or biological weapons.

Of course what is a likely scenario is if these aircraft do, in fact, fly, U.S. AWACS aircraft, which have these very sophisticated radar detection devices, would spot something like that. It's flying fairly low and slow by comparison. And a fighter -- in this case, an F-15 as we depict here -- could be dispatched to take it out.

The key -- the point here is, though, it's not unlike those dirty bombs they're telling you about, Wolf. The idea is to inflict fear. It is a terror weapon, not necessarily a weapon that would inflict mass casualties.

Of course, the moment that something like this was documented to be used, it certainly changes the way the world might view Iraq and certainly changes the possibilities for reprisal -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Miles O'Brien with some important information as well. Miles, thanks very much.

We're standing by just outside the United Nations Security Council. They're meeting inside, the 15 members with Dr. Hans Blix. We'll get information as it emerges. We'll bring it to you live.

In the meantime, strategy in the desert. Find out how war against Iraq might be different than the first time around.

Plus, sky ride over Iraq. We'll put you in the pilot's seat of an F-14. And disappearing money. One year after the Nasdaq bubble burst, we'll have details. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier, we asked, which two countries fought the shortest war in recorded history? The answer, England and Zanzibar. The conflict in 1896 lasted under an hour.

U.S. military strategy in the Persian Gulf and in Afghanistan was to kill as many enemy troops as quickly as possible. But will that be the objective if President Bush orders an invasion of Iraq? Joining us now, CNN senior military -- senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, that generally is the strategy, to win by inflicting maximum casualties on the other side. But Pentagon sources say not this time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): In 1991, U.S. Apache helicopters were killing machines, using their thermal sites and Hellfire missiles to take out any weapons system they spotted. More recently in Afghanistan, it was much the same thing. Massive daisy cutter bombs dropped from C-130s were designed to inflict maximum casualties, and the Pentagon made no apologies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They make a heck of a bang when they go off, and the intent is to kill people.

MCINTYRE: This time, Pentagon sources say the strategy is to use maximum force but to minimize enemy casualties. One of the architects of the air war 12 years ago says in retrospect, the punishing strikes against Iraqi forces in the field may have been a tactical mistake.

COL. JOHN WARDEN (RET.), 1991 GULF WAR PLANNER: When we did that, that meant that they simply had no ability whatsoever to turn around and march on Saddam Hussein, which I think they would have loved to have done, but they couldn't when they were being attacked the way they were.

MCINTYRE: A key component is psychological warfare. Leaflets dropped by the hundreds of thousands are telling Iraqi soldiers if they keep their tank barrels pointed down, they'll be spared. Other leaflets dropped within 60 miles of Baghdad this week tell Iraqis to listen to American broadcasts, which also urge them to surrender and live to enjoy a better life with their families.

The strategy's success hinges on an overwhelming display of devastating but precision strikes, to instill what the military calls "shock and awe."

(END VIDEOTAPE) MCINTYRE: The Pentagon says Iraqi troops who want to surrender will be accommodated, as will those who want to fight. In fact, one senior official said the U.S. strategy to break the Iraqi military's will is to obliterate, his word, the first unit to resist -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Jamie, thanks very much.

For an up close look at how U.S. forces are preparing right now, we turn to CNN's Frank Buckley. He's in the Persian Gulf.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Frank Buckley aboard the USS Constellation, one of three aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf now, one of five aircraft carriers in the region around Iraq. These carriers are crowding the skies with jets flying sorties, already going into Iraq to enforce the no-fly zones.

Nowhere is that level of activity more evident than here in the carrier air traffic control center aboard the USS Constellation. This is where they keep track of the jets as they're coming and going. They still write backwards by grease pencil on this carrier, the last carrier in the U.S. Navy to do that. These men and women are busy now. No doubt they will get busier if war comes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Frank Buckley. We'll be checking back with him later this hour.

We're also standing by, we're outside the United Nations Security Council. Inside, 15 members meeting behind closed doors with Dr. Hans Blix, the chief weapons inspector. One these delegates start emerging, we'll go there live.

Up next, oil fields up in flames. What can be done to stop Saddam Hussein from torching them this time around?

And the shot heard around the world. North Korea test-fires a short-range missile.

And locked, loaded and on patrol. Fly along in this F-14 Tomcat in a mission into Iraq.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN, I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming up, facing an inferno in Iraq.

(NEWSBREAK) BLITZER: We want to update you now on the U.N. Security Council's closed-door meeting unfolding right now at the U.N. Security Council. The chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is at that meeting. Our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth, is joining us once again with an update -- Richard.

ROTH: The meeting is under way. It began a little late, but both British Ambassador Greenstock, U.S. Ambassador Negroponte making it clear no vote will come tomorrow. The British foreign secretary saying in London earlier they're going to be examining some disarmament tasks for Iraq, an effort perhaps to get more support for this resolution, which if approved would give Iraq until March 17 to disclose all weapons of mass destruction -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Richard Roth at the U.N., we'll be standing by to see if anyone emerges and comes to our microphones. Thanks very much, Richard.

More now on the U.S. allegations that Iraq is lacing its oil fields with explosives. What can be done to avert another environmental disaster like the one during the last Persian Gulf War? With that we turn to CNN security analyst, Kelly McCann.

Well, what if anything can be done if the Iraqi military's already put some explosives around at least some of those oil fields?

KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Well, the key distinguisher, of course, is explosives. Mining would be understandable and in line with war. Area denial. Typically, though with mines, and the disparate targets that are on the battlefield, it's going to have to go to tempo. And right now, as we have seen, there's different kinds of positioning and moving going on. We're trying to merit his images. He's trying to merit our images. It's all a tactical chess game now.

BLITZER: When you say go to temp, what exactly do you mean?

MCCANN: Before they have a chance to actually make destruction demolition kind of preparedness at some of the mine sites, we've got to either be past them or have made preparations in order to go forward of them. There is no way to prevent individual oil well heads from being rigged with explosives. So it really does become now a race against time, if you will.

BLITZER: So there's really -- if they've already put some explosives, some dynamite at those oil fields, Special Operations, there's nothing really U.S. troops could do if they just have to push a button or light a switch.

MCCANN: That's right because no wellhead, no well site would be attacked for a strategic objective. So you wouldn't risk a Special Operations team to go and try to render safe, you know, the explosives there to explode it. It's kind of something we'll deal with after the military part of this operation is taken in hand.

BLITZER: How did the Iraqis blow up those Kuwaiti oil fields, oil wells, at the end of first Gulf War? MCCANN: There were two key elements. The wellhead and the Christmas tree. Those were the two components that prevent basically the pressure from escaping from the well and then letting it just go into a fire. So once the explosives are there, the pipe will drop down, the crude oil is ignited and you've got a pressure fire. Then teams like (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have to come in and put them out.

BLITZER: And usually that's very, very late in the game and there's enormous environmental damage in the process.

MCCANN: Absolutely. Now, the other thing, Wolf, is that in this smoke, obviously, there's an obscuration issue, but -- a vision obscuration issue -- but there's some also some concern that particulates from the smoke could carry chemical agents. So it would disguise the delivery of potentially weapons of mass destruction into the battlefield.

BLITZER: And there is some suspicion from the first Gulf War that the fumes, the environmental damage that resulted form the Kuwaiti oil fields being destroyed, caused some permanent damage for U.S. troops.

MCCANN: Exactly. It was the mixture of carcinogens from -- the particulates from the smoke and potentially a mixture of chemical weapons into that smoke.

BLITZER: Bottom line, this is a potential disaster all around potentially waiting to happen.

MCCANN: It absolutely is. Now, the big thing is it could also be a ploy from him to just stop production. In other words, if he believes we're going there to get oil, by destroying the wellhead, you're not able to immediately start production. It could delay production six to eight months, which would significantly mitigate any economic gain we'd get from it.

BLITZER: Kelly McCann with disturbing analysis, thanks very much.

Tonight, more with the showdown on Iraq. Gary Hart teams up with former Senators Bob Dole, George Mitchell, George McGovern, Warren Rudman and Alan Simpson on "LARRY KING LIVE." You can watch this powerhouse lineup of former lawmakers. They face off on Iraq and other issues. Remember, that's at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Pacific tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE."

Is there another threat against the United States looming on the horizon? Coming up, Iran's nuclear program, Iran not Iraq, Iran. While officials now say it's more serious than originally believed. And U.S. forces already engaged in combat with Iraq. The ongoing conflict and the no-fly zones and how it could help the U.S. in a coming war, but first, here's our "Weekend Snapshot."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Higher and higher. The average price of all grades of gas jumped 5 cents a gallon over the past two weeks to $1.75. That's according to the Lundberg Survey. At $2.10, San Francisco has the highest price for self-serve regular. Atlanta has the lowest at $1.51.

No war. Thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets around the world. The demonstrations coincided with International Women's Day. More than 3,000 gathered in a park a mile from the White House. Twenty-seven were arrested for crossing a police line, including author, Alice Walker.

Tour buses collide. More than 45 people were hospitalized, eight in critical condition after one bus rear-ended the other on Interstate 15 north of Baker, California. The buses were traveling in a construction zone when the accident happened.

Bill versus Bob. Former President Bill Clinton and his 1996 White House challenger, Bob Dole, made their debut in the revival of the point/counterpoint segment on CBS's "60 Minutes." Topics of the two-minute debate, tax cuts in a time of war.

New York's sound of silence. That's what you now hear on Broadway after members of a musician's union walked off the job following the collapse of talks with producers. Actors and stagehands are refusing to cross picket lines, a move shutting the doors to 18 musicals.

Crime pays on the silver screen. Renee Zellweger received the Best Actress Award for the Screen Actor's Guild for her killer role in the hit musical "Chicago." Co-star, Catherine Zeta-Jones, picked up the Best Supporting Actress and the film was honored with the Guild's equivalent of Best Picture. Daniel Day Lewis took the top male actor award for his role in "Gangs of New York." And that's a look at our weekend snapshot.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Is Iran more of a threat than Iraq? Details of that story. That's coming up. Plus, patrolling the no-fly zones. We'll take you inside the cockpit for a mission over Iraq. All that's coming up. We're back in one moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're looking at live pictures outside the United Nations Security Council. Inside they're meeting behind closed doors. The 15 members with Dr. Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector. We're standing by awaiting word on what is happening inside. It could be the difference between war and peace.

In the meantime, as the Bush administration marches toward a possible war with Iraq, it must contend not only with North Korea's nuclear ambitions, but those of Iran as well. The Secretary of State Colin Powell confirmed to me yesterday on CNN's "LATE EDITION" that Iran's nuclear weapons program poses a much more serious problem than originally believed. And he says this information strengthens President Bush's case against Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Here we suddenly discover that Iran is much further along, with a far more robust nuclear weapons development program than anyone said it had, and now the IAEA has found that out -- we've provided them information, they have discovered it -- and it shows you how a determined nation that has the intent to develop a nuclear weapon can keep that development process secret from inspectors and outsiders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Joining me now to talk more about this is "Time" magazine's editor at large, Michael Elliott.

Michael, thanks for joining us. How serious a problem is this Iranian nuclear program now?

MICHAEL ELLIOTT, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "TIME" MAGAZINE: I think it's a huge problem for the administration, Wolf. They've had Iraq to contend with. They're worried about North Korea, as we know. And now up pops the third member of the so-called axis of evil with evidence that its nuclear program is far, far more developed than was conventionally thought.

BLITZER: You wrote an excellent piece in "Time" magazine, you and your colleagues. But what's the bottom line? How close are they from actually building a bomb?

ELLIOTT: I don't know the answer to that, but obviously a lot closer than anyone thought up to a couple of weeks ago. The Iranian enrichment facility that the IAEA had identified formerly turns out to be in a much closer phase of operational readiness than people had assumed. And a particular technical development that appears to be important to the enrichment process that is putting a particular gas through centrifuges seems very close to being done. So a lot of technical stuff that is required to get this uranium enrichment process up and running seems to have been done or at least in advanced stages of preparation, so this is very serious.

BLITZER: We're getting flooded with e-mails for you, Michael. Let me read a few of them. Let's get to this one from Scott. "Doesn't Iran hate Iraq even more than they hate us? Why don't we encourage Iran's nuclear program in the hopes that Iran will disarm Iraq?"

ELLIOTT: Well, it's a neat point, but I think the answer to that, Wolf, is one that weapons experts have said for 40 or 50 years and that is that almost no nuclear program is guaranteed to be safe. I mean nuclear proliferation is one thing that pretty much everyone on all sides of the political equation in this country, western Europe, for that matter, in Russia, believe is an essential element to international peace and stability.

BLITZER: But as you well know, a lot of the countries, North Korea, Pakistan, India, they all have shown that with nuclear capability comes a lot of political clout.

ELLIOTT: Absolutely, no question about that. That's why all sorts of countries want the bomb. And I think one of the things that we have seen in the last year is a determination on the part of this administration to make nonproliferation, a difficult word, not nearly as bad as nuclear, an absolutely top priority not just in terms of the next few months, the next year, but in terms of the next five or 10 years. A world in which 10, 15 or 20 nations have nuclear weapons is one that I don't think we want our children to grow up in.

BLITZER: Michael, you've also been following these stories of these Iraqi drones, these pilotless aircraft. Marilyn writes this question for you -- "Are these unmanned Iraqi drones coming into American ports?"

ELLIOTT: I would have thought that was highly, highly unlikely in answer to our e-mail question as a response. As I understand it, these are drones that are more likely to be used in battlefield situations in Iraq so they would be -- they could be devastating as applied against American forces. But I think that's the sum total of their operation in so far as I can tell.

BLITZER: What's the latest information "Time" magazine -- your reporters have Osama bin Laden's whereabouts now that they've captured Khalid Shaikh Mohammed?

ELLIOTT: Well, Wolf, we have information that there are searches going on for him in three different locations along the Pakistani- Afghan border. And I got a map out on Saturday when I was kind of writing all this and I figured that the locations are 700 miles apart. So it's obviously a -- there's obviously a lot going on. There are obviously leads that came from the interrogation of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. But the fact that we're looking in areas that are 700 miles apart indicates that we can't yet put the finger even on an area where he might be. So, you know, I think we're still quite a long way away from nailing this one.

BLITZER: All right, Michael Elliott from our sister publication "Time" magazine, good reporting. Thanks to you and all your colleagues.

ELLIOTT: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you.

And for years you've heard about the no-fly zones over Iraq. Coming up, we'll take you on a flight over Iraqi territory for a firsthand look. Something you probably never have seen before. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Some U.S. forces already are involved in combat with Iraq. And have been for more than a decade. They're patrolling the southern and northern no-fly zones imposed after the Gulf War. And as CNN's Frank Buckley reports, that could give them an added advantage if war breaks out again.

BUCKLEY (voice-over): Dawn over the Persian Gulf. We're in the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat in the head of its pilot. We've attached a camera to his helmet. He's taking us into the southern no-fly zone. He's taking us into Iraq. The jets on this mission are from Squadron VF-2, the Bounty Hunters aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Constellation. This lieutenant, who asked that we not use his name, is the pilot taking us in. This is his second deployment here and he says that coalition pilots' familiarity with tanking procedures, like this one, the geography and Iraqi defenses will give them an edge if there is war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being able to fly over the country and the terrain that you may potentially have to operate in will always give you an advantage.

BUCKLEY: Coalition aircraft frequently come under fire while over the no-fly zones. This video from an unmanned predator. Pilots have always been authorized to return fire but some analysts say that recent coalition attacks on Iraqi facilities suggest U.S. and British aircraft are already prepping the landscape for hostilities.

MAJOR GENERAL DON SHEPPERD (RET), U.S. AIR FORCE: And now, basically, we are going against the air defense system. And so, some of it is preparation over the battlefield, making sure that we roll the defenses back as much as possible in the northern and southern no- fly zones before we have to over-fly them for an attack further in the country.

BUCKLEY: The Constellation's air wing commanding officer, Captain Mark Fox (ph), says pilots are simply responding to Iraqi violations of no-fly zone rules.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wouldn't be dropping bombs if they weren't shooting at us.

BUCKLEY (on camera): The aircraft flying these missions are also being loaded with ammunition that is produced down in this compartment of the ship. We are not descending into the ship's magazine. What we will show you is not explosive, but it is classified until it's dropped in Iraq. This is psychological ammunition that's being produced here in the print shop of the USS Constellation.

(voice-over): Leaflets with various messages including telling Iraqis not to fire on aircraft are being dropped in both no-fly zones. The Constellation alone has produced more than three million leaflets.

On this mission, no one comes under fire. The war has not begun. Still flight operations are already around the clock. Five aircraft carriers are now in the region and the number of sorties has gone up dramatically from 250 on a normal day in the southern no-fly zone to 900 called for in one recent air plan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You definitely have to be on your game because it's crowded.

BUCKLEY: And it's bound to become even more crowded if the war gets under way.

Frank Buckley, CNN, aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: When we return, the results of our "Web Question of The Day." You can still vote. Go to CNN.com/Wolf.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." Who has more credibility on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, President Bush or U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix? Look at this, 32 percent of you say President Bush, 68 percent of you say Hans Blix. Remember, this not a scientific poll.

That's all the time we have today. Please join me again tomorrow, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Don't forget "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ" noon Eastern. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is up next. Jan Hopkins filling in for Lou.

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





Downplay Secret System to Deliver Chemical Weapons?>


Aired March 10, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Showdown: Iraq. Baghdad prepares for war. Are the oil fields already rigged to blow?

The Iraqi weapons you didn't hear about. Did U.N. inspectors downplay secret system to deliver chemical weapons?

Dawn patrol. We'll take you into the skies over Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being able to fly over the country and the terrain that you may potentially have to operate in will always give you an advantage.

A last ditch diplomatic offensive to clear the way for war. But opponents of military action are also pressing hard and waving a new veto threat.

And a bigger catch than Osama bin Laden himself? We'll get the inside story and take your questions.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: It's Monday, March 10, 2003. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

It's been a day of major developments in the showdown with Iraq. Here are the latest:

The French president, Jacques, Chirac, vowed his nation will vote against any U.N. resolution that would lead to war -- quote -- "no matter what the circumstances."

Moscow made clear where it stands. The foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, said Russia believes no further resolutions are necessary, warning that if an ultimatum is put to a vote, Russia, too, will vote no.

And the United States charged that U.N. inspectors buried evidence about Iraqi secret weapons, including drone aircraft that can disperse deadly germs or poison gas. The chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is meeting right now with the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council behind doors. We're standing by there for the latest. We'll have details as soon as they emerge.

But we begin with a new U.S. report saying Iraq is placing explosives at its northern oil fields. CNN military analysts say Iraq could blow up those oil fields and the ones in the south if war breaks out, in a bid to slow advancing allied troops. Iraq did just that as its forces were driven out of Kuwait during the first Persian Gulf war a dozen years ago. If Iraq destroys its own oil fields, there could also be a major longterm impact.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the latest on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are signs Iraq has moved explosives into its northern oil fields near Kirkuk, U.S. officials tell CNN. That would set the stage for a possible environmental disaster if Saddam Hussein orders the 500 northern oil wells destroyed.

At the White House, officials declined to confirm specifics, but noted it's reminiscent of Iraq's destruction of Kuwait's oil field as troops retreated to Baghdad.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY.: If we enter into hostilities, this will be a pattern that will be repeated many times, just as in 1991.

STARR: U.S. officials say there is also activity in the south, at the Rumaila oil fields near Kuwait. Iraqi infantry troops have been seen moving through the area, which contains 1,000 oil wells. Officials confirmed weeks ago that large amounts of explosives have been moved south.

But in the north, the new intelligence about explosives at Kirkuk, the first indicator that the Iraqi regime will go to the ultimate lengths to keep those oil fields from local Kurdish control.

The Pentagon says it could cost $50 billion to rebuild Iraq's oil industry. Revenue from oil now seen as vital to financing the reconstruction of postwar Iraq. Oil experts believe Iraq will have problems rejoining the postwar international oil market.

GEORGE BERANEK, PETROLEUM FINANCE CO.: That's going to depend not only on whether there's any damage to the infrastructure during a war, but how stable a government is and how stable the civil situation is in Iraq after a war.

STARR (on camera): If there is war, U.S. troops are now poised to move quickly to both the northern and southern oil fields to keep Saddam Hussein's government from blowing them up.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Iraqi leaders are disputing the latest U.S. claims.

For more on that, let's go to our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson. He's in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi officials reacting angrily to reports that they may be placing explosives around their oil wells. A spokesman from Iraq's Ministry of Information said it is ridiculous and that this latest American lie doesn't even deserve a response.

We've heard today from U.N. weapons inspectors that Iraq has destroyed another six al-Samoud 2 missiles along with three war heads. That is now 52 al-Samoud missiles that Iraq has destroyed, approximately one half of their total declared infantry of the al- Samoud 2 missiles.

Also the U.N. today reporting that it has held a private interview with an Iraqi individual who was involved in Iraq's past weapons of mass destruction program, that he was involved in -- in Iraq's unilateral destruction of chemical precursor agents that went into making chemical weapons.

Now the U.N. has been pushing very hard to hold interviews with people who have that kind of knowledge. The U.N. for the first time putting such details forward about one of their private interviews. Also we're seeing on Iraqi television President Saddam Hussein meeting with a Russian envoy, the speaker of Russia's Duma, brought a personal message from President Putin to President Saddam Hussein. That message that President Putin is opposed to military intervention in Iraq, and that he supports the work of the U.N. weapons inspectors and he supports the primacy of the U.N. at this time.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And as we mentioned, the United Nations Security Council is meeting right now behind closed doors. The chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is attending that meeting.

For the latest, let's go to our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth at the U.N. -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf.

Right now they're behind closed doors. They've just started discussing things. Many ambassadors didn't want to comment on the way in. But several did, of course. This is a meeting that was not going to result in any type of vote today. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte leading the procession of the diplomats in, the British ambassador, Sir Jeremy Greenstock there. And basically -- according to the British and the United States here, do not look for a vote tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: I think it's highly unlikely we'll have a vote on the resolution tomorrow. What I intend to suggest to the other delegates and I'm sure Ambassador Greenstock and our Spanish colleague will be proposing the same thing, is that we be prepared to vote on the resolution some time later this week but not tomorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The resolution, of course, says that Iraq must disarm and announce its weapons of mass destruction, if it possesses any, by the 17th of March.

Several countries, those uncommitted, Wolf, do not want to give that date because they think it's just not long enough for Iraq to have time to cooperate.

BLITZER: All right. Richard Roth at United Nations. And Richard, we're check back with you throughout this hour to see what's going on behind those closed doors.

The U.N. Security Council, of course, has 15 members. Only four so far, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Bulgaria have voiced strong support for a new resolution backing potential military action against Iraq. Five security council members, France, Germany, Russia, Syria and China oppose a new resolution. The other six nations, Guinea, Mexico, Pakistan, Angola, Cameroon and Chile remain undecided.

The French president, Jacques Chirac, confirmed today France will indeed veto any U.N. resolution that includes a war ultimatum against Iraq. This is the first time France has made its veto threat explicit. We have reports coming up from Britain, Russia and Turkey. But let's begin in Paris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BITTERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jim Bitterman in Paris, where Jacques Chirac cleared up months of ambiguity and speculation about whether France would veto any resolution before the United Nations Security Council by saying that France would, and there would be no circumstances under which France would hesitate if it felt that veto was necessary.

France also says, and believes, according to Jacques Chirac, that the inspections process is working. He believes that only the inspectors can say when it's not working, and he says so far there is nothing to indicate that the inspections are leading to a dead end.

He said that the way France sees it, the United States will not get the nine votes it needs from the Security Council to pass the resolution so, in fact, it will not have to use its veto.

Now, on several other points, he was asked if there would be permanent damage done to French-U.S. relations because of the stance that France is taking in the Security Council. And he said, No, on the contrary. He's going to take George Bush at his word when he says that France and Germany are old friends and would continue to be so. And he said it would be a dangerous precedent if the United States were to go to war in Iraq without the backing of the United Nations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Robin Oakley in London, where Tony Blair is facing new pressures in his battle to win support for military action against Saddam Hussein.

Claire Short, the international development secretary in his cabinet, has accused him of being reckless with the future of the U.N. and the future of his own government. She says she'll resign from his cabinet if he doesn't win Security Council backing for military action.

Already Tony Blair has had a rebellion from 122 of his MPs. That number is now likely to increase with junior parliamentary bag carriers in his team threatening that they too are likely to resign. Public opinion is going the same way, with only 15 percent ready to support Tony Blair in military action if there isn't U.N. sanction for it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: I'm Jill Dougherty in Moscow.

We're witnessing a game of high political stakes for Russia. Its first direct threat that it would use its veto against that resolution supported by the United States, Britain and Spain that would authorize the use of force against Iraq. The threat coming from Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIA FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Russia is openly stating that if draft of the resolution containing unfillable, ultimatum-type demands that was submitted to the U.N. is put on the vote, Russia will vote against it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOUGHERTY: This is a game that with very high stakes for Russia because after all, the United States has made it very clear to Russia that there could be a political and economic price to pay if Russia does use its veto. And finally, the man who will ultimately make the decision, President Vladimir Putin, has not publicly said how he will come down on this issue.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is Harris Whitbeck in Ankara, Turkey. A new government is expected to be sworn in here within days. Tayyip Erdogan, currently the leader of the country's ruling party, was elected a member of parliament on Sunday. He will be sworn in to the parliament either Tuesday or Wednesday, and shortly after that become Turkey's new prime minister. That is seen as a new opportunity for the government to put forth a motion before parliament that would allow U.S. troops to be placed in Turkey to establish a northern front against Saddam Hussein should war erupt.

No word yet on when parliament might hear that second motion, but ruling party leaders say that they still need more clarification on what Turkey's role might be in a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq -- Wolf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Harris Whitbeck and all of our reporters, thanks very much.

Those U.S. ships still off the coast -- the coastline of Turkey if there is a change in the Turkish parliament decision whether to allow some 62,000 U.S troops to be stationed in Turkey for possible invasion into northern Iraq.

The Bush administration is pushing hard to clear the way for the possibility of war. Let's go live to our senior White House correspondent, John King.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And Wolf, despite the reports you just heard, just played on the show, White House officials say they are making some progress in the search for votes. The nine votes needed to pass that U.N. Security Council resolution. Of course, the threat of a veto from France stings here at the White House. The administration is showing some flexibility as the negotiations continue and the lobbying is being led by the president himself.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KING (voice-over): A day of urgent telephone diplomacy and a smile despite the enormous stakes.

FLEISCHER: If the United Nations fails to act, that means the United Nations will not be the international body that disarms Saddam Hussein. Another international body will disarm Saddam Hussein.

KING: But if the White House loses at the Security Council this week, that other international body would be an Ad Hoc coalition assembled by President Bush in defiance of the United Nations.

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: Without the authority of the Security Council the legitimacy and support for any such action will be seriously impaired.

KING: So every effort is being made to round up the votes. This conversation with President Jiang Zemin of China, one of many urgent calls played by the president. In addition to China, Mr. Bush's call list included the leaders of Japan, South Africa, Turkey, Senegal, Nigeria, Oman and Spain. Of that list China and Spain are Security Council members.

Secretary of State Powell had lunch with Guinea's foreign minister and phoned Security Council members Angola, Mexico and Pakistan as well as Security Council allies Spain and Britain. With the calls came some flexibility. Sources tell CNN U.S. Officials are open to adding specific disarmament demands on Iraq and perhaps even moving the March 17 deadline back a few days if it brings a Security Council majority.

FLEISCHER: There are ideas being explored and looked at and so it is too soon to say what the final document that will be voted on will include.

KING: But at administration says it is adamant that the Council will vote this week on a resolution clearing for war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

And so far, at least, one name glaringly missing from the president's call list, that of the French President Jacques Chirac. It has been five weeks since the two leaders last spoke. And Mr. Chirac, of course, leading the opposition at the United Nations. And after weeks of playing down this rift, U.S. officials now say a French veto on the Security Council would cause at least short-term damage to the relationship -- Wolf.

BLITZER: John, when I interviewed the Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday he left open a little wiggle room on the language in this new resolution and also on the date as you point out, March 17.

How much of a delay could there -- further delay could there be in pushing that date back if the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, for example says, let's wait a little longer?

KING: U.S. officials say they're willing to wait a little longer. They won't define little just yet, Wolf. Secretary Powell was here this afternoon for a meeting. His press secretary, Richard Boucher, just walked down the driveway -- excuse me -- moments ago. He says some progress is being made.

U.S. officials say the president says if it is moved from March 17, it has to be a matter of just a few days whether to get the votes this he would go from a few days to perhaps a week or so, that is the subject of the diplomacy, the intense diplomacy. The president involved, the secretary of state, obviously, the diplomats up in New York. They're saying a few days. We just don't know exactly what that means.

BLITZER: All right, John King at the White House, thanks very much.

And this important note, we're standing by at the U.N. Security Council. They're meeting behind closed doors right now. If they emerge -- if anyone emerges from that meeting with Dr. Hans Blix and the 15 members of the Security Council, they'll be coming to the microphones. We'll go there live. Stand by for that.

Here's your chance to weigh in on this important story, our web question of the day is this, "Who has more credibility on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, President Bush or U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix?"

Please vote at cnn.com/wolf. While you're there, I'd like to hear from you. Send me your comments. I'll try to read some of them on the air each day at the end of this program. That is also where you can read my daily online column, cnn.com/wolf.

Drones over Baghdad: could Iraq use these banned weapons to deliver chemical agents?

And strap on your seat belt, a front seat ride on a U.S. fighter jet flying into Iraq.

All that's coming up.

But first, today's news quiz.

Which two countries fought the shortest war in recorded history: The United States and Iraq; France and Germany; United States and Grenada; England and Zanzibar?

The answer coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The United States says what it calls buried evidence in the latest U.N. weapons inspects report offers more proof Iraq is not disarming. At issue, unmanned aerial vehicle or drones which the U.S. says could be used to spray biological or chemical weapons.

Our national security correspondent David Ensor is joining us live with details -- David.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, when Hans Blix made his latest presentation on Iraq, he quickly brushed over the fact that, though it is in the written report, was his inspectors found a new type of pilotless drone in Iraq that could be used to spread chemical or biological weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR (voice-over): Blix should have highlighted it, say U.S. officials. FLEISCHER: The fuel capacities of these drones may violate the 150 kilometer in position on Iraq separate and apart from the fact that it can contain chemical or biological weapons.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I think we should be concerned. It seems to me that this information on the drones, which I know UNMOVIC is evaluating, but it was information available last week should be of concern to everyone.

ENSOR: The Blix report says the newly discovered drone or drones have a wing span of 7.45 meters or almost 25 feet. U.S. officials say the inspectors have actually found such an aircraft and they estimate it can fly about 200 miles, well over the limit imposed by the U.N. and carry 50 kilograms of liquid. As one official put it "that's a lot of anthrax."

In his presentation to the U.N. last month, Secretary Powell pointed to evidence Iraq may have a drone that can fly 500 kilometers nonstop. And showed pictures of another type, a plane adapted to spray without a pilot on board. U.S. officials also cite evidence of another new kind of weapon.

RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: There is a chemical munition that Iraq has developed based on South African cluster bomb technology, but this ones been modified in order to spray chemical weapons instead of operating as a cluster bomb.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: They say they will highlight these discoveries and more evidence from U.S. intelligence in coming days. As they seek to convince undecided members of the U.N. Security Council to vote for a resolution giving Iraq until March 17 to start disarming in earnest -- Wolf.

BLITZER: David Ensor with a critically important issue. Thanks, David, very much.

For more now on these drones what they can do, what they can't do we turn to our aviation expert, Miles O'Brien. He standing by at CNN center in Atlanta.

Tell us all about these drones, Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, in a nutshell they can do anything an airplane does. It doesn't take too much to rig up an aircraft to operate without a pilot, and over the course of Iraqi history, that's precisely what they've done.

Now, today we've been hearing about perhaps some new generation of drone, which they have been developing, but over the course of the years, we have seen in the West and have watched as Iraq developed drone versions of Soviet bloc fighters and trainers. Let's take a look at some of the aircraft that they have outfitted for pilotless missions. This one is the L-29, it's a Czechoslovak aircraft, goes at about 400 miles an hour, first flew in the early '60s. Jet trainer with two seats. And there are about a dozen drone versions that were discovered in Iraq in 1998.

The key here is to look at these pods. Those are designed to give it additional range. Fuel pods, according to U.N. inspectors who had been in that region, they've been retrofitted to carry either chemical or biological weapons, perhaps sarin or VX or maybe anthrax.

Another aircraft that is involved is the MiG 21. You may recall when Colin Powell made his case before the United Nations, he mentioned this particular aircraft as a drone specifically. It is a much faster aircraft, has a long range, has these air-to-air missiles and Iraq has about 15 to 25 of them total.

But the air-to-air missiles are not the issue here. What we have been told is that they've been able to rig up an aerial spraying device beneath the wings, not unlike what you'd use for crop dusting.

Now what is the scenario? Let's take a look quickly. This is what Saddam Hussein would like to see if he were to use a chemical weapon carrying drone. The aircraft would take off -- obviously we're talking about something that has a tremendous amount of range, a couple of hundred miles -- goes up, and it either can be controlled by somebody on the ground using a joystick or whatever or can have a preloaded in-flight path, go over to, say, Kuwait and dispense the chemicals.

Now, this is really something that is not designed necessarily to increase casualty counts, but more is a weapon of terror, because of its -- the prospects of using chemical or biological weapons.

Of course what is a likely scenario is if these aircraft do, in fact, fly, U.S. AWACS aircraft, which have these very sophisticated radar detection devices, would spot something like that. It's flying fairly low and slow by comparison. And a fighter -- in this case, an F-15 as we depict here -- could be dispatched to take it out.

The key -- the point here is, though, it's not unlike those dirty bombs they're telling you about, Wolf. The idea is to inflict fear. It is a terror weapon, not necessarily a weapon that would inflict mass casualties.

Of course, the moment that something like this was documented to be used, it certainly changes the way the world might view Iraq and certainly changes the possibilities for reprisal -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Miles O'Brien with some important information as well. Miles, thanks very much.

We're standing by just outside the United Nations Security Council. They're meeting inside, the 15 members with Dr. Hans Blix. We'll get information as it emerges. We'll bring it to you live.

In the meantime, strategy in the desert. Find out how war against Iraq might be different than the first time around.

Plus, sky ride over Iraq. We'll put you in the pilot's seat of an F-14. And disappearing money. One year after the Nasdaq bubble burst, we'll have details. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Earlier, we asked, which two countries fought the shortest war in recorded history? The answer, England and Zanzibar. The conflict in 1896 lasted under an hour.

U.S. military strategy in the Persian Gulf and in Afghanistan was to kill as many enemy troops as quickly as possible. But will that be the objective if President Bush orders an invasion of Iraq? Joining us now, CNN senior military -- senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, that generally is the strategy, to win by inflicting maximum casualties on the other side. But Pentagon sources say not this time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCINTYRE (voice-over): In 1991, U.S. Apache helicopters were killing machines, using their thermal sites and Hellfire missiles to take out any weapons system they spotted. More recently in Afghanistan, it was much the same thing. Massive daisy cutter bombs dropped from C-130s were designed to inflict maximum casualties, and the Pentagon made no apologies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They make a heck of a bang when they go off, and the intent is to kill people.

MCINTYRE: This time, Pentagon sources say the strategy is to use maximum force but to minimize enemy casualties. One of the architects of the air war 12 years ago says in retrospect, the punishing strikes against Iraqi forces in the field may have been a tactical mistake.

COL. JOHN WARDEN (RET.), 1991 GULF WAR PLANNER: When we did that, that meant that they simply had no ability whatsoever to turn around and march on Saddam Hussein, which I think they would have loved to have done, but they couldn't when they were being attacked the way they were.

MCINTYRE: A key component is psychological warfare. Leaflets dropped by the hundreds of thousands are telling Iraqi soldiers if they keep their tank barrels pointed down, they'll be spared. Other leaflets dropped within 60 miles of Baghdad this week tell Iraqis to listen to American broadcasts, which also urge them to surrender and live to enjoy a better life with their families.

The strategy's success hinges on an overwhelming display of devastating but precision strikes, to instill what the military calls "shock and awe."

(END VIDEOTAPE) MCINTYRE: The Pentagon says Iraqi troops who want to surrender will be accommodated, as will those who want to fight. In fact, one senior official said the U.S. strategy to break the Iraqi military's will is to obliterate, his word, the first unit to resist -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon. Jamie, thanks very much.

For an up close look at how U.S. forces are preparing right now, we turn to CNN's Frank Buckley. He's in the Persian Gulf.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Frank Buckley aboard the USS Constellation, one of three aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf now, one of five aircraft carriers in the region around Iraq. These carriers are crowding the skies with jets flying sorties, already going into Iraq to enforce the no-fly zones.

Nowhere is that level of activity more evident than here in the carrier air traffic control center aboard the USS Constellation. This is where they keep track of the jets as they're coming and going. They still write backwards by grease pencil on this carrier, the last carrier in the U.S. Navy to do that. These men and women are busy now. No doubt they will get busier if war comes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Frank Buckley. We'll be checking back with him later this hour.

We're also standing by, we're outside the United Nations Security Council. Inside, 15 members meeting behind closed doors with Dr. Hans Blix, the chief weapons inspector. One these delegates start emerging, we'll go there live.

Up next, oil fields up in flames. What can be done to stop Saddam Hussein from torching them this time around?

And the shot heard around the world. North Korea test-fires a short-range missile.

And locked, loaded and on patrol. Fly along in this F-14 Tomcat in a mission into Iraq.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN, I'm Wolf Blitzer. Coming up, facing an inferno in Iraq.

(NEWSBREAK) BLITZER: We want to update you now on the U.N. Security Council's closed-door meeting unfolding right now at the U.N. Security Council. The chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is at that meeting. Our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth, is joining us once again with an update -- Richard.

ROTH: The meeting is under way. It began a little late, but both British Ambassador Greenstock, U.S. Ambassador Negroponte making it clear no vote will come tomorrow. The British foreign secretary saying in London earlier they're going to be examining some disarmament tasks for Iraq, an effort perhaps to get more support for this resolution, which if approved would give Iraq until March 17 to disclose all weapons of mass destruction -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Richard Roth at the U.N., we'll be standing by to see if anyone emerges and comes to our microphones. Thanks very much, Richard.

More now on the U.S. allegations that Iraq is lacing its oil fields with explosives. What can be done to avert another environmental disaster like the one during the last Persian Gulf War? With that we turn to CNN security analyst, Kelly McCann.

Well, what if anything can be done if the Iraqi military's already put some explosives around at least some of those oil fields?

KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Well, the key distinguisher, of course, is explosives. Mining would be understandable and in line with war. Area denial. Typically, though with mines, and the disparate targets that are on the battlefield, it's going to have to go to tempo. And right now, as we have seen, there's different kinds of positioning and moving going on. We're trying to merit his images. He's trying to merit our images. It's all a tactical chess game now.

BLITZER: When you say go to temp, what exactly do you mean?

MCCANN: Before they have a chance to actually make destruction demolition kind of preparedness at some of the mine sites, we've got to either be past them or have made preparations in order to go forward of them. There is no way to prevent individual oil well heads from being rigged with explosives. So it really does become now a race against time, if you will.

BLITZER: So there's really -- if they've already put some explosives, some dynamite at those oil fields, Special Operations, there's nothing really U.S. troops could do if they just have to push a button or light a switch.

MCCANN: That's right because no wellhead, no well site would be attacked for a strategic objective. So you wouldn't risk a Special Operations team to go and try to render safe, you know, the explosives there to explode it. It's kind of something we'll deal with after the military part of this operation is taken in hand.

BLITZER: How did the Iraqis blow up those Kuwaiti oil fields, oil wells, at the end of first Gulf War? MCCANN: There were two key elements. The wellhead and the Christmas tree. Those were the two components that prevent basically the pressure from escaping from the well and then letting it just go into a fire. So once the explosives are there, the pipe will drop down, the crude oil is ignited and you've got a pressure fire. Then teams like (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) have to come in and put them out.

BLITZER: And usually that's very, very late in the game and there's enormous environmental damage in the process.

MCCANN: Absolutely. Now, the other thing, Wolf, is that in this smoke, obviously, there's an obscuration issue, but -- a vision obscuration issue -- but there's some also some concern that particulates from the smoke could carry chemical agents. So it would disguise the delivery of potentially weapons of mass destruction into the battlefield.

BLITZER: And there is some suspicion from the first Gulf War that the fumes, the environmental damage that resulted form the Kuwaiti oil fields being destroyed, caused some permanent damage for U.S. troops.

MCCANN: Exactly. It was the mixture of carcinogens from -- the particulates from the smoke and potentially a mixture of chemical weapons into that smoke.

BLITZER: Bottom line, this is a potential disaster all around potentially waiting to happen.

MCCANN: It absolutely is. Now, the big thing is it could also be a ploy from him to just stop production. In other words, if he believes we're going there to get oil, by destroying the wellhead, you're not able to immediately start production. It could delay production six to eight months, which would significantly mitigate any economic gain we'd get from it.

BLITZER: Kelly McCann with disturbing analysis, thanks very much.

Tonight, more with the showdown on Iraq. Gary Hart teams up with former Senators Bob Dole, George Mitchell, George McGovern, Warren Rudman and Alan Simpson on "LARRY KING LIVE." You can watch this powerhouse lineup of former lawmakers. They face off on Iraq and other issues. Remember, that's at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Pacific tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE."

Is there another threat against the United States looming on the horizon? Coming up, Iran's nuclear program, Iran not Iraq, Iran. While officials now say it's more serious than originally believed. And U.S. forces already engaged in combat with Iraq. The ongoing conflict and the no-fly zones and how it could help the U.S. in a coming war, but first, here's our "Weekend Snapshot."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BLITZER: Higher and higher. The average price of all grades of gas jumped 5 cents a gallon over the past two weeks to $1.75. That's according to the Lundberg Survey. At $2.10, San Francisco has the highest price for self-serve regular. Atlanta has the lowest at $1.51.

No war. Thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets around the world. The demonstrations coincided with International Women's Day. More than 3,000 gathered in a park a mile from the White House. Twenty-seven were arrested for crossing a police line, including author, Alice Walker.

Tour buses collide. More than 45 people were hospitalized, eight in critical condition after one bus rear-ended the other on Interstate 15 north of Baker, California. The buses were traveling in a construction zone when the accident happened.

Bill versus Bob. Former President Bill Clinton and his 1996 White House challenger, Bob Dole, made their debut in the revival of the point/counterpoint segment on CBS's "60 Minutes." Topics of the two-minute debate, tax cuts in a time of war.

New York's sound of silence. That's what you now hear on Broadway after members of a musician's union walked off the job following the collapse of talks with producers. Actors and stagehands are refusing to cross picket lines, a move shutting the doors to 18 musicals.

Crime pays on the silver screen. Renee Zellweger received the Best Actress Award for the Screen Actor's Guild for her killer role in the hit musical "Chicago." Co-star, Catherine Zeta-Jones, picked up the Best Supporting Actress and the film was honored with the Guild's equivalent of Best Picture. Daniel Day Lewis took the top male actor award for his role in "Gangs of New York." And that's a look at our weekend snapshot.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Is Iran more of a threat than Iraq? Details of that story. That's coming up. Plus, patrolling the no-fly zones. We'll take you inside the cockpit for a mission over Iraq. All that's coming up. We're back in one moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're looking at live pictures outside the United Nations Security Council. Inside they're meeting behind closed doors. The 15 members with Dr. Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector. We're standing by awaiting word on what is happening inside. It could be the difference between war and peace.

In the meantime, as the Bush administration marches toward a possible war with Iraq, it must contend not only with North Korea's nuclear ambitions, but those of Iran as well. The Secretary of State Colin Powell confirmed to me yesterday on CNN's "LATE EDITION" that Iran's nuclear weapons program poses a much more serious problem than originally believed. And he says this information strengthens President Bush's case against Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: Here we suddenly discover that Iran is much further along, with a far more robust nuclear weapons development program than anyone said it had, and now the IAEA has found that out -- we've provided them information, they have discovered it -- and it shows you how a determined nation that has the intent to develop a nuclear weapon can keep that development process secret from inspectors and outsiders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Joining me now to talk more about this is "Time" magazine's editor at large, Michael Elliott.

Michael, thanks for joining us. How serious a problem is this Iranian nuclear program now?

MICHAEL ELLIOTT, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "TIME" MAGAZINE: I think it's a huge problem for the administration, Wolf. They've had Iraq to contend with. They're worried about North Korea, as we know. And now up pops the third member of the so-called axis of evil with evidence that its nuclear program is far, far more developed than was conventionally thought.

BLITZER: You wrote an excellent piece in "Time" magazine, you and your colleagues. But what's the bottom line? How close are they from actually building a bomb?

ELLIOTT: I don't know the answer to that, but obviously a lot closer than anyone thought up to a couple of weeks ago. The Iranian enrichment facility that the IAEA had identified formerly turns out to be in a much closer phase of operational readiness than people had assumed. And a particular technical development that appears to be important to the enrichment process that is putting a particular gas through centrifuges seems very close to being done. So a lot of technical stuff that is required to get this uranium enrichment process up and running seems to have been done or at least in advanced stages of preparation, so this is very serious.

BLITZER: We're getting flooded with e-mails for you, Michael. Let me read a few of them. Let's get to this one from Scott. "Doesn't Iran hate Iraq even more than they hate us? Why don't we encourage Iran's nuclear program in the hopes that Iran will disarm Iraq?"

ELLIOTT: Well, it's a neat point, but I think the answer to that, Wolf, is one that weapons experts have said for 40 or 50 years and that is that almost no nuclear program is guaranteed to be safe. I mean nuclear proliferation is one thing that pretty much everyone on all sides of the political equation in this country, western Europe, for that matter, in Russia, believe is an essential element to international peace and stability.

BLITZER: But as you well know, a lot of the countries, North Korea, Pakistan, India, they all have shown that with nuclear capability comes a lot of political clout.

ELLIOTT: Absolutely, no question about that. That's why all sorts of countries want the bomb. And I think one of the things that we have seen in the last year is a determination on the part of this administration to make nonproliferation, a difficult word, not nearly as bad as nuclear, an absolutely top priority not just in terms of the next few months, the next year, but in terms of the next five or 10 years. A world in which 10, 15 or 20 nations have nuclear weapons is one that I don't think we want our children to grow up in.

BLITZER: Michael, you've also been following these stories of these Iraqi drones, these pilotless aircraft. Marilyn writes this question for you -- "Are these unmanned Iraqi drones coming into American ports?"

ELLIOTT: I would have thought that was highly, highly unlikely in answer to our e-mail question as a response. As I understand it, these are drones that are more likely to be used in battlefield situations in Iraq so they would be -- they could be devastating as applied against American forces. But I think that's the sum total of their operation in so far as I can tell.

BLITZER: What's the latest information "Time" magazine -- your reporters have Osama bin Laden's whereabouts now that they've captured Khalid Shaikh Mohammed?

ELLIOTT: Well, Wolf, we have information that there are searches going on for him in three different locations along the Pakistani- Afghan border. And I got a map out on Saturday when I was kind of writing all this and I figured that the locations are 700 miles apart. So it's obviously a -- there's obviously a lot going on. There are obviously leads that came from the interrogation of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. But the fact that we're looking in areas that are 700 miles apart indicates that we can't yet put the finger even on an area where he might be. So, you know, I think we're still quite a long way away from nailing this one.

BLITZER: All right, Michael Elliott from our sister publication "Time" magazine, good reporting. Thanks to you and all your colleagues.

ELLIOTT: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you.

And for years you've heard about the no-fly zones over Iraq. Coming up, we'll take you on a flight over Iraqi territory for a firsthand look. Something you probably never have seen before. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Some U.S. forces already are involved in combat with Iraq. And have been for more than a decade. They're patrolling the southern and northern no-fly zones imposed after the Gulf War. And as CNN's Frank Buckley reports, that could give them an added advantage if war breaks out again.

BUCKLEY (voice-over): Dawn over the Persian Gulf. We're in the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat in the head of its pilot. We've attached a camera to his helmet. He's taking us into the southern no-fly zone. He's taking us into Iraq. The jets on this mission are from Squadron VF-2, the Bounty Hunters aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Constellation. This lieutenant, who asked that we not use his name, is the pilot taking us in. This is his second deployment here and he says that coalition pilots' familiarity with tanking procedures, like this one, the geography and Iraqi defenses will give them an edge if there is war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being able to fly over the country and the terrain that you may potentially have to operate in will always give you an advantage.

BUCKLEY: Coalition aircraft frequently come under fire while over the no-fly zones. This video from an unmanned predator. Pilots have always been authorized to return fire but some analysts say that recent coalition attacks on Iraqi facilities suggest U.S. and British aircraft are already prepping the landscape for hostilities.

MAJOR GENERAL DON SHEPPERD (RET), U.S. AIR FORCE: And now, basically, we are going against the air defense system. And so, some of it is preparation over the battlefield, making sure that we roll the defenses back as much as possible in the northern and southern no- fly zones before we have to over-fly them for an attack further in the country.

BUCKLEY: The Constellation's air wing commanding officer, Captain Mark Fox (ph), says pilots are simply responding to Iraqi violations of no-fly zone rules.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wouldn't be dropping bombs if they weren't shooting at us.

BUCKLEY (on camera): The aircraft flying these missions are also being loaded with ammunition that is produced down in this compartment of the ship. We are not descending into the ship's magazine. What we will show you is not explosive, but it is classified until it's dropped in Iraq. This is psychological ammunition that's being produced here in the print shop of the USS Constellation.

(voice-over): Leaflets with various messages including telling Iraqis not to fire on aircraft are being dropped in both no-fly zones. The Constellation alone has produced more than three million leaflets.

On this mission, no one comes under fire. The war has not begun. Still flight operations are already around the clock. Five aircraft carriers are now in the region and the number of sorties has gone up dramatically from 250 on a normal day in the southern no-fly zone to 900 called for in one recent air plan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You definitely have to be on your game because it's crowded.

BUCKLEY: And it's bound to become even more crowded if the war gets under way.

Frank Buckley, CNN, aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: When we return, the results of our "Web Question of The Day." You can still vote. Go to CNN.com/Wolf.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's how you're weighing in on our "Web Question of The Day." Who has more credibility on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, President Bush or U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix? Look at this, 32 percent of you say President Bush, 68 percent of you say Hans Blix. Remember, this not a scientific poll.

That's all the time we have today. Please join me again tomorrow, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Don't forget "SHOWDOWN: IRAQ" noon Eastern. Until then, thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. "LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE" is up next. Jan Hopkins filling in for Lou.

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