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CNN Live At Daybreak
More Precision Bombs to be Used in War With Iraq
Aired March 12, 2003 - 06:08 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Among all of the U.S. military hardware in the Persian Gulf region, five aircraft carrier battle groups.
Our Frank Buckley is aboard the USS Constellation and tells us about the preparations for war with Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're continuing to see a vigorous flight schedule off the deck here of the USS Constellation, jet aircraft coming and going during the day and night, going into Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the disputed no-fly zone there.
As we watch that activity continue, we're also beginning to get a glimpse of how the war might unfold if there is a war in Iraq.
Rear Admiral Barry Costello, the Constellation battle group commander, telling us that if there is a war, the first strike would probably come from Tomahawk missiles launched from U.S. Navy ships in the region. He says some 30 plus ships are equipped with such weapons. They would be followed by wave after wave of jet aircraft going into Iraq using precision weapons.
The admiral predicting that if there is war, it will end quickly.
REAR ADM. BARRY COSTELLO, USS CONSTELLATION: There is, I think, a well-founded confidence that if we are ordered to go forward, it will be lightening-quick, it will be devastating, it will be lethal, it will be persistent, and it will be precise.
BUCKLEY: Rear Admiral Costello attributing the potentially quick end to a war in Iraq, if there is one, to the precision bombs. He says that a significant percentage of smart bombs will be employed in Iraq this time, as compared to 1991 during Desert Storm, if there is in fact a war in Iraq.
Asked about his prediction of a quick end, Rear Admiral Costello was asked in a follow-up question: "Do you mean the air war?" The admiral said, "No, I mean the whole war."
That's the latest from the Constellation. I'm Frank Buckley, CNN, aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 12, 2003 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Among all of the U.S. military hardware in the Persian Gulf region, five aircraft carrier battle groups.
Our Frank Buckley is aboard the USS Constellation and tells us about the preparations for war with Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're continuing to see a vigorous flight schedule off the deck here of the USS Constellation, jet aircraft coming and going during the day and night, going into Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the disputed no-fly zone there.
As we watch that activity continue, we're also beginning to get a glimpse of how the war might unfold if there is a war in Iraq.
Rear Admiral Barry Costello, the Constellation battle group commander, telling us that if there is a war, the first strike would probably come from Tomahawk missiles launched from U.S. Navy ships in the region. He says some 30 plus ships are equipped with such weapons. They would be followed by wave after wave of jet aircraft going into Iraq using precision weapons.
The admiral predicting that if there is war, it will end quickly.
REAR ADM. BARRY COSTELLO, USS CONSTELLATION: There is, I think, a well-founded confidence that if we are ordered to go forward, it will be lightening-quick, it will be devastating, it will be lethal, it will be persistent, and it will be precise.
BUCKLEY: Rear Admiral Costello attributing the potentially quick end to a war in Iraq, if there is one, to the precision bombs. He says that a significant percentage of smart bombs will be employed in Iraq this time, as compared to 1991 during Desert Storm, if there is in fact a war in Iraq.
Asked about his prediction of a quick end, Rear Admiral Costello was asked in a follow-up question: "Do you mean the air war?" The admiral said, "No, I mean the whole war."
That's the latest from the Constellation. I'm Frank Buckley, CNN, aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
