Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Pentagon: Iraq Capable of Torching Oil Fields
Aired March 18, 2003 - 06:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Pentagon, of course, is closely monitoring Iraqi military movements, as the possibility of war looms.
We're going to get more on that from CNN's Chris Plante at the Pentagon.
Good morning -- Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
What we're hearing here is that Republican Guard units in and around Baghdad are up and leaving their garrisons, heading outside of the city, taking up defensive positions, digging in for what they anticipate is the inevitable U.S. attack, which could come -- pardon me -- anytime in the next couple of days.
We're hearing also from a senior U.S. official that some of the radio intercepts that is listening to a number of the Iraqi units communicating back and forth with one another suggests that there's a good deal of consternation on the part of a number of the units out in the field. And they are reading into this that, based on what they're hearing, that a lot of units are not eager at all to find themselves in a fight -- excuse me -- with the United States, and they are hopeful that this is a good sign, that there will be a lot of surrenders, which is one of the things that they're hoping for. Pardon me again.
On the other hand, they are quick to say that we shouldn't interpret this as the Iraqi military rolling up. They're anticipating also that there will be a good deal of resistance, particularly in the fight for Baghdad, but also elsewhere. But they do take these as encouraging signs.
Additionally, intelligence has learned that Iraqi troops in southern Iraq have taken safety valves off of a number of oil wells, and it appears that they're setting these up for sabotage. Some are already leaking, we're hearing -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Chris Plante, we're going to let you go, because you're having the same problem I'm having this morning. I feel for you, Chris -- from the Pentagon, live from the Pentagon. Thanks so much.
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 18, 2003 - 06:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Pentagon, of course, is closely monitoring Iraqi military movements, as the possibility of war looms.
We're going to get more on that from CNN's Chris Plante at the Pentagon.
Good morning -- Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
What we're hearing here is that Republican Guard units in and around Baghdad are up and leaving their garrisons, heading outside of the city, taking up defensive positions, digging in for what they anticipate is the inevitable U.S. attack, which could come -- pardon me -- anytime in the next couple of days.
We're hearing also from a senior U.S. official that some of the radio intercepts that is listening to a number of the Iraqi units communicating back and forth with one another suggests that there's a good deal of consternation on the part of a number of the units out in the field. And they are reading into this that, based on what they're hearing, that a lot of units are not eager at all to find themselves in a fight -- excuse me -- with the United States, and they are hopeful that this is a good sign, that there will be a lot of surrenders, which is one of the things that they're hoping for. Pardon me again.
On the other hand, they are quick to say that we shouldn't interpret this as the Iraqi military rolling up. They're anticipating also that there will be a good deal of resistance, particularly in the fight for Baghdad, but also elsewhere. But they do take these as encouraging signs.
Additionally, intelligence has learned that Iraqi troops in southern Iraq have taken safety valves off of a number of oil wells, and it appears that they're setting these up for sabotage. Some are already leaking, we're hearing -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Chris Plante, we're going to let you go, because you're having the same problem I'm having this morning. I feel for you, Chris -- from the Pentagon, live from the Pentagon. Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
