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CNN Live Today

Artillery Fight Site Main Launching Point Of Planes In First Attack

Aired March 20, 2003 - 12:28   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.


PAULA ZHAN, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, let's check in with Bob Franken, who is at an air base near Iraq. Bob, we should make clear that you've been in and out of Code Red a number of times with the people you are accompanying. Tell us what's going on right now, and are you seeing anything of what John Kifner and Art Harris have described?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, as you can see we're not in a Code Red. When you're in a Code Red you're in all of your chem-bio paraphernalia, and you have your gas masks on of course -- everything -- and you head for cover. And that's happened a half dozen times today. Each of them has been a false alarm and it's probably a reflection of the tension that is very high here -- tension that is matched by the magnitude of the force that comes from this particular base.

As you pointed out, it is near the border with Iraq. It is the main launching point for the FA-18 and the F-16s, which are fighters but also bombers, and a variety of other planes, and other missions -- search and rescue, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) planes -- that type of thing. And as a matter of fact they were part of the attacking force last night.

But what was so interesting about it, we're told, is that the actual number of planes that come from here went down last night. This has been the air base that has been a major launching point for Operation Southern Sky.

Now I'm using these military terms because I just want you to hear them. Southern Sky was the one that enforced the no-fly zone ban for so many years. It switched to Operation Iraq Freedom at 9:00 local time last night, and that was 1:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Now the United States is waiting to make its major launch. This will be a major launching point, but at the moment nobody seems to have gotten the word -- at least they haven't told us about it. We'll probably be among the last to know. Certainly we're going to have to wait until the actual launching occurs. The planes will be taking off from the flight area, which is just in back of me, and the people here are prepared for it to happen at any time, and prepared for more code reds -- Paula.

ZAHN: Bob Franken, we are still awaiting a we are still awaiting a White House news briefing. Let's go back to Washington where Judy Woodruff and I are both awaiting that. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




First Attack>


Aired March 20, 2003 - 12:28   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZHAN, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, let's check in with Bob Franken, who is at an air base near Iraq. Bob, we should make clear that you've been in and out of Code Red a number of times with the people you are accompanying. Tell us what's going on right now, and are you seeing anything of what John Kifner and Art Harris have described?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, as you can see we're not in a Code Red. When you're in a Code Red you're in all of your chem-bio paraphernalia, and you have your gas masks on of course -- everything -- and you head for cover. And that's happened a half dozen times today. Each of them has been a false alarm and it's probably a reflection of the tension that is very high here -- tension that is matched by the magnitude of the force that comes from this particular base.

As you pointed out, it is near the border with Iraq. It is the main launching point for the FA-18 and the F-16s, which are fighters but also bombers, and a variety of other planes, and other missions -- search and rescue, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) planes -- that type of thing. And as a matter of fact they were part of the attacking force last night.

But what was so interesting about it, we're told, is that the actual number of planes that come from here went down last night. This has been the air base that has been a major launching point for Operation Southern Sky.

Now I'm using these military terms because I just want you to hear them. Southern Sky was the one that enforced the no-fly zone ban for so many years. It switched to Operation Iraq Freedom at 9:00 local time last night, and that was 1:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Now the United States is waiting to make its major launch. This will be a major launching point, but at the moment nobody seems to have gotten the word -- at least they haven't told us about it. We'll probably be among the last to know. Certainly we're going to have to wait until the actual launching occurs. The planes will be taking off from the flight area, which is just in back of me, and the people here are prepared for it to happen at any time, and prepared for more code reds -- Paula.

ZAHN: Bob Franken, we are still awaiting a we are still awaiting a White House news briefing. Let's go back to Washington where Judy Woodruff and I are both awaiting that. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




First Attack>