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CNN Live Today

Interview With Bathsheba Crocker

Aired April 11, 2003 - 11:23   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Another battle is building on Capitol Hill. There, lawmakers are going to confront the next challenge of the U.S. mission in Iraq, and that is preparing for a post-Saddam future.
Joining us now to talk about rebuilding efforts in Iraq is Bathsheba Crocker. She is fellow for the post-conflict reconstruction project at the Center for Strategic International Studies. A long title to basically say a woman who likes to talk about the future -- Bathsheba, thanks for joining us very much.

BATHSHEBA CROCKER, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: Thanks for having me on.

KAGAN: A number of topics here in looking at the future of Iraq. A number of controversial topics. Right off the bat, the role of the United Nations. The U.S. military, the U.S. government seems to have a different view of this as, perhaps, some other members of the United Nations.

CROCKER: Well, I think that's probably right. What the U.S. government's view seems to be is that the U.N. will play a very important role on the humanitarian front, and in a coordination and assisting role for collecting, reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance. But other than that, will probably play an endorsing role, and what they mean by that is that the U.N. may be asked to endorse the U.S. and Britain's plans for the post-war civil administration in Iraq, but maybe not to play as large a role in that context as other U.N. members might have liked.

KAGAN: Yes, that civil administration, to run Iraq. It looks like the U.S. military going full steam ahead with their plans to install -- to install a government, but not really clear exactly when that government will go in.

CROCKER: I think that's right. Part of that, probably, will depend on when the security situation gets stabilized. I know part of that office that's been waiting in Kuwait has been moved into some southern parts of Iraq. But getting it throughout the country may take a little bit of time.

And, in the meantime, we are also hearing talk about forming an Iraqi interim authority, and the plans to, maybe as early as next week, start having some series of town meetings throughout Iraq to involve Iraqis from inside the country and outside the country in starting to talk about plans for the future. KAGAN: Right, and obviously, eventually, the only way this is going to work, if indeed, Iraqis do run their own country. And, as you are saying, looking for leaders that might be there, either within the country or perhaps have left and are willing to come back. Do you see a front runner for leadership?

CROCKER: Well, it's a little bit hard to tell. The one we hear the most talk about in the press, of course, is Ahmed Chalabi, who was flown in by the Pentagon, or by the U.S. forces into southern Iraq earlier this week.

But the Defense Department and other administration officials are being very careful to say that Chalabi -- we shouldn't take this as a sign that Chalabi is being anointed in any way, and that it, in fact, will be up to the Iraqis themselves to choose any leaders of a post- war interim Iraqi authority.

KAGAN: Finally, Bathsheba, do you -- are you hopeful that democracy will work in this country that is so diverse, not just in terms of ethnicity, but religion, and geography?

CROCKER: I am, of course, hopeful. And I think, if we do the right things in the post-war phase, we may get there. But the important thing to remember is that it is certainly not going to happen overnight. And so I think we need to be very careful about any predictions of too short a timetable for getting out, because I think we've made a lot of promises to the Iraqi people about their future, and we need to show that we have the commitment to stay the course, to bring that to them.

KAGAN: Bathsheba Crocker, thank you so much for joining us.

CROCKER: Thank you.

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 April 11, 2003 - 11:23   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Another battle is building on Capitol Hill. There, lawmakers are going to confront the next challenge of the U.S. mission in Iraq, and that is preparing for a post-Saddam future.
Joining us now to talk about rebuilding efforts in Iraq is Bathsheba Crocker. She is fellow for the post-conflict reconstruction project at the Center for Strategic International Studies. A long title to basically say a woman who likes to talk about the future -- Bathsheba, thanks for joining us very much.

BATHSHEBA CROCKER, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: Thanks for having me on.

KAGAN: A number of topics here in looking at the future of Iraq. A number of controversial topics. Right off the bat, the role of the United Nations. The U.S. military, the U.S. government seems to have a different view of this as, perhaps, some other members of the United Nations.

CROCKER: Well, I think that's probably right. What the U.S. government's view seems to be is that the U.N. will play a very important role on the humanitarian front, and in a coordination and assisting role for collecting, reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance. But other than that, will probably play an endorsing role, and what they mean by that is that the U.N. may be asked to endorse the U.S. and Britain's plans for the post-war civil administration in Iraq, but maybe not to play as large a role in that context as other U.N. members might have liked.

KAGAN: Yes, that civil administration, to run Iraq. It looks like the U.S. military going full steam ahead with their plans to install -- to install a government, but not really clear exactly when that government will go in.

CROCKER: I think that's right. Part of that, probably, will depend on when the security situation gets stabilized. I know part of that office that's been waiting in Kuwait has been moved into some southern parts of Iraq. But getting it throughout the country may take a little bit of time.

And, in the meantime, we are also hearing talk about forming an Iraqi interim authority, and the plans to, maybe as early as next week, start having some series of town meetings throughout Iraq to involve Iraqis from inside the country and outside the country in starting to talk about plans for the future. KAGAN: Right, and obviously, eventually, the only way this is going to work, if indeed, Iraqis do run their own country. And, as you are saying, looking for leaders that might be there, either within the country or perhaps have left and are willing to come back. Do you see a front runner for leadership?

CROCKER: Well, it's a little bit hard to tell. The one we hear the most talk about in the press, of course, is Ahmed Chalabi, who was flown in by the Pentagon, or by the U.S. forces into southern Iraq earlier this week.

But the Defense Department and other administration officials are being very careful to say that Chalabi -- we shouldn't take this as a sign that Chalabi is being anointed in any way, and that it, in fact, will be up to the Iraqis themselves to choose any leaders of a post- war interim Iraqi authority.

KAGAN: Finally, Bathsheba, do you -- are you hopeful that democracy will work in this country that is so diverse, not just in terms of ethnicity, but religion, and geography?

CROCKER: I am, of course, hopeful. And I think, if we do the right things in the post-war phase, we may get there. But the important thing to remember is that it is certainly not going to happen overnight. And so I think we need to be very careful about any predictions of too short a timetable for getting out, because I think we've made a lot of promises to the Iraqi people about their future, and we need to show that we have the commitment to stay the course, to bring that to them.

KAGAN: Bathsheba Crocker, thank you so much for joining us.

CROCKER: Thank you.

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