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CNN Live At Daybreak
Gen. Franks Visits Commanders in Baghdad
Aired April 17, 2003 - 05:02 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 U.S. military commander of Operation Iraqi Freedom, General Tommy Franks, has visited with his commanders in Baghdad. Let's check for more on that.
Our Chris Plante is live at the Pentagon -- Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.
Yes, yesterday Tommy Franks flew up from his forward headquarters in Qatar and went into Baghdad for the first time since this operation began. He flew aboard a customized C-130 transport aircraft under very heavy security, F-15 escorts, electronic jamming escorts. And then he drove by armored motorcade into one of Saddam's palaces, which we saw him sitting at there on one of Saddam's grand couches in his palace there.
He had time to have a meeting with some of his commanders, to speak on the phone to Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld. And he then held a video teleconference with President Bush from the palace of Saddam Hussein.
He flew into Baghdad International Airport, until just a few days ago known as Saddam International Airport. And it was his first, his first official visit into Baghdad. But they tell us they'll be setting up a forward operating center in Baghdad soon -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Chris Plante, we'll let you go. I know you have something stuck in your throat and I totally understand.
Chris Plante live from the Pentagon. Many thanks to you this morning.
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 17, 2003 - 05:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. military commander of Operation Iraqi Freedom, General Tommy Franks, has visited with his commanders in Baghdad. Let's check for more on that.
Our Chris Plante is live at the Pentagon -- Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.
Yes, yesterday Tommy Franks flew up from his forward headquarters in Qatar and went into Baghdad for the first time since this operation began. He flew aboard a customized C-130 transport aircraft under very heavy security, F-15 escorts, electronic jamming escorts. And then he drove by armored motorcade into one of Saddam's palaces, which we saw him sitting at there on one of Saddam's grand couches in his palace there.
He had time to have a meeting with some of his commanders, to speak on the phone to Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld. And he then held a video teleconference with President Bush from the palace of Saddam Hussein.
He flew into Baghdad International Airport, until just a few days ago known as Saddam International Airport. And it was his first, his first official visit into Baghdad. But they tell us they'll be setting up a forward operating center in Baghdad soon -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Chris Plante, we'll let you go. I know you have something stuck in your throat and I totally understand.
Chris Plante live from the Pentagon. Many thanks to you this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
