Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Military Objectives

Aired April 17, 2003 - 10:50   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: We just were showing some joyous homecroppings for some U.S. troops, who took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The war is over for them, but U.S. military still has a lot work to do in Iraq. General Claudia Kennedy joining us to review the eight objectives that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld says must be met before U.S. troops are allowed to leave Iraq.
General, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

We were going to ahead and just -- excuse me -- whip through these. First of all, number one to end the regime, that appears to be done.

GEN. CLAUDIA KENNEDY, (RET.) CNN MILITARY ANALYST: That's right.

KAGAN: OK, let's move on -- eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. A lot of people are saying, where are these weapons? They still haven't been found. Are you concerned about that?

KENNEDY: I know that there is going to be a major increase by three or four times current force there looking for them, and so that will really help.

KAGAN: You think there will -- they exist and they will be found.

KENNEDY: I am sure of that.

KAGAN: Drive out terrorist whose found safe harbor.

KENNEDY: There have been reports every day of new people found who are very close to the top of the various networks, and so, I think that as we close in on those foreign fighters from the Sudan, from Libya, from Egypt, we will find more and more.

KAGAN: Here we are looking at Abu Abas. Here is a man we heard for years was living in Baghdad, or around that area, tried to escape to Syria, the Syrians bounced him back, and special operations forces were able to capture him in Baghdad. That was kind of some of the conditions you're talking about that will help lead to the suspected terrorist.

Describe the global network of illicit weapons of mass destruction. This network is probably is one in which Iraq has done some buying, but probably not selling. They are still in the business of trying to create their weapons, particularly on the nuclear side, but their chemical and biological, that has got to be figured out. One of the ways to do it is to take a look at how they received what they got, and look and see which countries issued false end user certificates.

KAGAN: Defense Secretary Rumsfeld also saying there is a need to end sanctions -- we heard President Bush called for that yesterday -- and deliver humanitarian aid. This has not gone that smoothly in Iraq for a number of reason.

KENNEDY: That's right. You have to defend the lines communication to get that aid in there. One of the things that has helped us is that there are not that many internally displaced persons.

KAGAN: There hasn't been a bad refugee problem, but there has been a difficulty in delivering goods, whether it was the port of Umm Qasr that hasn't been completely safe for a number of ships to come in, or just the unsettled situation in southern Iraq, especially for a number of humanitarian organizations to move from Kuwait into Iraq.

KENNEDY: That's right.

KAGAN: Secure the oil fields, that's one thing that went pretty well for some of the things that they were fearing before the war.

KENNEDY: They were ready to go, and as soon as they got to that area, they took care of that.

KAGAN: And finally, create conditions for rapid transition for self government. This is the big question. We saw the meeting in Nasiriyah this week. What is next for Iraq, and who is going to rule that country?

KENNEDY: Well, General Garner will be in there in the transition period, bringing together the various groups and helping them figure out a process for coming to terms with who will be the next leader, and of course, electricity, medical care, water are the basic parts of the infrastructure that need immediate work, and that will get the full attention of General Abuzaid (ph) and this growing group of people that will be in there.

KAGAN: So when you look at the this long list that Rumsfeld has put out and you see Tommy Franks in Baghdad yesterday saying, well, I'm not ready to say, or I'm waiting for president to say the war is over. You understand that there still is a lot of work to be done?

KENNEDY: There is a lot of the transition work to be done, but it's a good news story. It's going quickly, it's going well, and it's going with minimum loss of life.

KAGAN: Well, let me just take this note to say that this is your last, as we way, pop here on CNN. You've done fine work. We appreciate it. You can run, but you can't hide. General, you will be back. I promise.

KENNEDY: Thank you. KAGAN: General Claudia Kennedy, thank you for all your help and you insight as we've gone through this big story. Appreciate it.

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 - 10:50   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We just were showing some joyous homecroppings for some U.S. troops, who took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The war is over for them, but U.S. military still has a lot work to do in Iraq. General Claudia Kennedy joining us to review the eight objectives that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld says must be met before U.S. troops are allowed to leave Iraq.
General, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

We were going to ahead and just -- excuse me -- whip through these. First of all, number one to end the regime, that appears to be done.

GEN. CLAUDIA KENNEDY, (RET.) CNN MILITARY ANALYST: That's right.

KAGAN: OK, let's move on -- eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. A lot of people are saying, where are these weapons? They still haven't been found. Are you concerned about that?

KENNEDY: I know that there is going to be a major increase by three or four times current force there looking for them, and so that will really help.

KAGAN: You think there will -- they exist and they will be found.

KENNEDY: I am sure of that.

KAGAN: Drive out terrorist whose found safe harbor.

KENNEDY: There have been reports every day of new people found who are very close to the top of the various networks, and so, I think that as we close in on those foreign fighters from the Sudan, from Libya, from Egypt, we will find more and more.

KAGAN: Here we are looking at Abu Abas. Here is a man we heard for years was living in Baghdad, or around that area, tried to escape to Syria, the Syrians bounced him back, and special operations forces were able to capture him in Baghdad. That was kind of some of the conditions you're talking about that will help lead to the suspected terrorist.

Describe the global network of illicit weapons of mass destruction. This network is probably is one in which Iraq has done some buying, but probably not selling. They are still in the business of trying to create their weapons, particularly on the nuclear side, but their chemical and biological, that has got to be figured out. One of the ways to do it is to take a look at how they received what they got, and look and see which countries issued false end user certificates.

KAGAN: Defense Secretary Rumsfeld also saying there is a need to end sanctions -- we heard President Bush called for that yesterday -- and deliver humanitarian aid. This has not gone that smoothly in Iraq for a number of reason.

KENNEDY: That's right. You have to defend the lines communication to get that aid in there. One of the things that has helped us is that there are not that many internally displaced persons.

KAGAN: There hasn't been a bad refugee problem, but there has been a difficulty in delivering goods, whether it was the port of Umm Qasr that hasn't been completely safe for a number of ships to come in, or just the unsettled situation in southern Iraq, especially for a number of humanitarian organizations to move from Kuwait into Iraq.

KENNEDY: That's right.

KAGAN: Secure the oil fields, that's one thing that went pretty well for some of the things that they were fearing before the war.

KENNEDY: They were ready to go, and as soon as they got to that area, they took care of that.

KAGAN: And finally, create conditions for rapid transition for self government. This is the big question. We saw the meeting in Nasiriyah this week. What is next for Iraq, and who is going to rule that country?

KENNEDY: Well, General Garner will be in there in the transition period, bringing together the various groups and helping them figure out a process for coming to terms with who will be the next leader, and of course, electricity, medical care, water are the basic parts of the infrastructure that need immediate work, and that will get the full attention of General Abuzaid (ph) and this growing group of people that will be in there.

KAGAN: So when you look at the this long list that Rumsfeld has put out and you see Tommy Franks in Baghdad yesterday saying, well, I'm not ready to say, or I'm waiting for president to say the war is over. You understand that there still is a lot of work to be done?

KENNEDY: There is a lot of the transition work to be done, but it's a good news story. It's going quickly, it's going well, and it's going with minimum loss of life.

KAGAN: Well, let me just take this note to say that this is your last, as we way, pop here on CNN. You've done fine work. We appreciate it. You can run, but you can't hide. General, you will be back. I promise.

KENNEDY: Thank you. KAGAN: General Claudia Kennedy, thank you for all your help and you insight as we've gone through this big story. Appreciate it.

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