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American Morning
Search for Banned Weapons in Iraq
Aired April 28, 2003 - 08:14 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get back now to one of our top stories today. More on the testing on those chemicals founds in northern Iraq, the 14 drums that aroused the suspicions of U.S. troops found near the town of Bai'ji. That's about 40 miles north of Tikrit.
1st Lieutenant Valerie Phipps of the U.S. Army conducted the initial testing, and she is our guest now live in northern Iraq. To our viewers, a substantial delay on the signal, so bear with us here.
Lieutenant, what are you finding out right now about these materials discovered over the weekend?
1ST LT. VALERIE PHIPPS, U.S. ARMY: I'm sorry. Can you say again?
HEMMER: Yes, what are you finding out right now? Have you concluded anything about a positive test on these chemicals, or is it negative?
PHIPPS: Right now, we're waiting on the final test to come back. The test that I did confirmed -- or verified cyclosarin and detected mustard and an unknown agent. But as I said, right now, we're waiting on the final test to come back.
HEMMER: Tell us what cyclosarin is, how is it effective, and why is it one of the more feared devices in the world?
PHIPPS: Cyclosarin is a nerve agent, and it's a non-persistent agent. Depending on the temperature, it can last 20 to 30 minutes, and...
HEMMER: Lieutenant, you can continue. But let me ask you something before you do here. How much did you find of this substance that you say may indicate a positive find?
PHIPPS: OK, there were 14 barrels, but we only opened one barrel at the site. That was the one barrel that we were reading, seven bars on the I-cam (ph) of nerve. So that was the barrel that I was instructed to open. But like I said, there's 14 barrels up there, and that we just opened the one, so...
HEMMER: Lieutenant, why did you pick this location to search?
PHIPPS: Why did I do this location?
HEMMER: Why were you taken to that part of Iraq?
PHIPPS: I can't understand what you're asking me.
HEMMER: I want to know what it was about this location that aroused suspicion. Did you stumble upon the barrels, or were you given information that led you there?
PHIPPS: OK, yes, we got -- we were tipped off by the Special Forces. And another reason that this was kind of a suspicious area is there are two mobile laboratories, and there are some missiles around the area. There is a building with 150 protective masks across the road from the site. So these all lead to suspicions.
HEMMER: Yes, and the final answer here, Lieutenant. When will you have a positive answer whether or not this is cyclosarin, whether this is mustard gas or not? How long before you have that answer?
PHIPPS: Twenty-four to 72 hours.
HEMMER: Well, good luck to you, and thanks for talking with us -- 1st Lieutenant Valerie Phipps, U.S. Army there in northern Iraq. Thanks, Lieutenant, for 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.
Aired April 28, 2003 - 08:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get back now to one of our top stories today. More on the testing on those chemicals founds in northern Iraq, the 14 drums that aroused the suspicions of U.S. troops found near the town of Bai'ji. That's about 40 miles north of Tikrit.
1st Lieutenant Valerie Phipps of the U.S. Army conducted the initial testing, and she is our guest now live in northern Iraq. To our viewers, a substantial delay on the signal, so bear with us here.
Lieutenant, what are you finding out right now about these materials discovered over the weekend?
1ST LT. VALERIE PHIPPS, U.S. ARMY: I'm sorry. Can you say again?
HEMMER: Yes, what are you finding out right now? Have you concluded anything about a positive test on these chemicals, or is it negative?
PHIPPS: Right now, we're waiting on the final test to come back. The test that I did confirmed -- or verified cyclosarin and detected mustard and an unknown agent. But as I said, right now, we're waiting on the final test to come back.
HEMMER: Tell us what cyclosarin is, how is it effective, and why is it one of the more feared devices in the world?
PHIPPS: Cyclosarin is a nerve agent, and it's a non-persistent agent. Depending on the temperature, it can last 20 to 30 minutes, and...
HEMMER: Lieutenant, you can continue. But let me ask you something before you do here. How much did you find of this substance that you say may indicate a positive find?
PHIPPS: OK, there were 14 barrels, but we only opened one barrel at the site. That was the one barrel that we were reading, seven bars on the I-cam (ph) of nerve. So that was the barrel that I was instructed to open. But like I said, there's 14 barrels up there, and that we just opened the one, so...
HEMMER: Lieutenant, why did you pick this location to search?
PHIPPS: Why did I do this location?
HEMMER: Why were you taken to that part of Iraq?
PHIPPS: I can't understand what you're asking me.
HEMMER: I want to know what it was about this location that aroused suspicion. Did you stumble upon the barrels, or were you given information that led you there?
PHIPPS: OK, yes, we got -- we were tipped off by the Special Forces. And another reason that this was kind of a suspicious area is there are two mobile laboratories, and there are some missiles around the area. There is a building with 150 protective masks across the road from the site. So these all lead to suspicions.
HEMMER: Yes, and the final answer here, Lieutenant. When will you have a positive answer whether or not this is cyclosarin, whether this is mustard gas or not? How long before you have that answer?
PHIPPS: Twenty-four to 72 hours.
HEMMER: Well, good luck to you, and thanks for talking with us -- 1st Lieutenant Valerie Phipps, U.S. Army there in northern Iraq. Thanks, Lieutenant, for 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.
