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CNN Live At Daybreak

Wanted: Security Stability in Iraq

Aired August 22, 2003 - 06:05   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: It is a tall order, but Colin Powell is taking it on. The secretary of state is asking countries like France and Germany to send troops to Iraq.
Live to Washington and Skip Loescher.

Good morning -- Skip.

SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. officials are looking for a better way now to cut down, to crack down on the assaults that have been plaguing U.S. troops in Iraq. Those assaults are also leaving Iraqi civilians afraid that their streets still aren't safe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOESCHER (voice-over): Terrorism. It's a bigger problem for the U.S.-led coalition than just restoring the Iraqi infrastructure.

GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, CENTCOM COMMANDER: It is emerging as the No. 1 security threat.

LOESCHER: The Pentagon now believes terrorist groups are now working with Saddam loyalists and foreign fighters.

ABIZAID: They are clearly a problem for us because of the sophistication of their attacks.

LOESCHER: Attacks which steadily take the lives of U.S. GIs, and now United Nations humanitarian aid workers. There are 140,000 U.S. troops, 24,000 coalition forces and an Iraqi police force of 50,000, but security remains elusive.

The Pentagon says it has no plans to increase the number of American military men and women in Iraq. But Secretary of State Colin Powell is trying to convince U.N. members, like France, Germany, India and Russia, to send their own forces.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're looking forward for language that might call on member states to do more.

LOESCHER: Thus far, they haven't agreed. One possible reason is that the U.S. wants any international force to be under U.S. command.

MICHEL DUCLOS, FRENCH ENVOY (through translator): To share the burden and the responsibilities in a world of equal and sovereign nations also means sharing information and authority.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LOESCHER: Syria has denied an Israeli claim that it has intelligence showing the truck used for the bombing of the U.N. headquarters may have come from Syria. Damascus says the Israeli claim is a big lie.

We're live in Washington. I'm Skip Loescher -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Many thanks. Skip Loescher live from D.C.

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 August 22, 2003 - 06:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is a tall order, but Colin Powell is taking it on. The secretary of state is asking countries like France and Germany to send troops to Iraq.
Live to Washington and Skip Loescher.

Good morning -- Skip.

SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. officials are looking for a better way now to cut down, to crack down on the assaults that have been plaguing U.S. troops in Iraq. Those assaults are also leaving Iraqi civilians afraid that their streets still aren't safe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOESCHER (voice-over): Terrorism. It's a bigger problem for the U.S.-led coalition than just restoring the Iraqi infrastructure.

GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, CENTCOM COMMANDER: It is emerging as the No. 1 security threat.

LOESCHER: The Pentagon now believes terrorist groups are now working with Saddam loyalists and foreign fighters.

ABIZAID: They are clearly a problem for us because of the sophistication of their attacks.

LOESCHER: Attacks which steadily take the lives of U.S. GIs, and now United Nations humanitarian aid workers. There are 140,000 U.S. troops, 24,000 coalition forces and an Iraqi police force of 50,000, but security remains elusive.

The Pentagon says it has no plans to increase the number of American military men and women in Iraq. But Secretary of State Colin Powell is trying to convince U.N. members, like France, Germany, India and Russia, to send their own forces.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're looking forward for language that might call on member states to do more.

LOESCHER: Thus far, they haven't agreed. One possible reason is that the U.S. wants any international force to be under U.S. command.

MICHEL DUCLOS, FRENCH ENVOY (through translator): To share the burden and the responsibilities in a world of equal and sovereign nations also means sharing information and authority.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LOESCHER: Syria has denied an Israeli claim that it has intelligence showing the truck used for the bombing of the U.N. headquarters may have come from Syria. Damascus says the Israeli claim is a big lie.

We're live in Washington. I'm Skip Loescher -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Many thanks. Skip Loescher live from D.C.

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