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CNN Live At Daybreak
Seeking Help in Iraq
Aired September 03, 2003 - 06:03 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: First up this hour: Iraq and the Bush administration's policy toward that country. CNN has learned the administration will circulate a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution as early as today. That resolution will call for a multinational force in Iraq.
It also calls for strengthening the U.N. role in rebuilding Iraq. Several countries have said a U.N. mandate is needed to help the U.S. with its efforts.
And new numbers from the Congressional Budget Office: A trimmed- down occupation force of 38,000 to 64,000 troops could remain in Iraq indefinitely after March, 2004, at a cost of up to $12 billion a year.
Let's head to Baghdad now, where another move toward giving the Iraqi people back some power is playing out today. CNN's Ben Wedeman is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Iraq's first post-war government was sworn in here in Baghdad on Wednesday. This 25- minister cabinet reflects the ethnic makeup of Iraq. There are 13 Shiite ministers -- the Shiites, of course, making up about 60 percent of the population. It also includes five Kurdish ministers, five Sunni Arab ministers, one ethnic Turk and one Assyrian Christian.
Now, it took quite some time for the U.S.-appointed Governing Council to come up with the names in this government. They were originally expected to announce the first names after a week. And, in fact, it took them a month and a half.
Now, the final list was approved by L. Paul Bremer, the head of the coalition provisional authority.
Now, at the moment, it is that authority that has the ultimate power here in Iraq. There are authority advisers in every one of Iraq's ministries who have a say in every decision that those ministries take. The United States is hoping to gradually transfer authority over to these ministries.
Meanwhile, in the ancient city of Babylon, there was a handover ceremony from United States forces to a 9,000-man force led by Poland. This is a truly multinational force, which will be responsible for five south-central Iraqi provinces.
In addition to Polish troops, there will also be troops from Bulgaria, Spain, the Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Mongolia.
Now, this area was one of the quietest parts of Iraq until last Friday's massive car bombing in Najaf, which left at least 80 people dead. Nonetheless, the authority for this area will gradually transfer over to this Polish force. It is expected that by the end of September that Polish force will have complete authority for security in that area.
I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 September 3, 2003 - 06:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: First up this hour: Iraq and the Bush administration's policy toward that country. CNN has learned the administration will circulate a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution as early as today. That resolution will call for a multinational force in Iraq.
It also calls for strengthening the U.N. role in rebuilding Iraq. Several countries have said a U.N. mandate is needed to help the U.S. with its efforts.
And new numbers from the Congressional Budget Office: A trimmed- down occupation force of 38,000 to 64,000 troops could remain in Iraq indefinitely after March, 2004, at a cost of up to $12 billion a year.
Let's head to Baghdad now, where another move toward giving the Iraqi people back some power is playing out today. CNN's Ben Wedeman is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF: Iraq's first post-war government was sworn in here in Baghdad on Wednesday. This 25- minister cabinet reflects the ethnic makeup of Iraq. There are 13 Shiite ministers -- the Shiites, of course, making up about 60 percent of the population. It also includes five Kurdish ministers, five Sunni Arab ministers, one ethnic Turk and one Assyrian Christian.
Now, it took quite some time for the U.S.-appointed Governing Council to come up with the names in this government. They were originally expected to announce the first names after a week. And, in fact, it took them a month and a half.
Now, the final list was approved by L. Paul Bremer, the head of the coalition provisional authority.
Now, at the moment, it is that authority that has the ultimate power here in Iraq. There are authority advisers in every one of Iraq's ministries who have a say in every decision that those ministries take. The United States is hoping to gradually transfer authority over to these ministries.
Meanwhile, in the ancient city of Babylon, there was a handover ceremony from United States forces to a 9,000-man force led by Poland. This is a truly multinational force, which will be responsible for five south-central Iraqi provinces.
In addition to Polish troops, there will also be troops from Bulgaria, Spain, the Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Mongolia.
Now, this area was one of the quietest parts of Iraq until last Friday's massive car bombing in Najaf, which left at least 80 people dead. Nonetheless, the authority for this area will gradually transfer over to this Polish force. It is expected that by the end of September that Polish force will have complete authority for security in that area.
I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
