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CNN Live At Daybreak
Reaction to Report on Weapons Search
Aired October 03, 2003 - 06:33 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: Now to the weapons hunt in Iraq. The U.S. man leading the search for weapons for mass destruction has found no smoking gun.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID KAY, IRAQI SURVEY GROUP: We have not found at this point actual weapons. It does not mean we've concluded there are no actual weapons. It means at this point in time -- and it's a huge country with a lot to do -- that we have not yet found weapons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But David Kay says he has found substantial evidence that Saddam Hussein's regime planned to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. And he says he may need to continue the search for another six to nine months.
There is mixed reaction to that report on Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN ROCKEFELLER (D), WEST VIRGINIA: You just don't make decisions like we do and put our nation's youth at risk based upon something that appears not to have existed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Another lawmaker says Kay's report shows the lengths Saddam's regime went to hide its weapons program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PORTER GOSS (R), FLORIDA: We didn't make the decision about going to war. The terrorists made the decision about going to war. And if anybody doesn't understand that fact now, and that we are at war and we are trying to do our best to win that war as safely as we can for all Americans, then you'd better read this report again. Because what this guy, Saddam Hussein, was up to was pretty bad stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Pretty bad stuff indeed.
Let's see what they're saying about it in Baghdad. Our Harris Whitbeck is listening to what people are saying in the capital. Live to Baghdad now. Good morning -- Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.
People here don't seem very surprised by that report. In fact, many people here in Iraq feel that the report plays to their fears that the U.S. had ulterior motives when it occupied the country.
Now, on this traditional day of rest, we spent some time at a very large public market in Baghdad, and we spoke to people there on the feelings of the occupation, those who led it and the reasons they gave for it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and I am 100 percent sure that the United States knows that. If they can tell what is on the surface of Mars in a few months, then they should be able to find anything as an alibi for the invasion of Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's all lies in order to invade Iraq and exploit its riches.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITBECK: Now, while most people here are happy that the Saddam Hussein regime has ended, they are still fearful of what they see as continued political instability and a general insecurity in the country.
Back to you.
COSTELLO: All right, Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad 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 October 3, 2003 - 06:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the weapons hunt in Iraq. The U.S. man leading the search for weapons for mass destruction has found no smoking gun.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID KAY, IRAQI SURVEY GROUP: We have not found at this point actual weapons. It does not mean we've concluded there are no actual weapons. It means at this point in time -- and it's a huge country with a lot to do -- that we have not yet found weapons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But David Kay says he has found substantial evidence that Saddam Hussein's regime planned to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. And he says he may need to continue the search for another six to nine months.
There is mixed reaction to that report on Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN ROCKEFELLER (D), WEST VIRGINIA: You just don't make decisions like we do and put our nation's youth at risk based upon something that appears not to have existed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Another lawmaker says Kay's report shows the lengths Saddam's regime went to hide its weapons program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PORTER GOSS (R), FLORIDA: We didn't make the decision about going to war. The terrorists made the decision about going to war. And if anybody doesn't understand that fact now, and that we are at war and we are trying to do our best to win that war as safely as we can for all Americans, then you'd better read this report again. Because what this guy, Saddam Hussein, was up to was pretty bad stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Pretty bad stuff indeed.
Let's see what they're saying about it in Baghdad. Our Harris Whitbeck is listening to what people are saying in the capital. Live to Baghdad now. Good morning -- Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.
People here don't seem very surprised by that report. In fact, many people here in Iraq feel that the report plays to their fears that the U.S. had ulterior motives when it occupied the country.
Now, on this traditional day of rest, we spent some time at a very large public market in Baghdad, and we spoke to people there on the feelings of the occupation, those who led it and the reasons they gave for it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and I am 100 percent sure that the United States knows that. If they can tell what is on the surface of Mars in a few months, then they should be able to find anything as an alibi for the invasion of Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's all lies in order to invade Iraq and exploit its riches.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITBECK: Now, while most people here are happy that the Saddam Hussein regime has ended, they are still fearful of what they see as continued political instability and a general insecurity in the country.
Back to you.
COSTELLO: All right, Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad 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.
