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American Morning

Interview With Congressman Christopher Shays

Aired October 13, 2003 - 07:03   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get to Iraq immediately now. A U.S. soldier was killed earlier today, five more injured, in a series of attacks in the northern part of the country. Those attacks followed a suicide bombing yesterday in central Baghdad at a major hotel there. Six Iraqis were killed, more than 30 others injured, including three U.S. soldiers.
Harris Whitbeck live back with us in Baghdad to take us through yet another day of violence there.

Good afternoon -- Harris. What's the latest?

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

There were three separate attacks on U.S. soldiers from the Army's 4th Infantry Division. They operate, as you know, around Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown.

In one of the incidents in which one soldier was killed, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which was patrolling near Baiji, which is north of Tikrit, apparently hit a landmine which caused the death of one soldier and injured another one.

In two other separate incidents, improvised explosive devices were used, and one of them exploded between two Humvees, injuring three soldiers. And another improvised explosive device hit a three- vehicle convoy near Tikrit, injuring one more.

Meanwhile, the investigations into yesterday's bombing of the Baghdad Hotel continue. As you know, that bombing occurred at around lunchtime on a very busy Baghdad street. There were six Iraqis who were killed, more than 30 people injured. Some of those injured are still in the hospital.

The Baghdad Hotel housed members of the Iraqi Governing Council. At least one of those members of the Council was injured. There are also several employees of the Coalition Provisional Authority -- American citizens who have been living and working in Baghdad for the last several months.

The car bomb blew up less than 60 yards from the hotel entrance, and U.S. military spokesmen on the ground are crediting the Iraqi Defense Force for preventing a much larger tragedy -- Bill.

HEMMER: Harris, thanks for that -- live in Baghdad.

That bombing comes just as the White House is pushing for support from Congress in the post-war efforts. This week, the full House and Senate will consider the request of 87 billion in emergency spending for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Congressman Christopher Shays of Connecticut, the vice chairman of the House Budget Committee, has been to Iraq twice since April. He's now live from his home state and the town of Stanford, Connecticut.

Sir, welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.

REP. CHRIS SHAYS (R), CONNECTICUT: Thank you.

HEMMER: Well, what's the impact on Congress right now, as you watch these events unfold from half a world away?

SHAYS: Well, I think most members voted to go into Iraq, and I think most members know that we've got to complete the job. We won the war, but we have to win the peace. We won the war on a scale of 1 to 10; it was an 11. Winning the peace, it's kind of like a 5 or 6, and we know we need to do better.

HEMMER: Listen to Senator Joseph Biden from yesterday. He talks about a split tongue, and he also mentioned the word "confusion" several times in this interview from yesterday on the talk shows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: There were five different speeches this week by five principals, all sounding different notes. That generates confusion, and that generates a lack of confidence in our staying power and our ability to generate and sustain the peace in Iraq, while we're forming a new government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Confusion and a lack of confidence. Is there something in there that you agree with, based on what we heard last week?

SHAYS: No, I don't agree with Senator Biden. I do agree, though, that he's done a pretty extraordinary job of being supportive of this administration over a long period of time, and they need to listen to the nuances of what he's saying. I do think that the administration has to get out and explain the details of their plan. I mean, one thing this president has going for him is he's been a straight shooter, and if he's unwilling to disclose what he's doing, then people think he either doesn't have a plan or they think basically he doesn't want to tell people his plan.

HEMMER: Well, why don't you as a member of Congress ask for it and demand it?

SHAYS: Oh, we should and we are. And, believe me, in every contact I've had with this administration, I've tried to say, you know, this president has done such a good job up to date, but he's losing it right now. And, frankly, I think we need to have a stronger conviction on our own side of the aisle. Think of this: There was a terrible bombing yesterday, but the real heroes were the Iraqis who were guarding that hotel. They weren't American soldiers. And we're beginning to see more Iraqis take over, and that's what we want.

HEMMER: You said something in that answer: He's losing it right now, referring to the president. As a Republican member of Congress, do you really think that's the case?

SHAYS: Well, I think that we've lost the explanation of what we're doing, and I think the August break that the president had was harmful to him. I think he was out of the media. I think the administration was just a little too in the back seat.

HEMMER: That's Congressman Chris Shays, Republican from Connecticut, speaking with us this morning in Stanford. Thank you, sir, for your time this morning.

SHAYS: Thank you.

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 13, 2003 - 07:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get to Iraq immediately now. A U.S. soldier was killed earlier today, five more injured, in a series of attacks in the northern part of the country. Those attacks followed a suicide bombing yesterday in central Baghdad at a major hotel there. Six Iraqis were killed, more than 30 others injured, including three U.S. soldiers.
Harris Whitbeck live back with us in Baghdad to take us through yet another day of violence there.

Good afternoon -- Harris. What's the latest?

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

There were three separate attacks on U.S. soldiers from the Army's 4th Infantry Division. They operate, as you know, around Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown.

In one of the incidents in which one soldier was killed, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which was patrolling near Baiji, which is north of Tikrit, apparently hit a landmine which caused the death of one soldier and injured another one.

In two other separate incidents, improvised explosive devices were used, and one of them exploded between two Humvees, injuring three soldiers. And another improvised explosive device hit a three- vehicle convoy near Tikrit, injuring one more.

Meanwhile, the investigations into yesterday's bombing of the Baghdad Hotel continue. As you know, that bombing occurred at around lunchtime on a very busy Baghdad street. There were six Iraqis who were killed, more than 30 people injured. Some of those injured are still in the hospital.

The Baghdad Hotel housed members of the Iraqi Governing Council. At least one of those members of the Council was injured. There are also several employees of the Coalition Provisional Authority -- American citizens who have been living and working in Baghdad for the last several months.

The car bomb blew up less than 60 yards from the hotel entrance, and U.S. military spokesmen on the ground are crediting the Iraqi Defense Force for preventing a much larger tragedy -- Bill.

HEMMER: Harris, thanks for that -- live in Baghdad.

That bombing comes just as the White House is pushing for support from Congress in the post-war efforts. This week, the full House and Senate will consider the request of 87 billion in emergency spending for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Congressman Christopher Shays of Connecticut, the vice chairman of the House Budget Committee, has been to Iraq twice since April. He's now live from his home state and the town of Stanford, Connecticut.

Sir, welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.

REP. CHRIS SHAYS (R), CONNECTICUT: Thank you.

HEMMER: Well, what's the impact on Congress right now, as you watch these events unfold from half a world away?

SHAYS: Well, I think most members voted to go into Iraq, and I think most members know that we've got to complete the job. We won the war, but we have to win the peace. We won the war on a scale of 1 to 10; it was an 11. Winning the peace, it's kind of like a 5 or 6, and we know we need to do better.

HEMMER: Listen to Senator Joseph Biden from yesterday. He talks about a split tongue, and he also mentioned the word "confusion" several times in this interview from yesterday on the talk shows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: There were five different speeches this week by five principals, all sounding different notes. That generates confusion, and that generates a lack of confidence in our staying power and our ability to generate and sustain the peace in Iraq, while we're forming a new government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: Confusion and a lack of confidence. Is there something in there that you agree with, based on what we heard last week?

SHAYS: No, I don't agree with Senator Biden. I do agree, though, that he's done a pretty extraordinary job of being supportive of this administration over a long period of time, and they need to listen to the nuances of what he's saying. I do think that the administration has to get out and explain the details of their plan. I mean, one thing this president has going for him is he's been a straight shooter, and if he's unwilling to disclose what he's doing, then people think he either doesn't have a plan or they think basically he doesn't want to tell people his plan.

HEMMER: Well, why don't you as a member of Congress ask for it and demand it?

SHAYS: Oh, we should and we are. And, believe me, in every contact I've had with this administration, I've tried to say, you know, this president has done such a good job up to date, but he's losing it right now. And, frankly, I think we need to have a stronger conviction on our own side of the aisle. Think of this: There was a terrible bombing yesterday, but the real heroes were the Iraqis who were guarding that hotel. They weren't American soldiers. And we're beginning to see more Iraqis take over, and that's what we want.

HEMMER: You said something in that answer: He's losing it right now, referring to the president. As a Republican member of Congress, do you really think that's the case?

SHAYS: Well, I think that we've lost the explanation of what we're doing, and I think the August break that the president had was harmful to him. I think he was out of the media. I think the administration was just a little too in the back seat.

HEMMER: That's Congressman Chris Shays, Republican from Connecticut, speaking with us this morning in Stanford. Thank you, sir, for your time this morning.

SHAYS: Thank you.

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