Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Pentagon Will More Than Double Staff Support at Central Command Headquarters in Gulf Region
Aired November 14, 2003 - 10:07 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: There is yet another sign that the U.S. is ratcheting up its effort in Iraq. We're told the Pentagon will more than double its staff support at Central Command headquarters in the Persian Gulf region. Our national security correspondent David Ensor is at the Pentagon with the latest on that. David, good morning.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well, as you say, the headquarters staff, many of them are moving from Florida to Doha, Qatar. About 200 or so, perhaps a little more than General Abizaid's staff are moving over there to be in the right area.
This is primarily to help with the troop rotations that are going to be going on in Iraq. Hundreds of thousands ultimately coming and going over to next couple of years. But it is also to help with operations, amidst this growing concern that there some attacks against U.S. forces.
General Abizaid, does say, though, that the number of insurgents that they are up against isn't all that large.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, CMDR., U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: In all, I would say that the force of people actively armed and operating against us does not exceed 5,000.
Now, people will say, well that's a very small number. But when you understand that they are organized in cellular structure, that they have a brutal and determined cadre, that they know how to operate covertly, they have access to a lot of money and a lot of ammunition, you'll understand how dangerous they are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: As to whether or not Saddam Hussein might be organizing any of these attacks, General Abizaid said he is too incompetent to do so and too busy trying to save his own life -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And this Operation Iron Hammer we constantly hear from military officials now and the White House this is meant to send a message to the insurgents in Iraq. And yet even as this is stepped up, the attacks by the U.S. have stepped up, the attacks towards soldier and civilians have not relented, David. ENSOR: Well that's right. These attacks, these strikes by Operation Iron Hand (sic), are intended to send a message to the opposition that the U.S. has got its own ways and means of responding.
But the problem is these attacks against buildings that are sometimes used by the insurgents, they don't stop the insurgents from doing what they plan. So this really is a very difficult insurgent war that the General Abizaid and the others have on their hands now. It's going to be sometime before they can get a handle on it -- Daryn.
KAGAN: David Ensor at the Pentagon. Thank you 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
Command Headquarters in Gulf Region>
Aired November 14, 2003 - 10:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: There is yet another sign that the U.S. is ratcheting up its effort in Iraq. We're told the Pentagon will more than double its staff support at Central Command headquarters in the Persian Gulf region. Our national security correspondent David Ensor is at the Pentagon with the latest on that. David, good morning.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. Well, as you say, the headquarters staff, many of them are moving from Florida to Doha, Qatar. About 200 or so, perhaps a little more than General Abizaid's staff are moving over there to be in the right area.
This is primarily to help with the troop rotations that are going to be going on in Iraq. Hundreds of thousands ultimately coming and going over to next couple of years. But it is also to help with operations, amidst this growing concern that there some attacks against U.S. forces.
General Abizaid, does say, though, that the number of insurgents that they are up against isn't all that large.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, CMDR., U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: In all, I would say that the force of people actively armed and operating against us does not exceed 5,000.
Now, people will say, well that's a very small number. But when you understand that they are organized in cellular structure, that they have a brutal and determined cadre, that they know how to operate covertly, they have access to a lot of money and a lot of ammunition, you'll understand how dangerous they are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: As to whether or not Saddam Hussein might be organizing any of these attacks, General Abizaid said he is too incompetent to do so and too busy trying to save his own life -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And this Operation Iron Hammer we constantly hear from military officials now and the White House this is meant to send a message to the insurgents in Iraq. And yet even as this is stepped up, the attacks by the U.S. have stepped up, the attacks towards soldier and civilians have not relented, David. ENSOR: Well that's right. These attacks, these strikes by Operation Iron Hand (sic), are intended to send a message to the opposition that the U.S. has got its own ways and means of responding.
But the problem is these attacks against buildings that are sometimes used by the insurgents, they don't stop the insurgents from doing what they plan. So this really is a very difficult insurgent war that the General Abizaid and the others have on their hands now. It's going to be sometime before they can get a handle on it -- Daryn.
KAGAN: David Ensor at the Pentagon. Thank you 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
Command Headquarters in Gulf Region>
