Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Family of Izzat Ibrahim Al-Duri Detained

Aired November 26, 2003 - 05:30   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: U.S. troops operating north of Baghdad detained two family members of one of Iraq's most wanted men.
With more on the story, we turn to our Walter Rodgers live in Baghdad -- hello, Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Well, part of the problem in reporting this story is we don't know which of Izzat Ibrahim Al-Duri's wives was arrested by the U.S. Army. But there are two theoretical reasons for this arrest. One of them, of course, would be that she may have been close to her husband and, in point of fact, the Army may want to question her about his whereabouts. Remember, Mr. Al-Duri is number six on the Army's most wanted list. There's a $10 million price tag on his -- a $10 million price tag on his head.

The second possible reason, of course, is that this may be a family member whom Izzat Ibrahim Al-Duri is close to. They also have his daughter in custody. And therefore, perhaps this is a way of pressuring him to turn himself in. There's some rationale for that, as well. Remember, Mr. Al-Duri is a sick man. Iraqi sources have told CNN he has blood transfusions every six months. He is said to have leukemia. He is not well.

Incidentally, one of the other people arrested or detained by the U.S. military in the same incident is the son of Al-Duri's doctor. Again, this has every bit of evidence to suggest they're trying to pressure Al-Duri to turn himself in -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Is this different from the norm, Walter?

RODGERS: No, it's not. This is a tactic which the Army has used in the past several months, not a lot, but it's not without precedent here, you know, and it's, again, there are two reasons for doing this. One is that as an intelligence gathering measure, you question the individual as to the whereabouts of a spouse, a brother, whatever, and you try to find out where they are so you can bring them in, arrest them, take them out of business.

Remember, Al-Duri is believed to be responsible for directing some of the attacks against U.S. and coalition forces here in Iraq. And the other reason, of course, is simply to pressure the fugitive, the man at large, trying, perhaps by taking family members, he himself will think about turning himself in -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Walter Rodgers 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 November 26, 2003 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops operating north of Baghdad detained two family members of one of Iraq's most wanted men.
With more on the story, we turn to our Walter Rodgers live in Baghdad -- hello, Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Well, part of the problem in reporting this story is we don't know which of Izzat Ibrahim Al-Duri's wives was arrested by the U.S. Army. But there are two theoretical reasons for this arrest. One of them, of course, would be that she may have been close to her husband and, in point of fact, the Army may want to question her about his whereabouts. Remember, Mr. Al-Duri is number six on the Army's most wanted list. There's a $10 million price tag on his -- a $10 million price tag on his head.

The second possible reason, of course, is that this may be a family member whom Izzat Ibrahim Al-Duri is close to. They also have his daughter in custody. And therefore, perhaps this is a way of pressuring him to turn himself in. There's some rationale for that, as well. Remember, Mr. Al-Duri is a sick man. Iraqi sources have told CNN he has blood transfusions every six months. He is said to have leukemia. He is not well.

Incidentally, one of the other people arrested or detained by the U.S. military in the same incident is the son of Al-Duri's doctor. Again, this has every bit of evidence to suggest they're trying to pressure Al-Duri to turn himself in -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Is this different from the norm, Walter?

RODGERS: No, it's not. This is a tactic which the Army has used in the past several months, not a lot, but it's not without precedent here, you know, and it's, again, there are two reasons for doing this. One is that as an intelligence gathering measure, you question the individual as to the whereabouts of a spouse, a brother, whatever, and you try to find out where they are so you can bring them in, arrest them, take them out of business.

Remember, Al-Duri is believed to be responsible for directing some of the attacks against U.S. and coalition forces here in Iraq. And the other reason, of course, is simply to pressure the fugitive, the man at large, trying, perhaps by taking family members, he himself will think about turning himself in -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Walter Rodgers 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