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CNN Live At Daybreak

International Wrap, Eye on World

Aired December 16, 2003 - 06:32   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: We want to talk more about what led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. It was the fat man. He sung, and he helped snag Saddam.
Our senior international editor, David Clinch, is with us to tell us more about the fat man.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, Carol. Good morning.

Just to explain what we're talking about here, the U.S. military had told us a couple of days ago that they had captured an individual in Baghdad on Friday. It worked out very quickly that he was a man they had been looking for who they thought would have information on Saddam's whereabouts. It turns out he did.

They brought this individual to Tikrit, and within a very short period of time, got that specific information that led them to where Saddam was. Not telling us too much about who this man was, apparently a member of a Sunni family with strong ties to Saddam, a member of his security operation and described, as you say, as the fat man, apparently a quite portly individual. We're trying to find out more about who he is and what kind of information they got from him.

COSTELLO: He must have been very close to Saddam Hussein, because Saddam Hussein wasn't exactly the kind of guy who would...

CLINCH: Right. And not only close to him, but obviously very much in touch with him and aware of his whereabouts. So, it's fascinating, and we're trying to get some information about who he was and what information they got from him.

We're just hearing now -- we just confirmed from Baghdad that Joint Chiefs head General Myers has arrived in Baghdad.

COSTELLO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

CLINCH: And with him apparently comic Robin Williams is there to entertain the troops today.

COSTELLO: Really?

CLINCH: We'll see some pictures of him later on. He's already making lots of jokes at Saddam's expense.

And just getting some more information as well from Israel on this newspaper report that Israel had a plan, a very advanced plan to assassinate Saddam in 1992 after the last Gulf war -- after the first Gulf war, I should say, for him firing scuds. That plan was very close to being executed. We're showing file here of those scuds hitting Tel Aviv. That plan was very close to being executed, but called off, we're told, at the last minute when some Israeli soldiers were killed during training for that mission, so...

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Interesting. And the other interesting aspect of that, Israel is now seeking possible legal procedures against Saddam Hussein?

CLINCH: Right. You know, when you talk about war crimes, it's a question of pick your war. Which war are we talking about? Iran wants a part of this for the Iran-Iraq war. Israel says it has a stake in trying. Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, everybody wants a piece of that pie.

It remains to be seen exactly what level of involvement they'll have and what kind of a trial there will be.

COSTELLO: Interesting. David Clinch, many thanks. We appreciate it.

CLINCH: OK.

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 December 16, 2003 - 06:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to talk more about what led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. It was the fat man. He sung, and he helped snag Saddam.
Our senior international editor, David Clinch, is with us to tell us more about the fat man.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, Carol. Good morning.

Just to explain what we're talking about here, the U.S. military had told us a couple of days ago that they had captured an individual in Baghdad on Friday. It worked out very quickly that he was a man they had been looking for who they thought would have information on Saddam's whereabouts. It turns out he did.

They brought this individual to Tikrit, and within a very short period of time, got that specific information that led them to where Saddam was. Not telling us too much about who this man was, apparently a member of a Sunni family with strong ties to Saddam, a member of his security operation and described, as you say, as the fat man, apparently a quite portly individual. We're trying to find out more about who he is and what kind of information they got from him.

COSTELLO: He must have been very close to Saddam Hussein, because Saddam Hussein wasn't exactly the kind of guy who would...

CLINCH: Right. And not only close to him, but obviously very much in touch with him and aware of his whereabouts. So, it's fascinating, and we're trying to get some information about who he was and what information they got from him.

We're just hearing now -- we just confirmed from Baghdad that Joint Chiefs head General Myers has arrived in Baghdad.

COSTELLO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

CLINCH: And with him apparently comic Robin Williams is there to entertain the troops today.

COSTELLO: Really?

CLINCH: We'll see some pictures of him later on. He's already making lots of jokes at Saddam's expense.

And just getting some more information as well from Israel on this newspaper report that Israel had a plan, a very advanced plan to assassinate Saddam in 1992 after the last Gulf war -- after the first Gulf war, I should say, for him firing scuds. That plan was very close to being executed. We're showing file here of those scuds hitting Tel Aviv. That plan was very close to being executed, but called off, we're told, at the last minute when some Israeli soldiers were killed during training for that mission, so...

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Interesting. And the other interesting aspect of that, Israel is now seeking possible legal procedures against Saddam Hussein?

CLINCH: Right. You know, when you talk about war crimes, it's a question of pick your war. Which war are we talking about? Iran wants a part of this for the Iran-Iraq war. Israel says it has a stake in trying. Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, everybody wants a piece of that pie.

It remains to be seen exactly what level of involvement they'll have and what kind of a trial there will be.

COSTELLO: Interesting. David Clinch, many thanks. We appreciate it.

CLINCH: OK.

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