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CNN Live At Daybreak

Latest Developments in Iraq

Aired January 02, 2004 - 06:05   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 take you to Iraq now just to check in. There have been several small incidents in the last couple of days. So, let's see what's going on there now.
For that, we head live to Baghdad and Karl Penhaul.

Hello -- Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Carol.

One of the arrests carried out by U.S. forces in the last few hours occurred near the border between Iraq and Syria. They detained a man they suspect of bringing foreign fighters into the country. Foreign fighters is the term used for suspected al Qaeda operatives or other Muslim fundamentalist types who want to come and have a fight with the U.S. forces. So, this is one of the areas that is being concentrated on at the moment, so that, the U.S. force is saying, a particular success.

Also in the city of Baquba about 40 miles north of Baghdad, one of the areas where there has been a spike in insurgent activity. Ten suspected militants were arrested there overnight in, again, a U.S.- led effort to try and break the insurgency in that city.

Now, obviously security is still the prime element in the minds of the coalition forces here, but also I've been talking to some of the coalition political administrators. They're turning their minds now to the time in six months when they'll be handing over authority to a new Iraqi government.

Now, critics of the plan -- because this is a faster political pullout than expected -- critics are calling this a quick exit strategy. Coalition administrators are calling it a tactical adjustment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PENHAUL (voice-over): The main mission in Iraq has been completed. Saddam was toppled; now he's captured.

A guerrilla war is still raging, but the U.S.-led coalition is laying plans to wind down the occupation. It's pledged to hand over the political reins to a transitional Iraqi government by July 1. That's a change of gear.

Until recently, coalition control of Iraq seemed likely to last into 2005, though no firm deadlines have been set. The rush towards Iraqi self-rule means the coalition won't now supervise the drafting of a new constitution -- the road map of Iraq's political and economic future. That's not due to be completed until late 2005.

Reconstruction will not be complete. The shift from state-run economy to free market will only just be beginning. But the current president of Iraq's Governing Council, assembled by the U.S., doesn't feel the Americans are getting ready to run.

ADNAN PACHACHI, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Not backing off from the commitment, but I think they are re-assessing some of their plans, which, of course, is the proper thing to do.

PENHAUL: The coalition has been training Iraqi security forces to control the streets of Baghdad by spring. Few expect the insurgency to slow enough to permit American soldiers to leave at the same time as coalition administrators. Coalition authorities are hopeful guerrilla violence will be on the wane by the time the new Iraqi government takes office.

DAN SENOR, COALITION PROVINCIAL AUTHORITY: There will be good days and bad days. The important point is that the good days outnumber the bad days.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PENHAUL: Critics have been saying, Carol, that one of the reasons for the faster-than-expected political handover to the Iraqi government is because of the fact that U.S. and coalition forces are becoming embroiled in this very messy guerrilla war. But yesterday, when we were talking to them, coalition administrators did assure us that that is not the motivation that this is coming about at the request of Iraqi leaders -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Karl Penhaul reporting 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 January 2, 2004 - 06:05   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 take you to Iraq now just to check in. There have been several small incidents in the last couple of days. So, let's see what's going on there now.
For that, we head live to Baghdad and Karl Penhaul.

Hello -- Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Carol.

One of the arrests carried out by U.S. forces in the last few hours occurred near the border between Iraq and Syria. They detained a man they suspect of bringing foreign fighters into the country. Foreign fighters is the term used for suspected al Qaeda operatives or other Muslim fundamentalist types who want to come and have a fight with the U.S. forces. So, this is one of the areas that is being concentrated on at the moment, so that, the U.S. force is saying, a particular success.

Also in the city of Baquba about 40 miles north of Baghdad, one of the areas where there has been a spike in insurgent activity. Ten suspected militants were arrested there overnight in, again, a U.S.- led effort to try and break the insurgency in that city.

Now, obviously security is still the prime element in the minds of the coalition forces here, but also I've been talking to some of the coalition political administrators. They're turning their minds now to the time in six months when they'll be handing over authority to a new Iraqi government.

Now, critics of the plan -- because this is a faster political pullout than expected -- critics are calling this a quick exit strategy. Coalition administrators are calling it a tactical adjustment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PENHAUL (voice-over): The main mission in Iraq has been completed. Saddam was toppled; now he's captured.

A guerrilla war is still raging, but the U.S.-led coalition is laying plans to wind down the occupation. It's pledged to hand over the political reins to a transitional Iraqi government by July 1. That's a change of gear.

Until recently, coalition control of Iraq seemed likely to last into 2005, though no firm deadlines have been set. The rush towards Iraqi self-rule means the coalition won't now supervise the drafting of a new constitution -- the road map of Iraq's political and economic future. That's not due to be completed until late 2005.

Reconstruction will not be complete. The shift from state-run economy to free market will only just be beginning. But the current president of Iraq's Governing Council, assembled by the U.S., doesn't feel the Americans are getting ready to run.

ADNAN PACHACHI, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Not backing off from the commitment, but I think they are re-assessing some of their plans, which, of course, is the proper thing to do.

PENHAUL: The coalition has been training Iraqi security forces to control the streets of Baghdad by spring. Few expect the insurgency to slow enough to permit American soldiers to leave at the same time as coalition administrators. Coalition authorities are hopeful guerrilla violence will be on the wane by the time the new Iraqi government takes office.

DAN SENOR, COALITION PROVINCIAL AUTHORITY: There will be good days and bad days. The important point is that the good days outnumber the bad days.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PENHAUL: Critics have been saying, Carol, that one of the reasons for the faster-than-expected political handover to the Iraqi government is because of the fact that U.S. and coalition forces are becoming embroiled in this very messy guerrilla war. But yesterday, when we were talking to them, coalition administrators did assure us that that is not the motivation that this is coming about at the request of Iraqi leaders -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Karl Penhaul reporting 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.