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CNN Live At Daybreak

Donald Rumsfeld in Iraq

Aired February 23, 2004 - 06:02   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: It is not working -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld saying that in Baghdad this morning. He's there to bolster the mood and to say efforts to start a civil war in Iraq are not working.
Barbara Starr is with Rumsfeld. Here's her report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Kuwait, beginning a one-week trip to visit troops and allies in the region. Speaking to reporters traveling with him, Rumsfeld says it's clear al Qaeda fighters are in Iraq.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: They're clearly involved.

STARR: And he says terrorist groups are trying to spark civil war.

RUMSFELD: We've seen information that indicates that terrorists are attempting to cause violence between various religious and ethnic groups in the country.

STARR: As violent attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces continue, Secretary Rumsfeld is sounding less than definitive. As Iraqi opposition has mounted, now no new predictions on planned caucuses to elect a transitional government to be in place by June.

(on camera): What are your feelings now about what needs to be accomplished for a transition to an Iraqi government?

RUMSFELD: It is going along about as one ought to expect. You've got a country that has no experience with democracy to speak of for the adult lifetime of anyone there.

STARR: And if attacks continue against Iraqi security forces, Rumsfeld says, U.S. military troops may increase their presence in selected hot spots around Iraq in order to deal with the insurgents.

Barbara Starr, CNN, Kuwait.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 February 23, 2004 - 06:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is not working -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld saying that in Baghdad this morning. He's there to bolster the mood and to say efforts to start a civil war in Iraq are not working.
Barbara Starr is with Rumsfeld. Here's her report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Kuwait, beginning a one-week trip to visit troops and allies in the region. Speaking to reporters traveling with him, Rumsfeld says it's clear al Qaeda fighters are in Iraq.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: They're clearly involved.

STARR: And he says terrorist groups are trying to spark civil war.

RUMSFELD: We've seen information that indicates that terrorists are attempting to cause violence between various religious and ethnic groups in the country.

STARR: As violent attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces continue, Secretary Rumsfeld is sounding less than definitive. As Iraqi opposition has mounted, now no new predictions on planned caucuses to elect a transitional government to be in place by June.

(on camera): What are your feelings now about what needs to be accomplished for a transition to an Iraqi government?

RUMSFELD: It is going along about as one ought to expect. You've got a country that has no experience with democracy to speak of for the adult lifetime of anyone there.

STARR: And if attacks continue against Iraqi security forces, Rumsfeld says, U.S. military troops may increase their presence in selected hot spots around Iraq in order to deal with the insurgents.

Barbara Starr, CNN, Kuwait.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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