Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Intervie with Major Eric Haney

Aired August 09, 2003 - 12:32   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In West Africa, only days before it's embattled President Charles Taylor is expected to step down, the humanitarian need in the capital city grows. Peacekeepers are trying to urge rebels to free a sea port so aid is brought in to Monrovia.
CNN's Jeff Koinange, is there and joins us on the phone from President Taylor's compound -- Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. What President Taylor is doing is saying good-bye to the National Patriotic Party Members. There's about 200 people outside this headquarters. And he's been inside now for about three hours. He's basically saying his good-byes. He has said he'll leave. Going to leave on Monday and going to leave there after. For those keeping count, t-minus two days. Meantime, West African peacekeepers and their American counterparts are running into roadblock after roadblock. Now, we understand they're not going to meet with the rebels leadership at the port area, permission is not granted. However, they will go and survey the situation themselves at the free port and on the way now as we speak. Events moving very slowly on the ground. They are finding the situation stickier than they expected.

WHITFIELD: Jeff, what's happening, if anything between the government forces and the rebel forces there on the ground?

KOINANGE: Well, right now, at the very fragile cease fire. The government forces control this side of a key bridge. Rebel forces on the other side. That's all they're doing. Nobody can cross on either side. Not the civilians or soldiers. Only journalists and peacekeepers and American troops. Nobody else can cross over. A few aid workers tried. They have to ask permission. Sometimes the permission is granted, sometimes not. It's slow going. Meantime, tens of thousands of Liberians are suffering waiting for food, waiting for aid. They know the peacekeepers are on the ground, but don't see them in key areas yet which is very frustrating -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Talk about the American forces on the ground. Only a handful, right, a very small number.

What are they able to do?

KOINANGE: Basically, Fredricka, advisors, everything from logistics to communications. They want to help the Echo Mill, the West African peace keepers, in any way they can to bring in equipment, bringing in hardware, communications, setting things up. That's why they're trying to negotiate with the rebels just so they can have the free port. Remember, if aid is going to flow into Liberia, has to come through the sea port, not the airport is not that big enough to take in the kind of aid that's needed to get this country back on its feet. The sea ports have to be freed. And remember both the free ports of Monrovia and the second port city of Buchanan, they are both under different rebel controls. It's very, very tense right now. And looks like things are going to drag for a while -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Talk about Monday. If and when President Taylor is to step down, who takes his place? I remember him saying his vice president would.

Is that still the case?

KOINANGE: Still the case. Even though the main rebel movement said they won't endorse his vice president. But at 11:59, precisely on Monday, August 11, President Taylor steps down in midday. His name is Moses Blah he takes over and the process continues. We don't know when President Taylor will leave after that, but there's a ceremony planned, including heads of state from Nigeria, South Africa. There will be a handful of heads of state to witness the occasion. Looks like all things are getting ready for that less than 48 hours from now -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jeff, thanks for joining us on the phone from Monrovia.

Well, the U.S. has sent a small number of U.S. troops to Liberia as you just heard. And for now the troops are only there to provide support for African peace keepers.

Could their role grow in the coming days or weeks after President Taylor's expected exile?

For more on the military moves, retired army sergeant, Major Eric Haney.

Well we know something like less than 10 forces are actually on the ground even though some 2,300 Marines are right on the coast on three battleships.

Militarily, what is the White House afraid of for these U.S. troops to get involved?

SGT. MAJ. ERIC HANEY, U.S ARMY (RET.): Well, remember, peacekeeping in order to do peacekeeping, there has to be peace prevailing in the country. And right now, the only thing that anyone can do, particular Nigerians, particularly, is reinforce the ugly stalemate with the rebel groups and Charles Taylor's illegitimate government. The U.S. forces presently, that small number that are on the ground doing surveys and seeing what they can to do to facilitate transportation once the new government is installed and Charles Taylor has left. I would be surprised if the U.S. Marines on the ships offshore didn't come ashore after Taylor's departure to secure the port facility, secure the airport, also secure major transportation through the city. This would relieve the Nigerians to move to the countryside where the situation is worse than inside the city of Monrovia.

WHITFIELD: You mentioned a condition of the White House made clear. They want the president to step down before they were to move those Marines in. The other condition, however, was to see how stable the African peacekeepers, their job has been. Any idea, you know, just how they're doing with that peacekeeping?

And if that would in any way potentially delay the U.S. Marines from making land fall?

HANEY: Well, it's not an overnight process. Once Nigerian's have come ashore, landed at the airport, they have to secure themselves. They have to have facilities to work out of. They have to have a bit of intelligence to tell them where things are the worst inside the country and inside the city. The U.S. forces would do that. They'll aid in that. We have to remember the last time the Nigerians sent a peacekeeping contingent, they were accused of things just as bad as have gone on presently. Of looting, robberies, those sort of things. The current commander says that won't happen again. But I'm quite certain U.S. forces will help them to provide a proper peacekeeping role and keep down some of the ugly incidents that can happen.

WHITFIELD: Talk about the potential changing role of the U.S. forces. The White House expressed, you know, concern is if these U.S. Forces go in too early, before President Taylor steps down, then they may be roped into apprehending the President Taylor because he's wanted for war crimes involving Sierra Leone.

HANEY: There's a good chance that could happen. The old fashioned mission creep that we have tended to see over the last number of decades. However, it is my firm belief that Mr. Taylor will step down voluntarily or he will be removed from power. Should he refuse to do go in the next week or so, I would not be surprised to see special operations forces used to pluck him out and take him to another location.

WHITFIELD: Bottom line, you see that those thousands of Marines of the U.S. will eventually be involved here, because otherwise why would they be sitting off the coast for so long?

HANEY: Yes. I do believe so. More than likely in the city, again, relieving the Nigerians to move into the countryside. Because things terrible throughout the rest of Liberia, even worse than in Monrovia.

WHITFIELD: Major, thanks very much. Good to see you.

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 August 9, 2003 - 12:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In West Africa, only days before it's embattled President Charles Taylor is expected to step down, the humanitarian need in the capital city grows. Peacekeepers are trying to urge rebels to free a sea port so aid is brought in to Monrovia.
CNN's Jeff Koinange, is there and joins us on the phone from President Taylor's compound -- Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. What President Taylor is doing is saying good-bye to the National Patriotic Party Members. There's about 200 people outside this headquarters. And he's been inside now for about three hours. He's basically saying his good-byes. He has said he'll leave. Going to leave on Monday and going to leave there after. For those keeping count, t-minus two days. Meantime, West African peacekeepers and their American counterparts are running into roadblock after roadblock. Now, we understand they're not going to meet with the rebels leadership at the port area, permission is not granted. However, they will go and survey the situation themselves at the free port and on the way now as we speak. Events moving very slowly on the ground. They are finding the situation stickier than they expected.

WHITFIELD: Jeff, what's happening, if anything between the government forces and the rebel forces there on the ground?

KOINANGE: Well, right now, at the very fragile cease fire. The government forces control this side of a key bridge. Rebel forces on the other side. That's all they're doing. Nobody can cross on either side. Not the civilians or soldiers. Only journalists and peacekeepers and American troops. Nobody else can cross over. A few aid workers tried. They have to ask permission. Sometimes the permission is granted, sometimes not. It's slow going. Meantime, tens of thousands of Liberians are suffering waiting for food, waiting for aid. They know the peacekeepers are on the ground, but don't see them in key areas yet which is very frustrating -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Talk about the American forces on the ground. Only a handful, right, a very small number.

What are they able to do?

KOINANGE: Basically, Fredricka, advisors, everything from logistics to communications. They want to help the Echo Mill, the West African peace keepers, in any way they can to bring in equipment, bringing in hardware, communications, setting things up. That's why they're trying to negotiate with the rebels just so they can have the free port. Remember, if aid is going to flow into Liberia, has to come through the sea port, not the airport is not that big enough to take in the kind of aid that's needed to get this country back on its feet. The sea ports have to be freed. And remember both the free ports of Monrovia and the second port city of Buchanan, they are both under different rebel controls. It's very, very tense right now. And looks like things are going to drag for a while -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Talk about Monday. If and when President Taylor is to step down, who takes his place? I remember him saying his vice president would.

Is that still the case?

KOINANGE: Still the case. Even though the main rebel movement said they won't endorse his vice president. But at 11:59, precisely on Monday, August 11, President Taylor steps down in midday. His name is Moses Blah he takes over and the process continues. We don't know when President Taylor will leave after that, but there's a ceremony planned, including heads of state from Nigeria, South Africa. There will be a handful of heads of state to witness the occasion. Looks like all things are getting ready for that less than 48 hours from now -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Jeff, thanks for joining us on the phone from Monrovia.

Well, the U.S. has sent a small number of U.S. troops to Liberia as you just heard. And for now the troops are only there to provide support for African peace keepers.

Could their role grow in the coming days or weeks after President Taylor's expected exile?

For more on the military moves, retired army sergeant, Major Eric Haney.

Well we know something like less than 10 forces are actually on the ground even though some 2,300 Marines are right on the coast on three battleships.

Militarily, what is the White House afraid of for these U.S. troops to get involved?

SGT. MAJ. ERIC HANEY, U.S ARMY (RET.): Well, remember, peacekeeping in order to do peacekeeping, there has to be peace prevailing in the country. And right now, the only thing that anyone can do, particular Nigerians, particularly, is reinforce the ugly stalemate with the rebel groups and Charles Taylor's illegitimate government. The U.S. forces presently, that small number that are on the ground doing surveys and seeing what they can to do to facilitate transportation once the new government is installed and Charles Taylor has left. I would be surprised if the U.S. Marines on the ships offshore didn't come ashore after Taylor's departure to secure the port facility, secure the airport, also secure major transportation through the city. This would relieve the Nigerians to move to the countryside where the situation is worse than inside the city of Monrovia.

WHITFIELD: You mentioned a condition of the White House made clear. They want the president to step down before they were to move those Marines in. The other condition, however, was to see how stable the African peacekeepers, their job has been. Any idea, you know, just how they're doing with that peacekeeping?

And if that would in any way potentially delay the U.S. Marines from making land fall?

HANEY: Well, it's not an overnight process. Once Nigerian's have come ashore, landed at the airport, they have to secure themselves. They have to have facilities to work out of. They have to have a bit of intelligence to tell them where things are the worst inside the country and inside the city. The U.S. forces would do that. They'll aid in that. We have to remember the last time the Nigerians sent a peacekeeping contingent, they were accused of things just as bad as have gone on presently. Of looting, robberies, those sort of things. The current commander says that won't happen again. But I'm quite certain U.S. forces will help them to provide a proper peacekeeping role and keep down some of the ugly incidents that can happen.

WHITFIELD: Talk about the potential changing role of the U.S. forces. The White House expressed, you know, concern is if these U.S. Forces go in too early, before President Taylor steps down, then they may be roped into apprehending the President Taylor because he's wanted for war crimes involving Sierra Leone.

HANEY: There's a good chance that could happen. The old fashioned mission creep that we have tended to see over the last number of decades. However, it is my firm belief that Mr. Taylor will step down voluntarily or he will be removed from power. Should he refuse to do go in the next week or so, I would not be surprised to see special operations forces used to pluck him out and take him to another location.

WHITFIELD: Bottom line, you see that those thousands of Marines of the U.S. will eventually be involved here, because otherwise why would they be sitting off the coast for so long?

HANEY: Yes. I do believe so. More than likely in the city, again, relieving the Nigerians to move into the countryside. Because things terrible throughout the rest of Liberia, even worse than in Monrovia.

WHITFIELD: Major, thanks very much. Good to see you.

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