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CNN Live Saturday
Interview with David Isby
Aired November 15, 2003 - 12:34 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: The bombings in Turkey today and up ticks inside Afghanistan and Iraq indicate much work remains to be done in the war against terror.
Let's talk with David Isby, a defense analyst and former staffer at Jane Defense Weekly. He is here in Washington. We have got a lot of ground to cover, nice to see you.
Turkey, the attacks in Istanbul today, do you have any sense whether or not this is part of a bigger picture. We had attacks in Riyadh last week. It seems like they're targeting various interests outside of Iraq.
DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE ANALYST: Whoever did this made it look like an attack by al Qaeda. It was attack on a soft target, which we saw al Qaeda carrying out against a synagogues in Tanzania last year. Also we saw in the willingness to inflict collateral damage and basic contempt for local opinion. In both cases, these are communities which have no beef against the target. Like these people which are integrated with the local community. So they are doing this just to show they are still in business rather than go appealing to local sentiments.
KOPPEL: And obviously, the fact that there were two synagogues targeted, there have been -- Israel believes this is an indirect attack, strike on the Israel state.
ISBY: Well, certainly al Qaeda has been reluctant ever to strike directly at Israel interests in or installations throughout its history. But again, more to the point, it is a soft target, one, they can show they're still in business and also one they can also possibly in Turkey, work through local allies. And you see (UNINTELLIGIBLE) group taking credit there. And desire to show something for Islamic militancy there.
KOPPEL: We know from reporting on the ground in Iraq, another U.S. helicopter has gone down. We don't know whether or not it was a mechanical failure or whether or not it was shot down. Now there certainly does seem to be -- this is now the third in the last month, that terrorists are -- if in fact, this is linked to the other two, they're getting much better at targeting U.S. aircraft.
ISBY: Terrorists learn, and especially here, when they have the basis of the Iraqi security forces, lot of military experience, and yes, there is a threat. We're going to have to be adjusting tactics, putting counter measures in place. This is going to remain in threat. The Iraqis are a very sophisticated military force, was a sophisticated terrorist state there under Saddam Hussein. So, this is going to remain a powerful threat to us and success for Iraqi government.
KOPPEL: From what you've been able to assess as an expert on military strategy, do you think that the U.S. handing over power, sovereignty to the Iraqi Governing Council or to some provision government is going to improve the security situation?
IBSY: No. To a large extent this war is about legitimacy. And we have to be seen as giving it turnover a legitimate Iraqi government. On the other hand, by hanged over literal, it takes a long time to cultivate moderates, people who believe in democracy. The weeds of the process are there already. The people who are terrorist, extremist have their own agenda, they are already in place. And moving to elections on a new government early will give a benefit to those people rather than the people we might like to see succeed in Iraq.
KOPPEL: We don't see Afghanistan in the news as much. That may be a factor there aren't as many military forces on the ground, there aren't as many journalists on the ground. Assess the security situation there for us.
IBSY: Afghanistan still remains key and America needs to continue to focus on it. Certainly, there, we see continued violence. There, it's larger, coming in from the outside that's why the U.s. Needs to deal with Pakistan because that's where resurgent Taliban, al Qaeda, efforts across the border are coming from. And these are operating fairly openly in Pakistan. However, it remains that Afghanistan, things are getting better.
KOPPEL: David Isby. Thank you for coming in today and sharing with us your expertise on so many different subjects.
ISBY: You're welcome.
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 15, 2003 - 12:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: The bombings in Turkey today and up ticks inside Afghanistan and Iraq indicate much work remains to be done in the war against terror.
Let's talk with David Isby, a defense analyst and former staffer at Jane Defense Weekly. He is here in Washington. We have got a lot of ground to cover, nice to see you.
Turkey, the attacks in Istanbul today, do you have any sense whether or not this is part of a bigger picture. We had attacks in Riyadh last week. It seems like they're targeting various interests outside of Iraq.
DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE ANALYST: Whoever did this made it look like an attack by al Qaeda. It was attack on a soft target, which we saw al Qaeda carrying out against a synagogues in Tanzania last year. Also we saw in the willingness to inflict collateral damage and basic contempt for local opinion. In both cases, these are communities which have no beef against the target. Like these people which are integrated with the local community. So they are doing this just to show they are still in business rather than go appealing to local sentiments.
KOPPEL: And obviously, the fact that there were two synagogues targeted, there have been -- Israel believes this is an indirect attack, strike on the Israel state.
ISBY: Well, certainly al Qaeda has been reluctant ever to strike directly at Israel interests in or installations throughout its history. But again, more to the point, it is a soft target, one, they can show they're still in business and also one they can also possibly in Turkey, work through local allies. And you see (UNINTELLIGIBLE) group taking credit there. And desire to show something for Islamic militancy there.
KOPPEL: We know from reporting on the ground in Iraq, another U.S. helicopter has gone down. We don't know whether or not it was a mechanical failure or whether or not it was shot down. Now there certainly does seem to be -- this is now the third in the last month, that terrorists are -- if in fact, this is linked to the other two, they're getting much better at targeting U.S. aircraft.
ISBY: Terrorists learn, and especially here, when they have the basis of the Iraqi security forces, lot of military experience, and yes, there is a threat. We're going to have to be adjusting tactics, putting counter measures in place. This is going to remain in threat. The Iraqis are a very sophisticated military force, was a sophisticated terrorist state there under Saddam Hussein. So, this is going to remain a powerful threat to us and success for Iraqi government.
KOPPEL: From what you've been able to assess as an expert on military strategy, do you think that the U.S. handing over power, sovereignty to the Iraqi Governing Council or to some provision government is going to improve the security situation?
IBSY: No. To a large extent this war is about legitimacy. And we have to be seen as giving it turnover a legitimate Iraqi government. On the other hand, by hanged over literal, it takes a long time to cultivate moderates, people who believe in democracy. The weeds of the process are there already. The people who are terrorist, extremist have their own agenda, they are already in place. And moving to elections on a new government early will give a benefit to those people rather than the people we might like to see succeed in Iraq.
KOPPEL: We don't see Afghanistan in the news as much. That may be a factor there aren't as many military forces on the ground, there aren't as many journalists on the ground. Assess the security situation there for us.
IBSY: Afghanistan still remains key and America needs to continue to focus on it. Certainly, there, we see continued violence. There, it's larger, coming in from the outside that's why the U.s. Needs to deal with Pakistan because that's where resurgent Taliban, al Qaeda, efforts across the border are coming from. And these are operating fairly openly in Pakistan. However, it remains that Afghanistan, things are getting better.
KOPPEL: David Isby. Thank you for coming in today and sharing with us your expertise on so many different subjects.
ISBY: You're welcome.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
