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War With Iraq: Can Allies Count on Local Uprising?
Aired March 26, 2003 - 13:30 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In the Gulf War, there may be some skepticism at least among Iraqi people who want to revolt according to our next guest -- "Los Angeles Times" correspondent Robin Wright says Iraqi civilians may feel let down after what happened in 1991. She's joining us now live on the phone from Clinton, South Carolina.
Robin, you and I, many of our viewers know, the Iraqis in the south, the Shia in particular, felt betrayed by the United States after the first Gulf War. Tell our viewers why that is probably going to have an impact on what's happening right now.
ROBIN WRIGHT, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": Well, the United States clearly counted in the early days of the war on an uprising, or some support from the local population. It was a major calculation. In fact, at one point, there was actually a scenario where the United States provided limited military muscle and air power and the Iraqis were left to do the rest.
Well, because of the experience in 1991 when the first Bush administration called for an uprising among both the Shiites in the south and the Kurds in the north, and they did just that, but were put down, in part because the United States allowed Iraq to use helicopter gunships.
There is, today, a great deal of fear and skepticism about whether the Americans really will follow through. I think what you're seeing today a week after the war started, and a lack of real dynamic, on the street uprisings against the Iraqi regime or against Iraqi troops -- also reflects the long-standing kind of sense of nationalism and fear or skepticism about foreign invaders. It played out against the Brits in 1914.
It took Britain, when they went into Basra first of all three years to get to Baghdad. In 1980, when Iraq and Iran fought, there was a widespread calculation that the Shiites in the south would side with their brethren, the Shiites of Iran. In fact, they -- nationalism prevailed and they fought on the side of Saddam Hussein.
BLITZER: Robin, is there a -- is there a sense, Robin, if you can still hear me -- I assume you can -- is there a sense though that the Shock and Awe air campaign that was supposed to devastate the Iraqi leadership and basically convince the military to put down their arms and surrender if you will, that the Shock and Awe campaign, at least in these first few days, hasn't achieved the political impact, the strategic impact it was supposed to achieve?
WRIGHT: Absolutely, Wolf. There -- I think the Shia in the south particularly want to see some kind of military, you know, sweeping military victory, or reaction in Baghdad, before they begin to risk their own lives again on behalf of the United States. So the military strategy, to a certain degree, has backfired on the administration, in terms of looking for public reaction.
BLITZER: Robin Wright of the "Los Angeles Times," thanks for joining us, always good to get your input as well. Remember though this is only -- not even a week, really, since the war started, very early in this campaign.
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 March 26, 2003 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In the Gulf War, there may be some skepticism at least among Iraqi people who want to revolt according to our next guest -- "Los Angeles Times" correspondent Robin Wright says Iraqi civilians may feel let down after what happened in 1991. She's joining us now live on the phone from Clinton, South Carolina.
Robin, you and I, many of our viewers know, the Iraqis in the south, the Shia in particular, felt betrayed by the United States after the first Gulf War. Tell our viewers why that is probably going to have an impact on what's happening right now.
ROBIN WRIGHT, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": Well, the United States clearly counted in the early days of the war on an uprising, or some support from the local population. It was a major calculation. In fact, at one point, there was actually a scenario where the United States provided limited military muscle and air power and the Iraqis were left to do the rest.
Well, because of the experience in 1991 when the first Bush administration called for an uprising among both the Shiites in the south and the Kurds in the north, and they did just that, but were put down, in part because the United States allowed Iraq to use helicopter gunships.
There is, today, a great deal of fear and skepticism about whether the Americans really will follow through. I think what you're seeing today a week after the war started, and a lack of real dynamic, on the street uprisings against the Iraqi regime or against Iraqi troops -- also reflects the long-standing kind of sense of nationalism and fear or skepticism about foreign invaders. It played out against the Brits in 1914.
It took Britain, when they went into Basra first of all three years to get to Baghdad. In 1980, when Iraq and Iran fought, there was a widespread calculation that the Shiites in the south would side with their brethren, the Shiites of Iran. In fact, they -- nationalism prevailed and they fought on the side of Saddam Hussein.
BLITZER: Robin, is there a -- is there a sense, Robin, if you can still hear me -- I assume you can -- is there a sense though that the Shock and Awe air campaign that was supposed to devastate the Iraqi leadership and basically convince the military to put down their arms and surrender if you will, that the Shock and Awe campaign, at least in these first few days, hasn't achieved the political impact, the strategic impact it was supposed to achieve?
WRIGHT: Absolutely, Wolf. There -- I think the Shia in the south particularly want to see some kind of military, you know, sweeping military victory, or reaction in Baghdad, before they begin to risk their own lives again on behalf of the United States. So the military strategy, to a certain degree, has backfired on the administration, in terms of looking for public reaction.
BLITZER: Robin Wright of the "Los Angeles Times," thanks for joining us, always good to get your input as well. Remember though this is only -- not even a week, really, since the war started, very early in this campaign.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
