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Operation Iraqi Freedom
Aired March 28, 2003 - 13:08 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: As the secretary was answering the reporters' questions, our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel has been gathering some new and disturbing information. I want to go to her live right now over at the State Department. Andrea, tell us what you've learned.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, CNN has learned that in the last several days, due to U.S. intelligence, two Iraqi sleeper cells have been rolled up. They were believed to be in the planning stages of attacks against U.S. interests in two countries, one of which is believed to be in the Persian Gulf. One source saying, "Iraqi intelligence service operatives had been compromised with terrorist materials in two countries."
Now, he did say that this did not include chemical or biological weapons, but rather, standard, explosive materials. In addition, Wolf, we were also told by senior administration officials that as a result of these arrests in those two countries, U.S. intelligence also now has information that there are active plots by Iraqi intelligent service agents in at least 10 countries around the world.
Now, all of this intelligence has been gathered as part of both the U.S. and its partners in the global war against terrorism. This was standard intelligence-gathering procedures. But you'll also remember that earlier this month, the State Department requested that all governments around the world, in fact, they gave specific governments information about individuals they said were Iraqi intelligence service agents operating out of embassies in those countries and the U.S. requested those governments to expel these agents.
Well I've also learned from a senior administration official that, in conjunction with the start of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Iraqi intelligence service has -- quote -- "been given primacy" in Iraq and diplomatic missions in the world. What this means in short, Wolf, is that the Iraqi intelligence services, according to the U.S. are now running the show in their embassies in governments around the world -- Wolf.
BLITZER: "Specific plots have been thwarted," is that what you're saying? Specific bombing attempts using conventional bombs, not chemical or biological agents, germ warfare, but specific plots already have been thwarted, Iraqi intelligence plots against various targets? Is that what you're saying -- the information you're getting, Andrea?
KOPPEL: Wolf, my sources were not specific about what materials they were talking about or how these potential terrorist attacks would be carried out. What they would say is this was standard, explosive materials, so one could reach that conclusion. But in addition, what I was told by these sources is that these plots were in the planning stages. One official said they weren't caught heading out the door to carry out these attacks. They weren't caught with their hand on a switch, but that clearly these operations were far enough along that the U.S. felt comfortable and confident that these arrests should be made -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And finally, Andrea, before I let you go, no connection between these Iraqi alleged plots and al Qaeda, is that right?
KOPPEL: That is correct. We asked specifically whether or not there were any al Qaeda connections. As you know, the Bush administration has made various allegations that there are known to be some links between al Qaeda operatives and some Iraqi officials, but in this case, I'm told very clearly no links to al Qaeda. And these two arrests, Wolf, it also should be noted -- these two plots, rather, that were rolled up, these two cells, this would be the first such instance that Iraq intelligence service operatives had been arrested on alleged terrorist charges -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Andrea Koppel at the State Department. U.S. intelligence suspecting there would be an upsurge in the Iraqi attempt at terrorism as a result of the war and presumably, that's precisely what's going on right now. Our Andrea Koppel, breaking this story here on CNN. Thanks, Andrea, very much.
Aired March 28, 2003 - 13:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: As the secretary was answering the reporters' questions, our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel has been gathering some new and disturbing information. I want to go to her live right now over at the State Department. Andrea, tell us what you've learned.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, CNN has learned that in the last several days, due to U.S. intelligence, two Iraqi sleeper cells have been rolled up. They were believed to be in the planning stages of attacks against U.S. interests in two countries, one of which is believed to be in the Persian Gulf. One source saying, "Iraqi intelligence service operatives had been compromised with terrorist materials in two countries."
Now, he did say that this did not include chemical or biological weapons, but rather, standard, explosive materials. In addition, Wolf, we were also told by senior administration officials that as a result of these arrests in those two countries, U.S. intelligence also now has information that there are active plots by Iraqi intelligent service agents in at least 10 countries around the world.
Now, all of this intelligence has been gathered as part of both the U.S. and its partners in the global war against terrorism. This was standard intelligence-gathering procedures. But you'll also remember that earlier this month, the State Department requested that all governments around the world, in fact, they gave specific governments information about individuals they said were Iraqi intelligence service agents operating out of embassies in those countries and the U.S. requested those governments to expel these agents.
Well I've also learned from a senior administration official that, in conjunction with the start of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Iraqi intelligence service has -- quote -- "been given primacy" in Iraq and diplomatic missions in the world. What this means in short, Wolf, is that the Iraqi intelligence services, according to the U.S. are now running the show in their embassies in governments around the world -- Wolf.
BLITZER: "Specific plots have been thwarted," is that what you're saying? Specific bombing attempts using conventional bombs, not chemical or biological agents, germ warfare, but specific plots already have been thwarted, Iraqi intelligence plots against various targets? Is that what you're saying -- the information you're getting, Andrea?
KOPPEL: Wolf, my sources were not specific about what materials they were talking about or how these potential terrorist attacks would be carried out. What they would say is this was standard, explosive materials, so one could reach that conclusion. But in addition, what I was told by these sources is that these plots were in the planning stages. One official said they weren't caught heading out the door to carry out these attacks. They weren't caught with their hand on a switch, but that clearly these operations were far enough along that the U.S. felt comfortable and confident that these arrests should be made -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And finally, Andrea, before I let you go, no connection between these Iraqi alleged plots and al Qaeda, is that right?
KOPPEL: That is correct. We asked specifically whether or not there were any al Qaeda connections. As you know, the Bush administration has made various allegations that there are known to be some links between al Qaeda operatives and some Iraqi officials, but in this case, I'm told very clearly no links to al Qaeda. And these two arrests, Wolf, it also should be noted -- these two plots, rather, that were rolled up, these two cells, this would be the first such instance that Iraq intelligence service operatives had been arrested on alleged terrorist charges -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Andrea Koppel at the State Department. U.S. intelligence suspecting there would be an upsurge in the Iraqi attempt at terrorism as a result of the war and presumably, that's precisely what's going on right now. Our Andrea Koppel, breaking this story here on CNN. Thanks, Andrea, very much.
