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Donald Rumsfeld Issues Warnings to Iran, Syria
Aired March 28, 2003 - 15:38 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: And we're beginning to hear those sirens over Baghdad now. Sirens in Baghdad, as it approaches midnight here in this part of the world. This is usually a sign that Iraqi radar has detected some U.S. planes perhaps beginning to move towards the Iraqi capital. Very often the sirens go off in advance of U.S. bombing campaigns.
It's been a relatively quiet night so far, at least for the past few hours in the Iraqi capital. That could change if these sirens are a tip-off that U.S. warplanes are on the way. Very often after we hear these sirens we additionally hear Iraqi anti-aircraft gunfire as they shoot up into the skies trying to bring down a U.S. plane.
No explosions heard yet, but we're watching these pictures; we are watching live scenes over Baghdad. We'll continue to monitor what's going on. If there's no bombing, of course we'll be there live. In the meantime, let's go back to Judy in Washington.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: And, Wolf, we want to share with our viewers the video of what it was -- what it sounded like, what it looked like in Baghdad just a few moments ago when those sirens went off. This was moments ago. Let's just listen.
Again, this video from just a few moments ago, the sirens that went off. And as you just heard Wolf say, this could indicate that a coalition air strike is underway. We will, of course, watch and listen very closely.
Well it was just about two hours ago at the Pentagon that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and General Richard Myers, who is the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, came before reporters to describe the progress of the war as they see it. And Barbara Starr, our Pentagon correspondent, joining me now.
Barbara, at a number of points, not only the secretary issuing some interesting warnings that we had not heard before to the Iraqi -- I'm sorry, to the Iranians and to the Syrian government, but also being very deliberate in stating that considering where we are, nine days into this war, their contention is that it is going well -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Judy. The administration's position from the White House, from the State Department, and from here at the Pentagon, is that the effort to enact regime change in Iraq is going well. From the military point of view, they believe, they say, they are on plan, on target, and things are progressing as they expect. They are beginning to -- now that the weather has cleared in Baghdad, they are beginning to conduct a number of increased air strikes against Republican Guard units positioned around the capital on the outskirts. Every indication they will continue with those air strikes in the days ahead as long as the weather remains clear.
Now the secretary did have some very unexpected news to make at the briefing. He issued a very public, very strong warning to two neighbors of Iraq who are certainly not allies of the United States. That's both Iran and Syria.
In the case of Iran, he talks about the fact that U.S. intelligence has seen some Iraqi dissidents called the Badr Corps that are supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, he says. They have seen them operating, and they pose a threat, he says, to U.S. forces possibly. He said he wants that type of activity by this Iranian group stopped.
And then he turn his focus Syria and criticized the Syrian government for supporting the movement of night vision goggles and other key military equipment into Iraq. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We have information that shipments of military supplies have been crossing the border from Syria into Iraq, including night vision goggles. These deliveries pose a direct threat to the lives of coalition forces. We consider such trafficking as hostile acts and will hold the Syrian government accountable for such shipments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: Judy, the secretary made it crystal clear from his point of view these actions by both Iran and Syria if they continue will be considered hostile acts. The fighters will be considered combatants, the ones supported by Iran. And he wants Syria, he said, to stop the military shipments into Iraq -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: All right. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. We noticed that when the defense secretary was asked about the war plan he said at one point, "It's Tommy Franks' war plan," which we did take note of. Of course he went on to say that he and others in the joint chiefs have certainly signed off on it, all the way up to the National Security Council. But that particular comment I think was noteworthy.
Thanks, Barbara.
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 28, 2003 - 15:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And we're beginning to hear those sirens over Baghdad now. Sirens in Baghdad, as it approaches midnight here in this part of the world. This is usually a sign that Iraqi radar has detected some U.S. planes perhaps beginning to move towards the Iraqi capital. Very often the sirens go off in advance of U.S. bombing campaigns.
It's been a relatively quiet night so far, at least for the past few hours in the Iraqi capital. That could change if these sirens are a tip-off that U.S. warplanes are on the way. Very often after we hear these sirens we additionally hear Iraqi anti-aircraft gunfire as they shoot up into the skies trying to bring down a U.S. plane.
No explosions heard yet, but we're watching these pictures; we are watching live scenes over Baghdad. We'll continue to monitor what's going on. If there's no bombing, of course we'll be there live. In the meantime, let's go back to Judy in Washington.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: And, Wolf, we want to share with our viewers the video of what it was -- what it sounded like, what it looked like in Baghdad just a few moments ago when those sirens went off. This was moments ago. Let's just listen.
Again, this video from just a few moments ago, the sirens that went off. And as you just heard Wolf say, this could indicate that a coalition air strike is underway. We will, of course, watch and listen very closely.
Well it was just about two hours ago at the Pentagon that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and General Richard Myers, who is the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, came before reporters to describe the progress of the war as they see it. And Barbara Starr, our Pentagon correspondent, joining me now.
Barbara, at a number of points, not only the secretary issuing some interesting warnings that we had not heard before to the Iraqi -- I'm sorry, to the Iranians and to the Syrian government, but also being very deliberate in stating that considering where we are, nine days into this war, their contention is that it is going well -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Judy. The administration's position from the White House, from the State Department, and from here at the Pentagon, is that the effort to enact regime change in Iraq is going well. From the military point of view, they believe, they say, they are on plan, on target, and things are progressing as they expect. They are beginning to -- now that the weather has cleared in Baghdad, they are beginning to conduct a number of increased air strikes against Republican Guard units positioned around the capital on the outskirts. Every indication they will continue with those air strikes in the days ahead as long as the weather remains clear.
Now the secretary did have some very unexpected news to make at the briefing. He issued a very public, very strong warning to two neighbors of Iraq who are certainly not allies of the United States. That's both Iran and Syria.
In the case of Iran, he talks about the fact that U.S. intelligence has seen some Iraqi dissidents called the Badr Corps that are supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, he says. They have seen them operating, and they pose a threat, he says, to U.S. forces possibly. He said he wants that type of activity by this Iranian group stopped.
And then he turn his focus Syria and criticized the Syrian government for supporting the movement of night vision goggles and other key military equipment into Iraq. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We have information that shipments of military supplies have been crossing the border from Syria into Iraq, including night vision goggles. These deliveries pose a direct threat to the lives of coalition forces. We consider such trafficking as hostile acts and will hold the Syrian government accountable for such shipments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: Judy, the secretary made it crystal clear from his point of view these actions by both Iran and Syria if they continue will be considered hostile acts. The fighters will be considered combatants, the ones supported by Iran. And he wants Syria, he said, to stop the military shipments into Iraq -- Judy.
WOODRUFF: All right. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. We noticed that when the defense secretary was asked about the war plan he said at one point, "It's Tommy Franks' war plan," which we did take note of. Of course he went on to say that he and others in the joint chiefs have certainly signed off on it, all the way up to the National Security Council. But that particular comment I think was noteworthy.
Thanks, Barbara.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
