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Where U.S. Troops Justified in Attacking Hotel?

Aired April 08, 2003 - 15:02   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, now, Wolf, to the speculation about Saddam Hussein and details about that U.S. Bombardment ordered yesterday in hopes of wiping him out.
Let's go to our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Judy, the Pentagon says that with its troops holding both airports in Baghdad and strategic locations in town, that the end of the regime is closer than many people think. But they are still fierce fighting ahead and even though the Pentagon says that the resistance has been reduced to pockets of resistance in and around the city, they say that those pockets are still fighting and dying in defense of the regime. The Marines have swept in from the east and taken the Rashid (ph) Airport. So they hold both airports now. And today the deputy director of the Joint Staff here, General McChrystal said the United States is in the center of the city with an armored brigade, which he called extraordinary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. STANLEY MCCRYSTAL, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: One of the things we're finding right now is the ability to spend the night where they want to. They have not been driven out of the capital on any occasion. Every occasion they've gone in they've come out where they wanted to. We, in fact, control the airport and are staying there. We're starting to bring in regular resupplying activities. So what we are really demonstrating is an ability to do whatever it is General Franks wants to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: In the aftermath of that strike that targeted Saddam Hussein and his sons and other top Iraqi leaders, the Pentagon is not sure who is in Charge in Baghdad. Although, Tori Clark, the Pentagon spokeswoman said today that clearly somebody is giving orders, although she said those orders were not very good. One evidence, one significant sign that the regime maintains some grip on power, the appearance today of the Iraqi information minister who, again, disputed the U.S. claims of the progress in the city.

He said that, in fact, the United States troops were surrounded in the city and were about to be destroyed by Iraqi forces. Obviously the Pentagon believes that characterization is fanciful. But the mere fact he can appear on the streets and talk to television cameras, still shows for the that for the moment, anyway, that the regime of Saddam Hussein still maintains some control in the capital city of Baghdad -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Jamie, we understand the information minister and his staff have been operating out of the Palestine Hotel, where U.S. and other journalists have been staying. Of course we learned earlier today about a strike on that hotel by Coalition, by U.S. forces. What are they saying at the Pentagon about (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of using of a tank round against what they suspected were sniper shots coming from that hotel?

MCINTYRE: Well, the Pentagon has offered the condolences to the loss of life. It regrets the loss of any civilians, particularly the journalists who were killed in this incident. However, they are unapologetic about the rules of engagement that allowed a tank crew to send a tank round into this hotel, where it was well known the Palestine Hotel was where international and even some American journalists were conducting business there. The Pentagon said in the past it has exercised a lot of restraint, but in this case they were operating on self-defense.

WOODRUFF: All right, Jamie McIntyre reporting for us from the Pentagon. Thanks very much, Jamie.

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 April 8, 2003 - 15:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, now, Wolf, to the speculation about Saddam Hussein and details about that U.S. Bombardment ordered yesterday in hopes of wiping him out.
Let's go to our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Judy, the Pentagon says that with its troops holding both airports in Baghdad and strategic locations in town, that the end of the regime is closer than many people think. But they are still fierce fighting ahead and even though the Pentagon says that the resistance has been reduced to pockets of resistance in and around the city, they say that those pockets are still fighting and dying in defense of the regime. The Marines have swept in from the east and taken the Rashid (ph) Airport. So they hold both airports now. And today the deputy director of the Joint Staff here, General McChrystal said the United States is in the center of the city with an armored brigade, which he called extraordinary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. STANLEY MCCRYSTAL, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: One of the things we're finding right now is the ability to spend the night where they want to. They have not been driven out of the capital on any occasion. Every occasion they've gone in they've come out where they wanted to. We, in fact, control the airport and are staying there. We're starting to bring in regular resupplying activities. So what we are really demonstrating is an ability to do whatever it is General Franks wants to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCINTYRE: In the aftermath of that strike that targeted Saddam Hussein and his sons and other top Iraqi leaders, the Pentagon is not sure who is in Charge in Baghdad. Although, Tori Clark, the Pentagon spokeswoman said today that clearly somebody is giving orders, although she said those orders were not very good. One evidence, one significant sign that the regime maintains some grip on power, the appearance today of the Iraqi information minister who, again, disputed the U.S. claims of the progress in the city.

He said that, in fact, the United States troops were surrounded in the city and were about to be destroyed by Iraqi forces. Obviously the Pentagon believes that characterization is fanciful. But the mere fact he can appear on the streets and talk to television cameras, still shows for the that for the moment, anyway, that the regime of Saddam Hussein still maintains some control in the capital city of Baghdad -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Jamie, we understand the information minister and his staff have been operating out of the Palestine Hotel, where U.S. and other journalists have been staying. Of course we learned earlier today about a strike on that hotel by Coalition, by U.S. forces. What are they saying at the Pentagon about (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of using of a tank round against what they suspected were sniper shots coming from that hotel?

MCINTYRE: Well, the Pentagon has offered the condolences to the loss of life. It regrets the loss of any civilians, particularly the journalists who were killed in this incident. However, they are unapologetic about the rules of engagement that allowed a tank crew to send a tank round into this hotel, where it was well known the Palestine Hotel was where international and even some American journalists were conducting business there. The Pentagon said in the past it has exercised a lot of restraint, but in this case they were operating on self-defense.

WOODRUFF: All right, Jamie McIntyre reporting for us from the Pentagon. Thanks very much, Jamie.

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