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Exclusive: Return to Baghdad

Aired November 24, 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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The escalating violence appears to have the U.S. rethinking post-war Iraq. One sign of change, General Abizaid, the CENTCOM commander, is back in the region and reestablishing a headquarters there. Traveling with him is CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. In this CNN exclusive, she asked General Abizaid about his plans.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Approaching Baghdad, security forces begin to get ready. CNN accompanied General John Abizaid into Iraq at a time when violent attacks remain a concern. The deadline for transfer to Iraqi sovereignty now just months away.

Abizaid travels in an armed helicopter convoy west of Fallujah and Al-Ramadi, where there have been deadly attacks against U.S. troops. After detailed briefings, the general is confident but sober.

GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: I think that this particular area that we've been traveling in, in Fallujah and Al- Ramadi, is really the toughest area that we've got in the country. And it will take time to unravel the enemy. It will take time to build Iraqi security capacity.

STARR: To unravel the enemy, an intelligence priority is to discover crucial operational links between cells of opposition forces across Iraq to break their organization. The commander of the 82nd Airborne Division which oversees Fallujah and Al-Ramadi says Iraqi security forces will be key.

MAJ. GEN. CHUCK SWANNACK, COMMANDER, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION: Well, we're not equipping them right. We're not giving them radios, we're not giving them the proper vehicles they need to do their job.

STARR: Swannack says it's vital to ensure the Iraqis do not become a hollow force. At the end of the day, it's back to Baghdad.

Barbara Starr, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 24, 2003 - 15:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The escalating violence appears to have the U.S. rethinking post-war Iraq. One sign of change, General Abizaid, the CENTCOM commander, is back in the region and reestablishing a headquarters there. Traveling with him is CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. In this CNN exclusive, she asked General Abizaid about his plans.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Approaching Baghdad, security forces begin to get ready. CNN accompanied General John Abizaid into Iraq at a time when violent attacks remain a concern. The deadline for transfer to Iraqi sovereignty now just months away.

Abizaid travels in an armed helicopter convoy west of Fallujah and Al-Ramadi, where there have been deadly attacks against U.S. troops. After detailed briefings, the general is confident but sober.

GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: I think that this particular area that we've been traveling in, in Fallujah and Al- Ramadi, is really the toughest area that we've got in the country. And it will take time to unravel the enemy. It will take time to build Iraqi security capacity.

STARR: To unravel the enemy, an intelligence priority is to discover crucial operational links between cells of opposition forces across Iraq to break their organization. The commander of the 82nd Airborne Division which oversees Fallujah and Al-Ramadi says Iraqi security forces will be key.

MAJ. GEN. CHUCK SWANNACK, COMMANDER, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION: Well, we're not equipping them right. We're not giving them radios, we're not giving them the proper vehicles they need to do their job.

STARR: Swannack says it's vital to ensure the Iraqis do not become a hollow force. At the end of the day, it's back to Baghdad.

Barbara Starr, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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