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American Morning
U.S. Getting Ready to Send From 100-200 Troops to Former Soviet Republic of Georgia
Aired February 27, 2002 - 07:32 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: There is word this morning that the U.S. is getting ready to send anywhere from 100 to 200 troops to the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, another step in the U.S. war on terrorism. The American troops will be used to train Georgians to go after al Qaeda fighters, who may have fled there from Afghanistan.
Joining us now is Richard Butler, our ambassador-in-residence -- good morning.
RICHARD BUTLER, FORMER U.N. CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Good morning, Paula.
ZAHN: If anybody had floated this idea a year ago...
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: ... we would said, what planet are you from?
BUTLER: That's right.
ZAHN: What do you make of this move? How significant is it?
BUTLER: How extraordinary. Georgia, of course, is a former Soviet Republic, part of the USSR. It's now independent, and its president is Eduard Shevardnadze, who was the foreign minister to the Soviet Union. Georgia, as you can see, is between Turkey and Russia, just north of Afghanistan.
These are the central facts. We know that al Qaeda has networks throughout the world. The Russians have always said they have a presence in Chechnya, which is just in the north of Georgia heading into Russia.
What we also know is that in the Pankisi Gorge, a gorge leading from Georgia into Chechnya, is 1,000-1,500 foreign terrorists, Arabs and other non-Georgian or Chechen nationals. We have heard them. Intelligence people have heard them talking on their radios and sometimes talking to al Qaeda central. They are a foreign terrorist presence in Georgia, seeking to link up with the Chechen's part of the al Qaeda world network. Georgia has asked us, the United States, to come help train them to deal with these people.
ZAHN: What difference will a training force of anywhere from 100 to 200 American officers make?
BUTLER: I assume that the Georgians feel they need help. We know that U.S. policy is to seek out al Qaeda and terrorist networks wherever they can be found and to destroy them. Same as in the Philippines. The basic idea is that we send some of our specially- skilled people to help the local military get better at doing the anti-terrorist job. Same rules of engagement, Paula, that is...
ZAHN: Which is only they are allowed to fire when they are defending themselves.
BUTLER: That's rights. Only to train, but they can defend themselves. Let's hope it stays that way. Let's hope they help the Georgians deal with this problem.
It's, I think, one that we have to take seriously, certainly the Russians do. And that's why -- remember you said if someone had asked this question a year ago, you're from another planet. We in Georgia, the Russians are quite happy with this, because you see, they have always argued that the Chechen problem that they have is not just a nationalist, separatist problem people wanted to get away from Russia, but is being run by terrorists with links to international terrorists, Islamic fundamentalist groups.
So the Russians are happy, I think, that we are going to go do this.
ZAHN: Let's move on to the issue of the Middle East and this Saudi Arabian peace plan...
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: ... that is now being floated. It is interesting to note how much the administration's temperature has changed on this.
BUTLER: That's right.
ZAHN: You now have the president saying this is a good idea.
BUTLER: That's right.
ZAHN: Now, that's in marked contrast to Secretary of State Colin Powell initially saying it's a minor step, and then the language changed again, it's an important step, and now this, the president's endorsement.
BUTLER: Absolutely right. This has been stepping up as each day has passed, and it seems to be moving rather quickly. But the point I would emphasize, Paula, and you and I have talked in the last few days is about this issue of the U.S. getting re-engaged in solving this Israel-Palestine problem.
The Saudi plan now has support in No. 1 in the world, the president of the United States. George W. Bush called the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and said this is a great idea. I am really interested in it. That's a considerable development. This is going to move fast and maybe far.
ZAHN: The political reality is people are saying the president signed onto it, because it takes the heat off of the U.S. administration for not being more involved and more active in moving the peace process ahead. Pretty predictable criticism?
BUTLER: If it is a criticism. I mean, I think it's just an intelligent analysis. The president has got several goals that he can satisfy here, and one of them is one that you mentioned. Another one is to get some of the heat off of the U.S. in what I believe is its continuing planning to get rid of Saddam Hussein.
So there are multiple benefits in it, but bottom line, Paula, you and I know is that this situation between Israel and Palestine at the moment has been in the worst state it has been in for a very long time. A solution is needed and maybe this is the one.
ZAHN: We understand you have to take to the road for several days.
BUTLER: I do.
ZAHN: Be very diplomatic when you are away.
BUTLER: As always. Thank you. Bye.
ZAHN: Ambassador Richard Butler, thanks for your time -- we'll see soon.
Before we let the ambassador go, I wanted to read this e-mail that we got from a reference Daryn Kagan made the other morning to an Australian sports chant. Here is how it reads:
"Paula, the reason Richard Butler looked blank this morning when he heard "Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy," is because it's not an Australian chant. The correct wording is "Oggie, Oggie, Oggie, oy, oy, oy." Oggie is the local name for a meat and vegetable pie made in Cornwall and Devon in the southwest of England. And "Oggie, Oggie, Oggie, oy, oy, oy" is the battle cry of west country soccer teams, west country home-ported sailors, et cetera. Please tell Richard, so that he doesn't feel there was a gap in his knowledge of the world's events." That's from Mervyn, an Englishman in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Do you feel a whole lot better now?
BUTLER: Absolutely. And isn't the Internet wonderful thing? This is the global village, Paula, and (INAUDIBLE).
ZAHN: I'm just going to be worried when I hear you say from now on, "Oggie, Oggie, Oggie, oy, oy, oy."
BUTLER: It will never pass my lips.
ZAHN: OK. Travel well.
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