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American Morning

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Holds Hearing on Iraq

Aired July 31, 2002 - 08:08   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee launches a national debate on Iraq policy this morning. When, how or even whether to try and topple the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, is the issue there.

Barbara Starr among the many reporters here covering the hearings for us and joins us with a preview at the Pentagon -- Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Well, this hearing, at least for the moment, is going to be all politics. There are no members of the Bush administration scheduled to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And even the chairman of the committee, Senator Joe Biden, says all of that is because he knows the Bush administration hasn't made a decision yet about what to do about Iraq. And that really is exactly what's going on.

The committee will hear from academics, analysts, a number of experts on Iraq. But nobody in the decision-making arena. That's all taking place at the White House, the Pentagon, the U.S. Central Command down in Florida.

But Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is beginning occasionally to throw out a couple of little tidbits about his thinking and about how tough it's going to be to target Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction if there is a decision to take military action in Iraq.

For example, yesterday the Secretary said, for the first time publicly he confirmed that Iraq has mobile biological weapons laboratories, a capability that moves in trucks up and down Iraqi highways and roads. That's very difficult to target.

He has also indicated that Iraq is now stepping up its efforts to bury its chemical and biological capability underground deep in bunkers to try and hide them from U.S. bombers if there was action against Iraq.

So Rumsfeld is beginning to lay the groundwork for some of the military challenges that the United States would face if there is a political decision to do a military action against Iraq. So today the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will engage in a political hearing. But ironically, across the hallway, literally, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hear from Rumsfeld and General Tommy Franks later today, the head of the U.S. Central Command. Both of those men will be appearing on Capitol Hill to talk about Operation Enduring Freedom, the war in Afghanistan. They are certain to be asked about Iraq. It'll be interesting to see what they have to say -- Bill.

HEMMER: We'll track it. I know you will, too.

Barbara, thanks.

Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

A reminder to our viewers, just about 90 minutes away, our coverage begins live at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time from that Senate committee. We'll have it for you then.

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