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American Morning
Iraq Watching as Bush Continues Building Coalition in Prague
Aired November 21, 2002 - 07:35 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: Iraq is watching as President Bush continues building a coalition in Prague.
Our own Nic Robertson joins us from Baghdad this morning -- and, Nic, is there any reaction from Iraq to the news that NATO will be adding its weight to the U.N. resolution?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So far nothing. The biggest subject that's getting reaction here at the moment, and a lot of time given on the Iraqi TV to that last night, the claims that the, Iraq is in breach of Resolution 1441 by firing at coalition aircraft in the no fly zone. Iraqi news commentators saying that essentially that this is just trying to obscure the United States, trying to obscure all the positive attributes that Iraq is putting forward right now for dealing with Resolution 1441.
Another interesting point on Iraqi TV last night, Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan indicating that Iraqi scientists may be free to talk with U.N. inspectors. Of course, the resolution calls for the inspectors to be able to talk to them privately and even take them out of the country, because they believe that up until now, those scientists can only talk in front of Iraqi government officials, that they can't tell everything they want to say about chemical and biological industries. And, of course, those scientists could hold the clues, the main clues that could help U.N. inspectors track down weapons of mass destruction.
Taha Yassin Ramadan also saying at this time Iraq just not trusting the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAHA RAMADAN, IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT: I expect this evil action from the U.S. administration at any moment, even after this decision and after the inspectors' arrival. I say this because of our previous dealings with the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, Iraq yesterday, as well, condemning the firing in the south of Iraq, around the Basra area. Coalition aircraft firing on communications -- firing on defense facilities down there. The Iraqi news agency saying that it was civilian premises that were fired upon -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic, just, I know that you spend time not only with the local people, but a bunch of journalists. There seems to be a growing analysis here that there is an expectation the Iraqis will cooperate, but not comply. Privately, what is said there?
ROBERTSON: It does seem to be the analysis that's coming from here, as well, and an interesting point. When General Amir Al-Saadi, President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser, was asked a question about how does he perceive the statements coming from the United States at the moment, in the past there might have been an inclination to be a little more bellicose. And his response was very diplomatic, just saying that they're going to stick to working through the resolution. And certainly those are the indications we're getting here.
The comments on Iraqi TV by officials is that they're going to help, that they're going to comply. That's what we're picking up from people on the streets here. They believe their government is going to comply. The degree of compliance obviously is going to be the key issue for the inspectors to discover.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson, appreciate the update from Baghdad. See you a little bit later on this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Prague>
Aired November 21, 2002 - 07:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq is watching as President Bush continues building a coalition in Prague.
Our own Nic Robertson joins us from Baghdad this morning -- and, Nic, is there any reaction from Iraq to the news that NATO will be adding its weight to the U.N. resolution?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So far nothing. The biggest subject that's getting reaction here at the moment, and a lot of time given on the Iraqi TV to that last night, the claims that the, Iraq is in breach of Resolution 1441 by firing at coalition aircraft in the no fly zone. Iraqi news commentators saying that essentially that this is just trying to obscure the United States, trying to obscure all the positive attributes that Iraq is putting forward right now for dealing with Resolution 1441.
Another interesting point on Iraqi TV last night, Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan indicating that Iraqi scientists may be free to talk with U.N. inspectors. Of course, the resolution calls for the inspectors to be able to talk to them privately and even take them out of the country, because they believe that up until now, those scientists can only talk in front of Iraqi government officials, that they can't tell everything they want to say about chemical and biological industries. And, of course, those scientists could hold the clues, the main clues that could help U.N. inspectors track down weapons of mass destruction.
Taha Yassin Ramadan also saying at this time Iraq just not trusting the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAHA RAMADAN, IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT: I expect this evil action from the U.S. administration at any moment, even after this decision and after the inspectors' arrival. I say this because of our previous dealings with the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, Iraq yesterday, as well, condemning the firing in the south of Iraq, around the Basra area. Coalition aircraft firing on communications -- firing on defense facilities down there. The Iraqi news agency saying that it was civilian premises that were fired upon -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic, just, I know that you spend time not only with the local people, but a bunch of journalists. There seems to be a growing analysis here that there is an expectation the Iraqis will cooperate, but not comply. Privately, what is said there?
ROBERTSON: It does seem to be the analysis that's coming from here, as well, and an interesting point. When General Amir Al-Saadi, President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser, was asked a question about how does he perceive the statements coming from the United States at the moment, in the past there might have been an inclination to be a little more bellicose. And his response was very diplomatic, just saying that they're going to stick to working through the resolution. And certainly those are the indications we're getting here.
The comments on Iraqi TV by officials is that they're going to help, that they're going to comply. That's what we're picking up from people on the streets here. They believe their government is going to comply. The degree of compliance obviously is going to be the key issue for the inspectors to discover.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson, appreciate the update from Baghdad. See you a little bit later on this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Prague>
