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American Morning
Saddam Hussein Accuses U.N. Inspectors of Spying
Aired January 06, 2003 - 07:10 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: We want to get to Iraq right now. In Baghdad earlier today, a defiant speech by Saddam Hussein.
Rym Brahimi now live from the Iraqi capital, who was listening and watching that speech a bit earlier.
Rym -- good afternoon to you there.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill.
Well, President Saddam Hussein, one interesting point he made in that speech, Bill. He accused the UN weapons inspectors that are working here on the ground of spying.
Here's how he put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ (through translator): The inspection teams are interested in collecting names and making lists of Iraqi scientists, addressing employees with questions that carry hidden agendas, giving special attention to military camps, to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) military (ph) production and to other matters, all or most of which constitute purely intelligence work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: Now, that was a televised speech that was broadcast on Iraqi TV marking the celebration of the 82nd anniversary of Army Day. The entire Iraqi leadership -- the highest-ranking members, rather, of the Iraqi leadership and the ruling Baath Party were present at the ceremony earlier this morning to mark that anniversary. Of course, an anniversary that takes particular significance today, Bill, because of course in light -- sorry -- of the huge military buildup by the U.S. forces in the region.
Now, President Saddam Hussein also had a few words to say about that military buildup, saying that the U.S. forces in the region were not only threatening Iraq, but also the entire Gulf Arab countries, the entire region as a whole, saying the U.S. is trying to secure telecommunications and transport lines from the Red Sea to the Gulf in order to protect not only its own interests, but also the security of Israel.
The reason, said the president, that the U.S. was so keen on going ahead with this U.S. military attack, he said, was to divert the U.S. public opinion in particular from problems at home. He said the U.S. is trying to disguise its failure in having -- not being able to prevent the September 11 attacks by so doing; also trying to disguise its failures with the economy. And also maybe in comments that probably would find more echo in the Arab world, the president said that the United States had garnered a lot hatred and anger in the region because of its policies with regard to the Middle East -- Bill.
HEMMER: Rym, thank you -- Rym Brahimi again in Baghdad.
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 January 6, 2003 - 07:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to Iraq right now. In Baghdad earlier today, a defiant speech by Saddam Hussein.
Rym Brahimi now live from the Iraqi capital, who was listening and watching that speech a bit earlier.
Rym -- good afternoon to you there.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill.
Well, President Saddam Hussein, one interesting point he made in that speech, Bill. He accused the UN weapons inspectors that are working here on the ground of spying.
Here's how he put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ (through translator): The inspection teams are interested in collecting names and making lists of Iraqi scientists, addressing employees with questions that carry hidden agendas, giving special attention to military camps, to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) military (ph) production and to other matters, all or most of which constitute purely intelligence work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: Now, that was a televised speech that was broadcast on Iraqi TV marking the celebration of the 82nd anniversary of Army Day. The entire Iraqi leadership -- the highest-ranking members, rather, of the Iraqi leadership and the ruling Baath Party were present at the ceremony earlier this morning to mark that anniversary. Of course, an anniversary that takes particular significance today, Bill, because of course in light -- sorry -- of the huge military buildup by the U.S. forces in the region.
Now, President Saddam Hussein also had a few words to say about that military buildup, saying that the U.S. forces in the region were not only threatening Iraq, but also the entire Gulf Arab countries, the entire region as a whole, saying the U.S. is trying to secure telecommunications and transport lines from the Red Sea to the Gulf in order to protect not only its own interests, but also the security of Israel.
The reason, said the president, that the U.S. was so keen on going ahead with this U.S. military attack, he said, was to divert the U.S. public opinion in particular from problems at home. He said the U.S. is trying to disguise its failure in having -- not being able to prevent the September 11 attacks by so doing; also trying to disguise its failures with the economy. And also maybe in comments that probably would find more echo in the Arab world, the president said that the United States had garnered a lot hatred and anger in the region because of its policies with regard to the Middle East -- Bill.
HEMMER: Rym, thank you -- Rym Brahimi again in Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
