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American Morning
More Threatening Words from Iraq
Aired January 28, 2003 - 08:17 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: More threatening words from Iraq. We heard from Tariq Aziz, the deputy prime minister, in an interview with the CBC in Canada essentially say that if there is war with his country, Kuwait will be a target.
His words now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TARIQ AZIZ, IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Kuwait now is a battlefield. Kuwait is a battlefield and the American troops are in Kuwait and preparing themselves to attack Iraq. If there will be an attack from Kuwait, I cannot say that we will not retaliate. We will, of course, retaliate against the American troops wherever they start their aggression on Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: So then what is the mood and the reaction here in Kuwait?
Let's talk with Sheikh Saud, a former ambassador to the United States.
Good afternoon to you.
Thank you for your time.
SHEIKH SAUD, FORMER KUWAIT AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: You're welcome. How are you doing?
HEMMER: You've heard the words from Tariq Aziz. Your reaction is what after the threat is issued again?
SAUD: Well, as usual, we've heard this rhetoric coming out of Iraq many, many times. And I don't think we're going to lose sleep over those statements. Kuwait and Iraq have been at a state of war since 1990 when they invaded Kuwait. As far as we're concerned, Kuwait is still at war with Iraq. And if my memory serves me right, Resolution 687 is a cease-fire resolution. So therefore...
HEMMER: So you think these words are hollow?
SAUD: We believe that they are hollow, they're Iraqi rhetoric. This is a deja vu again like we had in 1990-'91 with Iraq. And I believe that we're living, the same period we're living in through before the Desert Storm of 1991. So I don't believe that we should really give a lot of interest to it and we should proceed as we are.
HEMMER: Have you given much consideration to the possibility of a preemptive strike against Kuwait with the American forces now 25,000 strong?
SAUD: There is a collective defense agreement here, a joint defense agreement with the United States. The United States is here. Our coalition forces are here and I believe that we should be ready, as far as Kuwait is concerned, for any preemptive attempt on the part of Iraq to launch an attack on Kuwait.
This is a possibility that could exist. But when you are at war you're at war. And you have to accept these possibilities.
HEMMER: It was a week ago today when an ambush took place at a camp -- outside of Camp Doha. One American killed, working on behalf of the U.S. military. Another shot and wounded, American, on that day.
What do you say right now to the satisfy and security of the U.S. military working in and around your country?
SAUD: These were disgraceful acts which every Kuwaiti condemns and these are what have been termed as isolated acts. But I believe that something has to be done about it, that we completely reject these acts. And as I say again and again, they are disgraceful as far as we are concerned.
HEMMER: In addition to what has...
SAUD: And so our responsibility, I think, is to protect our friends in Kuwait and also our guests in Kuwait. They're here to protect Kuwait and I think we should live up to our expectations.
HEMMER: Quickly, outside of the U.S. military, there are roughly 8,000 Americans who live and work in your country, as well.
To them and their security, you say what?
SAUD: Their security is our responsibility and they live amongst us as our friends and our allies. And they're guests of Kuwait and they are guests of every Kuwaiti and it's our responsibility as Kuwaitis to protect them with our lives.
HEMMER: Sheikh Saud, thank you for your time and we appreciate your comments today.
Thank you, sir.
SAUD: Thank you.
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 28, 2003 - 08:17 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: More threatening words from Iraq. We heard from Tariq Aziz, the deputy prime minister, in an interview with the CBC in Canada essentially say that if there is war with his country, Kuwait will be a target.
His words now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TARIQ AZIZ, IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Kuwait now is a battlefield. Kuwait is a battlefield and the American troops are in Kuwait and preparing themselves to attack Iraq. If there will be an attack from Kuwait, I cannot say that we will not retaliate. We will, of course, retaliate against the American troops wherever they start their aggression on Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: So then what is the mood and the reaction here in Kuwait?
Let's talk with Sheikh Saud, a former ambassador to the United States.
Good afternoon to you.
Thank you for your time.
SHEIKH SAUD, FORMER KUWAIT AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: You're welcome. How are you doing?
HEMMER: You've heard the words from Tariq Aziz. Your reaction is what after the threat is issued again?
SAUD: Well, as usual, we've heard this rhetoric coming out of Iraq many, many times. And I don't think we're going to lose sleep over those statements. Kuwait and Iraq have been at a state of war since 1990 when they invaded Kuwait. As far as we're concerned, Kuwait is still at war with Iraq. And if my memory serves me right, Resolution 687 is a cease-fire resolution. So therefore...
HEMMER: So you think these words are hollow?
SAUD: We believe that they are hollow, they're Iraqi rhetoric. This is a deja vu again like we had in 1990-'91 with Iraq. And I believe that we're living, the same period we're living in through before the Desert Storm of 1991. So I don't believe that we should really give a lot of interest to it and we should proceed as we are.
HEMMER: Have you given much consideration to the possibility of a preemptive strike against Kuwait with the American forces now 25,000 strong?
SAUD: There is a collective defense agreement here, a joint defense agreement with the United States. The United States is here. Our coalition forces are here and I believe that we should be ready, as far as Kuwait is concerned, for any preemptive attempt on the part of Iraq to launch an attack on Kuwait.
This is a possibility that could exist. But when you are at war you're at war. And you have to accept these possibilities.
HEMMER: It was a week ago today when an ambush took place at a camp -- outside of Camp Doha. One American killed, working on behalf of the U.S. military. Another shot and wounded, American, on that day.
What do you say right now to the satisfy and security of the U.S. military working in and around your country?
SAUD: These were disgraceful acts which every Kuwaiti condemns and these are what have been termed as isolated acts. But I believe that something has to be done about it, that we completely reject these acts. And as I say again and again, they are disgraceful as far as we are concerned.
HEMMER: In addition to what has...
SAUD: And so our responsibility, I think, is to protect our friends in Kuwait and also our guests in Kuwait. They're here to protect Kuwait and I think we should live up to our expectations.
HEMMER: Quickly, outside of the U.S. military, there are roughly 8,000 Americans who live and work in your country, as well.
To them and their security, you say what?
SAUD: Their security is our responsibility and they live amongst us as our friends and our allies. And they're guests of Kuwait and they are guests of every Kuwaiti and it's our responsibility as Kuwaitis to protect them with our lives.
HEMMER: Sheikh Saud, thank you for your time and we appreciate your comments today.
Thank you, sir.
SAUD: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
