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American Morning
Saddam Hussein Talking Very Tough
Aired January 30, 2003 - 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: Now back to Iraq, where Saddam Hussein is talking very tough. He is warning that America will be harmed in the event of war.
Our Nic Robertson is standing by in Baghdad, where he joins us with the latest developments -- good morning, Nic.
And as you can see, we just lost that satellite shot. That often happens from that part of the world. So we're going to move on to another story now and try to get Nic Robertson's live shot back up from Baghdad.
In the meantime, former South African President Nelson Mandela is criticizing President Bush and his stance on Iraq. Mr. Mandela says that what President Bush really wants to do, in his words, is get a hold of Iraq's oil. And he said the problem could cause great harm by going to war.
And unfortunately we don't have Mr. Mandela's words, either, but he was applauded for his comments, made at the International Women's Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa.
OK, the second time is going to be a charm today. Let's go back to Baghdad and see if we can get that live shot with Nic Robertson back up -- there you are.
Good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, fingers crossed we get through this one. President Saddam Hussein appears quite regularly on television here in the evenings. But last night he met with top military commanders and we heard him lay out his defensive strategy. This is the first time we've heard this.
He talked about having many lines of defense carefully spaced, careful supplies. He said it was important the United States didn't think that Iraq could be beaten easily and he said that if the United States did invade, then they would be very surprised at what they would find.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ: They think that the Iraqi people and military will react in a disorganized, unfocused and chaotic way to their landing forces. But they are not counting on Iraq being prepared for this by its detailed drills and facing the landing force, starting with the shepherds in the desert to the farmers behind the plows.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, these have been morale boosting speeches, but this is the first one where he has laid out this strategy multiple lines of defense, careful supplies, really trying to boost the commanders. He asks them every night are you ready, what are your preparations. He gives them ideas, have you tried this, have you done this.
This is the real tone of what Iraqi people are picking up on their television now -- Paula.
ZAHN: But, Nic, what about those who say that if military action is started, that the Republican Guard might fold?
ROBERTSON: Well, that's not something you hear talked about in Baghdad or around Iraq at all. Certainly Iraqi officials take those kind of views as just psychological war against the Iraqi people. They say this war has been going on for some time, the psychological war, and the talk here is of a resolute army. The pictures on television speak to that. We see soldiers appearing on TV out in the battlefield, saying they're supporting the president, that they will fight to the death.
So the image given to Iraqi people is that of an army 100 percent behind their leader -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
Glad we finally got that live shot up.
Now we're going to keep our fingers crossed and see if we can bring Bill Hemmer into the picture now.
He joins us live from Kuwait.
Voila, there he is -- good morning, Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I haven't left yet, Paula.
Hey, good afternoon again from Kuwait City.
A couple of things to talk about regarding security. It was Tuesday a week ago when that, the American working on behalf of the U.S. military was gunned down outside of Camp Doha, 15 miles west of our location here in Kuwait City. Another American injured. As a result of that, they have at least half a dozen suspects, including the alleged gunman, in custody. Earlier today, the Kuwaiti government did announce that they found a whole stash of weapons in southern Kuwait as a result of this, grenades and machine guns, several pistols, a box of ammunition found and located, as well.
Quite likely right now that the information they're getting from this handful of suspects right now yielding this discovery in southern Kuwait this week.
Also, we talk about security here, the Kuwaiti government issuing a bit of a declaration for this Saturday. Starting Saturday, in two days from now, they're going to have a strong security force fanning out in various cities throughout this country. They're going to bring in the police. They're going to bring in the army, the national guard, as well. All this is designed to try and dissuade any further terrorist activity in Kuwait.
It is quite clear, Paula, throughout our time spent here in this country that Kuwaitis are very concerned about the image Americans have of their country. They consider Americans to be essentially their brothers in this family and they do not want any more damage done to that relationship.
This a measure to make sure that not just the Kuwaitis, but the 8,000 expats from America living and working here in Kuwait, indeed, feel and stay safe as the buildup toward the possibility of war continues.
Quickly, next hour, going to take you back to near the front lines and show you what each and every member of the U.S. military carries on their hip as they patrol the sands of Kuwait. It's a gas mask inside just in case. We'll have that for you, again, next hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Back to you now in New York -- Paula.
ZAHN: It's certainly menacing to even think about anyone having to use that.
Thanks, Bill.
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 30, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to Iraq, where Saddam Hussein is talking very tough. He is warning that America will be harmed in the event of war.
Our Nic Robertson is standing by in Baghdad, where he joins us with the latest developments -- good morning, Nic.
And as you can see, we just lost that satellite shot. That often happens from that part of the world. So we're going to move on to another story now and try to get Nic Robertson's live shot back up from Baghdad.
In the meantime, former South African President Nelson Mandela is criticizing President Bush and his stance on Iraq. Mr. Mandela says that what President Bush really wants to do, in his words, is get a hold of Iraq's oil. And he said the problem could cause great harm by going to war.
And unfortunately we don't have Mr. Mandela's words, either, but he was applauded for his comments, made at the International Women's Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa.
OK, the second time is going to be a charm today. Let's go back to Baghdad and see if we can get that live shot with Nic Robertson back up -- there you are.
Good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, fingers crossed we get through this one. President Saddam Hussein appears quite regularly on television here in the evenings. But last night he met with top military commanders and we heard him lay out his defensive strategy. This is the first time we've heard this.
He talked about having many lines of defense carefully spaced, careful supplies. He said it was important the United States didn't think that Iraq could be beaten easily and he said that if the United States did invade, then they would be very surprised at what they would find.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ: They think that the Iraqi people and military will react in a disorganized, unfocused and chaotic way to their landing forces. But they are not counting on Iraq being prepared for this by its detailed drills and facing the landing force, starting with the shepherds in the desert to the farmers behind the plows.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, these have been morale boosting speeches, but this is the first one where he has laid out this strategy multiple lines of defense, careful supplies, really trying to boost the commanders. He asks them every night are you ready, what are your preparations. He gives them ideas, have you tried this, have you done this.
This is the real tone of what Iraqi people are picking up on their television now -- Paula.
ZAHN: But, Nic, what about those who say that if military action is started, that the Republican Guard might fold?
ROBERTSON: Well, that's not something you hear talked about in Baghdad or around Iraq at all. Certainly Iraqi officials take those kind of views as just psychological war against the Iraqi people. They say this war has been going on for some time, the psychological war, and the talk here is of a resolute army. The pictures on television speak to that. We see soldiers appearing on TV out in the battlefield, saying they're supporting the president, that they will fight to the death.
So the image given to Iraqi people is that of an army 100 percent behind their leader -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
Glad we finally got that live shot up.
Now we're going to keep our fingers crossed and see if we can bring Bill Hemmer into the picture now.
He joins us live from Kuwait.
Voila, there he is -- good morning, Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I haven't left yet, Paula.
Hey, good afternoon again from Kuwait City.
A couple of things to talk about regarding security. It was Tuesday a week ago when that, the American working on behalf of the U.S. military was gunned down outside of Camp Doha, 15 miles west of our location here in Kuwait City. Another American injured. As a result of that, they have at least half a dozen suspects, including the alleged gunman, in custody. Earlier today, the Kuwaiti government did announce that they found a whole stash of weapons in southern Kuwait as a result of this, grenades and machine guns, several pistols, a box of ammunition found and located, as well.
Quite likely right now that the information they're getting from this handful of suspects right now yielding this discovery in southern Kuwait this week.
Also, we talk about security here, the Kuwaiti government issuing a bit of a declaration for this Saturday. Starting Saturday, in two days from now, they're going to have a strong security force fanning out in various cities throughout this country. They're going to bring in the police. They're going to bring in the army, the national guard, as well. All this is designed to try and dissuade any further terrorist activity in Kuwait.
It is quite clear, Paula, throughout our time spent here in this country that Kuwaitis are very concerned about the image Americans have of their country. They consider Americans to be essentially their brothers in this family and they do not want any more damage done to that relationship.
This a measure to make sure that not just the Kuwaitis, but the 8,000 expats from America living and working here in Kuwait, indeed, feel and stay safe as the buildup toward the possibility of war continues.
Quickly, next hour, going to take you back to near the front lines and show you what each and every member of the U.S. military carries on their hip as they patrol the sands of Kuwait. It's a gas mask inside just in case. We'll have that for you, again, next hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Back to you now in New York -- Paula.
ZAHN: It's certainly menacing to even think about anyone having to use that.
Thanks, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
