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American Morning
Troop Movement in Northern Iraq
Aired February 27, 2003 - 07:33 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: There is news this morning of troop movement in northern Iraq. U.S. officials calling it the first major repositioning of Iraqi military forces since the U.S. buildup in the region began.
Let's turn to Barbara Starr, who joins us from the Pentagon right now with more information for us -- good morning, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, indeed, officials here are calling it just that, the first major repositioning of Iraqi troops since this current period of tension began. What has happened is more than 100 heavy transport trucks have gone into the northern region of Iraq, picked up elements of a Republican Guard infantry division, we believe, and they are now moving their equipment south.
The question is where are they going? Well, U.S. intelligence now assesses that this unit is either headed for Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's ancestral homeland, or headed all the way to Baghdad for reinforcement of the capital.
Now, if they are going to Baghdad, this would be a very clear sign, U.S. officials believe, that Saddam Hussein will try and draw U.S. troops into a battle for the city, that he will not engage them out in the further regions of Iraq, but wait until they approach Baghdad. So this is all being watched very, very carefully.
Now, not the entire division yet is on the move, we are told, because there isn't enough, there aren't enough trucks to move them all at once. So U.S. officials will be watching all of this very closely for the next several days, trying to see exactly how it all unfolds -- Paula.
ZAHN: And, Barbara, is it clear how many more troops he could move into Baghdad if he thinks it's necessary?
STARR: The question will be, of course, how vulnerable Saddam Hussein really feels and how vulnerable he feels, he and his loyalists feel to the possibility of a U.S. attack. There are several Republican Guard divisions positioned both in the north and the south. They could be moved to Baghdad. They are the most loyal troops. They are the best equipped. And if he really wants to defend the city and make his last stand there, those are the troops who are best equipped to do that.
ZAHN: Barbara Starr reporting from the Pentagon this morning. Thanks so much.
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 February 27, 2003 - 07:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: There is news this morning of troop movement in northern Iraq. U.S. officials calling it the first major repositioning of Iraqi military forces since the U.S. buildup in the region began.
Let's turn to Barbara Starr, who joins us from the Pentagon right now with more information for us -- good morning, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, indeed, officials here are calling it just that, the first major repositioning of Iraqi troops since this current period of tension began. What has happened is more than 100 heavy transport trucks have gone into the northern region of Iraq, picked up elements of a Republican Guard infantry division, we believe, and they are now moving their equipment south.
The question is where are they going? Well, U.S. intelligence now assesses that this unit is either headed for Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's ancestral homeland, or headed all the way to Baghdad for reinforcement of the capital.
Now, if they are going to Baghdad, this would be a very clear sign, U.S. officials believe, that Saddam Hussein will try and draw U.S. troops into a battle for the city, that he will not engage them out in the further regions of Iraq, but wait until they approach Baghdad. So this is all being watched very, very carefully.
Now, not the entire division yet is on the move, we are told, because there isn't enough, there aren't enough trucks to move them all at once. So U.S. officials will be watching all of this very closely for the next several days, trying to see exactly how it all unfolds -- Paula.
ZAHN: And, Barbara, is it clear how many more troops he could move into Baghdad if he thinks it's necessary?
STARR: The question will be, of course, how vulnerable Saddam Hussein really feels and how vulnerable he feels, he and his loyalists feel to the possibility of a U.S. attack. There are several Republican Guard divisions positioned both in the north and the south. They could be moved to Baghdad. They are the most loyal troops. They are the best equipped. And if he really wants to defend the city and make his last stand there, those are the troops who are best equipped to do that.
ZAHN: Barbara Starr reporting from the Pentagon this morning. Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
