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American Morning
Dismantling of Banned Missiles Resumes
Aired March 03, 2003 - 09:02 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: More now on our top story. This morning in Iraq, the dismantling of banned missiles resumes. So is that a signal that Baghdad is serious about disarmament?
Nic Robertson standing by in Baghdad with more.
Good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, Iraqi officials say they've destroyed between seven and nine more missiles today. That would bring the total to either 17 or 19 destroyed so far, some 80 or so yet to go, that according to Iraqi authorities, who say they have 100 or so of the missiles, maybe 20 more in production.
Now a senior Iraqi official, President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser, said it was very unlikely we would be able to see pictures of the destruction of the Al-Samoud II missiles. The reason he said was he decided not to release official Iraqi video. He decided to ask the U.N. not to release their pictures, because he said it would hurt sensitivities of the Iraqi people too much if they were to disclose that material. Also saying that if the United States moved towards war, then Iraq would stop destroying the missiles.
He also appeared in his weekly press briefing on Sunday to appeal to the people of the United States, saying there was no need to go to war. You could you save the 80 billion dollars he said it would cost going to war. He said just keep weapons inspection here. That's $80 million a year, and Iraq pays for that out of its oil-for-food program. He added this detail that if the United States, and he said it's seen a video or heard about a video where United States would use bunker-busting bomb to destroy some chemical and biological agents buried deep in ground. He said, if the United States knows what the coordinates are, save the money, give the coordinates to the United Nations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. AMER AL-SA'ADI, HUSSEIN SCIENCE ADVISER: If they know the coordinates, you need an input for this weapon to hit its target. That is if you have the coordinates of that bunker, it would be much easier, and less costly and much faster to provide those coordinates to UNMOVIC. They'll do the job free of charge, at no cost to the American taxpayer. Wouldn't you agree?
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTSON: And Iraqi officials saying they will give a new dossier to U.N. inspectors here that will help them find out, figure out, how much anthrax and VX nerve agent Iraq destroyed in the past -- Paula.
ZAHN: And those documents are expected to be handed over in two weeks, is it?
ROBERTSON: In about a week's time, they're saying. This is really a follow-up on documents they've already give to the U.N. Iraq has basically put forward a proposal, use this type sophisticated equipment and this type of detailed analysis on the ground where we say Iraq says it poured biological and chemical agents into the ground. And they've told the U.N. inspectors they think this technique would allow the U.N. to say, OK, you destroyed 1.5 tons of VX here, and so many thousands liters of anthrax there.
Bottom line already, though, is the U.N. doesn't think Iraq's analysis is going to work, and that's why Iraq has gone and back and said, OK, we'll give you another report on it -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson reporting from Baghdad, thanks.
And meanwhile, in Turkey, the country's stock market tumbled today after Turkey's parliament voted down a plan that would have allowed U.S. troops to deploy there. That plan carried with it billions of dollars of U.S. aid for Turkey. Turkey leaders are scheduled to meet again today to discuss whether the issue should be brought to a new vote.
Let's check in with Jane Arraf, who joins us now from Ankara.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
The Turkish officials, as you mentioned, are trying to figure out what to do after that shock vote in parliament. Now, it was so close, just three votes between approving those U.S. troops here and rejecting them. They're now trying to figure out if they can actually go back to parliament to ask again. Now that decision would have to be made between government leaders and party leaders.
But here in the streets, people were saying that they were really very happy when parliament rejected the troops. They wanted to send a message. Some of them saying, in the United States, this was portrayed as being all about money. Now they've son it wasn't all about money, but it was about principle. But certainly money is a big concern here in this economically depressed country. And as you mentioned, the markets have fallen this morning, and they could fall even further if they don't go to parliament again for another try -- Paula.
ZAHN: So when they go back for another try, is the expectation that this vote will change?
ARRAF: The expectation is that if the government felt confident enough to ask parliament again, that it wouldn't do that unless it was sure this time that it had enough support.
Now, the country here is really very deeply divided, as is parliament, but things could change dramatically in about a week, when the head of the ruling party becomes a member parliament as well. It's a very complicated political scene here, and it's a new government, and there a lot of internal dynamics.
But really this parliament vote that they're looking at could have a different result if they do manage to actually change things with the member of the ruling party who could actually be in parliament this time -- Paula.
ZAHN: Keep us posted. Jane Arraf, reporting from Turkey for us this morning -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Certainly a hot topic at the White House,
Paula, let's find out right now from Dana Bash on the Front Lawn to see how the White House is reacting to this latest move.
Dana, good morning.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, clearly, there's disappointment here over the vote over the weekend in Turkey, especially because of the very public wrangling over the past couple of weeks on multibillion-dollar aid package, but in terms of their public comments, they're very, very, very cautious. Saying that Turkey -- I just spoke with one official just a few moments ago, who said Turkey is a very important ally to the United States, and that the United States respects the democratic process that's going on in turkey.
They're trying to kind of play it cool, so to speak, because they think it is still in play, there is still a possibility for Turkey to turn around if there is another vote and allow the U.S. to use its military bases.
Colin Powell, according to Turkish sources, did call the Turkish prime minister over the weekend and try to keep lines of communication open to try to keep this going.
But while they are being cautious with their comments at the White House, some members of Congress over the weekend were a lot less cautious.
Senator Jay Rockefeller, Democrat from West Virginia, spoke yesterday with Wolf Blitzer. He said this is a major blow to Turkish- U.S. relations, and also said it could very much complicate the U.S. military campaign, in terms of time and in terms of cost.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV), SELECT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: You cannot do Iraq simply from the south. If you do it from the south and things go well we -- the whole war could be over in a month or less. If you don't have the north, it might take two months or more. That's a lot of American people in harm's way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: But, Bill, Bush administration officials maintain that if this doesn't happen, that, of course, they do have a plan b, but of course they admit privately that plan b is certainly not as a positive -- would make it harder for any kind of campaign against Iraq.
HEMMER: Dana, quickly, I know this might be a question for the Pentagon, but there's already reports that some of this heavy machinery is already being unloaded, off-loaded on to Turkish soil. Has the White House said at what point militarily speaking they would make that decision if Turkey doesn't open its bases to move that equipment possibly to Kuwait?
BASH: They haven't said intentionally, I think, Bill. They're trying to keep it -- keep this whole thing in play, because I think that if they do give a timetable, give a timeframe, there is fear that perhaps things could not fall into place for Turkey, so they're intentionally trying to keep it very, very vague in terms of the plans.
But like you said, they do have all these troops waiting to go into Turkey, and they're just going to wait and see what happens in the next 24 to 48 hours.
HEMMER: Dana Bash at a freezing Front Lawn of the White House this morning. Hang in there.
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 March 3, 2003 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: More now on our top story. This morning in Iraq, the dismantling of banned missiles resumes. So is that a signal that Baghdad is serious about disarmament?
Nic Robertson standing by in Baghdad with more.
Good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, Iraqi officials say they've destroyed between seven and nine more missiles today. That would bring the total to either 17 or 19 destroyed so far, some 80 or so yet to go, that according to Iraqi authorities, who say they have 100 or so of the missiles, maybe 20 more in production.
Now a senior Iraqi official, President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser, said it was very unlikely we would be able to see pictures of the destruction of the Al-Samoud II missiles. The reason he said was he decided not to release official Iraqi video. He decided to ask the U.N. not to release their pictures, because he said it would hurt sensitivities of the Iraqi people too much if they were to disclose that material. Also saying that if the United States moved towards war, then Iraq would stop destroying the missiles.
He also appeared in his weekly press briefing on Sunday to appeal to the people of the United States, saying there was no need to go to war. You could you save the 80 billion dollars he said it would cost going to war. He said just keep weapons inspection here. That's $80 million a year, and Iraq pays for that out of its oil-for-food program. He added this detail that if the United States, and he said it's seen a video or heard about a video where United States would use bunker-busting bomb to destroy some chemical and biological agents buried deep in ground. He said, if the United States knows what the coordinates are, save the money, give the coordinates to the United Nations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. AMER AL-SA'ADI, HUSSEIN SCIENCE ADVISER: If they know the coordinates, you need an input for this weapon to hit its target. That is if you have the coordinates of that bunker, it would be much easier, and less costly and much faster to provide those coordinates to UNMOVIC. They'll do the job free of charge, at no cost to the American taxpayer. Wouldn't you agree?
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTSON: And Iraqi officials saying they will give a new dossier to U.N. inspectors here that will help them find out, figure out, how much anthrax and VX nerve agent Iraq destroyed in the past -- Paula.
ZAHN: And those documents are expected to be handed over in two weeks, is it?
ROBERTSON: In about a week's time, they're saying. This is really a follow-up on documents they've already give to the U.N. Iraq has basically put forward a proposal, use this type sophisticated equipment and this type of detailed analysis on the ground where we say Iraq says it poured biological and chemical agents into the ground. And they've told the U.N. inspectors they think this technique would allow the U.N. to say, OK, you destroyed 1.5 tons of VX here, and so many thousands liters of anthrax there.
Bottom line already, though, is the U.N. doesn't think Iraq's analysis is going to work, and that's why Iraq has gone and back and said, OK, we'll give you another report on it -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson reporting from Baghdad, thanks.
And meanwhile, in Turkey, the country's stock market tumbled today after Turkey's parliament voted down a plan that would have allowed U.S. troops to deploy there. That plan carried with it billions of dollars of U.S. aid for Turkey. Turkey leaders are scheduled to meet again today to discuss whether the issue should be brought to a new vote.
Let's check in with Jane Arraf, who joins us now from Ankara.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
The Turkish officials, as you mentioned, are trying to figure out what to do after that shock vote in parliament. Now, it was so close, just three votes between approving those U.S. troops here and rejecting them. They're now trying to figure out if they can actually go back to parliament to ask again. Now that decision would have to be made between government leaders and party leaders.
But here in the streets, people were saying that they were really very happy when parliament rejected the troops. They wanted to send a message. Some of them saying, in the United States, this was portrayed as being all about money. Now they've son it wasn't all about money, but it was about principle. But certainly money is a big concern here in this economically depressed country. And as you mentioned, the markets have fallen this morning, and they could fall even further if they don't go to parliament again for another try -- Paula.
ZAHN: So when they go back for another try, is the expectation that this vote will change?
ARRAF: The expectation is that if the government felt confident enough to ask parliament again, that it wouldn't do that unless it was sure this time that it had enough support.
Now, the country here is really very deeply divided, as is parliament, but things could change dramatically in about a week, when the head of the ruling party becomes a member parliament as well. It's a very complicated political scene here, and it's a new government, and there a lot of internal dynamics.
But really this parliament vote that they're looking at could have a different result if they do manage to actually change things with the member of the ruling party who could actually be in parliament this time -- Paula.
ZAHN: Keep us posted. Jane Arraf, reporting from Turkey for us this morning -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Certainly a hot topic at the White House,
Paula, let's find out right now from Dana Bash on the Front Lawn to see how the White House is reacting to this latest move.
Dana, good morning.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, clearly, there's disappointment here over the vote over the weekend in Turkey, especially because of the very public wrangling over the past couple of weeks on multibillion-dollar aid package, but in terms of their public comments, they're very, very, very cautious. Saying that Turkey -- I just spoke with one official just a few moments ago, who said Turkey is a very important ally to the United States, and that the United States respects the democratic process that's going on in turkey.
They're trying to kind of play it cool, so to speak, because they think it is still in play, there is still a possibility for Turkey to turn around if there is another vote and allow the U.S. to use its military bases.
Colin Powell, according to Turkish sources, did call the Turkish prime minister over the weekend and try to keep lines of communication open to try to keep this going.
But while they are being cautious with their comments at the White House, some members of Congress over the weekend were a lot less cautious.
Senator Jay Rockefeller, Democrat from West Virginia, spoke yesterday with Wolf Blitzer. He said this is a major blow to Turkish- U.S. relations, and also said it could very much complicate the U.S. military campaign, in terms of time and in terms of cost.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV), SELECT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: You cannot do Iraq simply from the south. If you do it from the south and things go well we -- the whole war could be over in a month or less. If you don't have the north, it might take two months or more. That's a lot of American people in harm's way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: But, Bill, Bush administration officials maintain that if this doesn't happen, that, of course, they do have a plan b, but of course they admit privately that plan b is certainly not as a positive -- would make it harder for any kind of campaign against Iraq.
HEMMER: Dana, quickly, I know this might be a question for the Pentagon, but there's already reports that some of this heavy machinery is already being unloaded, off-loaded on to Turkish soil. Has the White House said at what point militarily speaking they would make that decision if Turkey doesn't open its bases to move that equipment possibly to Kuwait?
BASH: They haven't said intentionally, I think, Bill. They're trying to keep it -- keep this whole thing in play, because I think that if they do give a timetable, give a timeframe, there is fear that perhaps things could not fall into place for Turkey, so they're intentionally trying to keep it very, very vague in terms of the plans.
But like you said, they do have all these troops waiting to go into Turkey, and they're just going to wait and see what happens in the next 24 to 48 hours.
HEMMER: Dana Bash at a freezing Front Lawn of the White House this morning. Hang in there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
