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American Morning
Iraq Has Less Than 13 Hours Before Deadline
Aired March 19, 2003 - 07:30 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: As you probably know, Iraq has a little less than 13 hours to go before a deadline for war. Long columns of U.S. and British troops and tanks are now moving through the Kuwait desert toward Iraq, even though a sandstorm, as you can see, is limiting the visibility.
Meanwhile, U.S. planes are finishing up the largest drop yet of propaganda leaflets. Nearly two million leaflets have been dropped on Iraq during the last two days alone. And the government of Turkey says it will ask its parliament to let U.S. military planes use its air space. For the moment, Turkey will not consider letting U.S. troops enter the country. Parliament is not expected to vote until tomorrow.
Time to go back to Kuwait now, where Bill Hemmer is standing by in the country's capital with a backdrop that is very much obscured today. You can't even see those water towers, can you, Bill?
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: You cannot, Paula.
Visibility less than half a mile. That building you see behind me is about all we can see, which is about 500 yards down the road from our location here in Kuwait City.
You mentioned that convoy. This was a very impressive movement by the U.S. military. Some videotape from last night after the sun went down. This is up and down Highway 80, where a long line of M1 Abram tanks, the Bradley fighting vehicles, dozens and dozens of Humvees. One eyewitness says this line goes as far as the eye can see. Rally points too numerous to count.
Earlier yesterday, also, some day time video we can show you, as well. A similar scene, this long, giant convoy all moving north along Highway 80.
We have numerous reporters also stationed with the U.S. military. Our contact with them lately has been very limited, another indication that they, too, might be on the move with their units moving north to the Iraqi border.
William Cohen is our guest in a moment here, Paula, talking about the possible political fallout with the event of the U.S. going to war with Iraq without that second U.N. resolution.
We'll have that for you in a couple of minutes.
ZAHN: Thanks, Bill. And with just hours to go before the deadline calling for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq, U.S. forces are on the ready, waiting for their orders.
Let's go to the Pentagon now, where Barbara Starr has more for us this morning -- good morning, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, indeed, by all accounts here, the U.S. military will be at war within hours. I think all they seem to be waiting for now is indications that the weather, those sandstorms are going to clear and that they can move ahead.
It's generally believed that this will unfold on several fronts at once. Tomahawk missiles, precision guided munitions coming from Navy ships, from aircraft being launched by the Air Force and the Navy headed towards targets, military and leadership targets in Baghdad. That is expected to be one of the opening moves by the United States military, a direct hit on Baghdad leadership targets.
At the same time, that action you are seeing in Kuwait, every reason to expect that British and U.S. ground forces will make an immediate thrust into southern Iraq. It is expected at this point that they will head for the city of Basra in the south, a city that is not known, its population not known to be friendly to the leadership of President Saddam Hussein. U.S. military officials hope to take the city of Basra with virtually no opposition. That is their hope at the moment. Move into the southern oil fields at the same time. Again, simultaneous attacks.
U.S. Army and Marine Corps force are expected to begin moving north towards the city of Baghdad within hours of an opening thrust by U.S. military forces.
So the word here is when it does finally unfold, expect to see very heavy simultaneous attacks all coming at the same time -- Paula.
ZAHN: Barbara, you just mentioned that it is your belief that British and U.S. ground forces will head into southern Iraq and then fan out to the oil fields. Can you clear up some of the confusion of yesterday's published reporting about some of the oil fields already having been sabotaged?
STARR: You know, it's tough to get clear information at this point. What military officials have told us is they have some evidence of oil pools forming in the southern desert. They do believe that some of those wells have in some fashion had oil released. What they're trying to figure out is whether it was an accident or whether it is the beginning of sabotage by Iraqi military forces.
They're unable to really determine it at this point, but they're keeping a very close watch. They continue to be quite worried. They know there are large amounts of explosives that the Iraqis have put in that area. They're waiting and watching to see if sabotage does occur. ZAHN: Barbara Starr, thanks for that update. We'll be checking back with you throughout the morning, as well.
(NEWS ALERT)
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go out now to Bill Hemmer, who's standing by in Kuwait City -- Bill.
HEMMER: Leon, thank you.
War, by its very nature, may be the ultimate risk-reward strategy. But a strike by a U.S.-led coalition against Saddam Hussein may expose new risks and could change the way international conflicts are resolved from here on out.
From Washington now to talk about the perils of preemption, former Secretary of Defense William Cohen is now back with us here as our guest on AMERICAN MORNING.
Great to have you back with us.
This might seem like a preemption of the topic its very self, knowing that the battle has not even yet begun. But knowing that, is it possible for you to gauge right now the political impact, either on the White House right now in this administration or even on Tony Blair in Britain right now, knowing that a large percentage of the world right now wanted that second resolution passed and put through? The political fallout after this war could be what, then?
WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, much depends upon how rapidly this war is concluded and how little damage is done to innocent civilians. I think that the world opinion could change very quickly if they do, in fact, see that Saddam has been harboring weapons of mass destruction and on the verge of developing a nuclear capability in the extreme.
That could change world opinion very quickly.
But if the war doesn't conclude quickly, then drags on, you'll see greater divisions not only around the world, but I assume even here in the United States.
There's another issue that we have to take into account, and that is what kind of stomach the American people have for seeing the level of killing that's about to take place given the massive firepower that the United States is prepared to unleash. The shock and awe is going to involve some 3,000 missiles being released within the first 48 hours. That's an awful lot of firepower that's going to be landing on top of the Iraqi soldiers and some if it killing innocent civilians.
So there are a lot of issues that are yet to be resolved and all we can hope for at this point is that it's concluded very quickly and successfully.
HEMMER: Go to your first two points again. If the war goes fast, say, if, indeed, it takes a matter of days, as some analysts have predicted, if Saddam Hussein uses chemical or biological weapons, if those factors come into play, the agitation that we've seen on the political and diplomatic level over the past several weeks, can that slate at some point be wiped clean if those factors come into play?
COHEN: Well, we've already seen the French government issue a statement saying that if Saddam were to use a chemical or biological agent against U.S. and British forces, that would change the calculus and that the French would be willing to join in the battle. I think that in itself would sway much of the world opinion, given the role that France has played in recent weeks.
So much depends, again, upon how this war is conducted, how little killing is done as far as innocent civilians, as well as our own troops. The American people look very closely in terms of what kind of damage can we expect.
And I would like to urge just a moment of caution here. This may be easy, but I would prefer to plan on it being very difficult and not raise expectations and then be disappointed and disillusioned that we weren't able to conclude it in a matter of a few days.
HEMMER: Yes, those optimistic expectations can be a deadly game to play.
If you are sitting right now in Tehran, or if you're sitting right now in Pyongyang, in North Korea, how do you look at this right now in terms of possible future action taken against your own country after seeing what the U.S. and Britain appear prepared to do right now in Iraq?
COHEN: Well, I think we've seen some of the fallout of that with the North Koreans proceeding what seems to be on a very quick time frame to develop their nuclear capability and then pose a challenge to the United States to extent it sees the U.S. and our allies trying to ease restrictions or sanctions upon the North Korean regime.
I think we may very well see the same thing taking place in Iran, with most recent reports indicating that they are accelerating their own development of what they call commercial nuclear power, but which we feel will be a capability to develop a nuclear bomb.
So I think that nations who are looking at this will want to accelerate their programs and what the rest of the world will have to do would be to bring political pressure to bear on those countries supplying the technology and then agreeing to sanction, economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation of those countries that continue to produce weapons of mass destruction, particularly those that export that technology to other nations.
HEMMER: William Cohen, we're out of time.
Thanks for spending time with us, though.
Now with the Cohen Group, former secretary of defense, with us live in Washington.
We'll see you again very soon.
At the top of the hour, Paula, we'll let you know a little bit more about how Kuwait is now getting ready. Just in the past 24 hours, we have seen significant developments and we'll tell you about those coming up in our next hit here live in Kuwait City -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, 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 March 19, 2003 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: As you probably know, Iraq has a little less than 13 hours to go before a deadline for war. Long columns of U.S. and British troops and tanks are now moving through the Kuwait desert toward Iraq, even though a sandstorm, as you can see, is limiting the visibility.
Meanwhile, U.S. planes are finishing up the largest drop yet of propaganda leaflets. Nearly two million leaflets have been dropped on Iraq during the last two days alone. And the government of Turkey says it will ask its parliament to let U.S. military planes use its air space. For the moment, Turkey will not consider letting U.S. troops enter the country. Parliament is not expected to vote until tomorrow.
Time to go back to Kuwait now, where Bill Hemmer is standing by in the country's capital with a backdrop that is very much obscured today. You can't even see those water towers, can you, Bill?
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: You cannot, Paula.
Visibility less than half a mile. That building you see behind me is about all we can see, which is about 500 yards down the road from our location here in Kuwait City.
You mentioned that convoy. This was a very impressive movement by the U.S. military. Some videotape from last night after the sun went down. This is up and down Highway 80, where a long line of M1 Abram tanks, the Bradley fighting vehicles, dozens and dozens of Humvees. One eyewitness says this line goes as far as the eye can see. Rally points too numerous to count.
Earlier yesterday, also, some day time video we can show you, as well. A similar scene, this long, giant convoy all moving north along Highway 80.
We have numerous reporters also stationed with the U.S. military. Our contact with them lately has been very limited, another indication that they, too, might be on the move with their units moving north to the Iraqi border.
William Cohen is our guest in a moment here, Paula, talking about the possible political fallout with the event of the U.S. going to war with Iraq without that second U.N. resolution.
We'll have that for you in a couple of minutes.
ZAHN: Thanks, Bill. And with just hours to go before the deadline calling for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq, U.S. forces are on the ready, waiting for their orders.
Let's go to the Pentagon now, where Barbara Starr has more for us this morning -- good morning, Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, indeed, by all accounts here, the U.S. military will be at war within hours. I think all they seem to be waiting for now is indications that the weather, those sandstorms are going to clear and that they can move ahead.
It's generally believed that this will unfold on several fronts at once. Tomahawk missiles, precision guided munitions coming from Navy ships, from aircraft being launched by the Air Force and the Navy headed towards targets, military and leadership targets in Baghdad. That is expected to be one of the opening moves by the United States military, a direct hit on Baghdad leadership targets.
At the same time, that action you are seeing in Kuwait, every reason to expect that British and U.S. ground forces will make an immediate thrust into southern Iraq. It is expected at this point that they will head for the city of Basra in the south, a city that is not known, its population not known to be friendly to the leadership of President Saddam Hussein. U.S. military officials hope to take the city of Basra with virtually no opposition. That is their hope at the moment. Move into the southern oil fields at the same time. Again, simultaneous attacks.
U.S. Army and Marine Corps force are expected to begin moving north towards the city of Baghdad within hours of an opening thrust by U.S. military forces.
So the word here is when it does finally unfold, expect to see very heavy simultaneous attacks all coming at the same time -- Paula.
ZAHN: Barbara, you just mentioned that it is your belief that British and U.S. ground forces will head into southern Iraq and then fan out to the oil fields. Can you clear up some of the confusion of yesterday's published reporting about some of the oil fields already having been sabotaged?
STARR: You know, it's tough to get clear information at this point. What military officials have told us is they have some evidence of oil pools forming in the southern desert. They do believe that some of those wells have in some fashion had oil released. What they're trying to figure out is whether it was an accident or whether it is the beginning of sabotage by Iraqi military forces.
They're unable to really determine it at this point, but they're keeping a very close watch. They continue to be quite worried. They know there are large amounts of explosives that the Iraqis have put in that area. They're waiting and watching to see if sabotage does occur. ZAHN: Barbara Starr, thanks for that update. We'll be checking back with you throughout the morning, as well.
(NEWS ALERT)
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go out now to Bill Hemmer, who's standing by in Kuwait City -- Bill.
HEMMER: Leon, thank you.
War, by its very nature, may be the ultimate risk-reward strategy. But a strike by a U.S.-led coalition against Saddam Hussein may expose new risks and could change the way international conflicts are resolved from here on out.
From Washington now to talk about the perils of preemption, former Secretary of Defense William Cohen is now back with us here as our guest on AMERICAN MORNING.
Great to have you back with us.
This might seem like a preemption of the topic its very self, knowing that the battle has not even yet begun. But knowing that, is it possible for you to gauge right now the political impact, either on the White House right now in this administration or even on Tony Blair in Britain right now, knowing that a large percentage of the world right now wanted that second resolution passed and put through? The political fallout after this war could be what, then?
WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, much depends upon how rapidly this war is concluded and how little damage is done to innocent civilians. I think that the world opinion could change very quickly if they do, in fact, see that Saddam has been harboring weapons of mass destruction and on the verge of developing a nuclear capability in the extreme.
That could change world opinion very quickly.
But if the war doesn't conclude quickly, then drags on, you'll see greater divisions not only around the world, but I assume even here in the United States.
There's another issue that we have to take into account, and that is what kind of stomach the American people have for seeing the level of killing that's about to take place given the massive firepower that the United States is prepared to unleash. The shock and awe is going to involve some 3,000 missiles being released within the first 48 hours. That's an awful lot of firepower that's going to be landing on top of the Iraqi soldiers and some if it killing innocent civilians.
So there are a lot of issues that are yet to be resolved and all we can hope for at this point is that it's concluded very quickly and successfully.
HEMMER: Go to your first two points again. If the war goes fast, say, if, indeed, it takes a matter of days, as some analysts have predicted, if Saddam Hussein uses chemical or biological weapons, if those factors come into play, the agitation that we've seen on the political and diplomatic level over the past several weeks, can that slate at some point be wiped clean if those factors come into play?
COHEN: Well, we've already seen the French government issue a statement saying that if Saddam were to use a chemical or biological agent against U.S. and British forces, that would change the calculus and that the French would be willing to join in the battle. I think that in itself would sway much of the world opinion, given the role that France has played in recent weeks.
So much depends, again, upon how this war is conducted, how little killing is done as far as innocent civilians, as well as our own troops. The American people look very closely in terms of what kind of damage can we expect.
And I would like to urge just a moment of caution here. This may be easy, but I would prefer to plan on it being very difficult and not raise expectations and then be disappointed and disillusioned that we weren't able to conclude it in a matter of a few days.
HEMMER: Yes, those optimistic expectations can be a deadly game to play.
If you are sitting right now in Tehran, or if you're sitting right now in Pyongyang, in North Korea, how do you look at this right now in terms of possible future action taken against your own country after seeing what the U.S. and Britain appear prepared to do right now in Iraq?
COHEN: Well, I think we've seen some of the fallout of that with the North Koreans proceeding what seems to be on a very quick time frame to develop their nuclear capability and then pose a challenge to the United States to extent it sees the U.S. and our allies trying to ease restrictions or sanctions upon the North Korean regime.
I think we may very well see the same thing taking place in Iran, with most recent reports indicating that they are accelerating their own development of what they call commercial nuclear power, but which we feel will be a capability to develop a nuclear bomb.
So I think that nations who are looking at this will want to accelerate their programs and what the rest of the world will have to do would be to bring political pressure to bear on those countries supplying the technology and then agreeing to sanction, economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation of those countries that continue to produce weapons of mass destruction, particularly those that export that technology to other nations.
HEMMER: William Cohen, we're out of time.
Thanks for spending time with us, though.
Now with the Cohen Group, former secretary of defense, with us live in Washington.
We'll see you again very soon.
At the top of the hour, Paula, we'll let you know a little bit more about how Kuwait is now getting ready. Just in the past 24 hours, we have seen significant developments and we'll tell you about those coming up in our next hit here live in Kuwait City -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, 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
