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American Morning
Analysis of Explosions in Baghdad
Aired March 27, 2003 - 07:49 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: We're going to bring into our conversation now General David Grange, who is our expert at the CNN Center.
Good morning -- glad to have you with us again this morning.
GEN. DAVID GRANGE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good morning.
ZAHN: We want to start off with what we believe is happening in Baghdad at this hour. We're going to put up a live shot of Baghdad right now. While the CENTCOM was under way, reports of a series of powerful explosions between 7:00 a.m. and 7:15 Eastern Time.
What are some of the potential targets that need to be struck, according to U.S. military officials?
GRANGE: Well, some of these targets on the outskirts of Baghdad may well, in fact, be Republican Guard units like the Hammurabi Division or the Medina or Al Nida Division around Baghdad, some units are forward of Baghdad and some very close to Baghdad. And it could be just explosions initiated by Saddam's military. Again, who knows the reason? It may be to say this was a coalition strike. You just don't know. It could be any of those combinations, Paula.
ZAHN: Let's talk about what U.S. officials are now saying about that airstrike on the market in Baghdad. You heard Brigadier General Brooks just basically say that there were no airstrikes in that area, and they think it could be possible that the blasts were caused by an errant Iraq missile, or the Iraqis deliberately sabotaging the marketplace where it's believed that 15 civilians lost their lives. Now, the British are also saying the same thing this morning.
What do you make of that?
GRANGE: Yes, my analysis would be if the coalition forces stated that they had no missiles or bombs targeted for that area, they would have to be able to back that up. So I don't think they would say it didn't happen in that area if it did.
There's a good chance that this was a propaganda tactic used by Saddam's regime to set up conditions to make it look like a coalition strike. It's hard to say. That's what I would believe would happen.
An errant missile of the Iraqis fired from somewhere and landing right there I think would be a little harder to take in, but I would believe it was just an explosion planted for propaganda reasons.
ZAHN: General, we've got lots more to throw you way. I'd love for you to stick by all morning long.
A final footnote here, senior U.S. military officials also tell us they are convinced that the Iraqis actually are dragging young Iraqi men out of their homes, telling their parents if they don't fight they will be executed. More on that coming up.
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 27, 2003 - 07:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to bring into our conversation now General David Grange, who is our expert at the CNN Center.
Good morning -- glad to have you with us again this morning.
GEN. DAVID GRANGE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good morning.
ZAHN: We want to start off with what we believe is happening in Baghdad at this hour. We're going to put up a live shot of Baghdad right now. While the CENTCOM was under way, reports of a series of powerful explosions between 7:00 a.m. and 7:15 Eastern Time.
What are some of the potential targets that need to be struck, according to U.S. military officials?
GRANGE: Well, some of these targets on the outskirts of Baghdad may well, in fact, be Republican Guard units like the Hammurabi Division or the Medina or Al Nida Division around Baghdad, some units are forward of Baghdad and some very close to Baghdad. And it could be just explosions initiated by Saddam's military. Again, who knows the reason? It may be to say this was a coalition strike. You just don't know. It could be any of those combinations, Paula.
ZAHN: Let's talk about what U.S. officials are now saying about that airstrike on the market in Baghdad. You heard Brigadier General Brooks just basically say that there were no airstrikes in that area, and they think it could be possible that the blasts were caused by an errant Iraq missile, or the Iraqis deliberately sabotaging the marketplace where it's believed that 15 civilians lost their lives. Now, the British are also saying the same thing this morning.
What do you make of that?
GRANGE: Yes, my analysis would be if the coalition forces stated that they had no missiles or bombs targeted for that area, they would have to be able to back that up. So I don't think they would say it didn't happen in that area if it did.
There's a good chance that this was a propaganda tactic used by Saddam's regime to set up conditions to make it look like a coalition strike. It's hard to say. That's what I would believe would happen.
An errant missile of the Iraqis fired from somewhere and landing right there I think would be a little harder to take in, but I would believe it was just an explosion planted for propaganda reasons.
ZAHN: General, we've got lots more to throw you way. I'd love for you to stick by all morning long.
A final footnote here, senior U.S. military officials also tell us they are convinced that the Iraqis actually are dragging young Iraqi men out of their homes, telling their parents if they don't fight they will be executed. More on that coming up.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
