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American Morning
Talk with Member of Iraqi Democratic Movement
Aired April 10, 2003 - 08:26 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: Bush administration officials plan to meet this weekend with Iraqi and Iraqi exiles. Despite the scenes yesterday in Baghdad symbolizing the fall of the old regime, White House officials are focusing in on who could lead Iraq's next government. Kasim Daoud is with the Iraqi Democratic Movement, one of many opposition groups looking to be part of the country's future. This morning, he will meet with retired General Jay Garner who will run the U.S.-led interim administration.
And Kasim Daoud joins us now from Kuwait. Thanks so much for being with us.
What is it you plan to say to General Garner?
KASSIM DAOUD, IRAQI DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT: Well, to be honest with you, the appointment was postponed until 5:00 this evening. I met the assistant of General Garner, Major General Cross, and it was a introductory meeting. We changes our views, and I'm looking to see the general this afternoon at 5:00.
ZAHN: When you said you changed your views, what do you mean by that?
DAOUD: Well, actually I explained to him the urgent talk, the urgent, urgent that we have established toward the development of the authorities. We discuss the urgency of the dissolution of the food and medication to the public. We talking about the security and the measures to avoid any vacuum or any chaos in the cities. Then we talking about the proposal of Nasiriyah conference.
ZAHN: Let's talk a little bit about what the composition of this new interim government might be. Ahmad Chalabi, the president of the Iraqi National Congress, has gotten an awful lot of attention here. What kind of job would he do?
DAOUD: Well, to be honest with you, this question has to be directed to Dr. Chalabi. I have no comments on this. But as far as I understand that Iraq is open now to all of the Iraqis, and let them communicate with their people, let them talk with their people, and let them change the views with their people.
ZAHN: But you certainly have to have an opinion if Mr. Chalabi ends up with the government, whether you think he would be good for Iraq and whether he would bring democracy to Iraq.
DAOUD: I hope that the Iraqi people can realize and can select their leaders through the experience that they have among everyone from the opposition, whether these people are inside or outside Iraq.
So each one have his history, have his experience regarding to this issue, so we leave it to the voting box to decide.
ZAHN: Mr. Daoud, I don't think you can see the picture we're showing live here in America, but it's pictures of local Kirkuk residents swarming all over a statue of Saddam Hussein. Much like what we saw yesterday in downtown Baghdad. What does that represent?
DAOUD: Well, this is representing exactly the same as we mention it to our friends, the Americans and the British, and our friends, the Arabic people, that all of the Iraqi people are supporting the falling down of this regime, and here we are. The military forces are received with flowers and with very warm feeling toward them.
And I just came now from a proposal from some of colleagues. They are thinking that they want to send present of liberty to United States as liberty statue to be put in New York on the same tower of the terrorists that they made it in September 11th.
ZAHN: Very interesting idea. Kassim Daoud, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us this morning. Appreciate your time.
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 April 10, 2003 - 08:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Bush administration officials plan to meet this weekend with Iraqi and Iraqi exiles. Despite the scenes yesterday in Baghdad symbolizing the fall of the old regime, White House officials are focusing in on who could lead Iraq's next government. Kasim Daoud is with the Iraqi Democratic Movement, one of many opposition groups looking to be part of the country's future. This morning, he will meet with retired General Jay Garner who will run the U.S.-led interim administration.
And Kasim Daoud joins us now from Kuwait. Thanks so much for being with us.
What is it you plan to say to General Garner?
KASSIM DAOUD, IRAQI DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT: Well, to be honest with you, the appointment was postponed until 5:00 this evening. I met the assistant of General Garner, Major General Cross, and it was a introductory meeting. We changes our views, and I'm looking to see the general this afternoon at 5:00.
ZAHN: When you said you changed your views, what do you mean by that?
DAOUD: Well, actually I explained to him the urgent talk, the urgent, urgent that we have established toward the development of the authorities. We discuss the urgency of the dissolution of the food and medication to the public. We talking about the security and the measures to avoid any vacuum or any chaos in the cities. Then we talking about the proposal of Nasiriyah conference.
ZAHN: Let's talk a little bit about what the composition of this new interim government might be. Ahmad Chalabi, the president of the Iraqi National Congress, has gotten an awful lot of attention here. What kind of job would he do?
DAOUD: Well, to be honest with you, this question has to be directed to Dr. Chalabi. I have no comments on this. But as far as I understand that Iraq is open now to all of the Iraqis, and let them communicate with their people, let them talk with their people, and let them change the views with their people.
ZAHN: But you certainly have to have an opinion if Mr. Chalabi ends up with the government, whether you think he would be good for Iraq and whether he would bring democracy to Iraq.
DAOUD: I hope that the Iraqi people can realize and can select their leaders through the experience that they have among everyone from the opposition, whether these people are inside or outside Iraq.
So each one have his history, have his experience regarding to this issue, so we leave it to the voting box to decide.
ZAHN: Mr. Daoud, I don't think you can see the picture we're showing live here in America, but it's pictures of local Kirkuk residents swarming all over a statue of Saddam Hussein. Much like what we saw yesterday in downtown Baghdad. What does that represent?
DAOUD: Well, this is representing exactly the same as we mention it to our friends, the Americans and the British, and our friends, the Arabic people, that all of the Iraqi people are supporting the falling down of this regime, and here we are. The military forces are received with flowers and with very warm feeling toward them.
And I just came now from a proposal from some of colleagues. They are thinking that they want to send present of liberty to United States as liberty statue to be put in New York on the same tower of the terrorists that they made it in September 11th.
ZAHN: Very interesting idea. Kassim Daoud, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us this morning. Appreciate your time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
