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American Morning
Interview With CARE Director Margaret Hassan
Aired May 14, 2003 - 08:08 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Iraq and the instability that is standing in the way of getting urgently needed aid to the people there. In an effort to restore order, U.S. officials now say American forces will have the authority to shoot looters on sight. This according to a report today in the "New York Times." It was only yesterday that the outgoing administrator, Lieutenant General Jay Garner painted a different picture for Congress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GEN. JAY GARNER (RET.), IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION: There is no humanitarian crisis. Now, there are humanitarian issues, and there are some serious humanitarian issues. But this organization we have over here will work through all those. But the point is the crisis that was predicted -- and I thought there would be a crisis, to be frank with you -- the crisis that was predicted never materialized.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: That was Jay Garner from yesterday.
What's really happening on the ground now?
Margaret Hassan is CARE director in Iraq.
She's our guest live in Baghdad.
We appreciate your time and talking with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
The status today on the streets of Baghdad right now in terms of security is what?
MARGARET HASSAN, CARE DIRECTOR IN IRAQ: Thank you for asking CARE to come onto your program this morning.
The status in Baghdad is a status of insecurity, I would say. People are not comfortable. There isn't a civil administration in place. There isn't proper law and order and looting continues.
HEMMER: What happened with your organization? A few vehicles this past week. What's the status about what occurred there?
HASSAN: Yes, we did lose two vehicles in the space of about 18 hours. They were hijacked. Fortunately, our staff were not hurt. But I think we have to see this in the perspective of the Iraqi people, who are much, suffering much more, because they're all losing vehicles and are frightened to go out on the streets, especially women and girls.
HEMMER: Yes, that incident is what brought this story to our attention to bring you on today. David McKiernan, the general on the ground there in Baghdad, says Iraq is a country the size of California and there are only roughly about 150,000 members of the military, British and U.S., to patrol and police the peace.
Does he have a point, though, in the fact that the size of the country is so massive and the amount of force has not yet materialized but will increase in the coming weeks ahead?
HASSAN: Well, I'm sure he has a point, but there's not enough police on the street. And it's not for me to say, because I'm not qualified to do so, how many you need. But I would liken it to any big city. You wouldn't expect to have so few police on the streets of London, and if you did, you would have looting and all that goes with it, I'm afraid. That's just one of the things of human nature.
HEMMER: We know more soldiers are en route. We know more military police are en route, as well. So we anticipate the situation to get better with time.
Do you feel the same way right now?
HASSAN: Well, I feel that until you get Iraqi police on the streets, you will not see a big change. That's what really is required. Then the people will feel more secure. I'm sure it's good to have the other things, but the most important thing is to have the civil administration back in place.
HEMMER: Yes, let's get an update on food, an update on water, an update on power. Where does it stand right now in Baghdad?
HASSAN: Well, power is still intermittent. It's very intermittent. The water supply has not been cut off and although people may not be getting what they would like, they're all getting water to some degree. And there's a problem with sewage because a lot of sewage pumping stations don't have generators and that's affected by the lack of electricity. So the sewage is -- you can see sewage in certain areas in the streets.
HEMMER: Yes, Margaret...
HASSAN: But that doesn't prevent us totally from working.
HEMMER: Yes, I apologize about the interruption.
Quickly here, what do you need the most right now in Iraq?
HASSAN: What we need is security and electricity. And security for the Iraqi people, not just for the aid agencies.
HEMMER: Margaret Hassan, live in Baghdad, CARE director on the ground there in Iraq.
Thanks for your time and spending it with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
HASSAN: Thank you for asking us.
HEMMER: Sure.
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 May 14, 2003 - 08:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Iraq and the instability that is standing in the way of getting urgently needed aid to the people there. In an effort to restore order, U.S. officials now say American forces will have the authority to shoot looters on sight. This according to a report today in the "New York Times." It was only yesterday that the outgoing administrator, Lieutenant General Jay Garner painted a different picture for Congress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GEN. JAY GARNER (RET.), IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION: There is no humanitarian crisis. Now, there are humanitarian issues, and there are some serious humanitarian issues. But this organization we have over here will work through all those. But the point is the crisis that was predicted -- and I thought there would be a crisis, to be frank with you -- the crisis that was predicted never materialized.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: That was Jay Garner from yesterday.
What's really happening on the ground now?
Margaret Hassan is CARE director in Iraq.
She's our guest live in Baghdad.
We appreciate your time and talking with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
The status today on the streets of Baghdad right now in terms of security is what?
MARGARET HASSAN, CARE DIRECTOR IN IRAQ: Thank you for asking CARE to come onto your program this morning.
The status in Baghdad is a status of insecurity, I would say. People are not comfortable. There isn't a civil administration in place. There isn't proper law and order and looting continues.
HEMMER: What happened with your organization? A few vehicles this past week. What's the status about what occurred there?
HASSAN: Yes, we did lose two vehicles in the space of about 18 hours. They were hijacked. Fortunately, our staff were not hurt. But I think we have to see this in the perspective of the Iraqi people, who are much, suffering much more, because they're all losing vehicles and are frightened to go out on the streets, especially women and girls.
HEMMER: Yes, that incident is what brought this story to our attention to bring you on today. David McKiernan, the general on the ground there in Baghdad, says Iraq is a country the size of California and there are only roughly about 150,000 members of the military, British and U.S., to patrol and police the peace.
Does he have a point, though, in the fact that the size of the country is so massive and the amount of force has not yet materialized but will increase in the coming weeks ahead?
HASSAN: Well, I'm sure he has a point, but there's not enough police on the street. And it's not for me to say, because I'm not qualified to do so, how many you need. But I would liken it to any big city. You wouldn't expect to have so few police on the streets of London, and if you did, you would have looting and all that goes with it, I'm afraid. That's just one of the things of human nature.
HEMMER: We know more soldiers are en route. We know more military police are en route, as well. So we anticipate the situation to get better with time.
Do you feel the same way right now?
HASSAN: Well, I feel that until you get Iraqi police on the streets, you will not see a big change. That's what really is required. Then the people will feel more secure. I'm sure it's good to have the other things, but the most important thing is to have the civil administration back in place.
HEMMER: Yes, let's get an update on food, an update on water, an update on power. Where does it stand right now in Baghdad?
HASSAN: Well, power is still intermittent. It's very intermittent. The water supply has not been cut off and although people may not be getting what they would like, they're all getting water to some degree. And there's a problem with sewage because a lot of sewage pumping stations don't have generators and that's affected by the lack of electricity. So the sewage is -- you can see sewage in certain areas in the streets.
HEMMER: Yes, Margaret...
HASSAN: But that doesn't prevent us totally from working.
HEMMER: Yes, I apologize about the interruption.
Quickly here, what do you need the most right now in Iraq?
HASSAN: What we need is security and electricity. And security for the Iraqi people, not just for the aid agencies.
HEMMER: Margaret Hassan, live in Baghdad, CARE director on the ground there in Iraq.
Thanks for your time and spending it with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
HASSAN: Thank you for asking us.
HEMMER: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
