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American Morning
Soldier Killed in Ambush in Iraq
Aired May 26, 2003 - 09:33 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, on this Memorial Day, the U.S. has suffered yet another casualty in Iraq. And while forces there continue to work towards stabilizing that country, tensions are growing between the U.S. and Iran, just across Iraq's border.
Let's go now to the Pentagon.
Chris Plante checks in from there.
He's got more on these two stories for us this morning -- Chris, what can you add to us this morning to the reports about this death of U.S. soldiers and what are you hearing about talk about Iran there?
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, first the soldier killed in an ambush in Iraq by a -- in the town of Haditha, about 120 miles north and west of Baghdad. Eight vehicles, a supply convoy traveling down a road ambushed, a fairly significant ambush involving rocket propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and light arms fire.
One soldier killed, as you said. Another wounded. That soldier was medevaced out for medical treatment. The army did bring in attack helicopters and a substantial ground force to go after the people responsible. But certainly another reminder that things are not completely passive there in Iraq -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, let's turn now to Iran, then, right next door.
How is the U.S. policy toward Iran changing now in light of these recent allegations that Iran may be harboring al Qaeda operatives?
PLANTE: Well, no actual change in policy yet. But there is some discussion within the administration, some frustration at the belief that Iran is still supporting terrorists and terrorism, harboring, perhaps, some members of al Qaeda inside their borders. It's believed that some of these al Qaeda members may have, in fact, been behind the planning for the May 12th bombing attacks in Riyadh recently that killed 34 and injured hundreds more.
There are those within the administration who are considering taking a much harder line possibly, but not at this point, perhaps down the line possibly even including taking steps to destabilize the regime there.
Secretary Rumsfeld earlier this week made some comments on the subject.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There have been and are today senior al Qaeda leaders in Iran. And they're busy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLANTE: I'm told that when Mr. Rumsfeld said that they were busy, he was referring to their possible connection to the Riyadh attacks there.
The Iranian ambassador, for his part, pointed out yesterday on one of the Sunday talk shows that the United States has said that there are al Qaeda cells possibly operating within the United States and he said does that mean that the United States is harboring al Qaeda? He also went on to claim that Iran is actually participating in the war on terror and has taken some action against al Qaeda members.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAVAD ZARIF, IRAN'S U.N. ENVOY: We have had a number of al Qaeda people in custody and we continue to keep them in detention and we continue to interrogate them. And once we have any information from them, we will pass them to friendly governments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLANTE: And at this point, Leon, we're talking about economic and diplomatic action, perhaps supporting opposition groups. But no military action -- Leon.
HARRIS: Understood.
Thanks, Chris.
Chris Plante at the White -- at the Pentagon, rather this morning in Washington.
Thanks.
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 26, 2003 - 09:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, on this Memorial Day, the U.S. has suffered yet another casualty in Iraq. And while forces there continue to work towards stabilizing that country, tensions are growing between the U.S. and Iran, just across Iraq's border.
Let's go now to the Pentagon.
Chris Plante checks in from there.
He's got more on these two stories for us this morning -- Chris, what can you add to us this morning to the reports about this death of U.S. soldiers and what are you hearing about talk about Iran there?
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, first the soldier killed in an ambush in Iraq by a -- in the town of Haditha, about 120 miles north and west of Baghdad. Eight vehicles, a supply convoy traveling down a road ambushed, a fairly significant ambush involving rocket propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and light arms fire.
One soldier killed, as you said. Another wounded. That soldier was medevaced out for medical treatment. The army did bring in attack helicopters and a substantial ground force to go after the people responsible. But certainly another reminder that things are not completely passive there in Iraq -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, let's turn now to Iran, then, right next door.
How is the U.S. policy toward Iran changing now in light of these recent allegations that Iran may be harboring al Qaeda operatives?
PLANTE: Well, no actual change in policy yet. But there is some discussion within the administration, some frustration at the belief that Iran is still supporting terrorists and terrorism, harboring, perhaps, some members of al Qaeda inside their borders. It's believed that some of these al Qaeda members may have, in fact, been behind the planning for the May 12th bombing attacks in Riyadh recently that killed 34 and injured hundreds more.
There are those within the administration who are considering taking a much harder line possibly, but not at this point, perhaps down the line possibly even including taking steps to destabilize the regime there.
Secretary Rumsfeld earlier this week made some comments on the subject.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There have been and are today senior al Qaeda leaders in Iran. And they're busy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLANTE: I'm told that when Mr. Rumsfeld said that they were busy, he was referring to their possible connection to the Riyadh attacks there.
The Iranian ambassador, for his part, pointed out yesterday on one of the Sunday talk shows that the United States has said that there are al Qaeda cells possibly operating within the United States and he said does that mean that the United States is harboring al Qaeda? He also went on to claim that Iran is actually participating in the war on terror and has taken some action against al Qaeda members.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAVAD ZARIF, IRAN'S U.N. ENVOY: We have had a number of al Qaeda people in custody and we continue to keep them in detention and we continue to interrogate them. And once we have any information from them, we will pass them to friendly governments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLANTE: And at this point, Leon, we're talking about economic and diplomatic action, perhaps supporting opposition groups. But no military action -- Leon.
HARRIS: Understood.
Thanks, Chris.
Chris Plante at the White -- at the Pentagon, rather this morning in Washington.
Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
