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American Morning
Bush Heavily Criticized Statement on Wednesday Which Seemed to Have Taunted Attackers
Aired July 04, 2003 - 07:32 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: More now on the violence in Iraq that has taken the life of one U.S. soldier, injured at least 10 others. The attacks come despite aggressive efforts to root out anti-American elements. President Bush was heavily criticized for his statement yesterday -- excuse me, on Wednesday -- which seemed to taunt the attackers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are some who feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring 'em on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Now, joining us from London, Gary Samore, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Mr. Samore, good to have you with us.
GARY SAMORE, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: Thank you.
Good to see you.
O'BRIEN: All right, what is the recipe for success in Iraq for the U.S.?
SAMORE: Well, I think you have to look at each region. In the Kurdish north, the situation is basically quiet. In the Shia south, there's little sign of any organized military resistance, but there has been some spontaneous public actions, for example, the incident last week in which six British soldiers were killed.
The real problem is in the Sunni center around Baghdad, where I think you have both organized guerrilla warfare by remnants of the Baathist regime, plus fairly broad public support and sympathy and opposition to the U.S. occupation.
I think for the U.S. to respond, we need to do two things. First, we need to step up the military actions, more Operation Sidewinders, probably greater troop deployments, in order to demonstrate that the United States will not be driven out of Iraq. And secondly, I think the coalition authority needs to take steps in order to demonstrate that it's prepared to begin to create a new Iraqi government that will be representative of the different parts of the Iraqi nation.
O'BRIEN: All right, well, let's talk...
SAMORE: Those two things have to happen together.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk about that first item for just a moment. You talk about the U.S. forces showing force in a more decisive way. Of course, what happens in those cases is it tends to alienate people. It's a difficult tightrope to walk. Do you feel that's the only alternative right now?
SAMORE: I think it's the only alternative. You're, of course, you're right, that military operations do run the risk of increasing resentment. But I think the greater risk is showing weakness and irresolve, which will encourage the remnants of the Baathist regime to carry out these attacks and will probably create more uncertainty in the public. And I think in part the problem we're facing is that there's a real concern in the streets of Baghdad and in the Sunni center that Saddam is trying to mount a comeback. And people are afraid to commit themselves to cooperate with the coalition because of that concern.
The more that the U.S. and the coalition can demonstrate that they're not going to be driven out, the more they can round up leading members of the previous regime, especially Saddam and his sons, the more we will create confidence and the more we'll get support.
O'BRIEN: How much hinges on the Saddam Hussein question, whether he's dead, alive or captured? You know, this morning there's a $25 million bounty on his head. That may or may not help. But it seems as if an awful lot hinges upon a resolution to that one way or another.
SAMORE: I think it does. I think he has so dominated the political system and the psychology of the Iraqi people for so many years that I think accounting for him, either killing or capturing him and his sons, will really make a big impact in terms of demonstrating that the possibility of the Baathist regime making a comeback is very small.
O'BRIEN: Gary Samore with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, thanks very much for being with us on this holiday, at least here in the States.
SAMORE: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: We appreciate it.
SAMORE: Thank you.
It's also a holiday her.
O'BRIEN: OK.
Take care.
Bye.
SAMORE: Yes.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Seemed to Have Taunted Attackers>
Aired July 4, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: More now on the violence in Iraq that has taken the life of one U.S. soldier, injured at least 10 others. The attacks come despite aggressive efforts to root out anti-American elements. President Bush was heavily criticized for his statement yesterday -- excuse me, on Wednesday -- which seemed to taunt the attackers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are some who feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring 'em on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Now, joining us from London, Gary Samore, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Mr. Samore, good to have you with us.
GARY SAMORE, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: Thank you.
Good to see you.
O'BRIEN: All right, what is the recipe for success in Iraq for the U.S.?
SAMORE: Well, I think you have to look at each region. In the Kurdish north, the situation is basically quiet. In the Shia south, there's little sign of any organized military resistance, but there has been some spontaneous public actions, for example, the incident last week in which six British soldiers were killed.
The real problem is in the Sunni center around Baghdad, where I think you have both organized guerrilla warfare by remnants of the Baathist regime, plus fairly broad public support and sympathy and opposition to the U.S. occupation.
I think for the U.S. to respond, we need to do two things. First, we need to step up the military actions, more Operation Sidewinders, probably greater troop deployments, in order to demonstrate that the United States will not be driven out of Iraq. And secondly, I think the coalition authority needs to take steps in order to demonstrate that it's prepared to begin to create a new Iraqi government that will be representative of the different parts of the Iraqi nation.
O'BRIEN: All right, well, let's talk...
SAMORE: Those two things have to happen together.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk about that first item for just a moment. You talk about the U.S. forces showing force in a more decisive way. Of course, what happens in those cases is it tends to alienate people. It's a difficult tightrope to walk. Do you feel that's the only alternative right now?
SAMORE: I think it's the only alternative. You're, of course, you're right, that military operations do run the risk of increasing resentment. But I think the greater risk is showing weakness and irresolve, which will encourage the remnants of the Baathist regime to carry out these attacks and will probably create more uncertainty in the public. And I think in part the problem we're facing is that there's a real concern in the streets of Baghdad and in the Sunni center that Saddam is trying to mount a comeback. And people are afraid to commit themselves to cooperate with the coalition because of that concern.
The more that the U.S. and the coalition can demonstrate that they're not going to be driven out, the more they can round up leading members of the previous regime, especially Saddam and his sons, the more we will create confidence and the more we'll get support.
O'BRIEN: How much hinges on the Saddam Hussein question, whether he's dead, alive or captured? You know, this morning there's a $25 million bounty on his head. That may or may not help. But it seems as if an awful lot hinges upon a resolution to that one way or another.
SAMORE: I think it does. I think he has so dominated the political system and the psychology of the Iraqi people for so many years that I think accounting for him, either killing or capturing him and his sons, will really make a big impact in terms of demonstrating that the possibility of the Baathist regime making a comeback is very small.
O'BRIEN: Gary Samore with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, thanks very much for being with us on this holiday, at least here in the States.
SAMORE: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: We appreciate it.
SAMORE: Thank you.
It's also a holiday her.
O'BRIEN: OK.
Take care.
Bye.
SAMORE: Yes.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Seemed to Have Taunted Attackers>
