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American Morning

Iraq's Transition

Aired July 11, 2003 - 07:07   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: Back to Iraq again. A rocket-propelled grenade fired today at a U.S. patrol near Baghdad, the airport there. No Americans injured, but two Iraqis were wounded when their vehicle was caught in the crossfire.
Yesterday, Tommy Franks told members of Congress that U.S. forces in Iraq are attacked 10 to 20 times per day.

More on this to the Pentagon, and Barbara Starr is tracking it for us.

Good morning -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Well, U.S. military officials in Iraq are also now confirming that U.S. troops will withdraw from at least one police station in the town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, which has been the scene of much unrest. Now, a U.S. military spokesman calls this a positive step, saying it is part of an effort to helping the Iraqis police themselves more. But, of course, it is worth remembering that the Iraqi police in Fallujah were beginning to object to the U.S. presence, saying it was putting them at risk with some of these resistance forces.

The attacks are continuing, and they are causing so much concern on the part of some elements in the U.S. military. It's worth also noting that yesterday General Rick Sanchez, the head of U.S. and coalition forces in Baghdad, says in his view there were professional assassins at work in Iraq -- Bill.

HEMMER: Barbara, yesterday General Franks said a four-year stay in Iraq would not surprise him in terms of a U.S. presence. Does that parallel with what you're hearing from Pentagon officials also?

STARR: Well, Pentagon officials, for the record, are reluctant and won't put a timeframe on it. But let's listen to what General Franks had to say yesterday, very interesting, first time that we've really heard him put some framework around how long he thinks U.S. troops might have to stay in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. TOMMY FRANKS, FMR. CENTCOM COMMANDER: Sir, I anticipate that we will be involved in Iraq in the future. And, sir, I don't know whether that means two years or four years. I just don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP) STARR: General Franks, Bill, had been on Capitol Hill both before the Senate and the House this week talking about the lessons learned, but he faced a lot of tough questions on Iraq, a lot of them about when the troops are coming home, and a lot of continuing questions now from the Democrats who had been reluctant to criticize, saying they want to know why this is not a guerrilla war, they think it's becoming one -- Bill.

HEMMER: Barbara Starr from the Pentagon.

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 July 11, 2003 - 07:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to Iraq again. A rocket-propelled grenade fired today at a U.S. patrol near Baghdad, the airport there. No Americans injured, but two Iraqis were wounded when their vehicle was caught in the crossfire.
Yesterday, Tommy Franks told members of Congress that U.S. forces in Iraq are attacked 10 to 20 times per day.

More on this to the Pentagon, and Barbara Starr is tracking it for us.

Good morning -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

Well, U.S. military officials in Iraq are also now confirming that U.S. troops will withdraw from at least one police station in the town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, which has been the scene of much unrest. Now, a U.S. military spokesman calls this a positive step, saying it is part of an effort to helping the Iraqis police themselves more. But, of course, it is worth remembering that the Iraqi police in Fallujah were beginning to object to the U.S. presence, saying it was putting them at risk with some of these resistance forces.

The attacks are continuing, and they are causing so much concern on the part of some elements in the U.S. military. It's worth also noting that yesterday General Rick Sanchez, the head of U.S. and coalition forces in Baghdad, says in his view there were professional assassins at work in Iraq -- Bill.

HEMMER: Barbara, yesterday General Franks said a four-year stay in Iraq would not surprise him in terms of a U.S. presence. Does that parallel with what you're hearing from Pentagon officials also?

STARR: Well, Pentagon officials, for the record, are reluctant and won't put a timeframe on it. But let's listen to what General Franks had to say yesterday, very interesting, first time that we've really heard him put some framework around how long he thinks U.S. troops might have to stay in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. TOMMY FRANKS, FMR. CENTCOM COMMANDER: Sir, I anticipate that we will be involved in Iraq in the future. And, sir, I don't know whether that means two years or four years. I just don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP) STARR: General Franks, Bill, had been on Capitol Hill both before the Senate and the House this week talking about the lessons learned, but he faced a lot of tough questions on Iraq, a lot of them about when the troops are coming home, and a lot of continuing questions now from the Democrats who had been reluctant to criticize, saying they want to know why this is not a guerrilla war, they think it's becoming one -- Bill.

HEMMER: Barbara Starr from the Pentagon.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.