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American Morning
Discussion With Ahmed Chalabi
Aired August 29, 2003 - 09:32 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: On the phone, we have Ahmed Chalabi of the Iraqi Governing Council. He is joining us live from Iraq, from Baghdad.
Good morning. Appreciate you being with us, Mr. Chalabi.
Who do you think is behind this attack?
AHMED CHALABI, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Remnants of Saddam's people and the Baath Party are behind this attack. The same people who kill Sergio De Mello are the people responsible for this outrage here, here in Najaf.
COOPER: You say that based on particular information or just a hunch? Because there are other possible suspects as well?
CHALABI: There are no other possible suspects. There are no other possible suspects, no one. No Muslim would attack the mosque of Najaf on a Friday, killing hundreds of worshipers. It is only Saddam and his people who can do that, no one else. All other theories are just speculation.
COOPER: One of the people who died in this blast, we are told, Mohammed Saaed Al Hakim (ph), a high level Shiite cleric, do you believe he was a target of this, or just one of many people killed?
CHALABI: This outrage is designed to create the maximum damage to the people in Iraq, to create sectarian violence, and sectarian strife. It is work of Saddam. There was another attack on Sunday targeting cleric Mohammed Saeed Al Hakim's -- excuse me, targeting Mohammed Saeed Al Hakim, the cousin of Mohammed Bakir Al Hakim (ph), who was killed today. Do you believe that attack was also the work of Baath Party members?
CHALABI: It is the same people, Saddam's people. I want to see Mohammed (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on Wednesday, last two days ago. I went to visit (UNINTELLIGIBLE), expecting violence of some nature. I want to see if (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Mohammed Saeed Hakim also. He was stunned by the attack, and his son told me the next outrage will be an attack on the mosque on Friday prayers. This was last Wednesday. They were all very concerned that they need security in Najaf. There is a need for security now in Najaf. People are very worried, and there may be more attacks on villages, symbols of (UNINTELLIGIBLE), of the Shia in Najaf. I must provide immediate protection for them right now.
COOPER: Do you want the U.S. to have a greater presence in Najaf, a greater security presence? CHALABI: The U.S. and the coalition have taken up on themselves the responsibility for the security in all parts of Iraq. Their excuse, it is up to them to provide the security. This is -- we cannot go back to business as usual. This is an outrage.
COOPER: How big a setback is today's bombing?
CHALABI: Today is -- it's a very big event in Iraq. The Shia of Iraq, the Muslims are Iraq, all the people of Iraq are in shock and outrage at this act, and they are in deep mourning today. We are concerned with our (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and also concerned with controlling the security situation in the big (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COOPER: Ahmed Chalabi, joining us on the phone from Baghdad of the Iraqi Governing Council. Appreciate you joining us, Mr. Chalabi. Again, this is a story we've been following all morning long. A car bombing in the central Iraqi city of Najaf. Numbers of dead at this point not exactly clear, at least 17 people killed thus far, including a prominent Iraqi Shiite Cleric, Mohammed Bakir Al Hakim.
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 August 29, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: On the phone, we have Ahmed Chalabi of the Iraqi Governing Council. He is joining us live from Iraq, from Baghdad.
Good morning. Appreciate you being with us, Mr. Chalabi.
Who do you think is behind this attack?
AHMED CHALABI, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: Remnants of Saddam's people and the Baath Party are behind this attack. The same people who kill Sergio De Mello are the people responsible for this outrage here, here in Najaf.
COOPER: You say that based on particular information or just a hunch? Because there are other possible suspects as well?
CHALABI: There are no other possible suspects. There are no other possible suspects, no one. No Muslim would attack the mosque of Najaf on a Friday, killing hundreds of worshipers. It is only Saddam and his people who can do that, no one else. All other theories are just speculation.
COOPER: One of the people who died in this blast, we are told, Mohammed Saaed Al Hakim (ph), a high level Shiite cleric, do you believe he was a target of this, or just one of many people killed?
CHALABI: This outrage is designed to create the maximum damage to the people in Iraq, to create sectarian violence, and sectarian strife. It is work of Saddam. There was another attack on Sunday targeting cleric Mohammed Saeed Al Hakim's -- excuse me, targeting Mohammed Saeed Al Hakim, the cousin of Mohammed Bakir Al Hakim (ph), who was killed today. Do you believe that attack was also the work of Baath Party members?
CHALABI: It is the same people, Saddam's people. I want to see Mohammed (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on Wednesday, last two days ago. I went to visit (UNINTELLIGIBLE), expecting violence of some nature. I want to see if (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Mohammed Saeed Hakim also. He was stunned by the attack, and his son told me the next outrage will be an attack on the mosque on Friday prayers. This was last Wednesday. They were all very concerned that they need security in Najaf. There is a need for security now in Najaf. People are very worried, and there may be more attacks on villages, symbols of (UNINTELLIGIBLE), of the Shia in Najaf. I must provide immediate protection for them right now.
COOPER: Do you want the U.S. to have a greater presence in Najaf, a greater security presence? CHALABI: The U.S. and the coalition have taken up on themselves the responsibility for the security in all parts of Iraq. Their excuse, it is up to them to provide the security. This is -- we cannot go back to business as usual. This is an outrage.
COOPER: How big a setback is today's bombing?
CHALABI: Today is -- it's a very big event in Iraq. The Shia of Iraq, the Muslims are Iraq, all the people of Iraq are in shock and outrage at this act, and they are in deep mourning today. We are concerned with our (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and also concerned with controlling the security situation in the big (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COOPER: Ahmed Chalabi, joining us on the phone from Baghdad of the Iraqi Governing Council. Appreciate you joining us, Mr. Chalabi. Again, this is a story we've been following all morning long. A car bombing in the central Iraqi city of Najaf. Numbers of dead at this point not exactly clear, at least 17 people killed thus far, including a prominent Iraqi Shiite Cleric, Mohammed Bakir Al Hakim.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
