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American Morning
Deadly Bombing in Nasiriyah
Aired November 12, 2003 - 08:04 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: We want to get you back to Iraq right now. Videotape, the first we have seen now, from this deadly bombing in Nasiriyah. Reports are conflicting right now as to the number of dead, the number of wounded. The early indications we had is that this is a suicide truck bombing or possibly a suicide car bombing at the headquarters for the Italian regimen there in Nasiriyah, the southern part of the country now. Early indications say a number of people have been dead. We do expect those numbers, between 14 Italians and at least eight Iraqis killed, possibly to go even higher.
Another day of bloodshed in Iraq and this time hitting the southern town of Nasiriyah, which has been largely quiet now for the past several weeks.
All the while, back in this country, with those attacks in Iraq, the U.S. administrator, Paul Bremer, back to the White House, another round of talks. Some describe these as hastily arranged.
To the White House and the front lawn and John King -- John, good morning there.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.
And yet another attack in Iraq only adds to the clear sense of urgency here at the Bush White House. You mentioned Ambassador Paul Bremer, the president's point man in Iraq. Day long meetings here at the White House yesterday discussing both the political situation and the security problems in Iraq. Those meetings getting back under way this morning. The president himself to chair a full meeting of the National Security Council. Ambassador Bremer will be on hand.
One of the key issues is trying to speed up the political transition. But, of course, an urgent priority is improving the security situation in Iraq. On the table included in these discussions, a new CIA report that offers a bleak picture about U.S. intelligence gathering and the security situation in some of Iraq.
Mr. Bush has read that report. It is classified. But senior administration officials say Mr. Bush had some of that report's conclusions in mind in a speech yesterday when he offered this alarming anecdote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists may have different long-term goals, but they share a near term strategy to terrorize Iraqis and to intimidate America and our allies. Recent reporting suggests that despite their differences, these killers are working together to spread chaos and terror and fear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, the administration believes one way to quickly improve the security situation is to accelerate the political transition, to get Iraqis running their own country. That is the main object of today's meeting of the National Security Council and of Ambassador Bremer's quick trip, hastily arranged trip back here to Washington.
The key points on the table today -- and some aides say they hope for some decisions as early as today -- coming up with a plan to accelerate the hand over of political power to Iraqis. They also want to speed up the writing of the constitution of the new Iraqi government and the timetable for elections.
Now, some think the way to move this process along faster is to consider an interim Iraqi constitution and an interim Iraqi appointed leader. That is controversial within the administration. The main goal, several officials tell us, is to light a fire under the Iraqi Governing Council. Officials say it is moving too slowly on the political transition.
But, Bill, there also are clear disagreements among the president's own top aides about how quickly to move this forward. Some here at the White House think Ambassador Bremer is being too cautious. Others say if you rush this process along, you will get an Iraqi government that is not viewed as legitimate by the Iraqi people and that these security problems will only intensify.
HEMMER: John King, thanks, live from the front lawn.
Much more on this as we go throughout the morning.
John, thanks.
Critical issues again today.
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 November 12, 2003 - 08:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get you back to Iraq right now. Videotape, the first we have seen now, from this deadly bombing in Nasiriyah. Reports are conflicting right now as to the number of dead, the number of wounded. The early indications we had is that this is a suicide truck bombing or possibly a suicide car bombing at the headquarters for the Italian regimen there in Nasiriyah, the southern part of the country now. Early indications say a number of people have been dead. We do expect those numbers, between 14 Italians and at least eight Iraqis killed, possibly to go even higher.
Another day of bloodshed in Iraq and this time hitting the southern town of Nasiriyah, which has been largely quiet now for the past several weeks.
All the while, back in this country, with those attacks in Iraq, the U.S. administrator, Paul Bremer, back to the White House, another round of talks. Some describe these as hastily arranged.
To the White House and the front lawn and John King -- John, good morning there.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.
And yet another attack in Iraq only adds to the clear sense of urgency here at the Bush White House. You mentioned Ambassador Paul Bremer, the president's point man in Iraq. Day long meetings here at the White House yesterday discussing both the political situation and the security problems in Iraq. Those meetings getting back under way this morning. The president himself to chair a full meeting of the National Security Council. Ambassador Bremer will be on hand.
One of the key issues is trying to speed up the political transition. But, of course, an urgent priority is improving the security situation in Iraq. On the table included in these discussions, a new CIA report that offers a bleak picture about U.S. intelligence gathering and the security situation in some of Iraq.
Mr. Bush has read that report. It is classified. But senior administration officials say Mr. Bush had some of that report's conclusions in mind in a speech yesterday when he offered this alarming anecdote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists may have different long-term goals, but they share a near term strategy to terrorize Iraqis and to intimidate America and our allies. Recent reporting suggests that despite their differences, these killers are working together to spread chaos and terror and fear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, the administration believes one way to quickly improve the security situation is to accelerate the political transition, to get Iraqis running their own country. That is the main object of today's meeting of the National Security Council and of Ambassador Bremer's quick trip, hastily arranged trip back here to Washington.
The key points on the table today -- and some aides say they hope for some decisions as early as today -- coming up with a plan to accelerate the hand over of political power to Iraqis. They also want to speed up the writing of the constitution of the new Iraqi government and the timetable for elections.
Now, some think the way to move this process along faster is to consider an interim Iraqi constitution and an interim Iraqi appointed leader. That is controversial within the administration. The main goal, several officials tell us, is to light a fire under the Iraqi Governing Council. Officials say it is moving too slowly on the political transition.
But, Bill, there also are clear disagreements among the president's own top aides about how quickly to move this forward. Some here at the White House think Ambassador Bremer is being too cautious. Others say if you rush this process along, you will get an Iraqi government that is not viewed as legitimate by the Iraqi people and that these security problems will only intensify.
HEMMER: John King, thanks, live from the front lawn.
Much more on this as we go throughout the morning.
John, thanks.
Critical issues again today.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
