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American Morning
Operation Ivy Buzzard
Aired December 18, 2003 - 07:04 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: The raids in Samarra, we are told, do continue. For two straight days running now, we know the U.S. military has gone literally house to house, arresting more than 200 detainees right now held for questioning -- the U.S., a big concern in that town for the resistance. They say as many as 1,500 fighters might be situated in the town of Samarra, north of Baghdad.
There are a number of things to talk about yet again today. Two guests with us right now, right across town here in the Iraqi capital. Dan Senor, a senior advisor to the coalition, is with us; so too is Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director for operations with the U.S. Army.
Gentlemen, thank you for your time this afternoon.
One issue that broke last evening, this report that's saying that some of those detained here in Baghdad or even throughout the country of Iraq will be taken to Cuba and Guantanamo Bay.
General, is that the case?
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, DEP. DIR. OF OPERATIONS: I don't know where that report came from. We have no knowledge at this time that we're sending any detainees to Gitmo.
HEMMER: So, you're saying it's not true then?
KIMMITT: It is not true.
HEMMER: If that were to be the case, what purpose would that serve, do you think?
KIMMITT: I can't speculate on what that would -- what purpose that would serve.
HEMMER: Tell us about the raids in Samarra. How much have you gotten done in that town?
KIMMITT: Well, there's still a lot of work to do in Samarra. The 4th ID is up there now. Operations are ongoing. They've netted a significant number of high-value targets that the division has been looking at for quite awhile. They've netted quite a few weapons, including just as recently as the last 24 hours over 200 automatic weapons. And they're finding that Samarra is, as was thought, pretty much a hotbed of resistance up there, and they're making a significant dent to return normalcy to the town of Samarra. HEMMER: Yes, I mentioned the number 1,500 perhaps fighters in that town. Is that an accurate figure, do you believe? And when you describe this dent, how significant is that, do you believe, at this point?
KIMMITT: Well, I can't speak to the 1,500 estimate. That must have come from somewhere else. I think General Odierno and his people are finding out just how many are in there, and we'll use the next couple of days to either kill or capture those insurgents that are working against the people of Iraq.
HEMMER: Yes, how concerned are you that if the crackdown goes too far that you may turn it the other way and work against you?
KIMMITT: That's a good question. Not only is General Odierno and his people conducting offensive operations, searches inside the town of Samarra, but they're also working along with the legitimate government inside the town of Samarra to help improve infrastructure, to try to improve quality of life, and to try to reinforce the legitimate government and the legitimate authority inside of Samarra.
HEMMER: If I could...
KIMMITT: So, they understand it is not just -- so, they understand it's not just an operation to kill and capture, but it's also an operation to build the confidence and the trust of the people in Samarra as well.
HEMMER: If I could, with Mr. Sino also here, it's been five days now since the news really reverberated around the world of Saddam Hussein being captured. What can you say has changed in Iraq, if anything, since that news broke?
DAVE SENOR, ADVISOR TO AMBASSADOR PAUL BREMER: Well, Bill, I can't speak for around the world, but I can tell you around Iraq, bursts of spontaneous euphoria across the country from up in Soldenia (ph) down to Baghdad, all the way to the southern parts of the country, demonstrations, Iraqis dancing in the streets of Najaf.
This is an exciting moment. You saw on live television when a member of the Governing Council and the coalition made the announcement in this briefing room here, Iraqis spontaneously burst in enthusiasm and chants with excitement. Newspapers across the country over the last few days are celebrating this moment.
We've said all along that there will be good days and bad days in this reconstruction process and in this next phase in working in the building of the new Iraq. But we are seeing a lot of really good days here since last weekend when Iraqis are celebrating this historic moment.
HEMMER: When you describe these really good days -- and if you could in just a short answer on this, though. But I think it's really critical for our viewers to understand. What are you saying specifically has gotten better since the apprehension of Saddam Hussein? SENOR: Well, we have said all along that the reconstruction -- critical to the success of the reconstruction is closing the curtain on this chapter of Saddam Hussein, for Iraqis to know that his days are over.
Because up until now in the bazaars and the shuks (ph) across the country, the word was being spread, if you're not careful, Saddam Hussein will return. Don't cooperate with the coalition. Don't cooperate with the new Iraqi leadership. Don't work on rebuilding your country, because he will return and you will suffer. If you cooperate with the coalition and the Iraqi leadership, you'll have your tongues cut out, your heads cut off and return to the torture chambers. Now, Iraqis are realizing that's not going to happen.
Just to give you one data point, the morning after the capture was announced of Saddam Hussein, we saw a record spike in the number of Iraqis signing up to join the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps. And, in fact, the concentration of that spike was in Tikrit. So, that was just an early sign, too early to quantify in terms of a trend, but an early sign that Iraqis are celebrating the moment and stepping up to participate in the rebuilding of their country.
HEMMER: Dan Senor with the Coalition Authority there across town in Baghdad; also Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. Thank you, gentlemen, for your time today. Appreciate your thoughts and your answers.
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 December 18, 2003 - 07:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The raids in Samarra, we are told, do continue. For two straight days running now, we know the U.S. military has gone literally house to house, arresting more than 200 detainees right now held for questioning -- the U.S., a big concern in that town for the resistance. They say as many as 1,500 fighters might be situated in the town of Samarra, north of Baghdad.
There are a number of things to talk about yet again today. Two guests with us right now, right across town here in the Iraqi capital. Dan Senor, a senior advisor to the coalition, is with us; so too is Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director for operations with the U.S. Army.
Gentlemen, thank you for your time this afternoon.
One issue that broke last evening, this report that's saying that some of those detained here in Baghdad or even throughout the country of Iraq will be taken to Cuba and Guantanamo Bay.
General, is that the case?
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, DEP. DIR. OF OPERATIONS: I don't know where that report came from. We have no knowledge at this time that we're sending any detainees to Gitmo.
HEMMER: So, you're saying it's not true then?
KIMMITT: It is not true.
HEMMER: If that were to be the case, what purpose would that serve, do you think?
KIMMITT: I can't speculate on what that would -- what purpose that would serve.
HEMMER: Tell us about the raids in Samarra. How much have you gotten done in that town?
KIMMITT: Well, there's still a lot of work to do in Samarra. The 4th ID is up there now. Operations are ongoing. They've netted a significant number of high-value targets that the division has been looking at for quite awhile. They've netted quite a few weapons, including just as recently as the last 24 hours over 200 automatic weapons. And they're finding that Samarra is, as was thought, pretty much a hotbed of resistance up there, and they're making a significant dent to return normalcy to the town of Samarra. HEMMER: Yes, I mentioned the number 1,500 perhaps fighters in that town. Is that an accurate figure, do you believe? And when you describe this dent, how significant is that, do you believe, at this point?
KIMMITT: Well, I can't speak to the 1,500 estimate. That must have come from somewhere else. I think General Odierno and his people are finding out just how many are in there, and we'll use the next couple of days to either kill or capture those insurgents that are working against the people of Iraq.
HEMMER: Yes, how concerned are you that if the crackdown goes too far that you may turn it the other way and work against you?
KIMMITT: That's a good question. Not only is General Odierno and his people conducting offensive operations, searches inside the town of Samarra, but they're also working along with the legitimate government inside the town of Samarra to help improve infrastructure, to try to improve quality of life, and to try to reinforce the legitimate government and the legitimate authority inside of Samarra.
HEMMER: If I could...
KIMMITT: So, they understand it is not just -- so, they understand it's not just an operation to kill and capture, but it's also an operation to build the confidence and the trust of the people in Samarra as well.
HEMMER: If I could, with Mr. Sino also here, it's been five days now since the news really reverberated around the world of Saddam Hussein being captured. What can you say has changed in Iraq, if anything, since that news broke?
DAVE SENOR, ADVISOR TO AMBASSADOR PAUL BREMER: Well, Bill, I can't speak for around the world, but I can tell you around Iraq, bursts of spontaneous euphoria across the country from up in Soldenia (ph) down to Baghdad, all the way to the southern parts of the country, demonstrations, Iraqis dancing in the streets of Najaf.
This is an exciting moment. You saw on live television when a member of the Governing Council and the coalition made the announcement in this briefing room here, Iraqis spontaneously burst in enthusiasm and chants with excitement. Newspapers across the country over the last few days are celebrating this moment.
We've said all along that there will be good days and bad days in this reconstruction process and in this next phase in working in the building of the new Iraq. But we are seeing a lot of really good days here since last weekend when Iraqis are celebrating this historic moment.
HEMMER: When you describe these really good days -- and if you could in just a short answer on this, though. But I think it's really critical for our viewers to understand. What are you saying specifically has gotten better since the apprehension of Saddam Hussein? SENOR: Well, we have said all along that the reconstruction -- critical to the success of the reconstruction is closing the curtain on this chapter of Saddam Hussein, for Iraqis to know that his days are over.
Because up until now in the bazaars and the shuks (ph) across the country, the word was being spread, if you're not careful, Saddam Hussein will return. Don't cooperate with the coalition. Don't cooperate with the new Iraqi leadership. Don't work on rebuilding your country, because he will return and you will suffer. If you cooperate with the coalition and the Iraqi leadership, you'll have your tongues cut out, your heads cut off and return to the torture chambers. Now, Iraqis are realizing that's not going to happen.
Just to give you one data point, the morning after the capture was announced of Saddam Hussein, we saw a record spike in the number of Iraqis signing up to join the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps. And, in fact, the concentration of that spike was in Tikrit. So, that was just an early sign, too early to quantify in terms of a trend, but an early sign that Iraqis are celebrating the moment and stepping up to participate in the rebuilding of their country.
HEMMER: Dan Senor with the Coalition Authority there across town in Baghdad; also Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. Thank you, gentlemen, for your time today. Appreciate your thoughts and your answers.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
