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American Morning

Iraq Entering Year It's Supposed to Take Control of Own Affairs

Aired January 02, 2004 - 07:34   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: In Iraq today, one U.S. soldier was killed when an Army helicopter crashed near the town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Also, U.S. troops in western Iraq reportedly arrested an Iraqi. The man was believed to be smuggling in foreign fighters from Syria and financing insurgent attacks.
Despite the day to day uncertainties, Iraq is entering the year in which it is supposed to take over control of its own affairs.

Karl Penhaul reports now from the Iraqi capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The main mission in Iraq has been completed. Saddam was toppled, now he's captured. A guerrilla war is still raging, but the U.S.-led coalition is laying plans to wind down the occupation. It's pledged to hand over the political reigns to a transitional Iraqi government by July 1. That's a change of gear.

Until recently, coalition control of Iraq seemed likely to last into 2005, though no firm deadlines had been set. The rush towards Iraqi self-rule means the coalition won't now supervise the drafting of a new constitution, the road map of Iraq's political and economic future. That's not due to be completed until late 2005. Reconstruction will not be complete, the shift from state run economy to free market will only just be beginning.

But the current president of Iraq's Governing Council, assembled by the U.S., doesn't feel the Americans are getting ready to run.

ADNAN PACHACHI, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: They're not backing off from their commitment. But I think they are reassessing some of their plans, which, of course, is the proper thing to do.

PENHAUL: The coalition has been training Iraqi security forces to control the streets of Baghdad by spring. Few expect the insurgency to slow enough to permit American soldiers to leave at the same time as coalition administrators. Coalition authorities are hopeful guerrilla violence will be on the wane by the time a new Iraqi government takes office.

DAN SENOR, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY: There will be good days and bad days. The important point is that the good days outnumber the bad days. PENHAUL (on camera): Critics are saying that this speedier than expected political handover is a quick exit strategy. They suspect that this may be motivated by U.S. domestic considerations, primarily the need to avoid a public backlash against Iraq's messy guerilla war ahead of the U.S. presidential elections. That said, coalition administrators insist very strongly that that's not the case, they're being driven by the wishes of the Iraqi leaders on the ground.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: All right, Karl Penhaul, thanks so much, live from Baghdad this morning.

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




Affairs>


Aired January 2, 2004 - 07:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: In Iraq today, one U.S. soldier was killed when an Army helicopter crashed near the town of Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Also, U.S. troops in western Iraq reportedly arrested an Iraqi. The man was believed to be smuggling in foreign fighters from Syria and financing insurgent attacks.
Despite the day to day uncertainties, Iraq is entering the year in which it is supposed to take over control of its own affairs.

Karl Penhaul reports now from the Iraqi capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The main mission in Iraq has been completed. Saddam was toppled, now he's captured. A guerrilla war is still raging, but the U.S.-led coalition is laying plans to wind down the occupation. It's pledged to hand over the political reigns to a transitional Iraqi government by July 1. That's a change of gear.

Until recently, coalition control of Iraq seemed likely to last into 2005, though no firm deadlines had been set. The rush towards Iraqi self-rule means the coalition won't now supervise the drafting of a new constitution, the road map of Iraq's political and economic future. That's not due to be completed until late 2005. Reconstruction will not be complete, the shift from state run economy to free market will only just be beginning.

But the current president of Iraq's Governing Council, assembled by the U.S., doesn't feel the Americans are getting ready to run.

ADNAN PACHACHI, IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL: They're not backing off from their commitment. But I think they are reassessing some of their plans, which, of course, is the proper thing to do.

PENHAUL: The coalition has been training Iraqi security forces to control the streets of Baghdad by spring. Few expect the insurgency to slow enough to permit American soldiers to leave at the same time as coalition administrators. Coalition authorities are hopeful guerrilla violence will be on the wane by the time a new Iraqi government takes office.

DAN SENOR, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY: There will be good days and bad days. The important point is that the good days outnumber the bad days. PENHAUL (on camera): Critics are saying that this speedier than expected political handover is a quick exit strategy. They suspect that this may be motivated by U.S. domestic considerations, primarily the need to avoid a public backlash against Iraq's messy guerilla war ahead of the U.S. presidential elections. That said, coalition administrators insist very strongly that that's not the case, they're being driven by the wishes of the Iraqi leaders on the ground.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: All right, Karl Penhaul, thanks so much, live from Baghdad this morning.

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




Affairs>