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American Morning

Al Qaeda-Iraq Plan

Aired February 09, 2004 - 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: There is a report out this morning, Soledad, an insurgent in Iraq writing to al Qaeda leaders for help in starting a war between Iraqi Muslims, between the Shiites and Sunnis before Americans hand over power this summer -- this, according to a report today in "The New York Times."
The "Times" reports that it has seen a 17-page proposal believed to have been written by a Jordanian operative. It says extremists have not been able to enlist support within Iraq or scare Americans into leaving that country.

The document, captured by the U.S. military, calls for inciting a -- quote -- "sectarian war," by attacking the Shiite majority, which then would result in a counterattack against the Sunni community.

Jane Arraf is watching this. She's live in Baghdad.

Jane -- tell us. What does this mean for strategy on behalf of the coalition forces, if indeed this is all true? Good afternoon there.

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good afternoon, Bill.

Well, a senior U.S. military official tells us that the report itself appears to be plausible. And he, with knowledge of the document, says that it appears authentic.

Now, the indications would be, if this is true, that it would indicate there was a link between a suspected operative in Iraq and al Qaeda. Now, by itself, what the letter essentially does is ask for help. It's not an indication that there was any action, that there were actions taken by al Qaeda in Iraq -- something that has so far been very hard to prove. But it's an indication that there may have been those links there.

And as for that premise, Bill, that sectarian violence could blow this country apart, it is what everyone has been afraid of since before the war -- that the Shias and the Sunnis would split, the Kurds would come in, and this country would literally dissolve into chaos and civil war. If this country does fall apart, that is the way that many Iraqis believe it will go. So far, that hasn't happened yet -- Bill.

HEMMER: Jane Arraf in Baghdad, thanks for that.

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 February 9, 2004 - 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: There is a report out this morning, Soledad, an insurgent in Iraq writing to al Qaeda leaders for help in starting a war between Iraqi Muslims, between the Shiites and Sunnis before Americans hand over power this summer -- this, according to a report today in "The New York Times."
The "Times" reports that it has seen a 17-page proposal believed to have been written by a Jordanian operative. It says extremists have not been able to enlist support within Iraq or scare Americans into leaving that country.

The document, captured by the U.S. military, calls for inciting a -- quote -- "sectarian war," by attacking the Shiite majority, which then would result in a counterattack against the Sunni community.

Jane Arraf is watching this. She's live in Baghdad.

Jane -- tell us. What does this mean for strategy on behalf of the coalition forces, if indeed this is all true? Good afternoon there.

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good afternoon, Bill.

Well, a senior U.S. military official tells us that the report itself appears to be plausible. And he, with knowledge of the document, says that it appears authentic.

Now, the indications would be, if this is true, that it would indicate there was a link between a suspected operative in Iraq and al Qaeda. Now, by itself, what the letter essentially does is ask for help. It's not an indication that there was any action, that there were actions taken by al Qaeda in Iraq -- something that has so far been very hard to prove. But it's an indication that there may have been those links there.

And as for that premise, Bill, that sectarian violence could blow this country apart, it is what everyone has been afraid of since before the war -- that the Shias and the Sunnis would split, the Kurds would come in, and this country would literally dissolve into chaos and civil war. If this country does fall apart, that is the way that many Iraqis believe it will go. So far, that hasn't happened yet -- Bill.

HEMMER: Jane Arraf in Baghdad, thanks for that.

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