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CNN Sunday Morning
U.S. Close to Finalizing Plans for Invasion of Iraq
Aired November 10, 2002 - 08:03 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: If arms inspection efforts fail, the U.S. is close to finalizing plans for invading Iraq. The specifics have not been formally approved by President Bush, but we're told things could start off with a modern-day blitzkrieg. CNN national correspondent Frank Buckley joins us now live from the White House. Hi, Frank, good morning to you.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. The plans have been in place for some time, but the assets needed for the type of plans that are being called for are not yet in place in the Persian Gulf region. The war plan, as it stands today, calls for some 200,000 to 250,000 land, sea and air troops. Currently only 27,000 U.S. military personnel are in the region. It will also involve a call-up of some 265,000 National Guard and reserve soldiers.
The air campaign would employ B-2s and other aircraft in a punishing opening air assault designed not just to knock out air defenses, but to deliver a knockout blow to Iraqi military leaders that planners hope will dissuade them from using chemical or biological weapons.
The president made it clear, however, this week, when he was talking about this, that in this current crisis, as he called it, he hopes that military action will not be required.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hopefully, we can do this peacefully. Don't get me wrong. And if the world were to collectively come together to do so, and to put pressure on Saddam Hussein and convince him to disarm, there's a chance he may decide to do that. War is not my first choice. You know, it's my last choice. But nevertheless, it is an option in order to make the world a more peaceful place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: The vote in the U.N. Security Council on Friday was 15- 0, a tremendous diplomatic victory for the Bush administration. After seven weeks of intense diplomatic activity, the chief diplomat involved, Secretary of State Colin Powell, who made 150 calls to government ministers and held dozens of meetings, he will be among the administration people appearing on Sunday morning talk shows today. Senior administration officials telling us that Powell didn't know until moments before the Security Council vote that the vote would be unanimous, 15-0. We are told that Powell didn't know until the day before that the French were on board, that the morning of the vote, about an hour before the vote, the Russians finally said that they would be voting yes.
And literally the moment that John Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., was walking into the Security Council chamber, he called Colin Powell on his cell phone to say that finally the Syrians would also be aboard, making it a 15-0 vote -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Pretty surprising. All right, well, Frank, tell me, does the White House have to go ahead and get Security Council authority then to go in?
BUCKLEY: That has been a concern among some of the nations, notably France and Russia. They were concerned about any triggers that might evoke an immediate response from the U.S. What has happened here with this resolution is that the U.S. will consult with the Security Council if it feels as though there has been another material breach. The U.S. position is that material breaches are already taking place and that this is a final test, but that the U.S. will consult with the Security Council, but it is also keeping open the option after consultations with the Security Council of going forward with unilateral military action. It does not need, according to the U.S. officials here, a second resolution -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Let's go ahead and talk timetable for just a moment, Frank. What is it and when do inspections begin exactly?
BUCKLEY: Well, in a week, Iraq has to give a response as to whether or not it intends to cooperate. Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, plans to be on the ground in Iraq by November 18. And then within 30 days, the Iraqis are required to provide an inventory of chemical and biological weapons, and part of its growing nuclear program. And by December 23, just before Christmas, a full inspection team should be on the ground in Iraq, and conducting inspections.
COLLINS: What about domestic policies, Frank?
BUCKLEY: Domestic policies? Well, this was a very big week for the president with victory in the midterm elections, the Republicans gaining back the Senate, broadening their membership in the House. The lame-duck session of Congress is set to get back under way here on Tuesday. The president making it very clear in a news conference this week that he really wants at least two things passed during this lame- duck session, most importantly to him the Department of Homeland Security. He wants that bill passed on that -- during this session. He also wants terrorism insurance for construction projects that have been stalled. He says that will create thousands of hard-hat jobs.
COLLINS: All right. Frank Buckley from the White House today. We do appreciate it.
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 10, 2002 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: If arms inspection efforts fail, the U.S. is close to finalizing plans for invading Iraq. The specifics have not been formally approved by President Bush, but we're told things could start off with a modern-day blitzkrieg. CNN national correspondent Frank Buckley joins us now live from the White House. Hi, Frank, good morning to you.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. The plans have been in place for some time, but the assets needed for the type of plans that are being called for are not yet in place in the Persian Gulf region. The war plan, as it stands today, calls for some 200,000 to 250,000 land, sea and air troops. Currently only 27,000 U.S. military personnel are in the region. It will also involve a call-up of some 265,000 National Guard and reserve soldiers.
The air campaign would employ B-2s and other aircraft in a punishing opening air assault designed not just to knock out air defenses, but to deliver a knockout blow to Iraqi military leaders that planners hope will dissuade them from using chemical or biological weapons.
The president made it clear, however, this week, when he was talking about this, that in this current crisis, as he called it, he hopes that military action will not be required.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hopefully, we can do this peacefully. Don't get me wrong. And if the world were to collectively come together to do so, and to put pressure on Saddam Hussein and convince him to disarm, there's a chance he may decide to do that. War is not my first choice. You know, it's my last choice. But nevertheless, it is an option in order to make the world a more peaceful place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: The vote in the U.N. Security Council on Friday was 15- 0, a tremendous diplomatic victory for the Bush administration. After seven weeks of intense diplomatic activity, the chief diplomat involved, Secretary of State Colin Powell, who made 150 calls to government ministers and held dozens of meetings, he will be among the administration people appearing on Sunday morning talk shows today. Senior administration officials telling us that Powell didn't know until moments before the Security Council vote that the vote would be unanimous, 15-0. We are told that Powell didn't know until the day before that the French were on board, that the morning of the vote, about an hour before the vote, the Russians finally said that they would be voting yes.
And literally the moment that John Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., was walking into the Security Council chamber, he called Colin Powell on his cell phone to say that finally the Syrians would also be aboard, making it a 15-0 vote -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Pretty surprising. All right, well, Frank, tell me, does the White House have to go ahead and get Security Council authority then to go in?
BUCKLEY: That has been a concern among some of the nations, notably France and Russia. They were concerned about any triggers that might evoke an immediate response from the U.S. What has happened here with this resolution is that the U.S. will consult with the Security Council if it feels as though there has been another material breach. The U.S. position is that material breaches are already taking place and that this is a final test, but that the U.S. will consult with the Security Council, but it is also keeping open the option after consultations with the Security Council of going forward with unilateral military action. It does not need, according to the U.S. officials here, a second resolution -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Let's go ahead and talk timetable for just a moment, Frank. What is it and when do inspections begin exactly?
BUCKLEY: Well, in a week, Iraq has to give a response as to whether or not it intends to cooperate. Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, plans to be on the ground in Iraq by November 18. And then within 30 days, the Iraqis are required to provide an inventory of chemical and biological weapons, and part of its growing nuclear program. And by December 23, just before Christmas, a full inspection team should be on the ground in Iraq, and conducting inspections.
COLLINS: What about domestic policies, Frank?
BUCKLEY: Domestic policies? Well, this was a very big week for the president with victory in the midterm elections, the Republicans gaining back the Senate, broadening their membership in the House. The lame-duck session of Congress is set to get back under way here on Tuesday. The president making it very clear in a news conference this week that he really wants at least two things passed during this lame- duck session, most importantly to him the Department of Homeland Security. He wants that bill passed on that -- during this session. He also wants terrorism insurance for construction projects that have been stalled. He says that will create thousands of hard-hat jobs.
COLLINS: All right. Frank Buckley from the White House today. We do appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
