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U.S. Says Attacks on Aircraft in No-Fly Zones May Violate U.N. Resolution
Aired November 17, 2002 - 09:06 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.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: The White House is keeping an eye on the weapons inspectors, of course, but there is new concern about another attack on coalition aircraft in Iraqis no-fly zone. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us now from Washington with the latest word from the White House -- Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Arthel, a U.S./European command is reporting that coalition aircraft have come under fire in Iraq's northern no-fly zone. No reaction yet from the White House on this, but we do know the planes were able to leave safely. No one was hurt in the incident on the coalition side. Not clear if anyone was hurt on the ground there. No reaction yet from the White House, but we do have a sense of what the White House position is, because this is the second incident in which U.S. coalition aircraft have come under attack.
On Friday, once again, in the southern no-fly zone, coalition aircraft came under attack. No one was injured on the U.S. side there, coalition side there. But on Friday, U.S. officials did say that this was considered a violation of Security Council resolution 1441, could be considered a material breach. Here's specifically what Sean McCormack said, he is the spokesman for the National Security Council. He said that: "Iraq should stop firing on U.S. and U.K. warplanes flying in the no-fly zone, not only to ensure the safety of inspectors flying into Iraq, but also to demonstrate its willingness to comply with its obligations under the U.N. Security Council resolution."
The White House believes that it now has the option of taking this information to the U.N. Security Council to report it as a material breach, but so far no indication if the U.S. intends to do that.
Meanwhile, the president, in his weekly radio address, continued to make it clear that the U.S. is prepared to use force if it believes that's necessary in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our goal is not merely the return of inspectors to Iraq. Our goal is the disarmament of Iraq. The dictator of Iraq will give up his weapons of mass destruction, or the United States will lead a coalition to disarm him.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BUCKLEY: The U.S. has pledged to go back to the Security Council before it would use any military action in Iraq to engage in any sort of debate as the Security Council attempts to determine whether or not a material breach has taken place.
Again, no word yet if the U.S. intends to take these two incidents involving no-fly zones to the Security Council. But again, the U.S. has engaged -- or pledged to engage in that debate if and when it comes -- Arthel.
NEVILLE: OK, Frank Buckley, thank you very much for that report.
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U.N. Resolution>
Aired November 17, 2002 - 09:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: The White House is keeping an eye on the weapons inspectors, of course, but there is new concern about another attack on coalition aircraft in Iraqis no-fly zone. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us now from Washington with the latest word from the White House -- Frank.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Arthel, a U.S./European command is reporting that coalition aircraft have come under fire in Iraq's northern no-fly zone. No reaction yet from the White House on this, but we do know the planes were able to leave safely. No one was hurt in the incident on the coalition side. Not clear if anyone was hurt on the ground there. No reaction yet from the White House, but we do have a sense of what the White House position is, because this is the second incident in which U.S. coalition aircraft have come under attack.
On Friday, once again, in the southern no-fly zone, coalition aircraft came under attack. No one was injured on the U.S. side there, coalition side there. But on Friday, U.S. officials did say that this was considered a violation of Security Council resolution 1441, could be considered a material breach. Here's specifically what Sean McCormack said, he is the spokesman for the National Security Council. He said that: "Iraq should stop firing on U.S. and U.K. warplanes flying in the no-fly zone, not only to ensure the safety of inspectors flying into Iraq, but also to demonstrate its willingness to comply with its obligations under the U.N. Security Council resolution."
The White House believes that it now has the option of taking this information to the U.N. Security Council to report it as a material breach, but so far no indication if the U.S. intends to do that.
Meanwhile, the president, in his weekly radio address, continued to make it clear that the U.S. is prepared to use force if it believes that's necessary in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our goal is not merely the return of inspectors to Iraq. Our goal is the disarmament of Iraq. The dictator of Iraq will give up his weapons of mass destruction, or the United States will lead a coalition to disarm him.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BUCKLEY: The U.S. has pledged to go back to the Security Council before it would use any military action in Iraq to engage in any sort of debate as the Security Council attempts to determine whether or not a material breach has taken place.
Again, no word yet if the U.S. intends to take these two incidents involving no-fly zones to the Security Council. But again, the U.S. has engaged -- or pledged to engage in that debate if and when it comes -- Arthel.
NEVILLE: OK, Frank Buckley, thank you very much for that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
U.N. Resolution>
