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CNN Sunday Morning
Washington Monitors Iraqi Attacks on Coalition Aircraft
Aired November 17, 2002 - 11:05 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Washington has its eye on Iraq today, not only for the weapons inspections that are about to begin but for the latest Iraqi attack on coalition aircraft over the no-fly zone.
CNN's Frank Buckley joins us now from Washington with some reaction from the Bush administration.
Frank, is this considered a material breach of the latest U.N. resolution?
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is the million dollar question. According to the U.S. position, the incident at the no-fly zone -- the southern no-fly zone -- that took place on Friday was a violation of Security Council Resolution 1441 and the U.S. position is that it could be referred to the Security Council as a material breach. So far no word on whether these incidents will, in fact, be referred as material breaches.
The White House is reacting, however, this weekend to the release of a letter that purports to come from al Qaeda. It is being reported by al Jazeera, the Qatar-based satellite television network.
This letter comes to Yosri Fouda, the investigative reporter who has interviewed top al Qaeda leaders in the past. He says, "This letter came through previously-tested channels." It reads in part, "Stop your support for Israel against the Palestinians, for Russians against the Chechens and leave us alone or expect us in Washington and New York."
Now a few moments ago Homeland Security Adviser Tom Ridge was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer about this letter. Here's what Tom Ridge had to say about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: The threats are threats we've heard before. The conditions to avoid future terrorist acts are conditions we've heard before. And we know that New York and Washington continue to be potential targets for another attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: Now that's an interview conducted by Wolf Blitzer to appear on the television program LATE EDITION here on CNN.
CNN has no way of verifying the authenticity of the letter but, clearly, Carol, U.S. officials paying attention to the language.
LIN: Very much so. All right -- thank you very much -- Frank Buckley reporting live from Washington 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
Aired November 17, 2002 - 11:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Washington has its eye on Iraq today, not only for the weapons inspections that are about to begin but for the latest Iraqi attack on coalition aircraft over the no-fly zone.
CNN's Frank Buckley joins us now from Washington with some reaction from the Bush administration.
Frank, is this considered a material breach of the latest U.N. resolution?
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is the million dollar question. According to the U.S. position, the incident at the no-fly zone -- the southern no-fly zone -- that took place on Friday was a violation of Security Council Resolution 1441 and the U.S. position is that it could be referred to the Security Council as a material breach. So far no word on whether these incidents will, in fact, be referred as material breaches.
The White House is reacting, however, this weekend to the release of a letter that purports to come from al Qaeda. It is being reported by al Jazeera, the Qatar-based satellite television network.
This letter comes to Yosri Fouda, the investigative reporter who has interviewed top al Qaeda leaders in the past. He says, "This letter came through previously-tested channels." It reads in part, "Stop your support for Israel against the Palestinians, for Russians against the Chechens and leave us alone or expect us in Washington and New York."
Now a few moments ago Homeland Security Adviser Tom Ridge was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer about this letter. Here's what Tom Ridge had to say about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: The threats are threats we've heard before. The conditions to avoid future terrorist acts are conditions we've heard before. And we know that New York and Washington continue to be potential targets for another attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: Now that's an interview conducted by Wolf Blitzer to appear on the television program LATE EDITION here on CNN.
CNN has no way of verifying the authenticity of the letter but, clearly, Carol, U.S. officials paying attention to the language.
LIN: Very much so. All right -- thank you very much -- Frank Buckley reporting live from Washington 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
