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CNN Sunday Morning
American Troops Rehearse for War in Qatar
Aired December 08, 2002 - 09:04 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in Qatar, American troops are rehearsing for war. Operation Internal Look is a seven-day computer assisted war game that begins tomorrow.
The exercise will test the control network that links the U.S. central command to ground troops, warships and combat jets.
Our John Vause joins us from Doha, Qatar, with more.
Hello, John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.
Well, the last minute details are being finalized for Operation Internal Look, that big computer war game you mentioned. Begins in less than 24 hours now.
And one visiting U.S. senator described it like this. He said he's never seen such detailed, comprehensive and modern military planning in 30 years in Congress. Now those comments came from Senator Chuck Hagel, who is in this region along with Senator Joe Biden.
Now, they've visited the As Sayliyah military base, the top secret base where that forward command center has been set up. He was briefed by General Tommy Franks and senior staff, as well as having breakfast with the troops this morning.
Now, earlier, the two senators spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, and this is some of what Senator Hagel had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, (R) NEBRASKA: I don't think there's ever been a question among members of Congress, probably the world, about the future of Saddam Hussein. That's an easy one. This guy needs to go.
How he goes is the tough question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Now, Senator Joe Biden, for his part, he was a little bit more direct. He said compared to the first Gulf War, you ain't seen nothing yet.
As for General Tommy Franks and his senior staff, for the second day they conducted what's called a ROCK drill -- that's an R-O-C-K drill. Centcom staff are very emphatic about making the enunciation clear about that. That's basically a rehearsal for Internal Look, which begins tomorrow.
Now the scenarios to be played out, well, they've classified, but the Centcom staff are grudgingly admitting that Baghdad will be, obviously, a part of any scenarios to be played out over the next week or so.
And also, as far as that's concerned, these rehearsals are basically -- as far as -- sorry, the scenarios which are going to be played out will -- I'm going to start that again, Miles. Will involve Baghdad.
Now, what's happening as far as Saddam Hussein is concerned, the war game which is on here as well as the general military build-up which is under way is still putting pressure on the Iraqi president. What analysts are pointing to is that apology which was issued last night from Saddam Hussein, that apology which he issued to Kuwait.
Analysts are saying that's evidence that the Iraqi president may, in fact, be feeling pressure at this moment, Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right, John Vause. It all started when I mispronounced your name. I think it's my fault.
Anyway, thank you very much for joining us from Qatar. We'll check in with you later.
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 December 8, 2002 - 09:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, in Qatar, American troops are rehearsing for war. Operation Internal Look is a seven-day computer assisted war game that begins tomorrow.
The exercise will test the control network that links the U.S. central command to ground troops, warships and combat jets.
Our John Vause joins us from Doha, Qatar, with more.
Hello, John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.
Well, the last minute details are being finalized for Operation Internal Look, that big computer war game you mentioned. Begins in less than 24 hours now.
And one visiting U.S. senator described it like this. He said he's never seen such detailed, comprehensive and modern military planning in 30 years in Congress. Now those comments came from Senator Chuck Hagel, who is in this region along with Senator Joe Biden.
Now, they've visited the As Sayliyah military base, the top secret base where that forward command center has been set up. He was briefed by General Tommy Franks and senior staff, as well as having breakfast with the troops this morning.
Now, earlier, the two senators spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, and this is some of what Senator Hagel had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, (R) NEBRASKA: I don't think there's ever been a question among members of Congress, probably the world, about the future of Saddam Hussein. That's an easy one. This guy needs to go.
How he goes is the tough question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Now, Senator Joe Biden, for his part, he was a little bit more direct. He said compared to the first Gulf War, you ain't seen nothing yet.
As for General Tommy Franks and his senior staff, for the second day they conducted what's called a ROCK drill -- that's an R-O-C-K drill. Centcom staff are very emphatic about making the enunciation clear about that. That's basically a rehearsal for Internal Look, which begins tomorrow.
Now the scenarios to be played out, well, they've classified, but the Centcom staff are grudgingly admitting that Baghdad will be, obviously, a part of any scenarios to be played out over the next week or so.
And also, as far as that's concerned, these rehearsals are basically -- as far as -- sorry, the scenarios which are going to be played out will -- I'm going to start that again, Miles. Will involve Baghdad.
Now, what's happening as far as Saddam Hussein is concerned, the war game which is on here as well as the general military build-up which is under way is still putting pressure on the Iraqi president. What analysts are pointing to is that apology which was issued last night from Saddam Hussein, that apology which he issued to Kuwait.
Analysts are saying that's evidence that the Iraqi president may, in fact, be feeling pressure at this moment, Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right, John Vause. It all started when I mispronounced your name. I think it's my fault.
Anyway, thank you very much for joining us from Qatar. We'll check in with you later.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
