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CNN Sunday Morning

Kuwaitis Reject Iraqi Apology

Aired December 08, 2002 - 11:34   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Continuing now our live coverage in the Persian Gulf. Leaders in Kuwait are telling Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein that his apology is not accepted. The appeal was made even as Baghdad was handing over its weapons declaration to the U.N. CNN senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers joins us live from Kuwait City. Hi there, Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka. The Kuwaitis see Saddam Hussein's apology for the Gulf War 12 years ago as the mark of a desperate man, and in a word disingenuous. They note that it took 12 years for Saddam to apologize to Kuwait, and they say that he only did it because he's cornered by the United States-led coalition forces at this time.

The Kuwaiti officials see Saddam's apology as an attempt, they say, to try to divide this country, to destabilize it. They called Saddam's apology including an appeal to young Kuwaitis to rise up and carry out a jihad, a holy war, and throw out the 12,000 American troops that are here. Overwhelmingly, Kuwaitis have -- see no credibility in Saddam's apology. They say that the people he really should apologize are to his own Iraqis, whom he has led into more than a few losing wars in the past 20 years.

Again, no one here takes Saddam's apology with any credibility at all. Most, indeed, many Kuwaitis simply called it a fabrication and a lie.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military buildup continues here, and U.S. forces become increasingly ready in Kuwait with every passing day. Kuwait, of course, would be the springboard or launching pad for any U.S. assault on Baghdad -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Walter Rodgers from Kuwait City, thank you very much.

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 - 11:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Continuing now our live coverage in the Persian Gulf. Leaders in Kuwait are telling Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein that his apology is not accepted. The appeal was made even as Baghdad was handing over its weapons declaration to the U.N. CNN senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers joins us live from Kuwait City. Hi there, Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka. The Kuwaitis see Saddam Hussein's apology for the Gulf War 12 years ago as the mark of a desperate man, and in a word disingenuous. They note that it took 12 years for Saddam to apologize to Kuwait, and they say that he only did it because he's cornered by the United States-led coalition forces at this time.

The Kuwaiti officials see Saddam's apology as an attempt, they say, to try to divide this country, to destabilize it. They called Saddam's apology including an appeal to young Kuwaitis to rise up and carry out a jihad, a holy war, and throw out the 12,000 American troops that are here. Overwhelmingly, Kuwaitis have -- see no credibility in Saddam's apology. They say that the people he really should apologize are to his own Iraqis, whom he has led into more than a few losing wars in the past 20 years.

Again, no one here takes Saddam's apology with any credibility at all. Most, indeed, many Kuwaitis simply called it a fabrication and a lie.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military buildup continues here, and U.S. forces become increasingly ready in Kuwait with every passing day. Kuwait, of course, would be the springboard or launching pad for any U.S. assault on Baghdad -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Walter Rodgers from Kuwait City, thank you very much.

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