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CNN Sunday Morning

Is U.S. Prepared for War With Iraq?

Aired December 08, 2002 - 11:48   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: We turn our focus now to what might happen if another war against Iraq were to break out. With us now, CNN military analyst and retired U.S. Air Force General George Harrison. Good to see you.
GEN. GEORGE HARRISON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good to be here.

WHITFIELD: All right, let's talk about Saudi Arabia off the top. It may be, indeed, a very different scenario compared to the Gulf War. They're not quite on board yet. A little wishy-washy. But that certainly would certainly be a good air base starting point for the U.S., wouldn't it?

HARRISON: Certainly. They have a number of very capable air bases that can handle a lot of aircraft. If they don't come on board, we still are in better shape than we were at the beginning of the Gulf War in 1991, however.

WHITFIELD: And why is that?

HARRISON: Well, we have 17 bases scattered around the area, many of them at long range, but at least they're in the area and we have a lot of logistic support ready to go that we didn't have when the Gulf War started.

WHITFIELD: OK, about where are they?

HARRISON: Well, we have -- clearly we can fly from Diego Garcia. You may be able to see the B-52 coming up there. That's about a 2,000-mile trip one way, so that is a very long mission for those air crews. We also have forces scattered around -- as you know, we're operating for Afghanistan from Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, those bases give an access. It can be used for operations against Iraq. And most -- very importantly, last -- I guess last week, the Turks announced that if this is part of a U.N. action, they will be on board and let us use Incirlik air base in Adona, Turkey, which is extremely important.

WHITFIELD: Now, when we talk about the locales, though, of these places, they're not necessarily right next door, which would have been ideal. Diego Garcia being among the furthest away, but with the heaviest of the artillery. What about the stress factor when we're talking about the pilots and those involved, the fatigue factor?

HARRISON: Good question. Good question. That does two things to you, against you. It means that you can't use the airplanes for as many strike sorties because they spend so much time in transit, back and forth from their bases. The other factor is the fatigue factor for the air crews. If you can imagine spending 15, 16, 18 hours in a fighter cockpit or in a bomber cockpit not being able to get up and move around, it really is stressful, which means you can't use the crews for as many missions in a week's time.

WHITFIELD: All right. About the aircraft carriers. There are about two. One definitely that's in the area now, possibly two more that might be heading their way. That would certainly help to allow for the aircraft to be a little bit closer, maybe.

HARRISON: That does help, but as you can see, as we move further up into the Arabian Sea, that becomes a lot more confined operating space for the aircraft carrier, so there is a limit as to how many aircraft carriers you can put in the area. Besides which even from these areas flying into Iraq, the fighter aircraft from the carriers have to be in-flight refueled. And that means that we have to have basing for in-flight refueling for land-based tankers.

WHITFIELD: So we're talking about what type of aircraft, as well, would be operable in this location? B-52s in Diego Garcia, you mentioned, the heavy-duty war plane.

HARRISON: That's right. The heavy, long range. Some tankers come in from Diego Garcia. Some tankers coming from bases possibly in Qatar, possibly in other areas.

The tanker, of course, the further it has to travel, the less fuel it can offload, so you need more tankers. So this gets to be a very complicated jigsaw puzzle to put together.

WHITFIELD: Well, you do agree that there are indeed obstacles when you're talking about air support. So does that mean that relying on ground support just might come in a very significant way? Already there's quite a presence in a number of locations, Kuwait being one of them.

HARRISON: You mean unsupported ground operations?

WHITFIELD: Correct.

HARRISON: Ground operations without air support? I don't think we'd do that. I think we'd figure out a way to get air support for the ground operations, because as you know, as we move in, taking artillery with you, ground-based artillery with you is a very complicated process, too, that requires a lot of logistical support, and in some ways air support can substitute for artillery support.

WHITFIELD: And say, in the case of some of the aircraft carriers, you have the Marine expeditionary units, they usually go in about the time when aircraft support is going in as well.

HARRISON: That's right. And they will be coordinated with their aircraft. So this is not an easy problem. WHITFIELD: No, not at all. But it's also a situation where the U.S. still has to do a lot more PR work with the neighboring nations, don't they, to try to get those that are noncommittal perhaps on board?

HARRISON: Not just PR, but strong, heavy diplomatic effort to make sure that they are really on board and that they fully support and that there are no undue limitations on U.S. military activity.

WHITFIELD: Now, what about the no-fly zone? What happens in a indication of a war beginning? And that's pretty much out the window or, I mean, it certainly been an obvious obstacle.

HARRISON: Of course, it is. Of course, it is. As you recall, the no-fly zone essentially crosses here. We don't allow Iraqi aircraft to fly in northern Iraq or in southern Iraq. Clearly if we go to war, we'll move into the area in between those no-fly zones and deny any kind of Iraqi flight activity between those areas.

WHITFIELD: And of course, when we talk about some of the entry points, we're talking about the northern, southern regions of Iraq. I mean, those are the most naturally (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HARRISON: Of course.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, all right, General Harrison, thanks very much.

HARRISON: A pleasure. As always. Thank you.

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 - 11:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We turn our focus now to what might happen if another war against Iraq were to break out. With us now, CNN military analyst and retired U.S. Air Force General George Harrison. Good to see you.
GEN. GEORGE HARRISON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good to be here.

WHITFIELD: All right, let's talk about Saudi Arabia off the top. It may be, indeed, a very different scenario compared to the Gulf War. They're not quite on board yet. A little wishy-washy. But that certainly would certainly be a good air base starting point for the U.S., wouldn't it?

HARRISON: Certainly. They have a number of very capable air bases that can handle a lot of aircraft. If they don't come on board, we still are in better shape than we were at the beginning of the Gulf War in 1991, however.

WHITFIELD: And why is that?

HARRISON: Well, we have 17 bases scattered around the area, many of them at long range, but at least they're in the area and we have a lot of logistic support ready to go that we didn't have when the Gulf War started.

WHITFIELD: OK, about where are they?

HARRISON: Well, we have -- clearly we can fly from Diego Garcia. You may be able to see the B-52 coming up there. That's about a 2,000-mile trip one way, so that is a very long mission for those air crews. We also have forces scattered around -- as you know, we're operating for Afghanistan from Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, those bases give an access. It can be used for operations against Iraq. And most -- very importantly, last -- I guess last week, the Turks announced that if this is part of a U.N. action, they will be on board and let us use Incirlik air base in Adona, Turkey, which is extremely important.

WHITFIELD: Now, when we talk about the locales, though, of these places, they're not necessarily right next door, which would have been ideal. Diego Garcia being among the furthest away, but with the heaviest of the artillery. What about the stress factor when we're talking about the pilots and those involved, the fatigue factor?

HARRISON: Good question. Good question. That does two things to you, against you. It means that you can't use the airplanes for as many strike sorties because they spend so much time in transit, back and forth from their bases. The other factor is the fatigue factor for the air crews. If you can imagine spending 15, 16, 18 hours in a fighter cockpit or in a bomber cockpit not being able to get up and move around, it really is stressful, which means you can't use the crews for as many missions in a week's time.

WHITFIELD: All right. About the aircraft carriers. There are about two. One definitely that's in the area now, possibly two more that might be heading their way. That would certainly help to allow for the aircraft to be a little bit closer, maybe.

HARRISON: That does help, but as you can see, as we move further up into the Arabian Sea, that becomes a lot more confined operating space for the aircraft carrier, so there is a limit as to how many aircraft carriers you can put in the area. Besides which even from these areas flying into Iraq, the fighter aircraft from the carriers have to be in-flight refueled. And that means that we have to have basing for in-flight refueling for land-based tankers.

WHITFIELD: So we're talking about what type of aircraft, as well, would be operable in this location? B-52s in Diego Garcia, you mentioned, the heavy-duty war plane.

HARRISON: That's right. The heavy, long range. Some tankers come in from Diego Garcia. Some tankers coming from bases possibly in Qatar, possibly in other areas.

The tanker, of course, the further it has to travel, the less fuel it can offload, so you need more tankers. So this gets to be a very complicated jigsaw puzzle to put together.

WHITFIELD: Well, you do agree that there are indeed obstacles when you're talking about air support. So does that mean that relying on ground support just might come in a very significant way? Already there's quite a presence in a number of locations, Kuwait being one of them.

HARRISON: You mean unsupported ground operations?

WHITFIELD: Correct.

HARRISON: Ground operations without air support? I don't think we'd do that. I think we'd figure out a way to get air support for the ground operations, because as you know, as we move in, taking artillery with you, ground-based artillery with you is a very complicated process, too, that requires a lot of logistical support, and in some ways air support can substitute for artillery support.

WHITFIELD: And say, in the case of some of the aircraft carriers, you have the Marine expeditionary units, they usually go in about the time when aircraft support is going in as well.

HARRISON: That's right. And they will be coordinated with their aircraft. So this is not an easy problem. WHITFIELD: No, not at all. But it's also a situation where the U.S. still has to do a lot more PR work with the neighboring nations, don't they, to try to get those that are noncommittal perhaps on board?

HARRISON: Not just PR, but strong, heavy diplomatic effort to make sure that they are really on board and that they fully support and that there are no undue limitations on U.S. military activity.

WHITFIELD: Now, what about the no-fly zone? What happens in a indication of a war beginning? And that's pretty much out the window or, I mean, it certainly been an obvious obstacle.

HARRISON: Of course, it is. Of course, it is. As you recall, the no-fly zone essentially crosses here. We don't allow Iraqi aircraft to fly in northern Iraq or in southern Iraq. Clearly if we go to war, we'll move into the area in between those no-fly zones and deny any kind of Iraqi flight activity between those areas.

WHITFIELD: And of course, when we talk about some of the entry points, we're talking about the northern, southern regions of Iraq. I mean, those are the most naturally (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HARRISON: Of course.

WHITFIELD: Yeah, all right, General Harrison, thanks very much.

HARRISON: A pleasure. As always. Thank you.

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