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CNN Sunday Morning
Interview With David Isby
Aired December 08, 2002 - 10:56 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: Now that Iraq has formally declared it has no banned weapons of mass destruction, what happens next? For insights on the inspection process and with a look at the military -- Iraqi military forces, we go to defense and terrorism analyst, David Isby and he is in Washington. Good to see you.
DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE ANALYST: Good morning.
WHITFIELD: Well, the general was trying to make it very clear that they were -- they are being up front when he says -- quote -- "Nothing from previous programs exists." Does this help Iraq win any points in this P.R. war against the U.S.?
ISBY: It may win some points in a short-term P.R. war, especially in the Islamic War and some of the countries on the Security Council. But in the final analysis, this puts Iraq towards the material breach envisioned in the initial Security Council resolutions. Saddam was basically given the chance to, as a -- you know to a bank robber, put down your guns, back away, and you can walk away from this. He has elected not to take that opportunity.
WHITFIELD: Twelve thousand pages, that's what this declaration constitutes. Is this essentially a way in which for Iraq to buy some time? It's going to take weeks for U.N. security advisers to pore over these details before the entire 15-member council gets a hold of them.
ISBY: Yes, but it was made clear when this resolution was made that we're not reverting to the old 1990s game of hide and seek, simply because there's no way the number of inspectors on the ground with the technology they have can win this. This was basically given to Saddam Hussein as a last chance to back away and avoid a move towards armed confrontation.
WHITFIELD: If the U.S. indeed has some specific evidence that it says substantiates the claim that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, shouldn't the U.S. hand over that evidence to the inspectors to help them in their search...
ISBY: Certainly...
WHITFIELD: ... or no?
ISBY: Well, certainly, that would be a good thing, although last week Ambassador Blix said he would not be receiving intelligence information. How that will work in operational terms are yet to be seen. Certainly, the more the U.S. can make its case and the idea of multiple facilities, intelligence reports can be wrong about any one facility. You know witness the pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum back in 1998. But if we showed preponderance of evidence, of years of concealment and hiding first to the U.N. and then in public, if required, will make our case stronger.
WHITFIELD: All right, David Isby from Washington, thank you very much.
ISBY: You're welcome.
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 - 10:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now that Iraq has formally declared it has no banned weapons of mass destruction, what happens next? For insights on the inspection process and with a look at the military -- Iraqi military forces, we go to defense and terrorism analyst, David Isby and he is in Washington. Good to see you.
DAVID ISBY, DEFENSE ANALYST: Good morning.
WHITFIELD: Well, the general was trying to make it very clear that they were -- they are being up front when he says -- quote -- "Nothing from previous programs exists." Does this help Iraq win any points in this P.R. war against the U.S.?
ISBY: It may win some points in a short-term P.R. war, especially in the Islamic War and some of the countries on the Security Council. But in the final analysis, this puts Iraq towards the material breach envisioned in the initial Security Council resolutions. Saddam was basically given the chance to, as a -- you know to a bank robber, put down your guns, back away, and you can walk away from this. He has elected not to take that opportunity.
WHITFIELD: Twelve thousand pages, that's what this declaration constitutes. Is this essentially a way in which for Iraq to buy some time? It's going to take weeks for U.N. security advisers to pore over these details before the entire 15-member council gets a hold of them.
ISBY: Yes, but it was made clear when this resolution was made that we're not reverting to the old 1990s game of hide and seek, simply because there's no way the number of inspectors on the ground with the technology they have can win this. This was basically given to Saddam Hussein as a last chance to back away and avoid a move towards armed confrontation.
WHITFIELD: If the U.S. indeed has some specific evidence that it says substantiates the claim that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, shouldn't the U.S. hand over that evidence to the inspectors to help them in their search...
ISBY: Certainly...
WHITFIELD: ... or no?
ISBY: Well, certainly, that would be a good thing, although last week Ambassador Blix said he would not be receiving intelligence information. How that will work in operational terms are yet to be seen. Certainly, the more the U.S. can make its case and the idea of multiple facilities, intelligence reports can be wrong about any one facility. You know witness the pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum back in 1998. But if we showed preponderance of evidence, of years of concealment and hiding first to the U.N. and then in public, if required, will make our case stronger.
WHITFIELD: All right, David Isby from Washington, thank you very much.
ISBY: You're welcome.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
