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CNN Sunday Morning
U.N. Weapons Inspectors Go Back to Work
Aired December 08, 2002 - 11:02 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: First we go back inside Baghdad.
A day after they delivered their declaration, U.N. weapons inspectors are working again after a short break. They're visiting several sites, and CNN's Nic Robertson is live from the Iraqi capital with more on that -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, another day for weapons inspections teams, chalking up two more site. Twenty-three they've visited total. Again, we're told today without incident, finding full Iraqi cooperation.
Twenty-five more U.N. weapons inspectors arriving in the city.
But the real headline here this evening: In the last hour the President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser, General Amir al- Saadi, was briefing journalists. He talked for 45 minutes.
Now, during that time, he outlined that the inspection process was a very bitter pill for Iraq to swallow. But it was willing to go through the process.
But the real headline from this was that he said on the outstanding issue, the issues that have been outstanding for U.N. weapons inspectors since 1998 when they left here, such issues as the whereabouts of VX nerve agent, the whereabouts of precursor chemicals.
On all of these issues, Hans Blix, the chief weapons inspector, when he was here two weeks ago told the Iraqi officials, told General Amir al-Saadi, that if they wanted to say that they didn't have these items, then they would have to provide more documentary evidence.
The General Amir al-Saadi today saying that there was no more evidence. That they had looked carefully, that their full and final declarations made in 1996 and follow-up conversations in 1997 with U.N. inspectors were as far as it went. There were no more documents here in Iraq.
As he said, that the country does not have weapons of mass destruction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. AMIR AL-SAADI, IRAQI SCIENTIFIC ADVISER: We hope that it will satisfy because it is currently accurate as they've asked for. And comprehensive. Truthful, everything. If they have anything to the contrary, let them forthwith come up with it, give it to the I.A.E.A., give it to UNMOVIC. They are here. They could check it. Why play this game?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, he also said, in trying to figure out exactly what it was Iraq had to put in this declaration, when chief U.N. Weapons inspector Hans Blix was here a couple of weeks ago, they'd asked him what constitutes a dual-use site. What is it to the U.N. that you think needs to go in, as well as our declaration of our past weapons of mass destruction?
He said he couldn't get a clear answer so they've put in this declaration such sites as breweries, such sites as tanneries, distilleries, even a dairy product farm. He said the cheese making equipment uses a fermenter. He said all that had to go into the declaration.
Now, he also outlined in the declaration what it was; they would present their past weapons of mass destruction program up until 1991. They were breaking it down and putting in the program from '91 until the present date, what had gone on in that period.
He said also that this was very, very much a difficult thing for Iraq to do, but they found it necessary to comply. He believes that Iraq has done so fully.
WHITFIELD: All right, Nic Robertson from Baghdad. Thank you very much.
Well, the Bush Administration is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Iraq's 12,000-page declaration to the U.N., and publicly President Bush says the U.S. will judge the declaration's honesty and completeness after examining it.
But what's being said behind the scenes?
Our Frank Buckley is live from the White House and, Frank, we heard from the general in Iraq a little bit earlier. He said the inspections are intrusive, but sees it as a safeguard.
Do you suppose the White House is seeing that this is an about- face for Iraq?
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's too early to tell, but it didn't appear as though anything came out of that news conference that would be anything that was a headline that was news to the Bush Administration.
The Bush Administration, as you know, very skeptical about Iraq and Iraqi leaders and recent statements that it has no weapons of mass destruction.
This seemed to follow along on that same script that Iraqi officials have been following, suggesting that there are no weapons of mass destruction. Yes, there is evidence of a program that existed but nothing new.
Here's the official reaction from the Bush Administration to the issuing of the declaration by Iraq yesterday. The Bush Administration saying, "The U.S. government will analyze this declaration with respect to its credibility and compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 14-41. We will continue to work with other countries to achieve the ultimate goal of protecting the peace by ending Saddam Hussein's pursuit and accumulation of weapons of mass destruction."
President Bush so far hasn't commented on the declaration or, obviously, the news conference. Yesterday he left the White House on Marine One, headed to Camp David for the weekend retreat. We expect him to return to the White House at some point today.
But so far, Senator Daschle, who has been an occasional critic of president Bush, was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer today for his program, "LATE EDITION," which will air later here on CNN.
He says that the president is handling this the right way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TOM DASCHLE, (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: I think the president is doing it about right. He's firm. He is working in a cooperative way with the United Nations and our allies around the world.
I think he's put Saddam Hussein on very clear notice that we expect complete truth. And Saddam Hussein is given no indication, at this point, that he will do anything different than what he's done over the last ten years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: And U.S. intelligence officials expect in this declaration, or want Iraq in this declaration, to say that it has disarmed and to provide evidence of that, because from the U.S. point of view, not only has Iraq not disarmed in terms of its weapons of mass destruction programs, but it has accelerated those programs since 1998 -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Now, Frank, the U.S. has said that it has evidence to substantiate its skepticism about Iraq.
Let me ask you, are you learning from any White House advisers that perhaps they might be sharing that intelligence information with those U.N. inspectors on the ground?
BUCKLEY: Well, we know from -- the White House officials have told us that they have shared some intelligence so far with the U.N. inspectors. They say that they will be willing to share more. We don't know exactly how much they will share, how far they will go to make their point.
One thing they have told us, however, is that at this point they've decided not to go public with it. There are some questions about whether or not the White House should go public in a forum like the United Nations to show the smoking gun, as it were.
But one senior administration official told me the problem with the smoking gun theory it's only smoking immediately after you shoot it. Intelligence is a moving target from time to time.
So at this point the White House has decided not to at least go public with this intelligence, but it will continue to share it with inspectors.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much. Frank Buckley, from the White House.
Well, in the Gulf nation of Qatar, the U.S. military planning for any possible war with Iraq.
An elaborate war game called Internal Look is said to begin tomorrow in that region. And two U.S. senators took a tour of the base.
John Vause is live from Doha, Qatar, with the details on that tour, and with these planned, I guess, war games.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Fredricka. Those two senators visiting that very top secret Al-Udeid air base just outside Doha. It's about 20 miles south of here.
Now, Senator Chuck Hagel, he said after visiting that top secret base, he said he's never seen such comprehensive, detailed modern military planning in 30 years in Congress.
Now, he's in this region with Senator Joe Biden, as well. They met with General Tommy Franks today, they were briefed by his top staff and they also met with the troops, had breakfast with them.
Now, Chuck Hagel spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer a short time ago. This is a little bit of what he 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, Joe Biden for his part, a little bit more direct. He basically said, compared to the last Gulf War, you ain't see nothing yet.
Now, General Tommy Franks and his senior staff having another day of what they call a ROCK drill, that's very particularly in preparation for Operation Internal Look, running through the scenarios, looking at all the communications, getting ready for this exercise, which will begin in less than 24 hours. Though those scenarios are still classified, Centcom staff here grudgingly admit that Baghdad will, obviously, play a role. But there's a great deal of speculation here, Fredricka, that this exercise is just merely a veil, a dress rehearsal, if you like, for a war against Iraq.
WHITFIELD: Well, John, let me ask you: do the people of Qatar in any way express any level of skepticism themselves, or do they think this is a risk for this nation to be caught in the middle?
VAUSE: Yes , on the Arab street, if you like, here in Qatar, what they're talking about, the burden of proof, if you like, that the Iraqis have to reach, they wonder if there's anything that the Iraqis can do that would satisfy the United States.
There's a feeling here, very muted, mind you, but there is still a feeling here that no matter what the Iraqis do, that there will still be a war. Because as some people have told me, President Bush is pushing for war. He's forcing the issue. He wants a war.
And they're very unhappy about having military personnel here in this country, let alone those military personnel launching air strikes against Iraq.
WHITFIELD: You said, John, they're very unhappy. Has it been expressed in any way? Openly, like protests or anything like that?
VAUSE: No, nothing like that. No flag burnings or protests. Nothing like that. The Qataris seem to keep their opinions to themselves, if you like.
One of the reasons for that is that there's a very high percentage of immigrant workers in this country. Even if you were born here, doesn't automatically make you a citizen, so out of the 750,000 people in this country, more than 600,000 are, in fact, foreign workers. And they have a fear that if they speak out, if they support their Muslim cousins, if you like, in Iraq, that they could lose their jobs, they could be deported.
So from that point of view, any kind of reaction, any protest about having those servicemen here has, in fact, been very muted.
WHITFIELD: All right, John Vause from Doha, Qatar. 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 - 11:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: First we go back inside Baghdad.
A day after they delivered their declaration, U.N. weapons inspectors are working again after a short break. They're visiting several sites, and CNN's Nic Robertson is live from the Iraqi capital with more on that -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, another day for weapons inspections teams, chalking up two more site. Twenty-three they've visited total. Again, we're told today without incident, finding full Iraqi cooperation.
Twenty-five more U.N. weapons inspectors arriving in the city.
But the real headline here this evening: In the last hour the President Saddam Hussein's top scientific adviser, General Amir al- Saadi, was briefing journalists. He talked for 45 minutes.
Now, during that time, he outlined that the inspection process was a very bitter pill for Iraq to swallow. But it was willing to go through the process.
But the real headline from this was that he said on the outstanding issue, the issues that have been outstanding for U.N. weapons inspectors since 1998 when they left here, such issues as the whereabouts of VX nerve agent, the whereabouts of precursor chemicals.
On all of these issues, Hans Blix, the chief weapons inspector, when he was here two weeks ago told the Iraqi officials, told General Amir al-Saadi, that if they wanted to say that they didn't have these items, then they would have to provide more documentary evidence.
The General Amir al-Saadi today saying that there was no more evidence. That they had looked carefully, that their full and final declarations made in 1996 and follow-up conversations in 1997 with U.N. inspectors were as far as it went. There were no more documents here in Iraq.
As he said, that the country does not have weapons of mass destruction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. AMIR AL-SAADI, IRAQI SCIENTIFIC ADVISER: We hope that it will satisfy because it is currently accurate as they've asked for. And comprehensive. Truthful, everything. If they have anything to the contrary, let them forthwith come up with it, give it to the I.A.E.A., give it to UNMOVIC. They are here. They could check it. Why play this game?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now, he also said, in trying to figure out exactly what it was Iraq had to put in this declaration, when chief U.N. Weapons inspector Hans Blix was here a couple of weeks ago, they'd asked him what constitutes a dual-use site. What is it to the U.N. that you think needs to go in, as well as our declaration of our past weapons of mass destruction?
He said he couldn't get a clear answer so they've put in this declaration such sites as breweries, such sites as tanneries, distilleries, even a dairy product farm. He said the cheese making equipment uses a fermenter. He said all that had to go into the declaration.
Now, he also outlined in the declaration what it was; they would present their past weapons of mass destruction program up until 1991. They were breaking it down and putting in the program from '91 until the present date, what had gone on in that period.
He said also that this was very, very much a difficult thing for Iraq to do, but they found it necessary to comply. He believes that Iraq has done so fully.
WHITFIELD: All right, Nic Robertson from Baghdad. Thank you very much.
Well, the Bush Administration is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Iraq's 12,000-page declaration to the U.N., and publicly President Bush says the U.S. will judge the declaration's honesty and completeness after examining it.
But what's being said behind the scenes?
Our Frank Buckley is live from the White House and, Frank, we heard from the general in Iraq a little bit earlier. He said the inspections are intrusive, but sees it as a safeguard.
Do you suppose the White House is seeing that this is an about- face for Iraq?
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's too early to tell, but it didn't appear as though anything came out of that news conference that would be anything that was a headline that was news to the Bush Administration.
The Bush Administration, as you know, very skeptical about Iraq and Iraqi leaders and recent statements that it has no weapons of mass destruction.
This seemed to follow along on that same script that Iraqi officials have been following, suggesting that there are no weapons of mass destruction. Yes, there is evidence of a program that existed but nothing new.
Here's the official reaction from the Bush Administration to the issuing of the declaration by Iraq yesterday. The Bush Administration saying, "The U.S. government will analyze this declaration with respect to its credibility and compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 14-41. We will continue to work with other countries to achieve the ultimate goal of protecting the peace by ending Saddam Hussein's pursuit and accumulation of weapons of mass destruction."
President Bush so far hasn't commented on the declaration or, obviously, the news conference. Yesterday he left the White House on Marine One, headed to Camp David for the weekend retreat. We expect him to return to the White House at some point today.
But so far, Senator Daschle, who has been an occasional critic of president Bush, was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer today for his program, "LATE EDITION," which will air later here on CNN.
He says that the president is handling this the right way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TOM DASCHLE, (D-SD), MAJORITY LEADER: I think the president is doing it about right. He's firm. He is working in a cooperative way with the United Nations and our allies around the world.
I think he's put Saddam Hussein on very clear notice that we expect complete truth. And Saddam Hussein is given no indication, at this point, that he will do anything different than what he's done over the last ten years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUCKLEY: And U.S. intelligence officials expect in this declaration, or want Iraq in this declaration, to say that it has disarmed and to provide evidence of that, because from the U.S. point of view, not only has Iraq not disarmed in terms of its weapons of mass destruction programs, but it has accelerated those programs since 1998 -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Now, Frank, the U.S. has said that it has evidence to substantiate its skepticism about Iraq.
Let me ask you, are you learning from any White House advisers that perhaps they might be sharing that intelligence information with those U.N. inspectors on the ground?
BUCKLEY: Well, we know from -- the White House officials have told us that they have shared some intelligence so far with the U.N. inspectors. They say that they will be willing to share more. We don't know exactly how much they will share, how far they will go to make their point.
One thing they have told us, however, is that at this point they've decided not to go public with it. There are some questions about whether or not the White House should go public in a forum like the United Nations to show the smoking gun, as it were.
But one senior administration official told me the problem with the smoking gun theory it's only smoking immediately after you shoot it. Intelligence is a moving target from time to time.
So at this point the White House has decided not to at least go public with this intelligence, but it will continue to share it with inspectors.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much. Frank Buckley, from the White House.
Well, in the Gulf nation of Qatar, the U.S. military planning for any possible war with Iraq.
An elaborate war game called Internal Look is said to begin tomorrow in that region. And two U.S. senators took a tour of the base.
John Vause is live from Doha, Qatar, with the details on that tour, and with these planned, I guess, war games.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Fredricka. Those two senators visiting that very top secret Al-Udeid air base just outside Doha. It's about 20 miles south of here.
Now, Senator Chuck Hagel, he said after visiting that top secret base, he said he's never seen such comprehensive, detailed modern military planning in 30 years in Congress.
Now, he's in this region with Senator Joe Biden, as well. They met with General Tommy Franks today, they were briefed by his top staff and they also met with the troops, had breakfast with them.
Now, Chuck Hagel spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer a short time ago. This is a little bit of what he 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, Joe Biden for his part, a little bit more direct. He basically said, compared to the last Gulf War, you ain't see nothing yet.
Now, General Tommy Franks and his senior staff having another day of what they call a ROCK drill, that's very particularly in preparation for Operation Internal Look, running through the scenarios, looking at all the communications, getting ready for this exercise, which will begin in less than 24 hours. Though those scenarios are still classified, Centcom staff here grudgingly admit that Baghdad will, obviously, play a role. But there's a great deal of speculation here, Fredricka, that this exercise is just merely a veil, a dress rehearsal, if you like, for a war against Iraq.
WHITFIELD: Well, John, let me ask you: do the people of Qatar in any way express any level of skepticism themselves, or do they think this is a risk for this nation to be caught in the middle?
VAUSE: Yes , on the Arab street, if you like, here in Qatar, what they're talking about, the burden of proof, if you like, that the Iraqis have to reach, they wonder if there's anything that the Iraqis can do that would satisfy the United States.
There's a feeling here, very muted, mind you, but there is still a feeling here that no matter what the Iraqis do, that there will still be a war. Because as some people have told me, President Bush is pushing for war. He's forcing the issue. He wants a war.
And they're very unhappy about having military personnel here in this country, let alone those military personnel launching air strikes against Iraq.
WHITFIELD: You said, John, they're very unhappy. Has it been expressed in any way? Openly, like protests or anything like that?
VAUSE: No, nothing like that. No flag burnings or protests. Nothing like that. The Qataris seem to keep their opinions to themselves, if you like.
One of the reasons for that is that there's a very high percentage of immigrant workers in this country. Even if you were born here, doesn't automatically make you a citizen, so out of the 750,000 people in this country, more than 600,000 are, in fact, foreign workers. And they have a fear that if they speak out, if they support their Muslim cousins, if you like, in Iraq, that they could lose their jobs, they could be deported.
So from that point of view, any kind of reaction, any protest about having those servicemen here has, in fact, been very muted.
WHITFIELD: All right, John Vause from Doha, Qatar. 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
