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CNN Sunday Morning

Garner, Bodine Set to Leave Iraq

Aired May 11, 2003 - 10:10   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: Inside Iraq now, and what appears to be a major shake-up in the U.S. leadership overseeing its reconstruction. The Pentagon says Jay Garner, the retired general in charge of administering the transition in Iraq, is leaving country early. So, too is Barbara Bodine, the U.S. coordinator for central Iraq.
For the latest on these and other developments, John Vause is in Baghdad.

And John, some officials say the departure of Bodine was expected but Garner's was not. What's going on?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, certainly a surprise for many people here. Jay Garner, in country for just three weeks. He earlier said he expected to be here for three months. And by all accounts he's now packing his bags and heading home. He'll be replaced by L. Paul Bremer, that announcement coming out of the White House.

When that announcement was made it was expected that Mr. Bremer, who is a conservative career diplomat, would handle the politics of setting up a new government in Iraq. while the retired U.S. General Jay Garner would worry about the physical reconstruction of public services and other facilities in Iraq. But it now it looks like Mr. Garner's -- or General Garner's work here is done.

Mr. Garner -- or General Garner rather, oversaw operation to provide comfort in the early '90s. That was after the last Gulf War. He received a lot of praise for that. That was providing relief for the Kurds. But it looks as though now the White House is opting to have a civilian in charge of the operations. He's not a military man because there had in fact, been a great deal of criticism about the so place of progress in the reconstruction. Many basic services simply not been restored, power, water, that kind of thing. Even garbage is not being collected around the streets of Baghdad.

So, L. Bremer -- L. Paul Bremer in, Jay Garner out -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, John, isn't the sentiment now swirling around Baghdad, that among Iraqis, why should they feel like they can trust what American government will propose next if the American government itself didn't have a whole lot of confidence, consequently in Jay Garner.

VAUSE: Well, to be perfectly honest we went out and spoke with a few Iraqis just a short time ago to gauge their reaction about the movements here within that interim authority. That U.S interim authority, if you like. And most people hadn't even heard of Jay Garner. They just kept talking to us about where's the power, where's the water, where's our food, where's the humanitarian assistance. But it does in fact, give a signal of disarray or disorganization, if you like, within the organization.

And there's now concern that these new officials who are coming in, the new officials who will replace Barbara Bodine and who will replace Jay Garner and other officials who are leaving, will now take some time to familiarize themselves with the officials, how the system here works. So a number of processes that were in place will be delayed as they get to know the system and get to work out things once again. So, yes there is a bit of criticism from those Iraqis who are in the know.

But one other point here to note today, in fact the Baath Party, it looks as though the plug has been pulled on the Baath Party. General Tommy Franks making that announcement on coalition radio. Announce -- Reading a statement saying that the Baath Party has been dissolved.

Now, this isn't really new. If you cast your mind back to the big tent meeting that the U.S. officials held with a number of opposition groups in Nasiriya last month. One of the statements they came out with was in fact that the Baath Party should be dissolved. But certainly now it looks like Tommy Franks is dotting the I's and crossing the T's and urging all Iraqis to hand in any materials and documents relating to the Baath Party -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. John, and perhaps the new Americans that will be making their way in replacing Bodine and Garner, perhaps the mantra will be to familiarize themselves with the Iraqi people there.

John Vause from Baghdad. 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 May 11, 2003 - 10:10   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Inside Iraq now, and what appears to be a major shake-up in the U.S. leadership overseeing its reconstruction. The Pentagon says Jay Garner, the retired general in charge of administering the transition in Iraq, is leaving country early. So, too is Barbara Bodine, the U.S. coordinator for central Iraq.
For the latest on these and other developments, John Vause is in Baghdad.

And John, some officials say the departure of Bodine was expected but Garner's was not. What's going on?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, certainly a surprise for many people here. Jay Garner, in country for just three weeks. He earlier said he expected to be here for three months. And by all accounts he's now packing his bags and heading home. He'll be replaced by L. Paul Bremer, that announcement coming out of the White House.

When that announcement was made it was expected that Mr. Bremer, who is a conservative career diplomat, would handle the politics of setting up a new government in Iraq. while the retired U.S. General Jay Garner would worry about the physical reconstruction of public services and other facilities in Iraq. But it now it looks like Mr. Garner's -- or General Garner's work here is done.

Mr. Garner -- or General Garner rather, oversaw operation to provide comfort in the early '90s. That was after the last Gulf War. He received a lot of praise for that. That was providing relief for the Kurds. But it looks as though now the White House is opting to have a civilian in charge of the operations. He's not a military man because there had in fact, been a great deal of criticism about the so place of progress in the reconstruction. Many basic services simply not been restored, power, water, that kind of thing. Even garbage is not being collected around the streets of Baghdad.

So, L. Bremer -- L. Paul Bremer in, Jay Garner out -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, John, isn't the sentiment now swirling around Baghdad, that among Iraqis, why should they feel like they can trust what American government will propose next if the American government itself didn't have a whole lot of confidence, consequently in Jay Garner.

VAUSE: Well, to be perfectly honest we went out and spoke with a few Iraqis just a short time ago to gauge their reaction about the movements here within that interim authority. That U.S interim authority, if you like. And most people hadn't even heard of Jay Garner. They just kept talking to us about where's the power, where's the water, where's our food, where's the humanitarian assistance. But it does in fact, give a signal of disarray or disorganization, if you like, within the organization.

And there's now concern that these new officials who are coming in, the new officials who will replace Barbara Bodine and who will replace Jay Garner and other officials who are leaving, will now take some time to familiarize themselves with the officials, how the system here works. So a number of processes that were in place will be delayed as they get to know the system and get to work out things once again. So, yes there is a bit of criticism from those Iraqis who are in the know.

But one other point here to note today, in fact the Baath Party, it looks as though the plug has been pulled on the Baath Party. General Tommy Franks making that announcement on coalition radio. Announce -- Reading a statement saying that the Baath Party has been dissolved.

Now, this isn't really new. If you cast your mind back to the big tent meeting that the U.S. officials held with a number of opposition groups in Nasiriya last month. One of the statements they came out with was in fact that the Baath Party should be dissolved. But certainly now it looks like Tommy Franks is dotting the I's and crossing the T's and urging all Iraqis to hand in any materials and documents relating to the Baath Party -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. John, and perhaps the new Americans that will be making their way in replacing Bodine and Garner, perhaps the mantra will be to familiarize themselves with the Iraqi people there.

John Vause from Baghdad. 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