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CNN Saturday Morning News
Reaction from Baghdad
Aired November 09, 2002 - 08:01 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Iraqi News Agency is reporting today that government officials are studying the new U.N. Security Council resolution approved unanimously. That resolution demands that Baghdad allow unfettered access to U.N. weapons inspectors or face serious consequences.
CNN's Rym Brahimi gauges the reaction from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just hours before the Security Council vote, an Iraqi official said the new resolution was a pretext for U.S.-led war, that it was unnecessary, that inspectors could have come any time since September.
MUHAMMAD MAHDI SALEH, IRAQI TRADE MINISTER: Iraq has stated always that there is no need for any new resolution. Iraq has presented the well of Iraq to international community by accepting the return of inspectors.
BRAHIMI: The resolution promises a lifting of sanctions if Iraq complies and threatens serious consequences if it doesn't. With so much at stake, the U.S. administration is keen to convince people in the region it has no quarrel with them.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: When the Baghdad regime claims that the United States is seeking to wage war on the Arab world, nothing could be farther from the truth.
BRAHIMI: But on this first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, the official sermon from the Mother of All Battles Mosque in Baghdad sends the opposite message, that the U.S. threatens all Muslims.
BAKIR ABDUL-RAZZAQ, MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES MOSQUES: They think that these bombs, planes, missiles and sophisticated technology intimidate us. No. By god, you are really the terrorists, but we terrorize you with the force of god. Who are you to threaten Mohammed, whose master is god? Who are you, Bush, you little dwarf, to threaten Mohammed and his sons?
BRAHIMI: Despite the heated rhetoric, Iraqis are pragmatic. They seem to understand that Iraq has no choice.
(on camera): People do seem to be preparing for the return of the inspectors. There's no real sense here that it'll be the end of their problems, but they are hoping that it may eventually lead to the lifting of sanctions. (voice-over): The Iraqi government this week has sent signals it might accept the resolution, which allows U.N. weapons inspectors to roam free throughout the country. But for a leadership that called the previous weapons inspectors spies and vowed they would never come back, it will be a bitter pill to swallow.
Rym Brahimi, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 November 9, 2002 - 08:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Iraqi News Agency is reporting today that government officials are studying the new U.N. Security Council resolution approved unanimously. That resolution demands that Baghdad allow unfettered access to U.N. weapons inspectors or face serious consequences.
CNN's Rym Brahimi gauges the reaction from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just hours before the Security Council vote, an Iraqi official said the new resolution was a pretext for U.S.-led war, that it was unnecessary, that inspectors could have come any time since September.
MUHAMMAD MAHDI SALEH, IRAQI TRADE MINISTER: Iraq has stated always that there is no need for any new resolution. Iraq has presented the well of Iraq to international community by accepting the return of inspectors.
BRAHIMI: The resolution promises a lifting of sanctions if Iraq complies and threatens serious consequences if it doesn't. With so much at stake, the U.S. administration is keen to convince people in the region it has no quarrel with them.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: When the Baghdad regime claims that the United States is seeking to wage war on the Arab world, nothing could be farther from the truth.
BRAHIMI: But on this first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, the official sermon from the Mother of All Battles Mosque in Baghdad sends the opposite message, that the U.S. threatens all Muslims.
BAKIR ABDUL-RAZZAQ, MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES MOSQUES: They think that these bombs, planes, missiles and sophisticated technology intimidate us. No. By god, you are really the terrorists, but we terrorize you with the force of god. Who are you to threaten Mohammed, whose master is god? Who are you, Bush, you little dwarf, to threaten Mohammed and his sons?
BRAHIMI: Despite the heated rhetoric, Iraqis are pragmatic. They seem to understand that Iraq has no choice.
(on camera): People do seem to be preparing for the return of the inspectors. There's no real sense here that it'll be the end of their problems, but they are hoping that it may eventually lead to the lifting of sanctions. (voice-over): The Iraqi government this week has sent signals it might accept the resolution, which allows U.N. weapons inspectors to roam free throughout the country. But for a leadership that called the previous weapons inspectors spies and vowed they would never come back, it will be a bitter pill to swallow.
Rym Brahimi, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
