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CNN Live Sunday

U.S. Navy Forces in Persian Gulf Ready to Handle Combat in Iraq

Aired September 08, 2002 - 17:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. Navy forces in the Persian Gulf say they are ready to handle combat in Iraq if given the orders. CNN's Alex Quade has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX QUADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the Persian Gulf, the intensifying debate over a possible war with Iraq has added a sense of urgency to the mission of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet which enforces U.N. sanctions against Iraq.

Pilots from this aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, are now helping patrol the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. The commander of the battle group says it is fully prepared to attack Iraq should President George Bush give the go ahead.

REAR ADM. JOSEPH SESTAK, U.S. BATTLE GROUP CMDR.: They also, in addition to flying over Afghanistan or Iraq, have also used the time with other flights to maintain our readiness and other aspects of our forces, air-to-air combat.

QUADE: The USS Normandy is also part of the fleet. It stops freighters believed to be illegally carrying Iraqi oil. It's been training for the past two years for anything.

EXEC. OFFICER LAU GREGUS, USS NORMANDY: We've come here ready for whatever the president would direct and I believe that the men as well as the machine, is quite ready.

QUADE: Back on the George Washington, Seahawk helicopters and surveillance planes practice every day and other crewmembers prepare missiles for simulated attack. The battle group commander says 68 percent of the jet pilots already have experience flying missions over Iraq. The military wants to make it clear that if the politicians back home decide to take action, they are ready.

Alex Quade, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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