Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

U.S. Military Prepares for War

Aired March 16, 2003 - 16:38   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.


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Without a credible ultimatum authorizing force in the event of noncompliance, then more discussion is just more delay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the showdown seems to be looming. We are going now to the Pentagon. Jamie McIntyre standing by with more news of troops being deployed.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, the word here from the Pentagon with both Iraqi forces and the U.S.-led invasion force on a war-footing, Pentagon sources say that war still appears to be at least two days away.

Now saying that, there are two big caveats. One is, it could be longer away if there is some diplomatic developments. Such as, for instance, a last-minute mission to Baghdad by an international diplomat to try to get Saddam Hussein to accept asylum. That could delay the timetable for war.

On the other hand, the war could be much sooner if Iraq takes any sorts of provocative act. If Saddam Hussein, for instance, were to order an attack on U.S. troops, particularly with the chemical weapons, launching scud missiles at his neighbor, torching the oil fields, all of these things could cause the United States to move much more quickly with a war with Iraq.

Another worry that Saddam Hussein may take U.N. inspectors or even British or U.S. journalists hostage, and try to hold them in Baghdad. And today Secretary Powell, again, warned saying that any of the people who here Baghdad, ought to be thinking about whether this is the time to leave?

One last piece in the war plan that the Pentagon would like to have in place, even though pretty much everything is ready, is over flight permission over Turkey. The U.S. still has two aircraft carriers in the Eastern Mediterranean. It would like to be able to send those warplanes over Turkey.

In addition, if the U.S. were to get some last-minute permission from Turkey, they would rush in several thousand special forces to bases there, to launch out of there. And they'd also like to use those 24 warplanes they have to patrol the no-fly zone for offensive strikes in a war against Iraq. But still waiting for permission there. Otherwise everything is set to go at any time -- Anderson.

COOPER: Jamie, hearing a term today, a lot, that I really haven't heard much in the past before, "rolling start" Front Page of "The New York Times" today and also here on CNN. Can you tell us a little bit about the significance? I mean, what "rolling start" means; and the significance of it?

MCINTYRE: Well, I haven't seen that article, but I can tell you the time has passed for a rolling start. Rolling start is the term the Pentagon used when they thought they wouldn't have time to build up, put all the forces in place. If they'd had to go, for instance in late January, or early February, they could have started the war with the forces there, and then rolled more forces in behind them. That was the so-called rolling start.

That was an option the Pentagon gave President Bush in case he wanted to act sooner rather than later. But now the Pentagon has essentially had all of time it needs to complete the buildup with the exception of Turkey, as I mentioned. So when they execute the war plan, they will pretty much have everything in place.

COOPER: All right, troops on ground. Jamie McIntyre appreciate it. Thanks very much.

The U.S troops around the Persian Gulf are poised for war, as Jamie of course just mentioned. CNN's Jason Bellini is with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. We are pleased that he joins us now via videophone from Kuwait -- Jason.

JASON BELLINI, CNN INT'L CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, pleased to be with you as well.

We're keeping our voices down because it is just after 12:30 in the morning here in Kuwait. And around me are Marines who are sleeping. You may see them behind me, in fact. The place where I sleep is just a few feet behind me right here.

This is where we are embedded with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, with an infantry unit of Gulf Company. This is a busy group. They are getting themselves ready. And in the four days that we've been here we've seen a lot of preparations.

One of those training out in the desert, where they've actually set up -- they have set up water bottles filled with dirt, that mark out their objectives. They know exactly what they'll be doing when game day arrives, if it arrives.

With me now is the commander of this company, Captain Justin Donne.

Justin, you have been out here for about a month now, isn't that right? Can you tell me a little bit about what has been going to in recent days? How your preparations have changed in recent days?

CAPT. JUSTIN DONNE, U.S. MARINE CORPS: OK. Like you said, we've been off of the ship for about 30 days. And in the last week or so, we started to really sort of hold down some specifics in terms of our mission and our preparation. And getting ready toward the event that we are called to coordinate into Iraq.

BELLINI: The Marines here in this unit, many of them are very young, 19, 20, 21 years old. For most of them it is probably fair to say, this would be their first experience in combat if this war kicks off. They're not able to contact home very much and get very limited the news.

What is their mood right now, and how do they feel about these protests that they hear rumors of back in the United States and around the world?

DONNE: They obviously have some anxiety about that. I mean, that's one of our concerns obviously. And like you said, we are pretty isolated here. The amount information or specifics that we get on those things are pretty limited. They definitely have some anxieties about it. And that is one of their concerns, the things they ask me, if I sort of poke around and talk to the Marines throughout the day. They're definitely concerned about it. But I think that's -- honestly less -- they're less concerned about some of the other things we might be asked to do in the near future.

That's their main concern. Their concern and thoughts are with their families right now.

BELLINI: Captain Justin Dunn thank you so much. Very good of you to get up -- stay up with us, because tomorrow is another busy day for you.

Tomorrow this unit's going to be doing -- a dress rehearsal, much like they have been doing every day here, where they'll be in their flak jackets in their full gear rehearsing what they'll be doing if this war were to kickoff.

I can also tell you that young people here will be finding out in the morning, today's news, right now haven't been able to get much reaction to that. But the sense around here is that things are going to be happening very soon. And that will be emphasized again in the morning when they hear about today's developments -- Anderson.

COOPER: Jason, really interesting stuff. One, I think you are very wise to keep your voice down. I don't think you want to get between the Marine and the chance of some shuteye. So, I think a very wise move there. But I want to ask you -- you know, I saw your report yesterday when you were in the tent during a sandstorm, and literally covered with sand in your sleeping bag. Which for me, really brought home some of the troops are facing. What is it like being there? I mean, what are the conditions? How difficult is it, the heat, the desert, and the waiting?

BELLINI: Very harsh conditions, I'll have to say. Conditions have improved for us, now that we are under this big tent here, where the wind and the sand can't reach us. The weather outside right now is looking pretty ominous. There's a little bit of rain. And when there's rain, that means that there's going to be a lot of wind and more of these sandstorms.

One thin I noticed is that no matter what is going on out there, Marines are continuing to practice, continuing to rehearse. They're out there practicing the exact steps that they plan to be taking when this all kicks off. And I found it very interesting that these Marines knew very well and have had all this time to practice -- almost like this was a play -- be able to practice their exact steps, if this war were to happen -- Anderson.

COOPER: Telling that just a few moments ago you used the words "game day". I think that says a lot about the way a lot of the Marines in the field kind of look toward this.

Jason Bellini, I appreciate you joining us. Really interesting to talk to you. Continue to keeping your voice down, and more importantly, your head down in the coming days.

Thanks very much, Jason.

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 March 16, 2003 - 16:38   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Without a credible ultimatum authorizing force in the event of noncompliance, then more discussion is just more delay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the showdown seems to be looming. We are going now to the Pentagon. Jamie McIntyre standing by with more news of troops being deployed.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, the word here from the Pentagon with both Iraqi forces and the U.S.-led invasion force on a war-footing, Pentagon sources say that war still appears to be at least two days away.

Now saying that, there are two big caveats. One is, it could be longer away if there is some diplomatic developments. Such as, for instance, a last-minute mission to Baghdad by an international diplomat to try to get Saddam Hussein to accept asylum. That could delay the timetable for war.

On the other hand, the war could be much sooner if Iraq takes any sorts of provocative act. If Saddam Hussein, for instance, were to order an attack on U.S. troops, particularly with the chemical weapons, launching scud missiles at his neighbor, torching the oil fields, all of these things could cause the United States to move much more quickly with a war with Iraq.

Another worry that Saddam Hussein may take U.N. inspectors or even British or U.S. journalists hostage, and try to hold them in Baghdad. And today Secretary Powell, again, warned saying that any of the people who here Baghdad, ought to be thinking about whether this is the time to leave?

One last piece in the war plan that the Pentagon would like to have in place, even though pretty much everything is ready, is over flight permission over Turkey. The U.S. still has two aircraft carriers in the Eastern Mediterranean. It would like to be able to send those warplanes over Turkey.

In addition, if the U.S. were to get some last-minute permission from Turkey, they would rush in several thousand special forces to bases there, to launch out of there. And they'd also like to use those 24 warplanes they have to patrol the no-fly zone for offensive strikes in a war against Iraq. But still waiting for permission there. Otherwise everything is set to go at any time -- Anderson.

COOPER: Jamie, hearing a term today, a lot, that I really haven't heard much in the past before, "rolling start" Front Page of "The New York Times" today and also here on CNN. Can you tell us a little bit about the significance? I mean, what "rolling start" means; and the significance of it?

MCINTYRE: Well, I haven't seen that article, but I can tell you the time has passed for a rolling start. Rolling start is the term the Pentagon used when they thought they wouldn't have time to build up, put all the forces in place. If they'd had to go, for instance in late January, or early February, they could have started the war with the forces there, and then rolled more forces in behind them. That was the so-called rolling start.

That was an option the Pentagon gave President Bush in case he wanted to act sooner rather than later. But now the Pentagon has essentially had all of time it needs to complete the buildup with the exception of Turkey, as I mentioned. So when they execute the war plan, they will pretty much have everything in place.

COOPER: All right, troops on ground. Jamie McIntyre appreciate it. Thanks very much.

The U.S troops around the Persian Gulf are poised for war, as Jamie of course just mentioned. CNN's Jason Bellini is with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. We are pleased that he joins us now via videophone from Kuwait -- Jason.

JASON BELLINI, CNN INT'L CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, pleased to be with you as well.

We're keeping our voices down because it is just after 12:30 in the morning here in Kuwait. And around me are Marines who are sleeping. You may see them behind me, in fact. The place where I sleep is just a few feet behind me right here.

This is where we are embedded with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, with an infantry unit of Gulf Company. This is a busy group. They are getting themselves ready. And in the four days that we've been here we've seen a lot of preparations.

One of those training out in the desert, where they've actually set up -- they have set up water bottles filled with dirt, that mark out their objectives. They know exactly what they'll be doing when game day arrives, if it arrives.

With me now is the commander of this company, Captain Justin Donne.

Justin, you have been out here for about a month now, isn't that right? Can you tell me a little bit about what has been going to in recent days? How your preparations have changed in recent days?

CAPT. JUSTIN DONNE, U.S. MARINE CORPS: OK. Like you said, we've been off of the ship for about 30 days. And in the last week or so, we started to really sort of hold down some specifics in terms of our mission and our preparation. And getting ready toward the event that we are called to coordinate into Iraq.

BELLINI: The Marines here in this unit, many of them are very young, 19, 20, 21 years old. For most of them it is probably fair to say, this would be their first experience in combat if this war kicks off. They're not able to contact home very much and get very limited the news.

What is their mood right now, and how do they feel about these protests that they hear rumors of back in the United States and around the world?

DONNE: They obviously have some anxiety about that. I mean, that's one of our concerns obviously. And like you said, we are pretty isolated here. The amount information or specifics that we get on those things are pretty limited. They definitely have some anxieties about it. And that is one of their concerns, the things they ask me, if I sort of poke around and talk to the Marines throughout the day. They're definitely concerned about it. But I think that's -- honestly less -- they're less concerned about some of the other things we might be asked to do in the near future.

That's their main concern. Their concern and thoughts are with their families right now.

BELLINI: Captain Justin Dunn thank you so much. Very good of you to get up -- stay up with us, because tomorrow is another busy day for you.

Tomorrow this unit's going to be doing -- a dress rehearsal, much like they have been doing every day here, where they'll be in their flak jackets in their full gear rehearsing what they'll be doing if this war were to kickoff.

I can also tell you that young people here will be finding out in the morning, today's news, right now haven't been able to get much reaction to that. But the sense around here is that things are going to be happening very soon. And that will be emphasized again in the morning when they hear about today's developments -- Anderson.

COOPER: Jason, really interesting stuff. One, I think you are very wise to keep your voice down. I don't think you want to get between the Marine and the chance of some shuteye. So, I think a very wise move there. But I want to ask you -- you know, I saw your report yesterday when you were in the tent during a sandstorm, and literally covered with sand in your sleeping bag. Which for me, really brought home some of the troops are facing. What is it like being there? I mean, what are the conditions? How difficult is it, the heat, the desert, and the waiting?

BELLINI: Very harsh conditions, I'll have to say. Conditions have improved for us, now that we are under this big tent here, where the wind and the sand can't reach us. The weather outside right now is looking pretty ominous. There's a little bit of rain. And when there's rain, that means that there's going to be a lot of wind and more of these sandstorms.

One thin I noticed is that no matter what is going on out there, Marines are continuing to practice, continuing to rehearse. They're out there practicing the exact steps that they plan to be taking when this all kicks off. And I found it very interesting that these Marines knew very well and have had all this time to practice -- almost like this was a play -- be able to practice their exact steps, if this war were to happen -- Anderson.

COOPER: Telling that just a few moments ago you used the words "game day". I think that says a lot about the way a lot of the Marines in the field kind of look toward this.

Jason Bellini, I appreciate you joining us. Really interesting to talk to you. Continue to keeping your voice down, and more importantly, your head down in the coming days.

Thanks very much, Jason.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com