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CNN Live Sunday
Will Hezbollah Attack Israel if U.S. Goes to War in Iraq?
Aired March 16, 2003 - 16:49 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: A moment of truth. A lot of people want to know, of course, what happens if the U.S. and does go to war with Iraq? What will the war would look like? And what unexpected things that might happen? There are fears that Hezbollah, for instance, the guerrilla group in Lebanon may attack Israel. CNN Senior International Correspondent Sheila MacVicar assesses that threat now in Southern Lebanon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SR. INT'L CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As the United States continues to prepare to go to war against Iraq, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, they chant, "Death to America."
(CROWD CHANTING IN ARABIC)
MACVICAR: Listen to these words from the leader of Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, directed at the U.S.
The people of this region, he says, will welcome you with guns, arms and blood.
Ominous words from a man the U.S. says is a terrorists.
RICHARD ARMITAGE, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE: Hezbollah may be the A-team of terrorists, and maybe Al Qaeda's actually the B-team. And they're on the list and their time will come.
MACVICAR: In Lebanon, Hezbollah, its leadership and its fighters, are considered freedom fighters. Their yellow flags with raised fist and AK-47 fly all over Southern Lebanon. Some of them right at the border with Israel.
Nearly three years ago, Hezbollah fighters forced the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers occupying South Lebanon. And won a place in the hearts of the Lebanese.
The battle with Israel continues.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are fighting to help the resistant movement, Palestinians and Hezbollah against the Israelis. This is legal claim, legal rights. These are not terrorists.
MAJ. GEN. BENNY GANTZ, IDF NORTHERN COMMANDER: You can see the antenna?
MACVICAR (on camera): Yes.
GANTZ: Another antenna and a small flag?
MACVICAR: Yes.
GANTZ: It's Hezbollah already.
MACVICAR (voice over): Israeli Major General Benny Gantz was the last soldier out of Lebanon when the Israelis pulled out. Now, he watches Hezbollah from Israel.
GANTZ: It does pose a risk for Israel. And it can harm us. It can use its terrorist activities mainly along the border.
MACVICAR: The U.N. says that Israel has fully withdrawn from Lebanese territory, the Lebanese and Hezbollah disagree and sporadic fighting continues over a few acres called Shebaa Farms. Now, Israel claims there is a much bigger risk. Hezbollah missiles, they say, that could reach Israeli cities whether this is war in Iraq or not.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Sheikh Nasrallah would not say if Hezbollah possesses such missiles.
SHEIKH HASSAN NASRALLAH, HEZBOLLAH SECY-GENERAL (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We believe it is our right to possess any weapon to defend our country. Lebanon is caught in a cycle of threats. And it is our duty to be strong and capable of defending our country. We do not explain or clarify what we do or do not possess.
MACVICAR: As the world watches Iraq, people here on both sides of the border worry about the plans of the other, will Israel attack Hezbollah and Lebanon, or will Hezbollah act against Israel? And if there is war, what are Hezbollah's intentions toward America and Americans?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACVICAR: One of the things, Anderson, that was most striking from my interview with Sheikh Nasrallah was his emphasis, his continuing emphasis on Hezbollah's role in defending Lebanon.
He said, we are not at war against Americans. We do not intend to fight against Americans. The only proviso there was if Americans came to Lebanon and attacked Lebanon, then they would feel obliged to fight Americans.
But he was very cautious and very careful. And that, in fact, I think we can see the influence of the government of Syria, which is known to have been putting pressure on Hezbollah to try to keep things quiet along that border -- Anderson.
COOPER: So, Sheila, fascinating interview and really interesting report.
Just so I'm absolutely clear, and viewers are clear, the leader of Hezbollah there not necessarily saying if there is war in Iraq, Hezbollah would target U.S. forces. Because some people have been sort of tossing that notion around today. He was not saying that. He was more saying, if Lebanon is attacked, is that correct?
MACVICAR: That is exactly right. You know, we had that very, very strong rhetoric from him at that speech earlier in the week. And yet when it came to the interview, his tone was very different. He was very clear and very careful to say, we are not in Iraq. Our interest is only in Lebanon. We are in a defensive position.
We do not intend to attack anyone, including Americans. And he said it was his analysis that, if the United States went to Iraq and remained in Iraq as an occupying force, that Americans, as occupiers, would face what Israelis face in Lebanon -- Anderson.
COOPER: Fascinating report. CNN senior international correspondent Sheila MacVicar, I appreciate you joining us this afternoon. Thanks 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 March 16, 2003 - 16:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: A moment of truth. A lot of people want to know, of course, what happens if the U.S. and does go to war with Iraq? What will the war would look like? And what unexpected things that might happen? There are fears that Hezbollah, for instance, the guerrilla group in Lebanon may attack Israel. CNN Senior International Correspondent Sheila MacVicar assesses that threat now in Southern Lebanon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN SR. INT'L CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As the United States continues to prepare to go to war against Iraq, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, they chant, "Death to America."
(CROWD CHANTING IN ARABIC)
MACVICAR: Listen to these words from the leader of Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, directed at the U.S.
The people of this region, he says, will welcome you with guns, arms and blood.
Ominous words from a man the U.S. says is a terrorists.
RICHARD ARMITAGE, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE: Hezbollah may be the A-team of terrorists, and maybe Al Qaeda's actually the B-team. And they're on the list and their time will come.
MACVICAR: In Lebanon, Hezbollah, its leadership and its fighters, are considered freedom fighters. Their yellow flags with raised fist and AK-47 fly all over Southern Lebanon. Some of them right at the border with Israel.
Nearly three years ago, Hezbollah fighters forced the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers occupying South Lebanon. And won a place in the hearts of the Lebanese.
The battle with Israel continues.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are fighting to help the resistant movement, Palestinians and Hezbollah against the Israelis. This is legal claim, legal rights. These are not terrorists.
MAJ. GEN. BENNY GANTZ, IDF NORTHERN COMMANDER: You can see the antenna?
MACVICAR (on camera): Yes.
GANTZ: Another antenna and a small flag?
MACVICAR: Yes.
GANTZ: It's Hezbollah already.
MACVICAR (voice over): Israeli Major General Benny Gantz was the last soldier out of Lebanon when the Israelis pulled out. Now, he watches Hezbollah from Israel.
GANTZ: It does pose a risk for Israel. And it can harm us. It can use its terrorist activities mainly along the border.
MACVICAR: The U.N. says that Israel has fully withdrawn from Lebanese territory, the Lebanese and Hezbollah disagree and sporadic fighting continues over a few acres called Shebaa Farms. Now, Israel claims there is a much bigger risk. Hezbollah missiles, they say, that could reach Israeli cities whether this is war in Iraq or not.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Sheikh Nasrallah would not say if Hezbollah possesses such missiles.
SHEIKH HASSAN NASRALLAH, HEZBOLLAH SECY-GENERAL (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We believe it is our right to possess any weapon to defend our country. Lebanon is caught in a cycle of threats. And it is our duty to be strong and capable of defending our country. We do not explain or clarify what we do or do not possess.
MACVICAR: As the world watches Iraq, people here on both sides of the border worry about the plans of the other, will Israel attack Hezbollah and Lebanon, or will Hezbollah act against Israel? And if there is war, what are Hezbollah's intentions toward America and Americans?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACVICAR: One of the things, Anderson, that was most striking from my interview with Sheikh Nasrallah was his emphasis, his continuing emphasis on Hezbollah's role in defending Lebanon.
He said, we are not at war against Americans. We do not intend to fight against Americans. The only proviso there was if Americans came to Lebanon and attacked Lebanon, then they would feel obliged to fight Americans.
But he was very cautious and very careful. And that, in fact, I think we can see the influence of the government of Syria, which is known to have been putting pressure on Hezbollah to try to keep things quiet along that border -- Anderson.
COOPER: So, Sheila, fascinating interview and really interesting report.
Just so I'm absolutely clear, and viewers are clear, the leader of Hezbollah there not necessarily saying if there is war in Iraq, Hezbollah would target U.S. forces. Because some people have been sort of tossing that notion around today. He was not saying that. He was more saying, if Lebanon is attacked, is that correct?
MACVICAR: That is exactly right. You know, we had that very, very strong rhetoric from him at that speech earlier in the week. And yet when it came to the interview, his tone was very different. He was very clear and very careful to say, we are not in Iraq. Our interest is only in Lebanon. We are in a defensive position.
We do not intend to attack anyone, including Americans. And he said it was his analysis that, if the United States went to Iraq and remained in Iraq as an occupying force, that Americans, as occupiers, would face what Israelis face in Lebanon -- Anderson.
COOPER: Fascinating report. CNN senior international correspondent Sheila MacVicar, I appreciate you joining us this afternoon. Thanks 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
