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What Role Will U.S. Troops Play in Post-War Iraq?

Aired April 20, 2003 - 18:36   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.


SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Now that military action in Iraq seems to be winding down, administration officials are focusing on the road ahead. One of the things they'll have to decide is what role troops will play in post-war Iraq. Once again, here's CNN's Patty Davis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Army troops continue to replace Marines in Baghdad, the Army better equipped to handle the reconstruction of the battered capital. It is clear U.S. troops may be in Iraq for a while.

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: We have no choice but to stand to make certain that this is a stable and secure country for years to come.

AHMED CHALABI, IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS: I think the military presence of the United States in Iraq must be -- is a necessity until at least the first democratic election is held and I think this process should take two years.

DAVIS: Beyond stabilizing Iraq, the U.S. military says it is interested in possibly having ongoing access to Iraq but a U.S. military official says it would have to be negotiated with a future Iraqi government and no decision has been made. Still undecided is whether the U.S. would want permanent bases or intermittent access to them in emergencies.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R), KANSAS: I think we may have presence but I doubt very seriously if we'll have permanent bases. I think that would be counterproductive to the effort to stabilize the area.

DAVIS: The question of bases is likely to be part of a broader review by the Pentagon over U.S. military presence in the region alluded to recently by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The subject of a footprint for the United States post Iraq is something that we're discussing and considering.

DAVIS: With Saddam Hussein's threat now gone, U.S. military presence in neighboring Kuwait and Saudi Arabia could be cut significantly.

(END VIDEOTAPE) DAVIS: One change already, the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq, are no longer needed and they had tied up a large number of U.S. troops for years -- Sophia.

CHOI: All right, Patty Davis, thank you so 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 April 20, 2003 - 18:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Now that military action in Iraq seems to be winding down, administration officials are focusing on the road ahead. One of the things they'll have to decide is what role troops will play in post-war Iraq. Once again, here's CNN's Patty Davis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Army troops continue to replace Marines in Baghdad, the Army better equipped to handle the reconstruction of the battered capital. It is clear U.S. troops may be in Iraq for a while.

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: We have no choice but to stand to make certain that this is a stable and secure country for years to come.

AHMED CHALABI, IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS: I think the military presence of the United States in Iraq must be -- is a necessity until at least the first democratic election is held and I think this process should take two years.

DAVIS: Beyond stabilizing Iraq, the U.S. military says it is interested in possibly having ongoing access to Iraq but a U.S. military official says it would have to be negotiated with a future Iraqi government and no decision has been made. Still undecided is whether the U.S. would want permanent bases or intermittent access to them in emergencies.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R), KANSAS: I think we may have presence but I doubt very seriously if we'll have permanent bases. I think that would be counterproductive to the effort to stabilize the area.

DAVIS: The question of bases is likely to be part of a broader review by the Pentagon over U.S. military presence in the region alluded to recently by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The subject of a footprint for the United States post Iraq is something that we're discussing and considering.

DAVIS: With Saddam Hussein's threat now gone, U.S. military presence in neighboring Kuwait and Saudi Arabia could be cut significantly.

(END VIDEOTAPE) DAVIS: One change already, the no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq, are no longer needed and they had tied up a large number of U.S. troops for years -- Sophia.

CHOI: All right, Patty Davis, thank you so 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