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CNN Live Sunday

Target: Saddam Loyalists

Aired June 29, 2003 - 18:02   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.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In Iraq, two American soldiers were wounded when their convoy was hit by an explosive. The military's latest response to the continuing attacks on U.S. troops is a round up aimed at supporters of ousted President Saddam Hussein. That's code- named "Operation Sidewinder."
Pentagon correspondent Chris Plante looks at why many think Saddam and his supporters are now a top priority for the U.S. in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans...

CHRIS PLANTE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two month have passed since President Bush declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq, yet U.S. casualties continue to mount. Victims, the U.S. says, of leftover element of the defeated regime of Saddam Hussein.

PAUL BREMER, U.S. ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ: We are faced with a group, small groups of Baathists, ex-members of -- and members of the ex-regime, Fedayeen Saddam, maybe some Republican guards who seem to be operating in small groups and attacking our forces. We are acting forcefully in response.

PLANTE: As the U.S. military launched "Operation Sidewinder," the latest effort to destroy those still attacking coalition troops, security was also tightened around Baghdad.

Congressional leaders just back from a trip to Iraq argued for including other countries in the effort.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: One of the ways to demonstrate that we're not there as an occupying power is that if every uniform they see is not an American uniform. Imagine if there were 30,000 to 60,000 French, German, NATO forces in there with their patches on their sleeves.

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: I think the forces of reality are going to eventually set in, if they haven't already, to make those who have been reluctant to bring the U.N. in, NATO in and others a reality. In fact, that's going to happen. That must happen.

PLANTE: Republican Senator John McCain says the Bush administration should be more direct with the public about how long U.S. troops may be there.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We need to know what that plan is, how much it's going to primarily -- what it's going to cost us in American blood and treasure. It's difficult to come up with those specifics, but at least we need some broad estimates.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLANTE: Then there's the still lingering issue of Saddam Hussein and his two sons. America's chief administrator in Iraq expresses confidence that all three will be held to account, but the consensus is that the operation in Iraq will move forward much more expeditiously if they're held to account sooner rather than later -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Chris, what's the reaction at the Pentagon to any sort of talk of a multi-national peacekeeping force?

PLANTE: Well, there has been some discussion of that here for some time, actually. And they have recognized that American forces are stretched very thin, not just in Iraq and Afghanistan, but in other places with troops in Bosnia and in Kosovo and other obligations in as many as in 120 countries around the world. So there is some desire within the building to look for help outside of the U.S. military, perhaps NATO, possibly the United Nations, but they have looked for other countries to make contributions and they'll continue to do so as soon as it becomes feasible to start swapping out U.S. troops with troops from other countries. Certainly many in the Pentagon will be eager to do so -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: I'm not sure how many of those countries will be so eager. Chris Plante, live at the Pentagon, thank you.

PLANTE: Thanks.

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 June 29, 2003 - 18:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In Iraq, two American soldiers were wounded when their convoy was hit by an explosive. The military's latest response to the continuing attacks on U.S. troops is a round up aimed at supporters of ousted President Saddam Hussein. That's code- named "Operation Sidewinder."
Pentagon correspondent Chris Plante looks at why many think Saddam and his supporters are now a top priority for the U.S. in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans...

CHRIS PLANTE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two month have passed since President Bush declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq, yet U.S. casualties continue to mount. Victims, the U.S. says, of leftover element of the defeated regime of Saddam Hussein.

PAUL BREMER, U.S. ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ: We are faced with a group, small groups of Baathists, ex-members of -- and members of the ex-regime, Fedayeen Saddam, maybe some Republican guards who seem to be operating in small groups and attacking our forces. We are acting forcefully in response.

PLANTE: As the U.S. military launched "Operation Sidewinder," the latest effort to destroy those still attacking coalition troops, security was also tightened around Baghdad.

Congressional leaders just back from a trip to Iraq argued for including other countries in the effort.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: One of the ways to demonstrate that we're not there as an occupying power is that if every uniform they see is not an American uniform. Imagine if there were 30,000 to 60,000 French, German, NATO forces in there with their patches on their sleeves.

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: I think the forces of reality are going to eventually set in, if they haven't already, to make those who have been reluctant to bring the U.N. in, NATO in and others a reality. In fact, that's going to happen. That must happen.

PLANTE: Republican Senator John McCain says the Bush administration should be more direct with the public about how long U.S. troops may be there.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: We need to know what that plan is, how much it's going to primarily -- what it's going to cost us in American blood and treasure. It's difficult to come up with those specifics, but at least we need some broad estimates.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLANTE: Then there's the still lingering issue of Saddam Hussein and his two sons. America's chief administrator in Iraq expresses confidence that all three will be held to account, but the consensus is that the operation in Iraq will move forward much more expeditiously if they're held to account sooner rather than later -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Chris, what's the reaction at the Pentagon to any sort of talk of a multi-national peacekeeping force?

PLANTE: Well, there has been some discussion of that here for some time, actually. And they have recognized that American forces are stretched very thin, not just in Iraq and Afghanistan, but in other places with troops in Bosnia and in Kosovo and other obligations in as many as in 120 countries around the world. So there is some desire within the building to look for help outside of the U.S. military, perhaps NATO, possibly the United Nations, but they have looked for other countries to make contributions and they'll continue to do so as soon as it becomes feasible to start swapping out U.S. troops with troops from other countries. Certainly many in the Pentagon will be eager to do so -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: I'm not sure how many of those countries will be so eager. Chris Plante, live at the Pentagon, thank you.

PLANTE: Thanks.

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