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Massive Air Assault by U.S. and Iraqi Forces in Iraq; White House Press Briefing; Interview with Iraq Foreign Affairs Minister
Aired March 16, 2006 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: A massive U.S. and Iraqi show of force swarms over Iraq in the largest air assault operation since the war began nearly three years ago.
JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Right now it's about 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad, it is 12:00 noon at the Pentagon.
I'm Jim Clancy.
VERJEE: And I'm Zain Verjee.
A warm welcome to our viewers throughout the world and in the United States.
This is CNN International. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
CLANCY: All right. We're going to begin in Iraq, of course. That is where right now U.S. and Iraqi forces launching their biggest air assault since the 2003 invasion.
VERJEE: It comes on the same day as the new Iraqi parliament first meets. A statement from the U.S. military says the operation involves more than 50 aircraft and 1,500 U.S. and Iraqi troops.
CLANCY: Now, this is an air operation, it's bringing these troops in about 60 miles north of Baghdad. That's northeast of Samarra.
The operation said to target suspected insurgents northeast of Samarra. The situation, of course, where these helicopters will enable U.S. troops to bypass any roads that might be, you know, littered with those improvised explosive devices.
VERJEE: In addition, Jim, to targeting insurgents, the operation is aimed at quelling sectarian violence that has been escalated ever since the attack on the Golden Mosque in Samarra. The area, though, being targeted right now is predominantly Sunni.
CLANCY: Our Barbara Starr joins us live from the Pentagon. She has the latest -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Jim, this word coming in about this air assault operation just really within the last hour and a half or so. As you say, about 1,500 troops. The military not giving us the breakdown how many are U.S., how many are Iraqi.
This is air assault operation, though, clearly led by the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division. Air assault is what they do.
They are saying it's the largest air assault operation since the invasion of Iraq three years ago. Two hundred tactical vehicles involved, more than 50 aircraft.
Now, one can only suspect that they did this by helicopter as an air assault operation to maintain tactical surprise, to get those troops in, into the region, so that if they -- the targets that they were going after, the insurgents that they were going after, would not see them coming. The roads in Iraq not only dangerous from a standpoint of IEDs, but also very difficult, because that would give away the surprise, if you will.
By all accounts, this is an area that they have been very concerned about not only insurgents' activity, but the rise in sectarian violence over the last many days of growing concern to U.S. military commanders. They have been struggling to look for options, to look for a way to deal with all of this.
One of the sort of strategic conclusions they had come to is that much of the sectarian violence was actually sparked, if you will, by attacks by insurgents, by al Qaeda in Iraq, by the foreign fighters, they say, trying to unsettle the situation in Iraq. So, that Shia and Sunni attacks against each other would grow, and is situation would become much less stable. They are going back now, trying to get to those people, behind so many of these attacks. One of the most disturbing statistics that we learned earlier today is that car bombs attack in Iraq, especially in Baghdad went up 65 percent in just a one-week period. So, clearly, the pressure on to try to deal with this -- Jim.
CLANCY: All right, Barbara. Is there any indication from the pentagon is this a single target area, or multiple villages, towns, areas where insurgents have gained some strength?
STARR: I'm going to be very candid with you and our viewers and tell you that the Pentagon has given us absolutely no information about this situation this morning. It is coming from military sources in the field. And by all indications, they are going through a broad area, relatively speaking.
Certainly, I think you can assume it extends beyond one village, going to a number of areas. Just from the standpoint of the number of troops and helicopters involved, 200 vehicles, that would be a pretty clear indication that they are going off a broader area and that they wanted to move in quickly before they gave away any surprise on -- any tactical surprise.
One of the situations here is this, of course, is, like much of Iraq, a fairly rural area, family areas. They want to make sure, of course, that they minimize any civilian casualties.
And one of the continuing problems that they are run into, as we know over the last three years, insurgent activity can take place throughout a village. Often, people who are labeled insurgents live with their families. There are children in the area. So they are going to want to be very, very precise as they go through these areas to try and minimize civilian casualties. They are also going to be working very closely with those Iraqi security forces, especially Iraqi army troops.
They did put out some initial information this morning, Jim, that they had seized some weapons, they had seized IED materials, they had even seized some fake uniforms. That would be a real indication of what they are going after -- Jim.
CLANCY: Barbara Starr, as always, our thanks to you for drawing us some clear lines about what we know and, importantly, what we don't know up to the minute.
We do know that there is going to be a White House press briefing coming up. And we are going to bring that to you live when it happens -- Zain.
VERJEE: Jim, our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, has been following this. He joins us now live from Baghdad.
Nic, can you describe in a little more detail the terrain, the area that's been targeted, and the sectarian breakdown of the region?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is a predominantly Sunni area north of Samarra where this operation is going on. It is an area of farms, it is wide and spread out. There are small rivers and canals running through that area.
It is an area that in some parts will be very difficult to reach. There will be some very remote farmhouses in that area, and that is perhaps why the 101st Airborne, with their ability to fly in on helicopters, are so suited to the task of going after these villages.
This is their first major operation since they've come into the country. They from those pictures, at least, appear to be using at least 20 or so helicopters. So I think out of these 50 helicopters, these 50 air assets that have been talked about as being involved in this operation, it appears to be, perhaps, almost half of them helicopters.
Very likely there would be aerial reconnaissance aircraft providing early warning, providing information about what's happening on the ground in real time. And there will, of course, have been fighter aircraft in the sky that fly routinely over Iraq.
We heard them over Baghdad today, this morning, very early in the morning. It's not uncommon to hear them. And these fighter aircraft come on station to do jobs such as protecting convoys and, obviously, in this case getting involved in bringing additional firepower into an operation of this size.
So I think when we look at the numbers and try to breakdown the numbers as well, 50 aircraft, when a lot of them are helicopters, for a large operation by an air assault unit, perhaps that would not be too untypical. But the largest -- we're told the largest since -- since the invasion of Iraq three years ago.
I think, perhaps -- and Jim was saying, what we know and what we don't know. And, of course, one of the things we don't know about this operation are how many U.S. troops are involved.
We know 1,500 Iraqi troops are involved, some 200 -- some 200 assault vehicles are involved in the operation. But we don't know how many -- how many U.S. troops are involved.
The helicopters look to be the type of helicopter that can carry perhaps a dozen or troops at one time. That would be -- if each of those 20 or so helicopters, several hundred of U.S. troops. But we don't know exactly how many came in by road.
But it does appear that what has happened -- and this is what Barbara was saying as well -- the very sort of wild, rugged terrain, relatively flat, but still difficult to get into quickly because of the farmland nature of it, air assault the best way to go -- Zain.
VERJEE: Nic Robertson reporting to us from Baghdad.
Thanks, Nic -- Jim.
CLANCY: Well, as Nic was saying, we've got to figure out what we know and what we don't know. The best way to do it is to go to the source.
Let's go to a forward operations base and talk to Major Tom Bryant. He's a public affairs officer for the 3rd Brigade Combat team of the 101st Airborne Division.
Major, if you can hear me all right, give us an overview of how many U.S. troops may be involved, how many Iraqis, if you can, and tell us what is this mission.
MAJ. TOM BRYANT, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, 101ST AIRBORNE: Sir, we had -- we had a total of around 1,500 soldiers, Iraqis and U.S. troops (INAUDIBLE) even split. Actually, a few more Iraqis than coalition troops.
Right now, they are continuing to search the objective area. The searches for the evening will drop down a little bit the level of activity because, primarily, you want to do a pretty thorough search in hours of daylight versus hours of limited visibility.
So, they will continue the searches in earnest tomorrow morning in the objective areas. And I'll tell you, it's been -- so far, the mission's been a pretty good success with the Iraqi army soldiers and the MOI commando soldiers working together out front, taking charge of security for the country.
CLANCY: What prompted this?
BRYANT: Sir, this was primarily an Iraqi-driven operation. Intelligence from our Iraqi security force partners and from tips that we've received, and just I'd define this as a possible suspected insurgent operating area. And the Iraqi security forces are (INAUDIBLE) out front and drove this operation. And as I said, we found a few things so far, we continue the searches in earnest first thing in the morning to continue until we completely do a complete and thorough search of the entire objective area.
CLANCY: Would it be safe to say, then, Major, that, you have a certain amount of area cordoned off with troops in position?
BRYANT: There are -- there are quite a few troops in the objective area. I don't really want to get into any of the detailed descriptions of how we're conducting the operations.
CLANCY: Of course.
BRYANT: It's safe to say that -- that Iraqi soldiers and our coalition forces are ensuring that -- that folks who should stay in that area stay in the area, and that no one who shouldn't escape escapes from that area.
CLANCY: Is it thought that there are any high-value targets in that area?
BRYANT: We are -- we are conducting a real thorough search of the area, ensuring that we are very precise in determining who we detain. And can't really comment a whole lot about specific individuals.
CLANCY: All right. Have there been any reports of firefights?
BRYANT: Sir, at this time, we've -- we are -- have no reports of any injuries, Iraqi army or coalition injuries at all. So far, the mission has been a great success. And again, this is a great example of the Iraqi army demonstrating their increased capabilities to conduct company and battalion-level maneuver operations, and validating their -- the increased capability of our Iraqi army partners.
And again, the Iraqi people seeing their security forces out front is a tremendous, tremendous confidence-builder. But this is -- this is definitely ongoing and will continue for the next several days.
CLANCY: All right. Just to recap, I wanted to ask you, Major, obviously you went in darkness with the capabilities, the night vision capabilities of U.S. troops and U.S. air power in there. And you are saying that this operation will go on well into perhaps the coming hours, not only the coming hours, but it could last how long?
BRYANT: Sir, it will last as long as necessary to complete a very thorough search of the objective area, to just absolutely make certain that no weapons or any other kind of caches or equipment are left behind. You know, these guys are -- are pretty good at hiding this stuff, and it takes a lot of -- a lot of time. And we certainly have time, and we are going to take that time to make sure we do a proper search. CLANCY: Major, I understand there are already some items that are been seized, items that would be included in improvised explosive devices. Can you give us an idea of what you've been hearing from your men there on the front line?
BRYANT: We've -- we know we've discovered a couple different caches, secured artillery shells, some material, some IED-making materials that would include things like initiating devices, things of that nature. But right now, it's still kind of early, and we are -- should have a pretty good rollup (ph) a little bit later this evening that we gather from the objective area.
CLANCY: Now, we are looking at some pictures that have come in to us showing a row of helicopters, transport helicopters on the ground. They look like Hueys to me. I can't be sure. I'm seeing pieces of them. They're long distance shots. And what I understand, are some pictures that show, really, what we saw there in that last frame, some preparations that had been made, say, a week ago.
Can you tell me -- I mean, this operation has been well planned, obviously.
BRYANT: I will tell you the pictures I believe you are seeing are from just prior to the air assault operation this morning. That was a -- the operation was a combined air and ground insurgent that we term an assault, where we had our Iraqi army partners and coalition soldiers both entering the battlefield, transported in the UA-60 Black Hawks -- those are the aircraft I believe you're seeing in the long line there -- and the CH-47 Chinooks from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.
Those guys inserted -- or entered the fight that way. And the, of course, the additional forces entered through various wheeled means by ground.
CLANCY: All right. Yes, we are looking definitely at a Black Hawk helicopter now, and some of the material, the videotape that's been released to us, I believe it -- that we just got this in, along with some still photographs, that as you describe them, show those Black Hawks on the ground, getting ready for takeoff right now.
Did the Iraqis plan the mission? Was it a jointly-planned mission?
BRYANT: It was absolutely a jointly-planned mission, just as it was a jointly-executed mission. The Iraqis -- I mentioned earlier, the Iraqi forces, their intel, their tips are really what drove this operation. So they've been involved in the planning process from the start and are fully involved and will maintain their continued involvement as we complete the search of the objected area.
CLANCY: If you can, describe to us -- I mean, what kind of an area are we talking about? What kind of targets are we talking about? Farmhouse to farmhouse, village to village? What are we talking about here? BRYANT: It's a generally sparsely-populated area, kind of northeast of Samarra. It's a very large area several miles wide by several miles deep, objective area.
So there are a couple of small villages, very rural. So you can see right there the need for a significant number of troops just to secure that large of an area. So it's a pretty sparsely-populated area to the northeast of Samarra.
CLANCY: How big of a concern were the improvised explosive devices in the decision to -- what I'm trying to get at, I guess, is using the Black Hawks in such numbers, to ferry so many troops by air, more for the element of surprise, or more to avoid having a lot of troops exposed in convoys on the ground?
BRYANT: Yes, and yes. Entering by air, the air assault method of entering combat is sort of the signature for the 101st Airborne Division. We (INAUDIBLE) all the time, and it's one of our core competencies, and we have shared that core competency with our Iraqi partners, with the Iraqi army's 1st Brigade, 4th Division.
So, that is -- it's a preferred method. It does give you an element of surprise. It gives you the ability to transit a large expanse very rapidly. So there are several advantages there.
And then, also, as I mentioned, it was combined ground and air assault. So you had forces that entered in both means.
CLANCY: Now, of course, you're in Tikrit, or in the Tikrit area, and this is taking place not that far away, in Samarra. And that was the scene of some really bad ethnic violence, may have really been triggered, of course, by foreign fighters, or at least by insurgents. And I'm just wondering whether there's any link between that attack in Samarra, on the Mosque of the Golden Dome, and this operation, on a suspected insurgent area out -- nearby Samarra.
BRYANT: Sir, that would -- that would be purely speculation to link those things. What I will tell you, as this operation, Operation Swarmer, has already been a success in the Iraqi army and Iraqi security forces, their increased capability, validating that capability on the battlefield. The Iraqi citizens seeing their troops out in front, taking charge of securing the area, and just further denying a safe area to insurgent forces operating in the Salaheddin province.
CLANCY: All right. You know, and trying not to speculate, it's hard for us when we -- you know, we hear that it's nearby a town like Samarra that initiated so much of the sectarian conflict that we've had to witness here over the past few weeks, hard not to draw that link. But we can understand, too, that you've got a lot of areas that you are looking at.
Does the 101st Airborne have confidence in these Iraqi troops?
BRYANT: Sir, could you -- could you please repeat the last part of your question? It kind of broke off. CLANCY: Does the 101st Airborne have a lot of confidence in these Iraqi troops? Have you have personally worked with them?
BRYANT: We have worked with our Iraqi partners since arriving in the area of operations last fall. Absolutely, we have confidence in the Iraqi soldiers that are partnered with us. And I'll tell you, when you talk about conducting a very complex operation, air assault operation, (INAUDIBLE) everyone has a lot of ammo.
So it's certainly a dangerous mission, but our soldiers have complete confidence in their Iraqi counterparts, work with them every day, train with them every day. And we've seen firsthand better than anyone the improvements they've made.
And the thing I wanted to add, you mentioned the sectarian violence. I'll tell you, the leaders in the Salaheddin province, which is where our brigade is primarily focused, did a spectacular job immediately following the mosque incident in Samarra in talking to all the citizens of the Salaheddin province. And we didn't see a huge uprising in sectarian violence in this province.
And I think folks might have been -- had not seen the whole picture there, because in the Salaheddin province, where the explosion took place, where we have a pretty good mix of all the various ethnic groups, it was very quiet, it was very calm. And that was primarily because the leaders here, the political leaders, the police leaders, the security leaders were immediately out front talking to the citizens of Samarra. And I think it's a great testament to what they are doing and the leadership that they provide.
CLANCY: All right. Major Tom Bryant, public information officer for the 101st Airborne, I want to thank you very much for being with us. You didn't give up any state secrets. At the same time, it was very important what you did tell us.
And especially worthwhile to note what he had to say about sectarian violence, Zain, and how it was the local leadership that might have changed that.
VERJEE: And he also indicated, as we've been reporting, that there are a total of 1,500 Iraqi and U.S. troops involved in this. And he did also say that there are actually more Iraqis than coalition troops involved in this operation, and that the Iraqis have been involved in the planning process from the start.
Iraq's foreign affairs minister, Hoshyar Zaberi, updated just a short while ago about the air assault.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOSHYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER: It's very close to Baghdad, geographically. And really, it has been a transit for many of these terrorists, insurgents to send car bombs or to attack convoys in that part of the country. So this operation has been anticipated for some time to clear, to root out those insurgents and to make the supply lines safer to Baghdad. (END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: Hoshyar Zebari says that the insurgents are trying to create another Falluja with the Samarra incident.
We want to take you now to the White House where Press Secretary Scott McClellan is speaking.
Let's listen in.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: ... just returned recently from Sudan. This was a group of House leaders led by Congresswoman Pelosi and others -- Congressman Wilson and some others that were on that trip, and they visited the Darfur region.
The situation in Sudan, and particularly in the Darfur region, remains a top priority for this administration. So the president was pleased to hear a report back from them about what they saw on the ground.
And we look forward to continuing to work with these leaders and others to press the parties to move forward on a peace agreement and to end the violence in Darfur.
Following that, the president had a good meeting with a bipartisan group of senators and House members on moving forward on the line-item veto act.
This is an important piece of legislation that the president proposed and will help us to rein in wasteful spending, reduce the budget deficit and improve accountability so that we can line-item out those earmarks that are sometimes passed and that we do not believe are necessary.
One announcement to make on the president's schedule and then I'll be glad to go questions.
The president looks forward to welcoming President Johnson- Sirleaf of the Republic of Liberia to the White House on March 21st. The visit will be an opportunity for the president to congratulate President Johnson-Sirleaf on becoming Africa's first woman to be elected head of state.
The two leaders will discuss continuing cooperation in the areas of reconstruction, education, HIV/AIDS, trade, asset recovery and security sector reform and democratic reform, as well as the need to bring Charles Taylor to justice.
And with that, I'll be glad to go to your questions.
QUESTION: Stephen Hadley is speaking right now saying that America is at war is our number one, sort of, security concern in terms of understanding what the nation faces by way of security concerns. Can you tell me, in the three-plus years since the last time a national security strategy document was released, what has being at war taught the administration and how is it reflected in this latest security strategy?
MCCLELLAN: Well, first of all, this is the national security strategy for 2006 that was released earlier today. It is a document that really updates the national security strategy we outlined in 2002. It builds upon the foundation and framework that was outlined in that national security strategy.
What it also does is look at what we have accomplished over that time period. It also looks at the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and it really charts out a way forward.
And in terms of being a nation at war, we do remain a nation at war. The most immediate, shorter-term threat we face is from terrorists. And that's why we're working to stay on the offensive and go after the terrorists.
I think you'll hear our national security adviser talk about the successes we have achieved in the war on terrorism, how we have worked to bring terrorists to justice and really disrupt and dismantle the Al Qaida leadership. There are a number of Al Qaida leaders that have been brought to justice.
But this is a comprehensive war. We're fighting it on many fronts.
QUESTION: What specifically has been learned in Iraq that is reflected in this document?
MCCLELLAN: Well, the document talks about Iraq, and it talks about some of the lessons learned from Iraq.
Let me go back and walk you through some of what the document talks about.
There's a whole section in there about Iraq and the decision to remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power. The president believes it was the right decision to remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power. His regime was a destabilizing force in a troubled region.
And one of the things that the National Security Strategy talks about is the importance of, as I said, fighting this war on many fronts. The war on terrorism is not just a battle of arms, it's a battle of ideas. And that's what the document talks about.
And we are also working to spread freedom and democracy, particularly in that troubled region of the world. It is a region that has been a breeding ground for terrorism, and a breeding ground for instability in the region.
And so the decision to remove Saddam Hussein was made after exhaustive diplomatic efforts over 12 years. There were some 17 resolutions, including Resolution 1441 by the United Nations Security Council that gave Saddam Hussein one final opportunity to come into full compliance or face serious consequences. And he chose to continue to defy the international community.
And it's important that when you say something, you mean it. And tyrants around the world know that we mean what we say.
And so the decision to remove Saddam Hussein was made after an intensive and exhaustive diplomatic effort.
QUESTION: But in terms of making American streets safer, what is going on in Baghdad -- and as reflected in this document -- how does that make any street safer in America right now?
MCCLELLAN: We're laying the foundations of peace for generations to come.
Iraq is a central front in the broader war on terrorism. All you have to do is look at what terrorists, like Zawahiri and Zarqawi, have said about Iraq. They understand how high the stakes are in Iraq.
And by spreading freedom in a troubled region of the world, we're advancing our long-term security for generations to come. This is about laying the foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren.
The president's number one priority is protecting the American people. And that's why winning in Iraq is so important to our overall efforts to lay that foundation of peace.
QUESTION: Scott, can I ask you a question about this operation under way in Iraq?
MCCLELLAN: Sure.
QUESTION: Does the president think that an offensive like this -- high-profile -- is necessary, in part, to turn public opinion around in this country about the war?
MCCLELLAN: Well, first of all, our commanders in the theater have the authorization to make tactical decisions about the operations that they undertake. And there have been a number of operations that have been undertaken over the course of the last several months to really go after the terrorists and the Saddam loyalists who want to return to the past of oppression and tyranny.
So this operation is part of our ongoing efforts to help move forward on the security front. And it's...
QUESTION: So the president specifically did not sign off...
MCCLELLAN: I think the military said that this includes American and Iraqi forces. So what we're continuing to do is train and equip those Iraqi security forces and also focusing our efforts on the enemy, going after those who are seeking to derail the transition to democracy. Just today, this morning, less than three years after the decision to go in and remove Saddam Hussein from power and liberate the Iraqi people was made, the parliament of a fully constitutional elected government of Iraq met to begin the process of moving forward on putting in place a national unity government. And the discussions have been going before today, and those discussions continue.
But it's important that we continue to act on all fronts that the president outlined for our strategy for victory.
QUESTION: You raise a point. Are you saying that the president did not specifically authorize this?
MCCLELLAN: No, he knows about the operation and he's been briefed on it. But this is a decision that is made by commanders who are in the best position to make the tactical decisions about the operations that are undertaken.
QUESTION: He didn't have to give the go-ahead order...
MCCLELLAN: We want to see a successful operation. And we look forward to a successful operation.
QUESTION: But he was told, after the decision had been made to do it, or did he have to say, "Yes, let's do this"?
MCCLELLAN: No, this was not something that he needed to authorize.
QUESTION: You haven't dealt with my question, which is, beyond the merits of this particular operation, we are coming to the three- year anniversary of the war. Support for the president is at rock bottom. Support for the war is at rock bottom in this country.
Does the president think it's important, as a show of U.S. and Iraqi force, to mount these kinds of operations to try to change public opinion in this country?
MCCLELLAN: I can't accept the premise of your question because this was a decision made by our commanders. It's important that the commanders have the flexibility to make these type of tactical decisions in order to prevail.
And we're making a lot of important progress on the ground in Iraq. But this is a difficult time period. We've seen recent violence and some sectarian strife, sectarian reprisal attacks that have taken place. And what's important is that we continue to move forward on training and equipping the Iraqi security forces.
They were the ones that took the lead in the aftermath of the attack on the Golden Mosque and helped to bring about calm and order in much of Iraq.
But what we are going to do is continue to move forward on that strategy for victory because success in Iraq is critical to our overall efforts. QUESTION: There's been a lot of rumors, as you know, so let me ask you the question straight. Does the president think he needs new blood on his staff, given his political...
MCCLELLAN: I went through this yesterday. I don't think anything's changed in terms of what I said yesterday.
QUESTION: I wasn't here yesterday. Do you mind just filling me in?
MCCLELLAN: Look back at the transcripts.
QUESTION: Does the president know he's in violation of international law when he advocates preemptive war?
The U.N. Charter, Geneva, Nuremburg. We violate international law when we advocate attacking a country that did not attack us.
MCCLELLAN: I would just disagree with your assessment.
First of all, preemption is a long-standing principle of American foreign...
QUESTION: Not a long-standing principle with us. It's your principle.
MCCLELLAN: Have you asked your question?
QUESTION: It's a violation of international law.
MCCLELLAN: First of all -- let me back up: Preemption is a long-standing principle of American foreign policy. It is also part of an inherent right to self-defense.
But what we seek to do is to address issues diplomatically, by working with our friends and allies and working with regional partners.
That's what we're doing when it comes to the threat posed by Iran pursuing nuclear weapons. That's what we're doing when it comes to resolving the nuclear issue with North Korea.
So we seek diplomatic solutions to confront threats.
And it's important, what September 11th taught us...
QUESTION: The heavy emphasis of your paper today is war and preemptive war.
MCCLELLAN: Can I finish responding to your question, because I think it's important to answer your question? It's a good question and it's a fair question.
But first of all, are we supposed to wait until a threat fully materializes and then respond?
QUESTION: Under international law you have to be attacked first.
MCCLELLAN: OK, you're not letting me respond to your question. You have the opportunity to ask your question and I would like to be able to provide a response so that the American people can hear what our view is.
This is not new, in terms of our foreign policy. This is has been a long-standing principle, the question that you bring up.
But again, I put the question back to you: Are we supposed to wait until a threat fully materializes, before we respond? September 11th taught us...
QUESTION: That was not a threat from Iraq.
MCCLELLAN: ... some important lessons.
One important lesson it taught us was that we must confront threats before they fully materialize.
That's why we are working to address the threats when it comes to nuclear issues involving Iran and North Korea. That's why we're pursuing diplomatic solutions to those efforts by working with our friends and allies, by working with regional partners who understand the stakes involved and understand the consequences of failing to confront those threats early, before it's too late.
MCCLELLAN: The consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran, they are very serious in terms of stability...
QUESTION: Are you warning Iran that it has consequences, as you did Iraq?
MCCLELLAN: Well, what has happened with Iran right now is that the matter has been reported to the United Nations Security Council, because the regime in Iran has failed to come into compliance with its safeguard obligations, and they continue to engage in enrichment related activity.
We have supported the efforts of the Europeans to resolve this matter diplomatically. But the regime in Iran continues to pursue the wrong course. They need to change their behavior. They continue to defy the international community. That's why the matter has been reported to the Security Council.
We have now entered a new phase of diplomacy. And there are a lot of discussions going on about how to prevent the regime from developing a nuclear weapon capability, or developing nuclear weapons.
And that's why those discussions are ongoing. This is an important issue. It outlines in our National Security Strategy that this is one of the most serious challenges that we face.
QUESTION: Are we threatening Iran with preemptive war?
MCCLELLAN: We are trying to resolve this in a diplomatic matter by working with our friends and allies.
QUESTION: May I ask you about the timing of the operation in Iraq today? The 101st released a press release calling is the biggest air assault since the invasion, on the very same day that the White House releases the National Security Strategy and Hadley gives this major speech. Is there any coordination whatsoever?
MCCLELLAN: I just told you that this was a decision made by our commanders, so no.
QUESTION: So there's no coordination. And is it an intent effort of this administration to show -- with the press release from the 101st, to call attention to what the U.S. is doing there? Do they need to broadcast more effectively what the U.S. is doing in Iraq?
MCCLELLAN: Those are decisions made by the military. You have to direct the questions to them.
QUESTION: So all that is done without consultation with the administration.
MCCLELLAN: That's correct.
QUESTION: At the same time as you are taking a hardline approach toward Iran on its nuclear program, you are also talking about opening a dialogue with them on Iraq. What are you...
MCCLELLAN: I don't know about opening up a dialogue. I don't think that's a correct characterization of what we previously said.
Our ambassador is authorized to talk with leaders in Iran, but it's to reiterate to them and express our concerns that we have about their involvement inside Iraq.
Those are concerns that we've expressed publicly. And those are concerns that we are willing to express to them as well, if they want to discuss the matter.
QUESTION: But you also are going to be asking them for some sort of help on Iraq, right?
MCCLELLAN: Well, we've already made it very clear that we want to see all of Iraq's neighbors play a helpful role as the Iraqi people move forward on building a free, democratic and peaceful country.
And those views have been expressed very clearly. We're expressed concerns about Iran on a number of issues that are separate and apart from the Iraq issue.
But when it comes to this issue, we've already previously said that our ambassador is authorized to speak with Iran for the purpose of expressing our concerns to the regime about their involvement inside Iraq.
QUESTION: Is that dialogue going to take place any time soon? MCCLELLAN: I don't know of any update. I saw the news report earlier today: an Iranian leader expressing a willingness to, quote, "negotiate," I think is what the leader said.
The Iraqi people are the ones who will decide the future of Iraq, and if there are any negotiations to be done with Iraq about Iran's activities inside of the country, then that would be done with the Iraqis.
QUESTION: I have a question on two topics. First, St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.
Last night, the Irish prime minister there said there are a number of issues -- a number of problems with the United States, including immigration problems. Does the president have any outreach to make, hill he grant any special favors to...
MCCLELLAN: Well, you're going to hear from the two leaders tomorrow. They will be meeting.
The president looks forward to having the taoiseach back at the White House to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. He is participating in a lunch here right now over at the Capitol, a day ahead of St. Patrick's Day, to celebrate the occasion.
But we have a very good relationship with Ireland, and he looks forward to tomorrow and continuing to talk about our shared priorities.
QUESTION: On this strategy report and on the offensive today, do you have you had any reaction from the allies? And are any allied troops, other than Iraq, involved? Are the U.K. troops involved in it?
VERJEE: The White House press briefing, focusing on a number of issues, including St. Patrick's Day. But focusing also on Iran, the issue of preemptive strikes, the national security strategy.
But this is what we wanted to focus on, which was the Pentagon saying that a large air assault in Iraq is underway, the largest since the war in 2003, underway in Samarra. That's north of Baghdad. The objective is to target insurgents there.
The White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan saying that the president knew about the operation, but he reinforced this point over and over again, and said it was the commanders in the field that assessed the situation, and they were the ones making the tactical decisions on the ground. He indicated that the president did not have to authorize this operation.
He said that this operation is part of ongoing efforts to begin to peace and security in Iraq. He commented on the training and the participation Iraqi forces in this. He was asked repeatedly, are you doing this? Is this operation under way to change public opinion in the United States on the war and on President Bush himself, which is at an all-time low? He evaded that question. He didn't really answer that. He just made the point that this was a tactical decision made by field commanders.
Bill Schneider joins us now with some more new poll numbers that show the American public and how they really feel about the war in Iraq -- Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Zain, we are approaching the third anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq in 2003. And what the numbers show is a significant erosion of political support over the past three years.
For instance, there are growing doubts about the cause. In March, 2003, just after the war started, 68 percent said they thought it was worth going to war in Iraq. Now, that number, you can see on the left, has dropped to 37 percent, with 60 percent saying no, it was not worth -- the situation in Iraq was not worth going to war over.
There's also -- there are growing doubts about the cause that we're fighting in Iraq, rather the course of the war in Iraq. Three years ago, in March 2003, 69 percent of Americans expressed confidence that the United States was certain to win in Iraq. That number has dropped very sharply. Now, only 22 percent of the American public believes the U.S. is certain to win. Thirty-two percent say it's likely, but they're not certain that the United States is going to win in Iraq.
And finally, there's a lot of pessimism about what the outcome is likely to be in Iraq. What do Americans think will happen? Will Iraq dissolve into chaos and civil war? Fifty-five percent of Americans say they think that will be the outcome, civil war, chaos. Only 40 percent believe the Iraqi people will be able to establish a stable government.
The prospect of civil war in Iraq, the notion they are on a brink of civil war in Iraq, is very frightening to Americans. Because that means there's a war going on in Iraq betweens Sunnis and Shiites and possibly Kurds. And when Americans hear that, they say, wait a minute, what is the United States' stake in that kind of war? That's really not our business. And the news of a possible civil war in Iraq has been very demoralizing to Americans -- Zain.
VERJEE: Do most Americans want U.S. troops out?
SCHNEIDER: Well, eventually, yes, they want American troops out. And the majority endorse the idea that American troops should be withdrawn within the next year. Out immediately, no. But out within the next year, majority say yes.
VERJEE: We heard the White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan making a case we've heard the president make over and over again, that war is necessary in Iraq, it's important for global security, as well for the security of Americans in this country. Do most Americans believe that? Do they think that?
SCHNEIDER: Well, the idea is that the war in Iraq, the administration has said for a long time, is part of the larger war on terror. What we are seeing is steady erosion of that view. There is still substantial support for the idea that Iraq is part of the war on terror, but that was clearly a majority view a few years ago. It no longer is.
VERJEE: Bill Schneider, thank you -- Jim.
CLANCY: All right, just recapping. We are continuing to cover what is one of the largest air operations since the end of the conflict, the U.S. invasion, some three years ago that led to the toppling of Saddam Hussein. This being launched about 100 kilometers, or 60 miles, north of the capital, Baghdad, and northeast of Samarra.
Blackhawk helicopter gunships launch into the skies carrying Iraqi and U.S. troops, some 1,500 in all. They're moving across a rural area. They are searching for suspects. They have already found improvised explosive devices and the tools that are needed to make them. They are going to be laying down a net. It's our understanding they have laid down a net. They'll wait for daybreak and thoroughly search that entire area.
Are they going for a high profile suspect, like Abu Musab Al Zarqawi? We don't know the answer to that. But we do know that their mission comes on an important day elsewhere in Iraq. The parliament, so troubled over the post of prime minister, did manage to meet briefly for the very first time, three months after landmark elections. As Bill Schneider was just telling us, what is key here, is will this government be able to take charge and the lead country into a new Iraq? The lawmakers hope it's going to provide fresh momentum, this meeting here today, the talks between the Shiite, the Sunni and Kurdish factions on forming a unity government at a time of increasing sectarian violence. The session itself only lasted about 30 minutes. Two-hundred and seventy-five members were sworn in. The parliament them adjourned, because the legislature has no speaker yet. The inaugural session started the clock, though, on a 60-day period in which the parliament must elect the president and two vice presidents, who in turns approve a prime minister and cabinet.
The parties still deadlocked, split by sectarian tensions and divisions within their own parties.
Now, of course, the outgoing prime minister would be the incoming prime minister. That would be Ibrahim Al-Jaafari. He expressed some optimism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IBRAHIM AL-JAAFARI, ACTING IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: If politicians work seriously, exchange opinions, overcome obstacles, adhere to the constitution, concentrate on the agenda of the coming government and look at everything through the constitution and the law, then, in my opinion, we do not need more than a month to form a government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: And, in fact, he may be the sticking point. His candidacy for a second term as prime minister just one of the issues. It's right now sharply divides Iraqi lawmakers. For his part, he says, he will serve the will of the people -- Zain.
VERJEE: Jim, we spoke to Iraq's foreign affairs minister, Hoshyar Zebari, just a short while ago about the air assault. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOSHYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: It's very close to Baghdad, geographically. And really, it has been a the transit for many of these terrorists, insurgents to send car bombs or to attack convoys in that part of country. So this operation has been anticipated for some time to clear, to root out those insurgents and to make the supply lines safer into Baghdad.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When you say this operation, Operation Swarmer has been known about before. This -- specifically, these villages, this specific area?
ZEBARI: I don't have operational details, really, about the targets and so on, but from all the intelligence reporting we can see that they have -- that the insurgents and the terrorists have been assembling themselves there, trying to create another Falluja, that part of the country which will not be tolerated. And this operation shows also the rising capabilities of the Iraqi forces and troops that are participating in this in a large or a medium-scale operation. This is a good exercise and indication that this strategy is working to build Iraqi troops to be self-sufficient.
ROBERTSON: Well, just how much have they improved? And how useful could Iraqi troops be on an operation like this?
ZEBARI: I think after the Samarra incident they proved themselves to be capable to control the situation to a great extent. Also, we see really there is progress in their performance, although this is an on going process for training, equipmenting them with the right equipment, the right armaments to clear their ranks from infiltrators, from any sectarian, let's say, influence or infiltration by other elements of the former regime and so on. But we think that there has been a progress in the training, in the buildup of the Iraqi forces.
ROBERTSON: But when you look at an operation like this, exactly what capabilities do the Iraqi troops bring that perhaps American troops don't in a situation where they're perhaps going to houses or families in the houses, that sort of situation?
ZEBARI: Well, definitely, there is better relations between the Iraqi troops and the American or the multinational forces in carrying out this kind of operation. Both of them need each other, definitely, because they are familiar with the culture, with the people, with the terrain, they have the intelligence. Also, I think they can help each other in a more effective way.
ROBERTSON: When one sees an operation of this scale against insurgents, one can't but help wonder, is it targeting Abu Musab al- Zarqawi? Could it be? Is he known to be in this area? ZEBARI: Well, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and others have been moving throughout the country. They have not been able to station themselves in any specific area, mainly because of these continuous raids and follow-up and intelligence that we can get, the Americans get, you see. And I would not discount it, but really, it's very early to predict.
I mean, what kind of leadership is there from the terrorists or from the insurgents? But as I said, it has been a hotbed for those activities, and they need to be rooted out.
ROBERTSON: You said that the government doesn't want to allow another Falluja to set up. Falluja, the town in Al Anbar that was a last stand for -- for some of the insurgents in late 2004. Has there been a movement of insurgents as operations have struck (ph) up in that area?
ZEBARI: Yes, definitely. After Falluja operation, after some of the operations that were carried out successfully in the Euphrates Valley, or near the Syrian border, many of these insurgency groups moved to other parts of the country, to Diyala (ph), to Samarra, to some other parts around Baghdad. And that's why they should be on the run most of the time or rooted out. Otherwise, the moment they get confidence to establish themselves, they will establish another Falluja.
ROBERTSON: When you perform an operation of this scale in an area, there are civilians in that area. What are the follow-up operations that have to take place to ensure that there isn't a negative reaction perhaps following?
ZEBARI: Well, definitely. I mean, those considerations have to be taken into account. And the presence of the Iraqi units or participation of the Iraqi army with the multinational forces, with the American forces is helpful in that direction, because they can really be helpful to avoid collateral damages to the civilians.
But these terrorists, really, they have been hiding in civilian areas. And the daily killing of Iraqis, ordinary Iraqis, as we have seen in Sadr City recently and others, they have no conscience whatsoever. So they need to be eliminated and rooted out.
ROBERTSON: We've seen killings in Baghdad recently...
ZEBARI: Yes.
ROBERTSON: ... bodies turning up, more than 100 in the last few days. We've seen more Iraqi army troops on the streets of Baghdad new.
How long before the Iraqi army is able to take over from the job that the United States Army is doing right now?
ZEBARI: This is a process, again, Nic. You've been following us from the beginning. And really, it will take time. Not a long time, I hope, but definitely the more we gain control, we assume responsibilities from the American, from the multinational forces, the fear that Americans (INAUDIBLE). And this is an ongoing process. We've seen that happen in many parts of the country.
And this is the critical part for us to form a new government, a government of national unity, for the multinational forces to be able to deal with effectively, for them then to leave or to downgrade their presence in one way or another. That is the strategy at the moment, and that's why we are so focused to get this government right as soon as possible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: Zebari says insurgents are trying to create another Falluja with the incident in Samarra. It also appears that more Iraqis than coalition forces are involved in this operation, currently underway.
And we also learned from one major general in Tikrit that the Iraqi forces themselves were crucial to the planning process in this operation, and also provided some essential intelligence -- Jim.
CLANCY: All right. Let's go back, if we can, live, to Baghdad. Arwa Damon is there, and joins us now.
Arwa, we heard from the White House, and there -- a lot of the press corps there wondering whether all of this is tied to poll numbers, and the just released national security strategy objectives. You have been to this area that we are talking about, around Samarra there. Why would that area really be of interest to U.S. and Iraqi intelligence and troops?
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jim, it is actually for a number of reasons, but it kind of dates back to if we go back to October of 2004, when the U.S. forces first launched a major offensive in Samarra, trying to control the city. And this was before the operation that was launched in Falluja, about a month and a half afterwards.
But if we go back there, and we take that operation in Samarra, them we take the operation in Falluja, and we take all of the operations that have been happening in western Al Anbar province and throughout the country, areas where that the insurgents can establish their strongholds, and the U.S. military tells us significantly diminishing.
Now, if we look at Samarra, and the areas around it, this was an area that was a thorn in Saddam Hussein's side, and it's an area that's been the thorn in the U.S. military and the Iraqi security force's side. It never quite came under control. Local Iraqi security forces were never quite successfully set up there.
So if we look at operations country-wide, especially those in western Al Anbar province, it's a migration -- could be called a natural migration towards this area just north of Samarra, where the insurgents can perhaps find sympathizers amongst the population.
We are told by an official with the Sala-Hadeen JCC that it's is an area that's believed to have foreign fighters in it, a lot of Arab foreign nationals in it, and it's also an area that's very tribal. It doesn't really, and didn't in the past even under Saddam Hussein, necessarily obey his orders. And Saddam Hussein back then kind of let this area just rule itself. And it will continue to do so.
And what we know from being on the operations there in the past, is that people there strongly say that they will not fall to any government, that they will continue to rule themselves, and this kind of mentality.
They tend to go with whoever the person who is the most powerful is at the time. So it makes it an area for the insurgents to move to that they could perhaps have a stronghold in since they lost a lot of their strongholds in Al Anbar province -- Jim.
CLANCY: Well, when they were along the Syrian border -- and we remember the operations there -- and some of the insurgents stood their ground and fought. They were badly bloodied in that fight, and we heard on some of their Web sites, we won't pursue this strategy again. It would seem that some of them, at least, may have, you know, gathered for this kind of an operation to be launched.
DAMON: You know, Jim, that's true. What we saw out in western Al Anbar province was that in some areas there, the insurgents stood and fought, and in other areas, they literally raid the cities and towns with IEDs. Now what we know so far from the U.S. military on this operation in particular, is that there doesn't seem to have been any contact.
They don't seem to have come under fire, and so far we don't have any information as to whether or not they fired on any buildings or on any areas that were suspicious. It does seem that if this was, in fact, an insurgent stronghold, that they have fled the area, perhaps left it booby trapped, like we have in the past -- Jim.
CLANCY: Arwa, very quickly one last question, and that is, is there any late word from the scene? Are we still in the dark about what's going on there?
DAMON: You know, Jim, we are trying to piece that together, and the military is giving us some information. Not much, other than what we have reported so far, that it an ongoing operation, and it is going to be going on for a few more days to try to clear this area of any weapons caches and any suspected insurgents that might be there.
Now what we know from local officials is that it's an area that they have been paying attention to. There have been a number of killings there -- Jim.
CLANCY: All right. Arwa Damon, as always, thank you. Arwa reporting there live from Baghdad for us.
Zain, that has to be our report for this hour. We have got more coming up on YOUR WORLD TODAY and also on CNN USA, Kyra Phillips.
VERJEE: Yes, stay with us. The news continues here on CNN.
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