|
CNN SHOWDOWN: IRAQ
Bush Rallies MacDill Troops
Aired March 26, 2003 - 12:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In Iraq today, our military is focused and unwavering. We have an effective plan of battle and the flexibility to meet every challenge. Nothing, nothing will divert us from our clear mission. We will press on through every hardship, we will overcome every danger, and we will prevail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush listens to the generals and gets ready for war. He's pumping up the troops at the Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, MacDill Air Force Base. Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting today from Kuwait City. Paula Zahn is in New York.
Paula, we just heard that air raid siren here in Kuwait City once again. Hadn't heard it in hours. Once again, the air raid siren has just gone off here in Kuwait City, signaling to all of us here that perhaps the Iraqis have once again launched some sort of missile at a target here in Kuwait.
The siren has gone off. It's gone off about 10 or 12 times over these past several days. So far, Paula, all of these missiles have either gone into the water, in the desert, fallen harmlessly, or they've been successfully intercepted by this new generation of Patriot air defense missiles. But the sirens have indeed gone off. We're waiting for the all clear once again here in Kuwait City -- hello, Paula.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, I don't want people to think you're being careless in any way. There is a very important system you have in place when you hear that siren sound, right?
BLITZER: We have all the protection we need. We have not far away -- in fact, right near me I have the gas mask, the chemical gear, anything else you could possibly need. Certainly, if there were a missile -- so far all of the missiles have just had conventional warheads. And so far, we're told by Kuwaiti and U.S. military personnel none of the missiles have actually been those scud missiles that were launched against Saudi Arabia, Israel, one missile into Qatar during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
All of those shorter-range missiles, including those Al Samoud missiles that have come in. Earlier today we did hear at the briefing at the Central Command from General Brooks. He said that one of the missiles, though, did have more than that 150-kilometer range that is permitted under the terms of the 1991 cease-fire agreement. He said that missile had gone 190 kilometers, landed harmlessly though inside the waters of the Persian Gulf.
But it's an issue obviously the people of Kuwait have to deal with. And those of us here who are in Kuwait City, we deal with it as well. And there's very, very good security precautions to make sure that no one gets hurt. But, once again, Paula, the sirens have gone off, and we're just waiting for the all clear. I anticipate we'll get that momentarily.
ZAHN: I'm glad to hear you take all these precautions. But you know in spite of what you tell us about Patriot missile batteries, knocking some of these out, and some landing harmlessly in the desert, you got to admit your blood pressure goes up every time you hear that, doesn't it?
BLITZER: Well, you know it's not the most pleasant experience to have to live through in the world, especially in the middle of the night. Sometimes you hear those sirens go off and you deal with it. Actually, it's been surprising. I think it's been a good 20 hours or so, 24 hours since we've heard it.
What it does suggest though, this last siren that just went off -- and hold on a second. I think I'm hearing the all clear. Let me just listen. Yes, we are hearing the all clear. That means any danger is over with.
So the all clear has now been issued. But it does suggest that the Iraqis, even as they retreat or even U.S. and British forces move up from the south into the central part of Iraq and move closer towards Baghdad, the Iraqis apparently still have some capability to launch missiles at Kuwait. And, as you know, the Iraqis, no love lost between the Iraqis and the Kuwaitis. But I'm happy to report that that all clear has now been sounded.
ZAHN: We're relieved for all of you. Thanks, Wolf. See you in a little bit.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
|
