Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03-19-03

TYPE=INTERVIEW

NUMBER=3-595

TITLE=KENNEDY-GULF WAR

BYLINE=DAVID BORGIDA

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

MR. BORGIDA: Joining us now from aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf, VOA TV's Margaret Kennedy, one of many VOA reporters in the Gulf. Margaret, tell us what's going on aboard the USS Constellation.

MS. KENNEDY: Well, David, the Constellation has been very busy in the past couple of days, launching a lot of its planes for reconnaissance missions over Iraq. They have been looking at the area especially of Basra and An-Nasariyah, looking for the strengths and position of Iraqi forces in that area. They have been, of course, going across the no-fly zone of southern Iraq as well. And there has been a lot of preparation in the hangars here, getting planes ready, putting on extra tanks. They have been moving a lot of ordnance to the decks, to put on these planes as they fly out. So, they are getting ready as the hours draw nearer for the end of the deadline.

MR. BORGIDA: Margaret, there is also one other purpose, one other function really, that some of these aircraft are performing. And that is, in some way, to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Expand on that for us.

MS. KENNEDY: The Constellation has been printing hundreds of thousands of leaflets that they load into canisters and drop over various places in Iraq that are of several different types. One is a leaflet that tells you radio frequencies that you can listen to to get information that is not coming from the Iraqi regime. Another type of leaflet, which they dropped about 150,000 of yesterday, says that no one should participate in the deployment or use of weapons of mass destruction, and warning that anyone who does would be subject to prosecution for war crimes.

And another drop they did yesterday was about 150,000 leaflets with specific directions for Iraqi forces on how they can essentially give up and surrender to American troops. These leaflets are so specific that they say park your vehicles in the shape of a square, move away from them, put your armaments in a travel position, display white flags. They are quite specific.

MR. BORGIDA: Margaret, one final question while we have you. I understand that you heard a pep talk, in some ways, today. Tell us what you heard, briefly, in about 30 seconds or so, please.

MS. KENNEDY: The commander of the fleet here in the Persian Gulf, Admiral Keating, came aboard, as he did for the other two carriers on the fleet, and spoke to the sailors. It was quite sort of a rousing event. There was a lot of clapping and welcoming for the Admiral, who told the sailors that he was going to tell the President that, should the order be given, that the sailors are indeed ready to go. He was very proud of them and had every confidence that they would do their best.

MR. BORGIDA: VOA's Margaret Kennedy, aboard the USS Constellation in the Persian Gulf.

(End of interview.)

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