9 April 2003 - looting in Basra

reporter: What’s the administration’s reaction to reports of looting in Basra?
Ari Fleischer: As you all know, law and order is a high priority. FBI teams have been dispatched to Iraq to lay the groundwork for a universal identification system and criminal database to ensure security.
reporter: So how does an ID card stop looting?
Ari Fleischer: We’re not so much concerned with looting per se as with tracking all individuals who may impact American interests.
reporter: Really, even in Basra, which is under British control?
Ari Fleischer: Is it? Never mind, then. We expect a certain amount of lawlessness in areas outside civilized administration.