Saddam's Senior Adviser Discounts Exile

B A G H D A D, Iraq, Jan. 22 -- Iraq's deputy prime minister and adviser to Saddam Hussein, Tariq Aziz, told ABCNEWS' Peter Jennings that the Iraqi army is ready to fight a war with the United States and American soldier will be met with "bullets," not "flowers."

The following are excerpts from Aziz's exclusive interview with Jennings, who is reporting from Baghdad:

Jennings: As I came into the ministry this morning, I thought to myself, "target." Do you think the same thing?

Aziz: This building was targeted in 1991, so it won't be a surprise if it's a target again.

Jennings : You are also on the list that Bush administration has of the Iraqi leadership. Where do you think you are on that list?

Aziz: I'm not surprised that they hate me so much because I'm an Iraqi patriot, I love my country, I defend the cause of my country. The Bush administration is now the enemy of Iraq and the people of Iraq.

Jennings : What do you think you can do for your country at this point?

Aziz: We have been serving our country for four decades now and we have built this country, developed this country, provided a better life for out people until the aggression in 1991 and sanctions. But despite the aggression and the sanctions, we did our best to keep a reasonable standard of living for our people. Without the war, without the sanctions, we could make life better for the Iraqi people and there is a significant development in all fields.

Jennings : Do you accept that if the U.S. attacks Iraq, it will be over for you and the leadership of Saddam Hussein?

Aziz: Well, they did attack us in 1991, and they thought the same thing as you are saying now. But we survived and we continue our mission of leading this country to the best that we can.

Avoiding War Through Exile

Jennings : It has been suggested, Mr. Minister, that war could be avoided, that the Iraqi people need not go through war if Saddam Hussein would step down and go into exile.

Aziz: We're saying intimidation cannot be accepted. We cannot accept any interference into our internal affairs. If that succeeds, America could do it anywhere in the world, you see.