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CNN Live At Daybreak

Iraq May be Close to Developing Nuclear Weapons

Aired August 01, 2002 - 05:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq, in the words of a former United Nations weapons inspector, may be close to developing nuclear weapons. That revelation came during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill. President Bush has made no apologies for his desire to see the Iraqi leader removed.

Our Wolf Blitzer has more on the hearing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shortly after Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joe Biden opened what he called a national dialogue on whether to go to war against Iraq, witnesses offered some alarming testimony. Former U.N. Chief Weapons Inspector Richard Butler said the Iraqis may now be ominously close to developing a nuclear capability.

RICHARD BUTLER, FORMER U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: But what there is now is evidence that Saddam has reinvigorated his nuclear weapons program in the inspection-free years. And over two years ago, the IAEA estimate was that if he started work again on a nuclear weapon, he could build one in about two years.

BLITZER: Butler said the Iraqis may have been only six months away from developing a bomb before they invaded Kuwait in August, 1990. President Bush has not yet signed off on any military option designed to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime. If he approves a military strike, one military analyst testified it won't be easy given the current capability of the Iraqi Army.

ANTHONY CORDESMAN, CSIS: Only fools would bet the lives of other men's sons and daughters on their own arrogance and call this force a cake walk or a speed bump or something that you can dismiss.

BLITZER: Still, there was a consensus among the Committee members and witnesses that Saddam Hussein must be removed one way or another, especially with the clock ticking down to the development of weapons of mass destruction.

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D-DW), FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: Saddam Hussein's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, in my view, is one of those clear dangers, even if the right response to his pursuit is not so crystal clear. One thing is clear, these weapons must be dislodged from Saddam Hussein or Saddam Hussein must be dislodged from power.

BLITZER: Wolf Blitzer, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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