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American Morning

Bush Set to Meet With Jordan's King Abdullah in Washington

Aired August 01, 2002 - 09:30   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned, President Bush is set to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah in Washington today against the backdrop of the latest terror attack in Israel, while just blocks away, the Senate foreign Relations Committee discusses whether the U.S. should go to war with Iraq.

White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux joins us live with details.

I guess we might have some ideas, Suzanne, of what the king may say in an interview with Wolf Blitzer over the weekend. He used the word "ludicrous" to describe the notion that the U.S. should contemplate going into Iraq.

What else might he say?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Paula. Really, while the Congress and the White House is split on whether or not the U.S. should attack Iraq, this powerful U.S. ally certainly is not. Jordan's King Abdullah warning, saying if the United States launches a military attack to oust Saddam Hussein, that it would be a very big mistake, a grave mistake. This is a message that he has been delivering throughout the week and interviews in Washington. It is the fifth time that he'll be meeting with the president. The last time was in May.

This is what we expect he'll say, three main points: first and foremost that the U.S. must focus on the Middle East peace process, that an attack on Iraq would basically shatter any prospect of that happening.

Secondly, that the Bush administration has to accelerate the Middle East peace plan. There are a lot of Arab allies that have frustrated they don't see things moving quickly, or quickly enough. And third, is that there's an alternative to a military attack on Iraq. Again, King Abdullah saying, look, we don't think you should attack Iraq. The one thing we think you can do. The last chance, perhaps to convince Saddam Hussein to allow the weapon inspectors in. Just yesterday, White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer saying that the president was not optimistic about that, that he didn't think that would work. They are seriously considering military action -- Paula.

ZAHN: Suzanne Malveaux, we have to leave it there this morning. Thanks so much for that update. Appreciate it. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com