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CNN Live Today

President Bush Getting More Advice on Wisdom of Attacking Iraq

Aired August 26, 2002 - 12:09   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Texas, where President Bush is getting more and more advice -- much of it unsolicited -- on the wisdom, or even the legality of attacking Iraq.
CNN's Kelly Wallace joins from the outskirts of the president's ranch.

Kelly, what is the White House saying? And have his legal advisers said he would legally not need congressional approval to launch such an attack on Iraq?

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello to you, Kyra. Yes, senior officials confirming to us that yes, the president's lawyers have told him that legally he does not need to go to Congress to get its approval for any attack on Iraq. This official looking at a couple of things, number one, the Constitution giving the president authority as commander and chief to make military decisions.

Also the president's lawyers looking at the 1991 Persian Gulf Resolution, authorizing the use of force against Iraq, and that resolution passed by Congress in September, giving the president the authority to use whatever means necessary in this war on terror.

But, Kyra, here is the key point. This official stressing that legal issues alone won't disguise it, that the president will consider a number of other factors, historical factors, policy considerations and political considerations before deciding, number one, if he should go to Congress, and number two, of course, Kyra, if he will pursue any military campaign against Iraq -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: You mentioned the Persian Gulf War. Let's go back to the Persian Gulf War. His father didn't need congressional approval to launch the attack, right?

WALLACE: Officials saying that the former president was told just what this current president is being told, that he did not need legal authority to pursue a military campaign against Iraq. But, Kyra, he did go to Congress anyway. The former president went to Congress, you'll recall in 1991, to get congressional support for that military campaign.

So if you look at that example, that president did not need the legal authority but for political and other reasons, he decided to get it -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Former Secretary of State James Baker also saying that the president shouldn't go at this alone. Have White House officials responded to what Mr. Baker has said?

WALLACE: Yes, and the advice keeps on coming in, as you said, Kyra. They are saying they welcome this advice. They are saying this is part of the constructive debate about what to do to deal with Saddam Hussein. The former secretary of state, though, is saying something important. He does believe that military force will be needed to enact some regime change, but he really believes this administration should try to cobble together a coalition, just as he and the former president did during the Persian Gulf War. He is also suggesting that the administration may want to go to the United Nations and the Security Council to get some resolution for an inspections regime, and the authority to use whatever force necessary to enforce that regime.

White House officials not really commenting on that. They are saying they welcome all of the advice they are getting, but, Kyra, they keep saying, the president has not made any decision just yet -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, I know when he does, you will be first to bring it to us.

Thanks, Kelly.

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