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CNN Live Today

Bush Drumming Support with Allies

Aired September 06, 2002 - 13:31   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is reaching out to some powerful world leaders in his effort to build support for removing Saddam Hussein.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is standing by at the White House to tell us more about that -- hello, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra. President Bush was working the phone lines this morning trying to convince our critical allies -- the need to oust Saddam Hussein. He was on the phone with French president Jacques Chirac, as well as China's Jiang Zemin, and Russia's president, Vladimir Putin. We are told he spent about ten minutes on each phone call.

White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer saying really the point of these discussions was to reassure our allies that, yes, the president will continue to consult with them, that he values their opinion, but also to reiterate that Saddam Hussein poses a threat to the world, but at the same time, the administration has not made up its mind in how to deal with that threat.

Now, did the president change any minds? There certainly is no indication that he changed any opinions, but White House aides say really that was not the point of all of this, that this is really the initial stage. We know, and all three leaders have been vocal against the use of military force in ousting Hussein. All three countries are permanent U.N. Security Council members. They have a veto right -- privilege to actually veto any legislation or resolution that would come from that body.

Clearly, the White House saying that this is just a first step, really, to focus on how to eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction in Saddam Hussein's hands -- hands.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The purpose of the call was to begin this process of collaboration, to do exactly what the world would expect, and exactly what the world deserves, which is a free exchange of information, a discussion about the consequences and the risks, and this is the beginning of a process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Fleischer also announced that there would be administration officials that they were dispatch to the countries to follow up on these discussions, that there will be a number of follow- up meetings. Clearly, this will happen after he addresses the U.N. General Assembly on September 12. Aides are saying this is really going to be a defining moment for the president. He is going to outline the case the United States is making saying that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the world, that he has thumbed his nose at the U.N. resolutions -- agreements that he has made, and also that the very credibility of the United Nations is on the line if they decide -- what type of action they actually decide to take.

Now, Kyra, president will be meeting with British prime minister Tony Blair at Camp David this weekend to discuss a number of issues. Of course, on top of the list is Iraq. And later on Monday, he will be meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, in Detroit also to move the agenda forward, to discuss homeland security, border issues, but again, the issue of Iraq. The president and this White House engaged in a full-court press with our allies -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, thank you.

Well, let's talk some more about the job that the president faces, and for that, of course, we turn to our senior political analyst, William Schneider -- hi, Bill.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. The president is meeting with congressional leaders. He is heading out to the heartland, speaking with folks out there. Now, he is calling international allies. Ari Fleischer came out and made a statement. Let's listen to what he had to say, Bill, and then talk about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FLEISCHER: There is already a mountain of evidence that Saddam Hussein is gathering weapons for the purpose of using them, and adding additional information is like adding a foot to Mt. Everest. There already is a mountain of evidence that shows that Saddam Hussein, since the Gulf War, and prior to the Gulf War has sought to develop weapons for the purpose of using them. And as we saw on September 11, when our enemies have weapons, they do not hesitate to use them against the American people.

PHILLIPS: So what should we think about all the comments and all of the action? What is going to happen with regard to attack against Iraq -- Bill.

SCHNEIDER: Well, Kyra, I think the White House is making the case for something Americans have never really done before, which is a preemptive strike, and that perplexes a lot of Americans, who want to know, well, what has Saddam Hussein actually done to attack us? Was he part of September 11? The White House is saying they have weapons of mass destruction. They have expressed the intention of using them. They have used them against their own people -- Saddam Hussein's own people and his neighbors, and we have been attacked on September 11. So what is the United States supposed to do, sit around and wait for another atrocity?

PHILLIPS: How do you think this is going to play out at the polls as we get close to election season?

SCHNEIDER: Well, I think there will be -- a lot of Republicans will expect that it will divert attention from the economy, which is still, to the voters, the number one issue, and not a good issue, as far as Republicans are concerned. The problem is, though, that the president said this week that he intends to go to Congress and seek Congress' approval for a war against Iraq.

So that could invite a lot of voters to say, if we are reluctant to go to war, if we think this is being too reckless or rash, they may say, I might just vote for a Democrat to slow down this rush into war.

PHILLIPS: Bill, what about the rift that seems to be happening among a number of retired Gulf War generals? I mean, we have heard from Schwarzkopf, we have heard from Powell, we have heard from Zinni, what is the public's -- how is the public supposed to take all of this in? You are hearing two different things from very important types of leaders.

SCHNEIDER: Well, that is one reason why public anxiety over this war has been growing. You have General Zinni, General Scowcroft, General Powell, a lot of generals coming out and saying this is not going to be an easy war. They have doubts about how long it will take, how much it will cost, how difficult it will be, and Americans take that very seriously. They believe that war should be left to the military, they shouldn't be fought by politicians. I think that is one reason why in the last few weeks, we have seen criticism, anxiety over the war, growing. The president's campaign is aimed at reversing that trend, but every time we hear from a general, the doubts grow.

PHILLIPS: Bill Schneider, thanks.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

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