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CNN Live Today

Bush Tries to Enlist Canadian Help

Aired September 09, 2002 - 12:02   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 again trying to drum up international support for tough new action on Iraq. Today, he reached out to the U.N. and E.U. leaders by phone, and then he made his case in person to the prime minister of Canada.
CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us from Michigan with the latest on that.

Hi, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there Kyra.

Well, you know, the focus of this meeting of course was to look at border security, the two leaders talking about efforts that the U.S. and Canada are making to strengthen the borders and also a new program basically allowing pre-screened low-risk travelers to have speedy access through the checkpoints, but definitely Iraq definitely dominating the agenda. The two men met behind closed doors for about 30 minutes or so.

The Canadian leader one of several skeptical U.S. allies, saying that he has not seen evidence to warrant any military attack on Iraq, wanting proof of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction, and proof of any links to international terrorism. He did say last week, though, that he looked forward to hearing the case from President Bush, and, Kyra, we know the president was going to use this meeting to make the case, that he believes there could be action to deal with Saddam Hussein.

We saw really a full-court press, all of the president's top advisers hitting the TV talk shows, saying that Saddam Hussein has been aggressively trying to acquire materials to develop a nuclear weapon over the past 12 to 14 months. The message is that the world must act and deal with the threat -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kelly, Canada has been a staunch supporter for the Bush administration when it comes to the war on terrorism. What do you expect the Bush administration to say? For Bush to say President Chretien, what kind of proof does he have?

WALLACE: Well, we did again see some new evidence coming out by U.S. officials, saying that they have seen some proof that Saddam Hussein has been trying to get his hands on these special aluminum tubes that could be used to enrich uranium and build a nuclear bomb.

We were expecting the president to really use the opportunity face to face to kind of get the message out that he believes the international community must deal with him.

Now the prime minister said of course said, look, he wants to lesson and hear the president's message, and, Kyra, U.S. officials really using this whole week to lay the groundwork for the president's speech on Thursday, the president working the phones himself, calling the U.N. secretary-general, NATO secretary-general, Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, just one of many calls he was making, again, stems from U.S. officials as the president reaches out to world leaders and make the case, more leaders will be supporting him -- Kyra.

KAGAN: Kelly Wallace, following the president there. Thanks, Kelly.

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