Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Bush Planning to Send Congress Resolution Approving Use of Force Against Iraq Today
Aired September 19, 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: President Bush is planning to send Congress a resolution approving the use of force against Iraq today. Leaders from both parties are already throwing their support behind the president, so overwhelming passage is expected. But that still leaves Mr. Bush with a more convincing thing to do, this time at the United Nations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): ... progress in working with Congress on Iraq. But clear frustration that some at the United Nations seem inclined to take Saddam Hussein at his word.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is just a ploy. This is a tactic. This is a way to try to say to the world, oh, I'm a wonderful, peaceful fellow when, in fact, he not only kills his own people, he's terrorized his neighborhood and he's developing weapons of mass destruction. We must deal with him.
KING: Iraq's offer to let weapons inspectors return is making it more difficult for the White House to sell the idea of a tough new United Nations resolution. Key Security Council members Russia and France say the U.N. should first put Iraq's new promise to the test.
Vice President Cheney echoed the president's skepticism.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In the letter the regime says it has no weapons of mass destruction. But we know that is a lie.
KING: Mr. Cheney also made clear there is a backup plan if the administration doesn't get its way at the United Nations.
CHENEY: The government of the United States will not look the other way as threats gather against the American people.
KING: But for now, the focus remains on U.N. diplomacy. Secretary of State Powell briefed the president on the negotiations and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld told Congress it could help the cause by quickly passing a resolution supporting the president.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: This is a critical moment for our country and for the world. Our resolve is being put to the test.
KING: Congress still has questions about how long a war would take and how much it would cost. But the leadership promised the president a resolution within the next two weeks. That leaves the United Nations as the president's major challenge.
(on camera): Administration officials insist their private diplomacy is much more encouraging than the public debate would suggest. A critical test of that is likely to come next week, when U.S. and British diplomats unveil and then push for a Security Council vote on a tough new resolution authorizing military strikes if Iraq fails to honor its commitments.
John King, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld again stressed the importance of Congress passing a resolution before any Security Council vote on Iraq. Rumsfeld testified before the House Armed Services Committee, suggesting action now is better than regret later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUMSFELD: Well, if one were to compare the scraps of information that the government had before September 11 to the volumes of information the government has today about Iraq's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, his use of those weapons, his record of aggression and his consistent hostility towards the United States and then factor in our country's demonstrated vulnerability after September 11, the case the president made should be clear.
If more time passes and the attacks we are concerned about were to come to pass, we would not want to have ignored those warning signs and then be required to explain why we failed to protect our fellow citizens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And just in case you missed it, Rumsfeld's testimony was interrupted by protesters. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are you obstructing the inspections? Is this really about oil? Helpless civilians will be killed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Secretary, would you stand for minute?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) be killed. Isn't this really about oil?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: As you can see, he didn't blink an eye, did he? Rumsfeld told Congress delaying the vote would send the wrong signal to Iraq. And, by the way, those protesters were led out by security.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Force Against Iraq Today>
Aired September 19, 2002 - 05:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is planning to send Congress a resolution approving the use of force against Iraq today. Leaders from both parties are already throwing their support behind the president, so overwhelming passage is expected. But that still leaves Mr. Bush with a more convincing thing to do, this time at the United Nations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): ... progress in working with Congress on Iraq. But clear frustration that some at the United Nations seem inclined to take Saddam Hussein at his word.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is just a ploy. This is a tactic. This is a way to try to say to the world, oh, I'm a wonderful, peaceful fellow when, in fact, he not only kills his own people, he's terrorized his neighborhood and he's developing weapons of mass destruction. We must deal with him.
KING: Iraq's offer to let weapons inspectors return is making it more difficult for the White House to sell the idea of a tough new United Nations resolution. Key Security Council members Russia and France say the U.N. should first put Iraq's new promise to the test.
Vice President Cheney echoed the president's skepticism.
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In the letter the regime says it has no weapons of mass destruction. But we know that is a lie.
KING: Mr. Cheney also made clear there is a backup plan if the administration doesn't get its way at the United Nations.
CHENEY: The government of the United States will not look the other way as threats gather against the American people.
KING: But for now, the focus remains on U.N. diplomacy. Secretary of State Powell briefed the president on the negotiations and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld told Congress it could help the cause by quickly passing a resolution supporting the president.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: This is a critical moment for our country and for the world. Our resolve is being put to the test.
KING: Congress still has questions about how long a war would take and how much it would cost. But the leadership promised the president a resolution within the next two weeks. That leaves the United Nations as the president's major challenge.
(on camera): Administration officials insist their private diplomacy is much more encouraging than the public debate would suggest. A critical test of that is likely to come next week, when U.S. and British diplomats unveil and then push for a Security Council vote on a tough new resolution authorizing military strikes if Iraq fails to honor its commitments.
John King, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld again stressed the importance of Congress passing a resolution before any Security Council vote on Iraq. Rumsfeld testified before the House Armed Services Committee, suggesting action now is better than regret later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUMSFELD: Well, if one were to compare the scraps of information that the government had before September 11 to the volumes of information the government has today about Iraq's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, his use of those weapons, his record of aggression and his consistent hostility towards the United States and then factor in our country's demonstrated vulnerability after September 11, the case the president made should be clear.
If more time passes and the attacks we are concerned about were to come to pass, we would not want to have ignored those warning signs and then be required to explain why we failed to protect our fellow citizens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And just in case you missed it, Rumsfeld's testimony was interrupted by protesters. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are you obstructing the inspections? Is this really about oil? Helpless civilians will be killed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Secretary, would you stand for minute?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) be killed. Isn't this really about oil?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: As you can see, he didn't blink an eye, did he? Rumsfeld told Congress delaying the vote would send the wrong signal to Iraq. And, by the way, those protesters were led out by security.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Force Against Iraq Today>
