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Bush: Threat of Force Needed to Keep Peace in Iraq
Aired September 19, 2002 - 12:09 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More on the case against Iraq, to the White House now, where President Bush told reporters today he wants a green light from Congress to use force in Iraq, so he can keep the peace in Iraq and beyond.
CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us with more on that.
Hi, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
Well, we have been following this draft resolution throughout the morning. We can tell you it is officially on Capitol Hill as we speak. Lawmakers looking at it and going over the language.
And we can tell you, more specifically, also about the language, this draft proposal sent up by the White House. It calls for -- quote -- that the president is authorized to use all means that he determines to be appropriate, including force in order to do a couple of things: to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions, to defend the United States' national security interests against a threat imposed by Iraq, and also to restore international peace and security to the region.
Now the president is seeking broad authority from Congress, hoping this also sends a message to the United Nations. We saw the president in the Oval Office with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The president had very, very strong words. He said the U.N.'s credibility is on the line. He wants a tough, new resolution dealing with Iraq. He said if the U.N. does not act, the U.S. and its friends will.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are no negotiations to be held with Iraq. They have nothing to negotiate. They are the people who said that they would not have weapons of mass destruction. The negotiations are over. It is up to the U.N. Security Council to lay out resolutions that confirms what Iraq has already agreed to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Challenge continues to be a big one for President Bush when it comes to the U.N. though because you continue to have countries such as Russia with veto power on the U.N. Security Council saying that, Now that Saddam Hussein has said he will allow weapons inspectors back in without conditions, there is no need for a new U.N. resolution -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, behind the scenes, the outlook for a passage, Kelly?
WALLACE: Well, there a lot going on behind the scenes, of course. Secretary Powell continuing to work the phones. Talking with leaders of Britain and France and Russia. The president also, in fact, to be meeting with the Russian defense secretary tomorrow and also the Russian foreign minister. On the agenda, other items, but likely to discuss Iraq. So some arm-twisting by this administration.
We are told, Kyra, by U.S. officials things are a lot better behind the scenes than they appear publicly, meaning this administration still believes and is confident that in the end, it will get a tough, new U.N. resolution. But the work goes on, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace at the White House, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 19, 2002 - 12:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: More on the case against Iraq, to the White House now, where President Bush told reporters today he wants a green light from Congress to use force in Iraq, so he can keep the peace in Iraq and beyond.
CNN's Kelly Wallace joins us with more on that.
Hi, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
Well, we have been following this draft resolution throughout the morning. We can tell you it is officially on Capitol Hill as we speak. Lawmakers looking at it and going over the language.
And we can tell you, more specifically, also about the language, this draft proposal sent up by the White House. It calls for -- quote -- that the president is authorized to use all means that he determines to be appropriate, including force in order to do a couple of things: to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions, to defend the United States' national security interests against a threat imposed by Iraq, and also to restore international peace and security to the region.
Now the president is seeking broad authority from Congress, hoping this also sends a message to the United Nations. We saw the president in the Oval Office with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The president had very, very strong words. He said the U.N.'s credibility is on the line. He wants a tough, new resolution dealing with Iraq. He said if the U.N. does not act, the U.S. and its friends will.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are no negotiations to be held with Iraq. They have nothing to negotiate. They are the people who said that they would not have weapons of mass destruction. The negotiations are over. It is up to the U.N. Security Council to lay out resolutions that confirms what Iraq has already agreed to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Challenge continues to be a big one for President Bush when it comes to the U.N. though because you continue to have countries such as Russia with veto power on the U.N. Security Council saying that, Now that Saddam Hussein has said he will allow weapons inspectors back in without conditions, there is no need for a new U.N. resolution -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, behind the scenes, the outlook for a passage, Kelly?
WALLACE: Well, there a lot going on behind the scenes, of course. Secretary Powell continuing to work the phones. Talking with leaders of Britain and France and Russia. The president also, in fact, to be meeting with the Russian defense secretary tomorrow and also the Russian foreign minister. On the agenda, other items, but likely to discuss Iraq. So some arm-twisting by this administration.
We are told, Kyra, by U.S. officials things are a lot better behind the scenes than they appear publicly, meaning this administration still believes and is confident that in the end, it will get a tough, new U.N. resolution. But the work goes on, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace at the White House, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
