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CNN Live Today

White House Praises British Resolve

Aired September 24, 2002 - 12:01   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: We begin this hour in London with what the British prime minister is calling an "extensive, detailed and authoritative" account of Iraq's attempts to get the world's most dangerous weapons.
Here is CNN's Sheila MacVicar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the House of Commons that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program is active, detailed and growing. He said that the issue with Iraq is not a new issue, but an 11-year-old story, a story of obstructions, denials and lies, and a story of flouting U.N. resolutions, 40 of them all told.

Unlike the U.S. administration, which has been talking about regime change, the prime minister talking about disarmament.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It should have been resolved years ago, through a proper process of disarmament under the U.N., disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction is the demand. One way or another, it must be acceded to.

MACVICAR: The prime minister arguing this morning that British intelligence, along with U.S. intelligence, has credible evidence that Iraq has continued to produce weapons of mass destruction, chemicals and biological warfare weapons, and is continuing its efforts to either acquire or itself produce a nuclear weapon. The prime minister saying that this -- quote -- cruel and sadistic dictator should never be permitted to get his hands on weapons of mass destruction.

Sheila MacVicar, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: The White House is heartened today by the British resolve, even while it's frightened by its findings.

CNN's John King joins us with more from there.

Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you. Kyra. The bush administration working in close concert with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to make the case to the world community and specifically to the United Nations right now about Iraq. President Bush discussed the Blair report, the British dossier and Tony Blair's speech this morning during a meeting here at the White House with his cabinet. Mr. Bush says that he will continue to make the case to the United Nations, and he thanked Mr. Blair for what the president called strong leadership. Mr. Bush saying that he believed the case was made against Saddam, but that the British prime minister's presentation makes the case all the more compelling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He is willing to use weapons of mass destruction. And the prime minister continues to make the case, and so will I, and I again call for the United Nations to pass a strong resolution, holding this man to account. And if they are unable to do so, the United States and our friends will act, because We believe in peace, we want to keep the peace, we don't trust this man, and that's what the Blair report showed today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now the president and the British prime minister working together not only on the tough rhetoric in making the case against Saddam Hussein. U.S. and British diplomats also working on the tough wording of a new resolution they hoped to present to key members of the Security Council, if not today, Kyra, we are told by the middle of this week. So we will see soon whether all of this diplomatic, all this public pressure from the president and the prime minister pays off and if they can get their way in the U.N. Security Council.

PHILLIPS: John King at the White House. Thanks, John.

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 24, 2002 - 12:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour in London with what the British prime minister is calling an "extensive, detailed and authoritative" account of Iraq's attempts to get the world's most dangerous weapons.
Here is CNN's Sheila MacVicar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the House of Commons that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program is active, detailed and growing. He said that the issue with Iraq is not a new issue, but an 11-year-old story, a story of obstructions, denials and lies, and a story of flouting U.N. resolutions, 40 of them all told.

Unlike the U.S. administration, which has been talking about regime change, the prime minister talking about disarmament.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It should have been resolved years ago, through a proper process of disarmament under the U.N., disarmament of all weapons of mass destruction is the demand. One way or another, it must be acceded to.

MACVICAR: The prime minister arguing this morning that British intelligence, along with U.S. intelligence, has credible evidence that Iraq has continued to produce weapons of mass destruction, chemicals and biological warfare weapons, and is continuing its efforts to either acquire or itself produce a nuclear weapon. The prime minister saying that this -- quote -- cruel and sadistic dictator should never be permitted to get his hands on weapons of mass destruction.

Sheila MacVicar, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: The White House is heartened today by the British resolve, even while it's frightened by its findings.

CNN's John King joins us with more from there.

Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you. Kyra. The bush administration working in close concert with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to make the case to the world community and specifically to the United Nations right now about Iraq. President Bush discussed the Blair report, the British dossier and Tony Blair's speech this morning during a meeting here at the White House with his cabinet. Mr. Bush says that he will continue to make the case to the United Nations, and he thanked Mr. Blair for what the president called strong leadership. Mr. Bush saying that he believed the case was made against Saddam, but that the British prime minister's presentation makes the case all the more compelling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He is willing to use weapons of mass destruction. And the prime minister continues to make the case, and so will I, and I again call for the United Nations to pass a strong resolution, holding this man to account. And if they are unable to do so, the United States and our friends will act, because We believe in peace, we want to keep the peace, we don't trust this man, and that's what the Blair report showed today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Now the president and the British prime minister working together not only on the tough rhetoric in making the case against Saddam Hussein. U.S. and British diplomats also working on the tough wording of a new resolution they hoped to present to key members of the Security Council, if not today, Kyra, we are told by the middle of this week. So we will see soon whether all of this diplomatic, all this public pressure from the president and the prime minister pays off and if they can get their way in the U.N. Security Council.

PHILLIPS: John King at the White House. Thanks, John.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com