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Rumsfeld Puts Allies 'On Notice'
Aired September 25, 2002 - 10:34 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is at the center of the world stage. He attending an informal NATO meeting in Warsaw, and, of course, Iraq was one of the subjects up for discussion. Joining us now to talk some more about that is our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- morning, Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Well, Iraq wasn't on the formal agenda here, but it was sure on the informal agenda of this informal meeting.
Defense Secretary Rumsfeld insisting that he didn't come here to garner support for U.S. military action, but rather to lay out the facts. He said it is his belief that if all of the allies are operating off the same set of facts, they will probably come to the same conclusion that the United States has, that something has to be done about Saddam Hussein.
This came one day after the defense ministers here got a highly classified briefing from a CIA official about Iraq's chemical and biological and nuclear capabilities, and Rumsfeld himself delivered a bit of an ominous warning just before departing for Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We provided our allies with an intelligence briefing on the Iraqi threat that it poses to the world. The deputy director of Central Intelligence presented a detailed discussion of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs and its support for terrorists. Everyone is on notice, all now have a clear understanding of the threats that are posed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: Everyone is on notice, the words of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, as he was leaving Warsaw here and going back to Washington.
Rumsfeld also said something intriguing. You know, there has been some speculation about what degree of evidence the administration might have linking al Qaeda with Saddam Hussein, and so far, there hasn't been much public statement of that. But Rumsfeld said in this highly classified briefing they did discuss some -- quote -- "linkage" between al Qaeda and Iraq, but he would give no details.
Now, even though he says he didn't ask for any support at this meeting, he says that privately, some countries did volunteer support for the U.S. position. He wouldn't name the supporters, but clearly Germany is not among them. Still miffed by the criticism of President Bush during the recent German elections, Rumsfeld pointedly never made time to meet with the German Defense Minister -- Leon.
HARRIS: Jamie McIntyre reporting live for us this morning -- thanks, Jamie. We will check back with you later on.
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 25, 2002 - 10:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is at the center of the world stage. He attending an informal NATO meeting in Warsaw, and, of course, Iraq was one of the subjects up for discussion. Joining us now to talk some more about that is our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- morning, Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Well, Iraq wasn't on the formal agenda here, but it was sure on the informal agenda of this informal meeting.
Defense Secretary Rumsfeld insisting that he didn't come here to garner support for U.S. military action, but rather to lay out the facts. He said it is his belief that if all of the allies are operating off the same set of facts, they will probably come to the same conclusion that the United States has, that something has to be done about Saddam Hussein.
This came one day after the defense ministers here got a highly classified briefing from a CIA official about Iraq's chemical and biological and nuclear capabilities, and Rumsfeld himself delivered a bit of an ominous warning just before departing for Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We provided our allies with an intelligence briefing on the Iraqi threat that it poses to the world. The deputy director of Central Intelligence presented a detailed discussion of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs and its support for terrorists. Everyone is on notice, all now have a clear understanding of the threats that are posed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: Everyone is on notice, the words of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, as he was leaving Warsaw here and going back to Washington.
Rumsfeld also said something intriguing. You know, there has been some speculation about what degree of evidence the administration might have linking al Qaeda with Saddam Hussein, and so far, there hasn't been much public statement of that. But Rumsfeld said in this highly classified briefing they did discuss some -- quote -- "linkage" between al Qaeda and Iraq, but he would give no details.
Now, even though he says he didn't ask for any support at this meeting, he says that privately, some countries did volunteer support for the U.S. position. He wouldn't name the supporters, but clearly Germany is not among them. Still miffed by the criticism of President Bush during the recent German elections, Rumsfeld pointedly never made time to meet with the German Defense Minister -- Leon.
HARRIS: Jamie McIntyre reporting live for us this morning -- thanks, Jamie. We will check back with you later on.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
