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CNN Live At Daybreak

Reaction on Streets of London to Bush's Speech

Aired October 08, 2002 - 05:32   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: We want to turn back now to President Bush's speech last night on Iraq. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said Iraq is a threat, but just what is the reaction on the streets this morning in London to President Bush's speech?
Robin Oakley is in the British capital -- good morning, Robin.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Certainly there is a growing feeling that George Bush is beginning to answer the why now question in terms of an attack on Iraq. But I think Europeans still have some worries, and some worries that the president didn't entirely address in this speech in what was the early hours of the morning for Europeans.

They're worried about a wider instability in the Middle East and George Bush rather brushed that question aside by saying well, there's a lot of instability in the area anyway. They're also worried in Europe about the overall effect of any attack on Iraq on the worldwide war against terrorism. And George Bush answered that in rather thin terms, some Europeans feel, simply by saying this was part of the war against terrorism. They feel he hasn't done enough to establish links between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.

But certainly there was an acceptance that George Bush had struck a happier tone, as far as Europeans were concerned, with his speech, as they liked him saying that war was possible but not inevitable and could still be avoided if Saddam Hussein were to take the right action -- Carol.

COSTELLO: OK, Robin Oakley reporting live from London.

Thank you very much.

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Aired October 8, 2002 - 05:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to turn back now to President Bush's speech last night on Iraq. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said Iraq is a threat, but just what is the reaction on the streets this morning in London to President Bush's speech?
Robin Oakley is in the British capital -- good morning, Robin.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Certainly there is a growing feeling that George Bush is beginning to answer the why now question in terms of an attack on Iraq. But I think Europeans still have some worries, and some worries that the president didn't entirely address in this speech in what was the early hours of the morning for Europeans.

They're worried about a wider instability in the Middle East and George Bush rather brushed that question aside by saying well, there's a lot of instability in the area anyway. They're also worried in Europe about the overall effect of any attack on Iraq on the worldwide war against terrorism. And George Bush answered that in rather thin terms, some Europeans feel, simply by saying this was part of the war against terrorism. They feel he hasn't done enough to establish links between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.

But certainly there was an acceptance that George Bush had struck a happier tone, as far as Europeans were concerned, with his speech, as they liked him saying that war was possible but not inevitable and could still be avoided if Saddam Hussein were to take the right action -- Carol.

COSTELLO: OK, Robin Oakley reporting live from London.

Thank you very much.

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