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Administration Continues Push for Hussein Resolution

Aired October 11, 2002 - 13:35   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: Officials at the White House are not responding to this news coming out of the Pentagon with regard to Scott Speicher, but they definitely are talking about the Showdown Iraq.
Suzanne Malveaux, White House correspondent, with more from there.

Hi -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Earlier today, the president was talking about the progress inside of Afghanistan, talking about the fund for Afghan children. That's where American kids give a dollar. Now that fund is at $10.5 million, the president focusing on the progress inside of that country, the first phase on the war in terror. But this administration focused on the second phase, confronting Saddam Hussein. President Bush very pleased with the congressional resolution authorizing military force against Saddam Hussein if necessary.

The question now is what would a post-Saddam regime look like. "The New York Times" reported earlier today that the Bush administration is considering one option, American military occupation of Iraq while it establishes its democratic institutions. The White House aides taking issue with that characterization, white House spokesperson Ari Fleischer earlier saying while there may be a U.S. military presence on the ground, it would be a part of the United Nations or international peacekeeping coalition or do some sort of civil service duties. Earlier today, the president even talked about the U.S. military action inside of Afghanistan to make the case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've also got a great tradition, not only of recognizing freedom of religion and respecting religion, we've got a great tradition of liberating people, not conquering them. It's very important for our citizens to remember that as we upheld that doctrine that said if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists, that we went into Afghanistan to free people because we...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The strategy, of course, is going to be for the administration to make the case to the UN Security Council members to pass a single tough resolution holding Saddam Hussein to account, using military force if necessary.

Kyra, you should also know that the administration is paying very close attention to those shootings that have happened in the area, the president being briefed on that just a few hours ago. It has become a daily part of his FBI briefings in the mornings now to get that kind of information. White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer earlier today just making comments on how the president feels about all of this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: The president's heart goes out to the victims of these shootings and to their families and to their loved ones. He understands how deeply troubling this is for the community and for people around the country. The president was informed about this morning's shooting, and I mentioned earlier the president raised the issue of the shootings with Attorney General Ashcroft and the FBI earlier this week. Since then, the president every day is informed and kept updated about the progress the law enforcement community is making.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Kyra, as you know, federal agencies also working with state and local agencies to try to figure this out, to capture this sniper. But of course, as you can imagine, there's a great deal of concern here as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, 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 October 11, 2002 - 13:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Officials at the White House are not responding to this news coming out of the Pentagon with regard to Scott Speicher, but they definitely are talking about the Showdown Iraq.
Suzanne Malveaux, White House correspondent, with more from there.

Hi -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Earlier today, the president was talking about the progress inside of Afghanistan, talking about the fund for Afghan children. That's where American kids give a dollar. Now that fund is at $10.5 million, the president focusing on the progress inside of that country, the first phase on the war in terror. But this administration focused on the second phase, confronting Saddam Hussein. President Bush very pleased with the congressional resolution authorizing military force against Saddam Hussein if necessary.

The question now is what would a post-Saddam regime look like. "The New York Times" reported earlier today that the Bush administration is considering one option, American military occupation of Iraq while it establishes its democratic institutions. The White House aides taking issue with that characterization, white House spokesperson Ari Fleischer earlier saying while there may be a U.S. military presence on the ground, it would be a part of the United Nations or international peacekeeping coalition or do some sort of civil service duties. Earlier today, the president even talked about the U.S. military action inside of Afghanistan to make the case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've also got a great tradition, not only of recognizing freedom of religion and respecting religion, we've got a great tradition of liberating people, not conquering them. It's very important for our citizens to remember that as we upheld that doctrine that said if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists, that we went into Afghanistan to free people because we...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The strategy, of course, is going to be for the administration to make the case to the UN Security Council members to pass a single tough resolution holding Saddam Hussein to account, using military force if necessary.

Kyra, you should also know that the administration is paying very close attention to those shootings that have happened in the area, the president being briefed on that just a few hours ago. It has become a daily part of his FBI briefings in the mornings now to get that kind of information. White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer earlier today just making comments on how the president feels about all of this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: The president's heart goes out to the victims of these shootings and to their families and to their loved ones. He understands how deeply troubling this is for the community and for people around the country. The president was informed about this morning's shooting, and I mentioned earlier the president raised the issue of the shootings with Attorney General Ashcroft and the FBI earlier this week. Since then, the president every day is informed and kept updated about the progress the law enforcement community is making.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Kyra, as you know, federal agencies also working with state and local agencies to try to figure this out, to capture this sniper. But of course, as you can imagine, there's a great deal of concern here as well -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, 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