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CNN Live At Daybreak
What's on Tap in Washington, D.C. Today?
Aired October 16, 2002 - 06:11 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: Those terror attacks in Bali and the continuing violence in other parts of the world will certainly be on the president's agenda today.
For more, let's go to D.C. to take a look at what CNN is covering today on the Hill.
PAUL COURSON, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU MORNING PRODUCER: Good morning -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning, Paul Courson. How are you?
COURSON: I'm well, thanks.
COSTELLO: The president has a busy day.
COURSON: There are at least two major events at the White House today, Carol. We've got an 11:00 signing ceremony that you've mentioned. This is the congressional joint resolution on Iraq that was passed last week. You'll remember that it took quite a lot to get it through both the House and the Senate. Some dissenting lawmakers wanted some other way besides force to try and win a change of power in Iraq. And there was also some discussion about negotiations being more of a priority before we go and sign a resolution saying that the president can intervene militarily.
COSTELLO: Yes, but just because he's signing this resolution, it's not a declaration of war.
COURSON: Absolutely, it doesn't mean we're about to roll troops into Iraq when he signs this today. In fact, there's a parallel or perhaps a consecutive effort to win a resolution at the United Nations. And this kind of equips the president to now go to the U.N. and say OK, our congressional body believes that we should have the option of using force in Iraq. But there in the United Nations we've got France and Germany and to some extent Russia who in turn want some sort of imposition of their own terms on a resolution before we step in militarily. Something about diplomacy, something about measuring to the highest extent whether Iraq has the capability and the willingness to comply with efforts to dismantle their weapons of mass destruction. We'll have to see whether that can come about.
COSTELLO: Oh yes. You know Iraq has taken the Mid East right off the headlines, but Ariel Sharon...
COURSON: The Middle East, yes.
COSTELLO: ... Ariel Sharon is going to talk with President Bush.
COURSON: It -- the timing is interesting. We had the civilian attack by the Israelis in Gaza some time ago, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon comes to Washington possibly facing some criticism from the United States about the Israeli action in Gaza. The Palestinian talks with the Israelis have not been very active for a while. Secretary of State Powell will also be at the meeting today at the White House where President Bush sits down with Ariel Sharon to talk about the peace process and some way of resolving the friction with the Palestinians.
COSTELLO: All right. Paul Courson, thank you very much. We'll check back with you tomorrow.
COURSON: One more point, I need to bring up that there is a Pentagon briefing today. Patty Davis at the top of the hour was referring to the military help in the sniper shootings. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld today and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Richard Myers, may have some more detail as to what the Pentagon will be contributing as far as surveillance and other tactical observation capabilities for law enforcement in the U.S.
COSTELLO: I am sure any help will be appreciated at the local level of the Washington, D.C. area.
Paul Courson, thanks.
COURSON: Take care.
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 16, 2002 - 06:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Those terror attacks in Bali and the continuing violence in other parts of the world will certainly be on the president's agenda today.
For more, let's go to D.C. to take a look at what CNN is covering today on the Hill.
PAUL COURSON, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU MORNING PRODUCER: Good morning -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning, Paul Courson. How are you?
COURSON: I'm well, thanks.
COSTELLO: The president has a busy day.
COURSON: There are at least two major events at the White House today, Carol. We've got an 11:00 signing ceremony that you've mentioned. This is the congressional joint resolution on Iraq that was passed last week. You'll remember that it took quite a lot to get it through both the House and the Senate. Some dissenting lawmakers wanted some other way besides force to try and win a change of power in Iraq. And there was also some discussion about negotiations being more of a priority before we go and sign a resolution saying that the president can intervene militarily.
COSTELLO: Yes, but just because he's signing this resolution, it's not a declaration of war.
COURSON: Absolutely, it doesn't mean we're about to roll troops into Iraq when he signs this today. In fact, there's a parallel or perhaps a consecutive effort to win a resolution at the United Nations. And this kind of equips the president to now go to the U.N. and say OK, our congressional body believes that we should have the option of using force in Iraq. But there in the United Nations we've got France and Germany and to some extent Russia who in turn want some sort of imposition of their own terms on a resolution before we step in militarily. Something about diplomacy, something about measuring to the highest extent whether Iraq has the capability and the willingness to comply with efforts to dismantle their weapons of mass destruction. We'll have to see whether that can come about.
COSTELLO: Oh yes. You know Iraq has taken the Mid East right off the headlines, but Ariel Sharon...
COURSON: The Middle East, yes.
COSTELLO: ... Ariel Sharon is going to talk with President Bush.
COURSON: It -- the timing is interesting. We had the civilian attack by the Israelis in Gaza some time ago, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon comes to Washington possibly facing some criticism from the United States about the Israeli action in Gaza. The Palestinian talks with the Israelis have not been very active for a while. Secretary of State Powell will also be at the meeting today at the White House where President Bush sits down with Ariel Sharon to talk about the peace process and some way of resolving the friction with the Palestinians.
COSTELLO: All right. Paul Courson, thank you very much. We'll check back with you tomorrow.
COURSON: One more point, I need to bring up that there is a Pentagon briefing today. Patty Davis at the top of the hour was referring to the military help in the sniper shootings. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld today and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Richard Myers, may have some more detail as to what the Pentagon will be contributing as far as surveillance and other tactical observation capabilities for law enforcement in the U.S.
COSTELLO: I am sure any help will be appreciated at the local level of the Washington, D.C. area.
Paul Courson, thanks.
COURSON: Take care.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
