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President to Sign Congressional Resolution on Iraq
Aired October 16, 2002 - 11:01 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Our own Kelly Wallace, White House correspondent, is also keeping an eye on things.
And, Kelly, President Bush has made it very clear in the past that he was not in favor of any sort of fingerprinting, as we talk about gun control, fingerprinting of weapon ownership. But now, it's an issue that's very much being brought to the forefront, given that the investigation involving the D.C. shootings in that area is certainly a very top (ph) of order, discussion and agenda of the people who live in that area -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Exactly Fredricka.
And there have been some mixed signals coming from this White House about the issue, but the latest is that the White House has asked firearms officials to look into this system, to conduct a review of this system and assess whether or not it is an effective tool in fighting crime.
We understand White House aides met with officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms yesterday afternoon here at the White House, and during that meeting, White House aides asked for a review of this system. Aides say the president wants the issue to be explored. And so, now, it will be up to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to carry out this review. It is not clear how long this review will take place.
This does come, though, after Ari Fleischer, the president's spokesman, at yesterday's briefing seemed to be highlighting the president's concerns about such a system, saying Mr. Bush was concerned about the accuracy about such a system, and concerned about privacy issues.
But now, the administration is saying its position is to look into the system to see if it's effective, and then go from there -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Oh, Kelly, what, if anything, has the president said about the potential use now of these reconnaissance planes flying over the D.C. Metropolitan area in order to help avert another shooting, or at least catch it as it happens?
WALLACE: Well, we understand the president did learn about this. It did come up at a meeting yesterday, White House aides said. The president didn't have to sort of give his approval or sign off on it. According to White House officials, the president has really instructed the federal government to do everything it possibly can to help track down the person or persons responsible.
So, the president thinks this is a good move by the Pentagon to have this surveillance plane out there to try and help track down the sniper or snipers. So, this is something the president agreed to, not necessarily something that needed his actual approval for -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kelly, let's talk about another order of business before the president, the signing of this resolution, as we wait for him to actually address those attending the White House ceremony right now.
WALLACE: What we will expect, Fredricka, from the president, he'll use this opportunity to try and lay out, in the administration's terms, how it believes Saddam Hussein has been deceiving weapons inspectors over the past several years, and why there is a need now for a tough, new weapons inspection regime.
You'll have the president on stage with at least a dozen lawmakers. The White House hoping this sort of collective show of unity sends a message to U.S. allies as debate gets under way today at the U.N. Security Council. This administration very much pushing for a tough, new U.N. resolution, one that would include the threat of military force if Saddam Hussein does not comply.
But, Fredricka, as you know, it has been a tough sell for this White House. Countries such as France, Russia and China, all with veto power, all who could kill this resolution, have not signed on yet to the U.S. approach -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And the president's words were, this is an issuance of -- or this is demonstrative of one vote that collectively Congress is in support of this resolution, one that he is signing today. But at the same time, there are still some very vocal congressional leaders, who are saying they don't think it's a good idea.
At what point, if any, would he be addressing those members?
WALLACE: Well, the president today will say that this is a collective show of support; that the United States is speaking with one voice. Of course, as you said, a number of lawmakers -- Democrats as well as Republicans -- did not vote for this resolution, did not believe that the threat is imminent and expressed a great deal of concern about any unilateral action against Saddam Hussein.
We are expecting the reach for this speech, Fredricka, really to be to the international community. This administration has an uphill battle right now trying to get this tough, new U.N. resolution through the United Nations.
So, most of the president's remarks will be, look, Saddam Hussein has deceived inspectors in the past. That is why there is a need for a new inspections regime now.
He will also do something else, Fredricka, trying to send a message to the Iraqi people, trying to make the case about how their lives will be better if Saddam Hussein is removed from power, trying to build support within the country of Iraq to somehow remove him from power.
So, it looks like the president is focusing his message more at the U.N. audience and the people of Iraq, not necessarily the opposing members of Congress -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kelly Wallace at the White House.
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 - 11:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Our own Kelly Wallace, White House correspondent, is also keeping an eye on things.
And, Kelly, President Bush has made it very clear in the past that he was not in favor of any sort of fingerprinting, as we talk about gun control, fingerprinting of weapon ownership. But now, it's an issue that's very much being brought to the forefront, given that the investigation involving the D.C. shootings in that area is certainly a very top (ph) of order, discussion and agenda of the people who live in that area -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Exactly Fredricka.
And there have been some mixed signals coming from this White House about the issue, but the latest is that the White House has asked firearms officials to look into this system, to conduct a review of this system and assess whether or not it is an effective tool in fighting crime.
We understand White House aides met with officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms yesterday afternoon here at the White House, and during that meeting, White House aides asked for a review of this system. Aides say the president wants the issue to be explored. And so, now, it will be up to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to carry out this review. It is not clear how long this review will take place.
This does come, though, after Ari Fleischer, the president's spokesman, at yesterday's briefing seemed to be highlighting the president's concerns about such a system, saying Mr. Bush was concerned about the accuracy about such a system, and concerned about privacy issues.
But now, the administration is saying its position is to look into the system to see if it's effective, and then go from there -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Oh, Kelly, what, if anything, has the president said about the potential use now of these reconnaissance planes flying over the D.C. Metropolitan area in order to help avert another shooting, or at least catch it as it happens?
WALLACE: Well, we understand the president did learn about this. It did come up at a meeting yesterday, White House aides said. The president didn't have to sort of give his approval or sign off on it. According to White House officials, the president has really instructed the federal government to do everything it possibly can to help track down the person or persons responsible.
So, the president thinks this is a good move by the Pentagon to have this surveillance plane out there to try and help track down the sniper or snipers. So, this is something the president agreed to, not necessarily something that needed his actual approval for -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kelly, let's talk about another order of business before the president, the signing of this resolution, as we wait for him to actually address those attending the White House ceremony right now.
WALLACE: What we will expect, Fredricka, from the president, he'll use this opportunity to try and lay out, in the administration's terms, how it believes Saddam Hussein has been deceiving weapons inspectors over the past several years, and why there is a need now for a tough, new weapons inspection regime.
You'll have the president on stage with at least a dozen lawmakers. The White House hoping this sort of collective show of unity sends a message to U.S. allies as debate gets under way today at the U.N. Security Council. This administration very much pushing for a tough, new U.N. resolution, one that would include the threat of military force if Saddam Hussein does not comply.
But, Fredricka, as you know, it has been a tough sell for this White House. Countries such as France, Russia and China, all with veto power, all who could kill this resolution, have not signed on yet to the U.S. approach -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And the president's words were, this is an issuance of -- or this is demonstrative of one vote that collectively Congress is in support of this resolution, one that he is signing today. But at the same time, there are still some very vocal congressional leaders, who are saying they don't think it's a good idea.
At what point, if any, would he be addressing those members?
WALLACE: Well, the president today will say that this is a collective show of support; that the United States is speaking with one voice. Of course, as you said, a number of lawmakers -- Democrats as well as Republicans -- did not vote for this resolution, did not believe that the threat is imminent and expressed a great deal of concern about any unilateral action against Saddam Hussein.
We are expecting the reach for this speech, Fredricka, really to be to the international community. This administration has an uphill battle right now trying to get this tough, new U.N. resolution through the United Nations.
So, most of the president's remarks will be, look, Saddam Hussein has deceived inspectors in the past. That is why there is a need for a new inspections regime now.
He will also do something else, Fredricka, trying to send a message to the Iraqi people, trying to make the case about how their lives will be better if Saddam Hussein is removed from power, trying to build support within the country of Iraq to somehow remove him from power.
So, it looks like the president is focusing his message more at the U.N. audience and the people of Iraq, not necessarily the opposing members of Congress -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kelly Wallace at the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
