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CNN Live At Daybreak

President Bush Focusing on Future of NATO and Present in Iraq

Aired November 20, 2002 - 05:01   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is focusing on the future of NATO and the present in Iraq.
Let's head over there right now, to Prague, I mean.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is covering Mr. Bush's trip to Prague -- good morning, Suzanne.

The president was talking tough.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. President Bush meeting with the Czech president early this morning, talking about the United States' need to confront Saddam Hussein, to disarm Iraq, also for the need for NATO support, for NATO to transform itself from an international coalition once established to contain Soviet expansion to one that can deal with the global terrorism threat.

The agenda is simple. There are basically three items. First of all, to introduce seven new NATO members, seven from the former Soviet bloc. Secondly, the creation of a rapid deployment force, some 21,000 troops from NATO members aimed at being dispatched very quickly to deal with terrorism threats around the world and, of course, to come up with a statement forcing Saddam Hussein and Iraq to disarm.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United Nations has said 16 different times you must disarm. And 16 times he said oh, of course, I will, but never did. And so the game's over with. We're through with that. And now he's going to disarm, one way or the other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, President Bush turning to the Czech Republic for a partnership dealing with Iraq specifically. A number of things the United States turning to the Czech Republic for. First of all, it wants to use the Czech military's expertise as a defense against chemical and biological attacks. Secondly, it views Havel's moral and political support for a tough stance against Iraq as critical, and, third, prefers any military confrontation with Iraq to be done under the auspices of the United Nations.

Now, President Bush really making the argument, making the case that NATO must become more relevant, that it once was used to contain Soviet expansion, now looking at new types of terrorism threats around the world, that this is the kind of organization that needs to change itself to adapt particularly its military in dealing with those type of threats -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And, Suzanne, I couldn't help but notice that as Prague officials listened to the president, they had absolutely no expressions on their faces.

MALVEAUX: Well, this is the diplomatic world, Carol, and people don't really wear their emotions on their sleeves. But certainly keeping a reserved look about the whole thing. It's really important to note that the president of the United States wants a very strong commitment from NATO members about the support for the U.N. resolution on Iraq. What they expect to get, however, is going to be a statement, a political statement of support, saying, in all likelihood, Saddam Hussein is accountable, that he must disarm, but not necessarily giving a very strong commitment in terms of resources in confronting Iraq.

This is something that is going to take years, we are told, in terms of how to commit, be it troops, be it bases, even funds to make that happen. The implementation not happening this time around, but certainly they're hoping at least for a statement of support when it comes to Iraq.

COSTELLO: Understand.

Suzanne Malveaux, thanks.

MALVEAUX: Sure.

COSTELLO: A former NATO supreme commander has ideas on how the alliance could be used in a possible attack on Iraq. General Wesley Clark will explain them to Paula Zahn on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING. That takes place, of course, two hours from now.

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




Iraq>


Aired November 20, 2002 - 05:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is focusing on the future of NATO and the present in Iraq.
Let's head over there right now, to Prague, I mean.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is covering Mr. Bush's trip to Prague -- good morning, Suzanne.

The president was talking tough.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. President Bush meeting with the Czech president early this morning, talking about the United States' need to confront Saddam Hussein, to disarm Iraq, also for the need for NATO support, for NATO to transform itself from an international coalition once established to contain Soviet expansion to one that can deal with the global terrorism threat.

The agenda is simple. There are basically three items. First of all, to introduce seven new NATO members, seven from the former Soviet bloc. Secondly, the creation of a rapid deployment force, some 21,000 troops from NATO members aimed at being dispatched very quickly to deal with terrorism threats around the world and, of course, to come up with a statement forcing Saddam Hussein and Iraq to disarm.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United Nations has said 16 different times you must disarm. And 16 times he said oh, of course, I will, but never did. And so the game's over with. We're through with that. And now he's going to disarm, one way or the other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, President Bush turning to the Czech Republic for a partnership dealing with Iraq specifically. A number of things the United States turning to the Czech Republic for. First of all, it wants to use the Czech military's expertise as a defense against chemical and biological attacks. Secondly, it views Havel's moral and political support for a tough stance against Iraq as critical, and, third, prefers any military confrontation with Iraq to be done under the auspices of the United Nations.

Now, President Bush really making the argument, making the case that NATO must become more relevant, that it once was used to contain Soviet expansion, now looking at new types of terrorism threats around the world, that this is the kind of organization that needs to change itself to adapt particularly its military in dealing with those type of threats -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And, Suzanne, I couldn't help but notice that as Prague officials listened to the president, they had absolutely no expressions on their faces.

MALVEAUX: Well, this is the diplomatic world, Carol, and people don't really wear their emotions on their sleeves. But certainly keeping a reserved look about the whole thing. It's really important to note that the president of the United States wants a very strong commitment from NATO members about the support for the U.N. resolution on Iraq. What they expect to get, however, is going to be a statement, a political statement of support, saying, in all likelihood, Saddam Hussein is accountable, that he must disarm, but not necessarily giving a very strong commitment in terms of resources in confronting Iraq.

This is something that is going to take years, we are told, in terms of how to commit, be it troops, be it bases, even funds to make that happen. The implementation not happening this time around, but certainly they're hoping at least for a statement of support when it comes to Iraq.

COSTELLO: Understand.

Suzanne Malveaux, thanks.

MALVEAUX: Sure.

COSTELLO: A former NATO supreme commander has ideas on how the alliance could be used in a possible attack on Iraq. General Wesley Clark will explain them to Paula Zahn on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING. That takes place, of course, two hours from now.

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




Iraq>