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American Morning
Interview with Bill Richardson
Aired December 18, 2002 - 07:07 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: So, once the declaration that Iraq is in violation of the UN resolution is made by the president or a member of his administration, what happens next? Is that declaration enough to rally countries like Russia and France, and is war inevitable?
Well, Bill Richardson was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration, and he joins us now from Washington. He has a new job as well, New Mexico governor-elect.
Welcome back -- good to see you, sir.
BILL RICHARDSON, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UN: Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: You probably heard a little bit of what John King had to say about the measured strategy the administration is taking. First, they will declare Iraq in violation of these resolutions, and then their hope, as John just expressed, is that they will encourage the inspectors to get Iraqi scientists out of the country to question them. Does that all make sense to you?
RICHARDSON: It does make sense, because what I think the administration is doing building a case. It's not ready to go to war, but it's building a case to get other members -- the recalcitrant members of the UN Security Council -- Russia, China, Britain, France -- well, Britain is still with us, but not entirely.
And what is happening now, I believe, is an effort to put pressure on the inspectors who are continuing their inspections, find out what happened to the mustard gas before 1998, and other chemical and biological weapons, and basically declare in breach Iraq for saying that it has not been starting its nuclear program in the last 10 years.
So, it's a diplomatic effort, coupled with also, I believe, public pressure, mainly aimed at countries like Russia. And what is interesting here, Paula, is Russia is very mad at Iraq right now for having broken an oil deal in the last two days. So, I would watch Russia very closely. Traditionally, it's been a serious opponent of ours that all of a sudden might be, behind the scenes, helpful to us.
ZAHN: But you also made it quite clear the pressure now will rest on the inspectors as well. Given how uncooperative the Iraqis have been, particularly providing access to these scientists for the inspectors, how do you expect that to play out?
RICHARDSON: Well, it's going to take more time, obviously. I don't think an incessantly more time, but it is clear that Iraq has not disclosed what happened to its weapons before 1998. The inspectors are going to see that. I think you will see the head of the inspection team at the Security Council meeting say that tomorrow, Thursday. I think it is clear that since 1998, Iraq has not specifically declared what it's been doing with its entire weapons program.
So, the inspectors are going to, I think, come to almost the same conclusion, obviously not with the same vehemence as we do, that there are problems. The question is: How long do you let the inspectors do their serious inspection? My view is that I think the administration has decided, let's stay the course, let the inspectors do their job, build a case for a second United Nations Security Council resolution that basically solidifies its preliminary view that it's a serious material breach. I think that's a tactic, and I must say I think it makes sense.
ZAHN: Well, finally this morning, according to "The Wall Street Journal," U.S. officials say there are disagreements about how much intelligence to provide to Hans Blix and his team on suspected Iraqi weapons sites, with Pentagon officials expressing -- quote -- "concerns that Mr. Blix has the ability to maintain operational security." What does that mean? They just don't trust him?
RICHARDSON: No, this basically means that you want to also protect the inspectors. This means that there is probably intelligence out there that we have that Mr. Blix may have been passed on that information that might jeopardize some of the inspectors. Remember, some of the inspectors are Americans, they're British, and a common tactic of the Iraqis has been, we've got spies on the team, because there are Americans and British and others.
So, I think it's a double-edged sword. My view would be to see what Hans Blix and the inspectors do on Thursday before providing any kind of intelligence that we have out there, and then slowly start building the case that this is a serious material breach. I think that's what that report means.
ZAHN: Well, Bill Richardson, it's always good to have you on the air. I've got to tell you, I'm at a loss. I don't know what to call you anymore. Are you the former energy secretary, former ambassador, governor-elect, which of those do you prefer, sir?
RICHARDSON: Governor-elect of New Mexico...
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: Governor-elect of New Mexico, there you have it.
RICHARDSON: Thank you.
ZAHN: Thanks again for your time this morning.
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 December 18, 2002 - 07:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: So, once the declaration that Iraq is in violation of the UN resolution is made by the president or a member of his administration, what happens next? Is that declaration enough to rally countries like Russia and France, and is war inevitable?
Well, Bill Richardson was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton administration, and he joins us now from Washington. He has a new job as well, New Mexico governor-elect.
Welcome back -- good to see you, sir.
BILL RICHARDSON, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UN: Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: You probably heard a little bit of what John King had to say about the measured strategy the administration is taking. First, they will declare Iraq in violation of these resolutions, and then their hope, as John just expressed, is that they will encourage the inspectors to get Iraqi scientists out of the country to question them. Does that all make sense to you?
RICHARDSON: It does make sense, because what I think the administration is doing building a case. It's not ready to go to war, but it's building a case to get other members -- the recalcitrant members of the UN Security Council -- Russia, China, Britain, France -- well, Britain is still with us, but not entirely.
And what is happening now, I believe, is an effort to put pressure on the inspectors who are continuing their inspections, find out what happened to the mustard gas before 1998, and other chemical and biological weapons, and basically declare in breach Iraq for saying that it has not been starting its nuclear program in the last 10 years.
So, it's a diplomatic effort, coupled with also, I believe, public pressure, mainly aimed at countries like Russia. And what is interesting here, Paula, is Russia is very mad at Iraq right now for having broken an oil deal in the last two days. So, I would watch Russia very closely. Traditionally, it's been a serious opponent of ours that all of a sudden might be, behind the scenes, helpful to us.
ZAHN: But you also made it quite clear the pressure now will rest on the inspectors as well. Given how uncooperative the Iraqis have been, particularly providing access to these scientists for the inspectors, how do you expect that to play out?
RICHARDSON: Well, it's going to take more time, obviously. I don't think an incessantly more time, but it is clear that Iraq has not disclosed what happened to its weapons before 1998. The inspectors are going to see that. I think you will see the head of the inspection team at the Security Council meeting say that tomorrow, Thursday. I think it is clear that since 1998, Iraq has not specifically declared what it's been doing with its entire weapons program.
So, the inspectors are going to, I think, come to almost the same conclusion, obviously not with the same vehemence as we do, that there are problems. The question is: How long do you let the inspectors do their serious inspection? My view is that I think the administration has decided, let's stay the course, let the inspectors do their job, build a case for a second United Nations Security Council resolution that basically solidifies its preliminary view that it's a serious material breach. I think that's a tactic, and I must say I think it makes sense.
ZAHN: Well, finally this morning, according to "The Wall Street Journal," U.S. officials say there are disagreements about how much intelligence to provide to Hans Blix and his team on suspected Iraqi weapons sites, with Pentagon officials expressing -- quote -- "concerns that Mr. Blix has the ability to maintain operational security." What does that mean? They just don't trust him?
RICHARDSON: No, this basically means that you want to also protect the inspectors. This means that there is probably intelligence out there that we have that Mr. Blix may have been passed on that information that might jeopardize some of the inspectors. Remember, some of the inspectors are Americans, they're British, and a common tactic of the Iraqis has been, we've got spies on the team, because there are Americans and British and others.
So, I think it's a double-edged sword. My view would be to see what Hans Blix and the inspectors do on Thursday before providing any kind of intelligence that we have out there, and then slowly start building the case that this is a serious material breach. I think that's what that report means.
ZAHN: Well, Bill Richardson, it's always good to have you on the air. I've got to tell you, I'm at a loss. I don't know what to call you anymore. Are you the former energy secretary, former ambassador, governor-elect, which of those do you prefer, sir?
RICHARDSON: Governor-elect of New Mexico...
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: Governor-elect of New Mexico, there you have it.
RICHARDSON: Thank you.
ZAHN: Thanks again for your time this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
