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American Morning
Lott Fallout
Aired December 23, 2002 - 09:05 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: Joining us now to talk more about what is expected to be a major announcement this afternoon is correspondent Dana Bash. She joins us live from the White House.
This is your first appearance on AMERICAN MORNING.
Welcome.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Sure is.
Thanks, Paula.
ZAHN: Let's talk about a little of the scuttlebutt this morning. You have heard some senators on the record say that they are not comfortable, that they believe Bill Frist has this very close relationship with the president. Some are saying that he was hand- picked, even though the president's and the administration's fingerprints are all over it.
BASH: It's funny, because Senator Frist is emerging as a front- runner almost despite the fact he's so close with the White House. The Senate is really a club, and they certainly don't want anybody who they think is hand-picked by somebody outside of their club, certainly not including the White House. But Senator Frist, nevertheless, is very close with the White House's. In terms of public comments, they're stating mum right now, they're not saying anything about Bill Frist, but we do know that Senator Frist, his relationship with the president goes back to the 2000 campaign. He was the liaison to the Senate for then-Governor George Bush, then just this past election cycle, Bill Frist worked very closely with the White House to help elect what then became the new Republican majority. So he is very tight with the White House, no question about it.
ZAHN: Let's turn our attention to Iraq. Any reaction from the White House to Iraq inviting the CIA in?
BASH: Well, as with most of Iraq's recent comments, the U.S. officials here are greeting it with skepticism. A White House official said -- quote -- "Iraq's lied before, and it is not on the road to compliance."
But on the issue of intelligence this weekend, we did see the U.S. complying with a request from U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix, and his request for the U.S. to help the U.N. inspectors with intelligence, to try to help them find whatever weapons of mass destruction the U.S. says that Iraq does have. The U.S. began supplying the U.N. weapons inspectors with spy satellite photos that they hope will guide inspectors to place where they think Saddam Hussein is stockpiling chemical and biological weapons.
But beyond that, U.S. officials are saying that they are a little bit reluctant to hand over additional intelligence. They don't want to compromise methods and sources that go into gathering that intelligence -- Paula.
ZAHN: We're going to be delighted to you have on the air. Is this going to be a regular thing, or are you just going to do this every now and then?
BASH: As often as you'll have me, Paula.
ZAHN: Terrific. Have a great holiday, Dana.
BASH: You, too.
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 23, 2002 - 09:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now to talk more about what is expected to be a major announcement this afternoon is correspondent Dana Bash. She joins us live from the White House.
This is your first appearance on AMERICAN MORNING.
Welcome.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Sure is.
Thanks, Paula.
ZAHN: Let's talk about a little of the scuttlebutt this morning. You have heard some senators on the record say that they are not comfortable, that they believe Bill Frist has this very close relationship with the president. Some are saying that he was hand- picked, even though the president's and the administration's fingerprints are all over it.
BASH: It's funny, because Senator Frist is emerging as a front- runner almost despite the fact he's so close with the White House. The Senate is really a club, and they certainly don't want anybody who they think is hand-picked by somebody outside of their club, certainly not including the White House. But Senator Frist, nevertheless, is very close with the White House's. In terms of public comments, they're stating mum right now, they're not saying anything about Bill Frist, but we do know that Senator Frist, his relationship with the president goes back to the 2000 campaign. He was the liaison to the Senate for then-Governor George Bush, then just this past election cycle, Bill Frist worked very closely with the White House to help elect what then became the new Republican majority. So he is very tight with the White House, no question about it.
ZAHN: Let's turn our attention to Iraq. Any reaction from the White House to Iraq inviting the CIA in?
BASH: Well, as with most of Iraq's recent comments, the U.S. officials here are greeting it with skepticism. A White House official said -- quote -- "Iraq's lied before, and it is not on the road to compliance."
But on the issue of intelligence this weekend, we did see the U.S. complying with a request from U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix, and his request for the U.S. to help the U.N. inspectors with intelligence, to try to help them find whatever weapons of mass destruction the U.S. says that Iraq does have. The U.S. began supplying the U.N. weapons inspectors with spy satellite photos that they hope will guide inspectors to place where they think Saddam Hussein is stockpiling chemical and biological weapons.
But beyond that, U.S. officials are saying that they are a little bit reluctant to hand over additional intelligence. They don't want to compromise methods and sources that go into gathering that intelligence -- Paula.
ZAHN: We're going to be delighted to you have on the air. Is this going to be a regular thing, or are you just going to do this every now and then?
BASH: As often as you'll have me, Paula.
ZAHN: Terrific. Have a great holiday, Dana.
BASH: You, too.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
