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Bush Facing Opposition from France, Russia on Iraq

Aired January 22, 2003 - 07:01   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.


PAULA ZAHN, ANCHOR: President Bush says it's now clear Saddam Hussein is playing hide-and-seek with U.N. inspectors, and he repeated his threat to disarm Iraq with a coalition of the willing. That as a substantial U.S. military buildup continues in the region.
With the very latest, let's turn to John King, who joins us from the White House this morning.

Good morning, John.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.

Senior officials insist, as recently as just moments ago, the president has made no final decision that he will go to war with Iraq. But when you hear the president say what he sees in Iraq looks like a bad old movie and he's not interested in watching it again, it sure seems pretty clear this morning where things are headed.

The tough challenge for the president now is selling this posture to a very skeptical United Nations Security Council and others around the world.

The deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, is part of the administration effort. He delivered a big speech criticizing Saddam Hussein here in Washington yesterday. Already he's in Moscow now for sensitive talks with senior Russian officials, trying to convince the Russians to come around and support the Bush Administration's tough posture toward Iraq.

As Secretary Armitage -- Deputy Secretary Armitage makes his case in Moscow, more criticism of the Bush Administration from key allies in Paris today. The French president, Jacques Chirac, meeting with the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, both saying that it is not up to the United States to decide what happens next.

President Chirac saying the U.N. Security Council, and the Security Council alone, should make the decision as to whether there should be a military confrontation. President Chirac also saying he believes the inspectors deserve more time and that every step should be taken to avert war.

Back here at the White House, officials say the president is determined to make his case that he would very much like the support of the United Nations Security Council but that he is prepared to lead a coalition outside of the United Nations.

Look over the next week to the ten days for the administration to continue to press its case, including the president's State of the Union speech next Tuesday night and the following weekend, a key meeting with the British prime minister, Tony Blair, at Camp David -- Paula.

ZAHN: As the president tries to figure out what to say in his State of the Union address, it strikes me that the administration can't ignore all of this polling that's come out showing what appears to be an erosion of support for any kind of military action.

There's a new poll out today in "The Washington Post," an ABC News poll, saying that seven in 10 Americans would give U.N. inspectors months more to complete these inspections.

Help us understand how that is worked into the equation.

KING: Well, they say here at the White House that the president simply has to try to lead public opinion. They see those polling, they have their own polls. And yes, more and more Americans are saying that if there is military action, it should come only with the cooperation and the coordination of the United Nations.

White House officials say the president is determined to press ahead here despite public opinion. That is one reason we are told the significant portion of the State of the Union address will be dedicated to the president's views here. The White House realizing a very big diplomatic overseas but also a very big political challenge here at home to convince the American people that the president is on the right path.

ZAHN: Thank you so much, John King. Reporting from the White House 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



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Aired January 22, 2003 - 07:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, ANCHOR: President Bush says it's now clear Saddam Hussein is playing hide-and-seek with U.N. inspectors, and he repeated his threat to disarm Iraq with a coalition of the willing. That as a substantial U.S. military buildup continues in the region.
With the very latest, let's turn to John King, who joins us from the White House this morning.

Good morning, John.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.

Senior officials insist, as recently as just moments ago, the president has made no final decision that he will go to war with Iraq. But when you hear the president say what he sees in Iraq looks like a bad old movie and he's not interested in watching it again, it sure seems pretty clear this morning where things are headed.

The tough challenge for the president now is selling this posture to a very skeptical United Nations Security Council and others around the world.

The deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, is part of the administration effort. He delivered a big speech criticizing Saddam Hussein here in Washington yesterday. Already he's in Moscow now for sensitive talks with senior Russian officials, trying to convince the Russians to come around and support the Bush Administration's tough posture toward Iraq.

As Secretary Armitage -- Deputy Secretary Armitage makes his case in Moscow, more criticism of the Bush Administration from key allies in Paris today. The French president, Jacques Chirac, meeting with the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, both saying that it is not up to the United States to decide what happens next.

President Chirac saying the U.N. Security Council, and the Security Council alone, should make the decision as to whether there should be a military confrontation. President Chirac also saying he believes the inspectors deserve more time and that every step should be taken to avert war.

Back here at the White House, officials say the president is determined to make his case that he would very much like the support of the United Nations Security Council but that he is prepared to lead a coalition outside of the United Nations.

Look over the next week to the ten days for the administration to continue to press its case, including the president's State of the Union speech next Tuesday night and the following weekend, a key meeting with the British prime minister, Tony Blair, at Camp David -- Paula.

ZAHN: As the president tries to figure out what to say in his State of the Union address, it strikes me that the administration can't ignore all of this polling that's come out showing what appears to be an erosion of support for any kind of military action.

There's a new poll out today in "The Washington Post," an ABC News poll, saying that seven in 10 Americans would give U.N. inspectors months more to complete these inspections.

Help us understand how that is worked into the equation.

KING: Well, they say here at the White House that the president simply has to try to lead public opinion. They see those polling, they have their own polls. And yes, more and more Americans are saying that if there is military action, it should come only with the cooperation and the coordination of the United Nations.

White House officials say the president is determined to press ahead here despite public opinion. That is one reason we are told the significant portion of the State of the Union address will be dedicated to the president's views here. The White House realizing a very big diplomatic overseas but also a very big political challenge here at home to convince the American people that the president is on the right path.

ZAHN: Thank you so much, John King. Reporting from the White House 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



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