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American Morning
U.S. Coalition Building
Aired January 24, 2003 - 09:13 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: Back to our big story this morning, the showdown with Iraq. The message from Russia, Germany and France regarding that country is that war is not the answer, at least for now. But the White House is confident that Europe will answer the call ultimately to arms if military action in Iraq is needed.
Let's check in with Dana Bash who is standing by at the White House with reaction to all of this.
Good morning -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning -- Paula.
Well, the White House is making it clear that even if France, Germany and Russia in the end don't go along with the United States, others will, that they will have a so-called coalition of the willing and the administration named names. They are talking about some countries specifically that will help them topple Saddam Hussein, like Spain and Italy and Australia, who they noted are already sending troops to the region in order to prepare for some kind of attack on Saddam Hussein. But nevertheless, the administration is still making their full-court press. You've seen speech after speech this week from administration officials talking about the need for Saddam Hussein to give up whatever weapons he has.
Today you saw that show go on the road. Under Secretary of State John Bolton was in Japan and he said that he's got some evidence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BOLTON, UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE: We have very convincing evidence that Iraq maintains an extensive program for the production and weaponization of weapons of mass destruction and long-range ballistic missiles that have been forbidden to it since the time of the Gulf War cease fire, Resolution 687, in 1991.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, when and where that evidence is going to be revealed to the world, the administration is certainly not saying yet. But it -- Paula, it won't be too soon for a lot of skeptical Americans and skeptical Democratic members of Congress who are becoming more and more vocal that they also want to see whatever evidence is available before the U.S. sends troops into Iraq -- Paula.
ZAHN: Number of published reports today suggesting that Hans Blix will make an issue of Iraqi scientists not being allowed to be interviewed privately by inspectors. What is the White House saying by that? We know what Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz had to say about that, that these scientists are afraid of being killed and they know if they sit down privately with the inspectors they will be.
BASH: That's exactly right. And the interviews with scientists have been a key factor here for the White House. Condoleezza Rice has made a couple of trips to talk to Hans Blix about it to say look, you've got to get these scientists out of the country, because otherwise they're not going to talk. But it's also a key piece of evidence for the administration against Saddam Hussein because they say that it was part of the U.N. resolution for him to make these scientists available and he's not -- Paula.
ZAHN: Dana Bash, thanks so much.
BASH: Thank you.
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 January 24, 2003 - 09:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back to our big story this morning, the showdown with Iraq. The message from Russia, Germany and France regarding that country is that war is not the answer, at least for now. But the White House is confident that Europe will answer the call ultimately to arms if military action in Iraq is needed.
Let's check in with Dana Bash who is standing by at the White House with reaction to all of this.
Good morning -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning -- Paula.
Well, the White House is making it clear that even if France, Germany and Russia in the end don't go along with the United States, others will, that they will have a so-called coalition of the willing and the administration named names. They are talking about some countries specifically that will help them topple Saddam Hussein, like Spain and Italy and Australia, who they noted are already sending troops to the region in order to prepare for some kind of attack on Saddam Hussein. But nevertheless, the administration is still making their full-court press. You've seen speech after speech this week from administration officials talking about the need for Saddam Hussein to give up whatever weapons he has.
Today you saw that show go on the road. Under Secretary of State John Bolton was in Japan and he said that he's got some evidence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BOLTON, UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE: We have very convincing evidence that Iraq maintains an extensive program for the production and weaponization of weapons of mass destruction and long-range ballistic missiles that have been forbidden to it since the time of the Gulf War cease fire, Resolution 687, in 1991.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, when and where that evidence is going to be revealed to the world, the administration is certainly not saying yet. But it -- Paula, it won't be too soon for a lot of skeptical Americans and skeptical Democratic members of Congress who are becoming more and more vocal that they also want to see whatever evidence is available before the U.S. sends troops into Iraq -- Paula.
ZAHN: Number of published reports today suggesting that Hans Blix will make an issue of Iraqi scientists not being allowed to be interviewed privately by inspectors. What is the White House saying by that? We know what Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz had to say about that, that these scientists are afraid of being killed and they know if they sit down privately with the inspectors they will be.
BASH: That's exactly right. And the interviews with scientists have been a key factor here for the White House. Condoleezza Rice has made a couple of trips to talk to Hans Blix about it to say look, you've got to get these scientists out of the country, because otherwise they're not going to talk. But it's also a key piece of evidence for the administration against Saddam Hussein because they say that it was part of the U.N. resolution for him to make these scientists available and he's not -- Paula.
ZAHN: Dana Bash, thanks so much.
BASH: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
