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CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: Tough Talk on Iraq
Aired January 27, 2003 - 06:07 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Other members of the president's team are out spreading the administration's message on Iraq. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Secretary of State Colin Powell says military action may be the only answer now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The United States believes that time is running out. We will not shrink from war if that is the only way to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction. We continue to reserve our sovereign right to take military action against Iraq alone or in a coalition of the willing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The talk just keeps getting tougher, even before Hans Blix appears before the world. Why?
To get the answer, we placed a Wake-Up Call to Elise Labott, our State Department producer. She's been traveling with Mr. Powell.
You know, Elise, Iraq's foreign minister just about an hour ago mentioned Powell's speech in a press conference. He called it all lies from an evil administration. How is the rest of the world receiving Powell's remarks?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Well, Carol, the theme of this year's conference was Build in Trust. And so, Secretary Powell framed his remarks (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of how America can be trusted. He was citing instances such as Afghanistan, Kuwait, where he said America used its power wisely and could be trusted to do the right thing here.
Now, he didn't break any new ground, and several of the delegates in Davos said that the U.S. still has not put forth enough evidence, made enough case against Iraq hiding weapons suggested by a war, but Mr. Powell himself was very warmly received in Davos. Everyone does still see him as a bit of a moderating force. And he said the U.S. would start to offer more evidence against Iraq, and he made an impassioned plea for the world to support the U.S.
And so, many at the conference said, well, they still aren't convinced of the U.S. position. It was powerful and could have persuaded some people.
COSTELLO: Understand. I also understand that the United States is working on another draft resolution to submit to the United Nations just in case. Tell us about that.
LABOTT: Well, Carol, it's really no surprise here. Secretary Powell said even though the U.S. doesn't feel it needs a second resolution, it certainly would like one. It would give to any military action against Iraq the stamp of legitimacy. A lot of countries say they need it. It doesn't necessarily mean that the U.S. will introduce a resolution. They want to make sure they have enough votes yet. You need nine votes to pass a resolution. You can't have any vetoes from the permanent members of the council. France, Russia and China are permanent members, which the U.S. is a little scared about.
But this is pretty routine in a situation like this. Officials are just starting to formulate what a resolution could look like, they want to cover all of the bases, cover all of the options, and as they do that, they'll continue to lobby the Security Council to support the idea of a resolution -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Elise Labott, thanks for your insight this morning. We appreciate it.
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 27, 2003 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Other members of the president's team are out spreading the administration's message on Iraq. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Secretary of State Colin Powell says military action may be the only answer now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The United States believes that time is running out. We will not shrink from war if that is the only way to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction. We continue to reserve our sovereign right to take military action against Iraq alone or in a coalition of the willing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The talk just keeps getting tougher, even before Hans Blix appears before the world. Why?
To get the answer, we placed a Wake-Up Call to Elise Labott, our State Department producer. She's been traveling with Mr. Powell.
You know, Elise, Iraq's foreign minister just about an hour ago mentioned Powell's speech in a press conference. He called it all lies from an evil administration. How is the rest of the world receiving Powell's remarks?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Well, Carol, the theme of this year's conference was Build in Trust. And so, Secretary Powell framed his remarks (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of how America can be trusted. He was citing instances such as Afghanistan, Kuwait, where he said America used its power wisely and could be trusted to do the right thing here.
Now, he didn't break any new ground, and several of the delegates in Davos said that the U.S. still has not put forth enough evidence, made enough case against Iraq hiding weapons suggested by a war, but Mr. Powell himself was very warmly received in Davos. Everyone does still see him as a bit of a moderating force. And he said the U.S. would start to offer more evidence against Iraq, and he made an impassioned plea for the world to support the U.S.
And so, many at the conference said, well, they still aren't convinced of the U.S. position. It was powerful and could have persuaded some people.
COSTELLO: Understand. I also understand that the United States is working on another draft resolution to submit to the United Nations just in case. Tell us about that.
LABOTT: Well, Carol, it's really no surprise here. Secretary Powell said even though the U.S. doesn't feel it needs a second resolution, it certainly would like one. It would give to any military action against Iraq the stamp of legitimacy. A lot of countries say they need it. It doesn't necessarily mean that the U.S. will introduce a resolution. They want to make sure they have enough votes yet. You need nine votes to pass a resolution. You can't have any vetoes from the permanent members of the council. France, Russia and China are permanent members, which the U.S. is a little scared about.
But this is pretty routine in a situation like this. Officials are just starting to formulate what a resolution could look like, they want to cover all of the bases, cover all of the options, and as they do that, they'll continue to lobby the Security Council to support the idea of a resolution -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Elise Labott, thanks for your insight this morning. We appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
