Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

World Reacting to State of the Union

Aired January 29, 2003 - 10:01   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's been more than 12 hours now since President Bush wrapped up his State of the Union speech, but his message is still echoing around the world this morning. The topic drawing most attention is, of course, Iraq and the president's case for using military action against Iraq.
Now, we have CNN correspondents posted along two points of what could be a path to war.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is standing by at the White House, and our Nic Robertson is in Baghdad. Let's begin with Suzanne -- good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Well, President Bush is taking his agenda on the road to the American people, travelling to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

He is most going to be emphasizing the domestic agenda, talking about the economy as well as health care reform. But as you know, the big subject, the big topic, the president really trying to sell his case against Saddam Hussein.

Last night, his State of the Union address talking about the fact that it was imminent, that it was important, urgent that they disarm Saddam Hussein, that the administration would go it alone, without the U.N. Security Council, if necessary.

The president also talking about new evidence that would be presented in the days to come. The link between Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, and other terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda. He also said that there would be intelligence that would be forthcoming in the days ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iraqi officials accompany the inspectors in order to intimidate witnesses. Iraq is blocking U-2 surveillance flights requested by the United Nations. Iraqi intelligence office -- officers are posing as the scientists inspectors are supposed to interview. Real scientists have been coached by Iraqi officials on what to say.

Intelligence sources indicate that Saddam Hussein has ordered that scientists who cooperate with U.N. inspectors in disarming Iraq will be killed, along with their families.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Also, we've learned that Secretary of State Colin Powell is going to be making a presentation before the U.N. Security Council February 5 where he will be introducing, we're told, new information, new intelligence. Still up for debate, just how detailed that information is going to be.

We've been told that there is satellite imagery of, actually, Iraqi officials moving about weapons components, trying to hide it from inspectors on the ground. That there are also intercepts of phone conversations as well.

Again, still up for debate, just how much the administration is going to reveal.

Also, in the day to come, Leon, expect the president to do some high-powered diplomacy. He is going to be meeting with the prime ministers of Italy as well as Britain. British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Camp David over the weekend. And also up for debate, a second resolution of the U.N. Security Council, whether or not to use military action against Saddam Hussein. The administration open to that possibility, as well as a possible deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Suzanne. We are all waiting to see what that proof is going to look like and sound like. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House.

Let's go now to Nic Robertson standing by in Baghdad. That nation and that capital received quite a bit of attention in that State of the Union address last night, which was delivered in the early morning hours there Baghdad time.

Nic, any idea or any way to gauge right now what the reception may have been like?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, 5:00 a.m. in the morning here, and it wasn't carried on Iraqi television, so it wasn't on TV and it wasn't in the papers, and it wasn't on the local radio services. But some people we've talked to today did hear it on international radio services. I talked with one member of parliament.

The issue he focused on, he said, Look, who is President George Bush to be saying that he will come and liberate us from our leader? And that's something we heard on the streets as well. Other people saying they just didn't like that notion at all, that they would be liberated. Another theme that struck really strong here among many people, Leon, was the real possibility that people felt that this speech brought the possibility of war one step closer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of the Iraqi people know that the war is coming as soon as possible, or sooner or later. But we didn't care. We know everything about war, and what can we do for such a country?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Iraq is a civilized country, and Bush wants to control it as he wishes, to control Iraqi wealth, the oil. It is not a matter of weapons or nuclear reactors. He wants to do this to let Israel control the Gulf.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Now, no broad-ranging official reaction yet, but Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has said a number of times in the last few days that Iraq has no ties to terrorist groups, indeed no ties to al Qaeda as President Bush put forward -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. We are still waiting for proof on that. Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Thanks, Nic.

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 29, 2003 - 10:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's been more than 12 hours now since President Bush wrapped up his State of the Union speech, but his message is still echoing around the world this morning. The topic drawing most attention is, of course, Iraq and the president's case for using military action against Iraq.
Now, we have CNN correspondents posted along two points of what could be a path to war.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is standing by at the White House, and our Nic Robertson is in Baghdad. Let's begin with Suzanne -- good morning.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Well, President Bush is taking his agenda on the road to the American people, travelling to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

He is most going to be emphasizing the domestic agenda, talking about the economy as well as health care reform. But as you know, the big subject, the big topic, the president really trying to sell his case against Saddam Hussein.

Last night, his State of the Union address talking about the fact that it was imminent, that it was important, urgent that they disarm Saddam Hussein, that the administration would go it alone, without the U.N. Security Council, if necessary.

The president also talking about new evidence that would be presented in the days to come. The link between Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, and other terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda. He also said that there would be intelligence that would be forthcoming in the days ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iraqi officials accompany the inspectors in order to intimidate witnesses. Iraq is blocking U-2 surveillance flights requested by the United Nations. Iraqi intelligence office -- officers are posing as the scientists inspectors are supposed to interview. Real scientists have been coached by Iraqi officials on what to say.

Intelligence sources indicate that Saddam Hussein has ordered that scientists who cooperate with U.N. inspectors in disarming Iraq will be killed, along with their families.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MALVEAUX: Also, we've learned that Secretary of State Colin Powell is going to be making a presentation before the U.N. Security Council February 5 where he will be introducing, we're told, new information, new intelligence. Still up for debate, just how detailed that information is going to be.

We've been told that there is satellite imagery of, actually, Iraqi officials moving about weapons components, trying to hide it from inspectors on the ground. That there are also intercepts of phone conversations as well.

Again, still up for debate, just how much the administration is going to reveal.

Also, in the day to come, Leon, expect the president to do some high-powered diplomacy. He is going to be meeting with the prime ministers of Italy as well as Britain. British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Camp David over the weekend. And also up for debate, a second resolution of the U.N. Security Council, whether or not to use military action against Saddam Hussein. The administration open to that possibility, as well as a possible deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Thanks, Suzanne. We are all waiting to see what that proof is going to look like and sound like. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House.

Let's go now to Nic Robertson standing by in Baghdad. That nation and that capital received quite a bit of attention in that State of the Union address last night, which was delivered in the early morning hours there Baghdad time.

Nic, any idea or any way to gauge right now what the reception may have been like?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, 5:00 a.m. in the morning here, and it wasn't carried on Iraqi television, so it wasn't on TV and it wasn't in the papers, and it wasn't on the local radio services. But some people we've talked to today did hear it on international radio services. I talked with one member of parliament.

The issue he focused on, he said, Look, who is President George Bush to be saying that he will come and liberate us from our leader? And that's something we heard on the streets as well. Other people saying they just didn't like that notion at all, that they would be liberated. Another theme that struck really strong here among many people, Leon, was the real possibility that people felt that this speech brought the possibility of war one step closer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of the Iraqi people know that the war is coming as soon as possible, or sooner or later. But we didn't care. We know everything about war, and what can we do for such a country?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Iraq is a civilized country, and Bush wants to control it as he wishes, to control Iraqi wealth, the oil. It is not a matter of weapons or nuclear reactors. He wants to do this to let Israel control the Gulf.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Now, no broad-ranging official reaction yet, but Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has said a number of times in the last few days that Iraq has no ties to terrorist groups, indeed no ties to al Qaeda as President Bush put forward -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. We are still waiting for proof on that. Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Thanks, Nic.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com