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CNN Live At Daybreak
Colin Powell Will Present Evidence Against Iraq to U.N.
Aired February 05, 2003 - 06:03 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: Three hours from now, the eyes and ears of the world will be on Colin Powell. He will present America's case against Iraq to the United Nations. The U.S. secretary of state will start his spiel at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
The Bush team emphasizes there will be no smoking gun, but Powell is expected to make a powerful case. He'll use video, slides and audiotapes as evidence that Iraq is deceiving U.N. weapons inspectors. This is the most anticipated worldwide TV event since Adlai Stevenson spoke at the United Nations during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
Also, something of interest. Mr. Powell will be wearing a wireless microphone, enabling him to move around the United Nations Oprah-style.
We've got live team coverage for you from around the world.
We begin with CNN's Richard Roth at the United Nations with a preview.
So, Colin Powell will be wearing this wireless mike. Is that to increase the drama of his presentation?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Well, with slides and other visual aids, he may want to move around. Of course, Oprah has a big audience. This Security Council chamber, the main audience is the 14 other countries, and of course a worldwide audience. Powell perhaps the most respected United States Bush administration, a figure around the world, and if he can't make the case, perhaps no one can to try to convince the world that the U.S. says that Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction.
Colin Powell meeting yesterday with China's foreign minister. He'll be seeing a lot more of the foreign minister brigade here at the U.N. today, because 12 countries will be represented at that high level.
Powell was in good spirits as he also left the United States mission to the U.N. Asked by a reporter what he intends to do and say and whether Saddam Hussein, who claims he doesn't have weapons of mass destruction, can live by that, he said, "Show proof." You'll see him say "proof."
Otherwise, Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector, still concerned about the gravity of the situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Isn't five minutes to midnight in your political assessment?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it in your political assessment?
BLIX: Well, certainly. And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that the diplomatic window is closing. Well, I'm listening to that, and I hear others who would like to give more time, and I said that I would welcome more time. Fine. But, no, I mean, don't just joke. We all know that the situation is very serious.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency will go to Baghdad once again this weekend, and they will have a critical report, Carol, February 14 in the council.
COSTELLO: All right, Richard Roth reporting live from the United Nations. We'll check back with you in the 6:30 portion of DAYBREAK.
We want to check on the feeling on Baghdad's streets right now, though.
Joining us live from Baghdad, our Rym Brahimi.
And they're still talking tough, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, that's only a part of it. There seems to have been a lot of -- a bit of agitation, at any rate, generated by an interview that President Saddam Hussein gave to a former British parliament member, Tony Benn. Now, that interview may not have been heard by all Iraqis, but those who heard it on international radio stations seemed to be focusing on one crucial point he made.
Let me read you that. He says, regarding the issue of oil, he was asked about the role of oil in this current crisis, and Saddam Hussein said he believed that the U.S. wanted to dominate the world through controlling the world's oil resources. He then said the question is: "Why not replace the term control, the approach of control, the policy of control and aggression with cooperation?" So, some people do seem to see this as some sort of opening here.
Another series of points that the president made in that interview, of course, regarding the weapons inspectors, the inspections and other issues. When he said, "Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction whatsoever. We challenge anyone who claims that we have to bring forward any evidence and present it to public opinion.
He was asked about al Qaeda. His response was, "We have no relationship with al Qaeda.
And finally about the possibility of war, President Saddam Hussein said, "The Iraqis don't wish war, but if war is imposed on them, if they are attacked or insulted, they will defend themselves. They will defend their country, sovereignty and their security." So, that's really been the focus this morning of what we're hearing in Baghdad -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Rym Brahimi reporting live from Baghdad 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
Aired February 5, 2003 - 06:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Three hours from now, the eyes and ears of the world will be on Colin Powell. He will present America's case against Iraq to the United Nations. The U.S. secretary of state will start his spiel at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
The Bush team emphasizes there will be no smoking gun, but Powell is expected to make a powerful case. He'll use video, slides and audiotapes as evidence that Iraq is deceiving U.N. weapons inspectors. This is the most anticipated worldwide TV event since Adlai Stevenson spoke at the United Nations during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
Also, something of interest. Mr. Powell will be wearing a wireless microphone, enabling him to move around the United Nations Oprah-style.
We've got live team coverage for you from around the world.
We begin with CNN's Richard Roth at the United Nations with a preview.
So, Colin Powell will be wearing this wireless mike. Is that to increase the drama of his presentation?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Well, with slides and other visual aids, he may want to move around. Of course, Oprah has a big audience. This Security Council chamber, the main audience is the 14 other countries, and of course a worldwide audience. Powell perhaps the most respected United States Bush administration, a figure around the world, and if he can't make the case, perhaps no one can to try to convince the world that the U.S. says that Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction.
Colin Powell meeting yesterday with China's foreign minister. He'll be seeing a lot more of the foreign minister brigade here at the U.N. today, because 12 countries will be represented at that high level.
Powell was in good spirits as he also left the United States mission to the U.N. Asked by a reporter what he intends to do and say and whether Saddam Hussein, who claims he doesn't have weapons of mass destruction, can live by that, he said, "Show proof." You'll see him say "proof."
Otherwise, Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector, still concerned about the gravity of the situation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Isn't five minutes to midnight in your political assessment?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it in your political assessment?
BLIX: Well, certainly. And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that the diplomatic window is closing. Well, I'm listening to that, and I hear others who would like to give more time, and I said that I would welcome more time. Fine. But, no, I mean, don't just joke. We all know that the situation is very serious.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency will go to Baghdad once again this weekend, and they will have a critical report, Carol, February 14 in the council.
COSTELLO: All right, Richard Roth reporting live from the United Nations. We'll check back with you in the 6:30 portion of DAYBREAK.
We want to check on the feeling on Baghdad's streets right now, though.
Joining us live from Baghdad, our Rym Brahimi.
And they're still talking tough, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, that's only a part of it. There seems to have been a lot of -- a bit of agitation, at any rate, generated by an interview that President Saddam Hussein gave to a former British parliament member, Tony Benn. Now, that interview may not have been heard by all Iraqis, but those who heard it on international radio stations seemed to be focusing on one crucial point he made.
Let me read you that. He says, regarding the issue of oil, he was asked about the role of oil in this current crisis, and Saddam Hussein said he believed that the U.S. wanted to dominate the world through controlling the world's oil resources. He then said the question is: "Why not replace the term control, the approach of control, the policy of control and aggression with cooperation?" So, some people do seem to see this as some sort of opening here.
Another series of points that the president made in that interview, of course, regarding the weapons inspectors, the inspections and other issues. When he said, "Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction whatsoever. We challenge anyone who claims that we have to bring forward any evidence and present it to public opinion.
He was asked about al Qaeda. His response was, "We have no relationship with al Qaeda.
And finally about the possibility of war, President Saddam Hussein said, "The Iraqis don't wish war, but if war is imposed on them, if they are attacked or insulted, they will defend themselves. They will defend their country, sovereignty and their security." So, that's really been the focus this morning of what we're hearing in Baghdad -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Rym Brahimi reporting live from Baghdad 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
