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CNN Live At Daybreak

Wake-Up Call: Colin Powell's Big Day

Aired February 05, 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: We want to bring the story back to the United States now, because this is a big moment for Colin Powell, and he's got to be feeling the pressure.
For that, we're getting a "Wake-Up Call" to State Department producer, Elise Labott.

Good morning -- Elise.

ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: You know, it was Mr. Powell's idea to bring this issue to the United Nations. His reputation really is on the line today, isn't it?

LABOTT: Well, I think if you asked him, he says, not really. You know, believe me, we ask him all the time. But he says, yes, I was the one that pushed for a diplomatic solution, pushed for U.N. involvement, and that it's Iraq who is not living up to his word. And he's not nervous, he's not tense. He seems pretty relaxed and pretty confident that he has enough evidence to persuade the skeptics here.

COSTELLO: It's interesting to me that this is a 90-minute presentation, which is awfully long, and he's been practicing and practicing. He's going to be wearing a wireless microphone, so he can move about the room. I mean, he's really kind of planned this out in a show-biz kind of way.

LABOTT: Well, Carol, you know, Secretary Powell used to get quite a bit of money for these types of oral presentations when he was in the private sector. He used to do them all the time. Aides say this one should fetch about 80,000. I don't know if there are any Oscars in his future, but we are expecting a very dramatic narrative full of lots of stories, subplots, according to his officials, a real drama.

But you know, we're going to have to see how it's perceived by these skeptical council members, who say he'd better be bringing the goods, so to speak. Some significant evidence is going to be needed for them to sign onto a military confrontation with Iraq. And they argue the U.S. just hasn't made a case justifying war.

And after his presention, he'll be holding meetings with most of his counterparts at the council to take their temperature and see how it went. And those barren halls at the U.N. are really buzzing today -- Carol. COSTELLO: Oh, I bet so. Well, we'll find out what happens at 10:30 Eastern Time this morning. Thank you, Elise. We'll let you get on to work.

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 - 06:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to bring the story back to the United States now, because this is a big moment for Colin Powell, and he's got to be feeling the pressure.
For that, we're getting a "Wake-Up Call" to State Department producer, Elise Labott.

Good morning -- Elise.

ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: You know, it was Mr. Powell's idea to bring this issue to the United Nations. His reputation really is on the line today, isn't it?

LABOTT: Well, I think if you asked him, he says, not really. You know, believe me, we ask him all the time. But he says, yes, I was the one that pushed for a diplomatic solution, pushed for U.N. involvement, and that it's Iraq who is not living up to his word. And he's not nervous, he's not tense. He seems pretty relaxed and pretty confident that he has enough evidence to persuade the skeptics here.

COSTELLO: It's interesting to me that this is a 90-minute presentation, which is awfully long, and he's been practicing and practicing. He's going to be wearing a wireless microphone, so he can move about the room. I mean, he's really kind of planned this out in a show-biz kind of way.

LABOTT: Well, Carol, you know, Secretary Powell used to get quite a bit of money for these types of oral presentations when he was in the private sector. He used to do them all the time. Aides say this one should fetch about 80,000. I don't know if there are any Oscars in his future, but we are expecting a very dramatic narrative full of lots of stories, subplots, according to his officials, a real drama.

But you know, we're going to have to see how it's perceived by these skeptical council members, who say he'd better be bringing the goods, so to speak. Some significant evidence is going to be needed for them to sign onto a military confrontation with Iraq. And they argue the U.S. just hasn't made a case justifying war.

And after his presention, he'll be holding meetings with most of his counterparts at the council to take their temperature and see how it went. And those barren halls at the U.N. are really buzzing today -- Carol. COSTELLO: Oh, I bet so. Well, we'll find out what happens at 10:30 Eastern Time this morning. Thank you, Elise. We'll let you get on to work.

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