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CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: Colin Powell's Presentation on Iraq
Aired February 05, 2003 - 06:36 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: For more on Mr. Powell's presentation on Iraq, we pitch it to our senior White House correspondent, John King, in Washington for this morning's "Wake-Up Call."
Good morning -- John.
Before you get to it, I want to quote something from "Newsweek" magazine. If we could put that on the screen right now. It says, "Mr. Powell will present intelligence that says things like" -- this is the Iraqis saying this -- "move that," as it applies to weapons, "don't be reporting that," as in to the United Nations. And even the Iraqis allegedly saying, "Ha! Can you believe they missed that?"
Is that the kinds of things Mr. Powell will present to the United Nations Security Council?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Can't vouch for those specific quotes, Carol, but we are told that the secretary will have audiotapes plus transcripts of phone calls that say just those things -- that they were recording Iraqi officials saying that they're going out to move things, that they heard the inspectors are going to this site, let's go out and move the evidence. And that you hear the Iraqi officials coaching scientists, if you are asked these questions from the inspectors, here's how to answer them without giving up any evidence. We are told that's part of the presentation today. Those recordings are in Arabic, so they'll have a translator on hand as well.
COSTELLO: We already know there will be no smoking gun. Is there a sense that the evidence will be very strong to convince the United Nations to go along with the United States, even if there is no smoking gun?
KING: Secretary Powell, we are told from conversations with top aides, certainly believes that. They believe that at the White House. This is a challenge not only to Iraq. Secretary Powell will say Iraq is simply defying the will of the world. But it is much more focused on a challenge to the members of the Security Council.
Secretary Powell will make the case that by 15 to nothing, the members signed on to the resolution that says, Iraq will comply, must not interfere, must not frustrate the inspectors or will face serious consequences. He will say the evidence proves Iraq is not complying and in fact is actively conspiring to undermine the inspectors, and therefore the world has to meet the obligation that it laid out when it passed that resolution unanimously. COSTELLO: All right, John King, we'll let you go on to work. I know you have a long day ahead of you. Thanks for waking up early with DAYBREAK.
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 - 06:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For more on Mr. Powell's presentation on Iraq, we pitch it to our senior White House correspondent, John King, in Washington for this morning's "Wake-Up Call."
Good morning -- John.
Before you get to it, I want to quote something from "Newsweek" magazine. If we could put that on the screen right now. It says, "Mr. Powell will present intelligence that says things like" -- this is the Iraqis saying this -- "move that," as it applies to weapons, "don't be reporting that," as in to the United Nations. And even the Iraqis allegedly saying, "Ha! Can you believe they missed that?"
Is that the kinds of things Mr. Powell will present to the United Nations Security Council?
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Can't vouch for those specific quotes, Carol, but we are told that the secretary will have audiotapes plus transcripts of phone calls that say just those things -- that they were recording Iraqi officials saying that they're going out to move things, that they heard the inspectors are going to this site, let's go out and move the evidence. And that you hear the Iraqi officials coaching scientists, if you are asked these questions from the inspectors, here's how to answer them without giving up any evidence. We are told that's part of the presentation today. Those recordings are in Arabic, so they'll have a translator on hand as well.
COSTELLO: We already know there will be no smoking gun. Is there a sense that the evidence will be very strong to convince the United Nations to go along with the United States, even if there is no smoking gun?
KING: Secretary Powell, we are told from conversations with top aides, certainly believes that. They believe that at the White House. This is a challenge not only to Iraq. Secretary Powell will say Iraq is simply defying the will of the world. But it is much more focused on a challenge to the members of the Security Council.
Secretary Powell will make the case that by 15 to nothing, the members signed on to the resolution that says, Iraq will comply, must not interfere, must not frustrate the inspectors or will face serious consequences. He will say the evidence proves Iraq is not complying and in fact is actively conspiring to undermine the inspectors, and therefore the world has to meet the obligation that it laid out when it passed that resolution unanimously. COSTELLO: All right, John King, we'll let you go on to work. I know you have a long day ahead of you. Thanks for waking up early with DAYBREAK.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
