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American Morning
Capitol Hill Reaction
Aired February 06, 2003 - 09:03 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: For more reaction, let's check in with Dana Bash, who's standing by at the White House for us this morning.
Good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, the president followed what the White House hopes will end up being a pivotal day yesterday. He followed it today by attending the Annual National Prayer Breakfast. He spoke there just with in the past hour, talking to a large crowd there, and he made no direct allusion to the Iraq situation, but he did call these times decisive times, and he talked about sharing prayer in these tough times.
Now the president yesterday watched the speech, at least most of the speech that Secretary Powell made at the U.N. in his private dining room here at the White House with some of his top aides. And officials say that the president was quite pleased with the secretary's performance.
Now, of course, Paula, the intense diplomacy begins. Here at the White House, they're saying they're not all that concerned with the fact that France, and Russia and China weren't immediately changed in terms of their thinking on this issue. They understand that it's going to take time, but they were heartened by the recent comments, at least by the French, kind of leaving the door open a bit.
Now, what next? Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, spoke to "LARRY KING LIVE," last night, and she did make clear that although the U.S. believes that under the existing resolution 1441, they do have all of the power they need to use military action against Saddam Hussein, they understand that the world wants perhaps another resolution, and they're leaving the door open to that here at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATL. SECURITY ADVISER: We are, of course, listening to our partners. We are in a diplomatic phase here in which we want to hear from others, and I think we are open to the idea that the international community may wish to express itself again, but it would need this time to express that this is the time for action to be taken, for serious consequences. This cannot be another delaying tactic.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BASH: Now, a second resolution is what a lot of folks on Capitol Hill want to see at the U.N. Secretary Powell, as you mentioned before, is going to go before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and get peppered with questions there. And in terms of the next phase at the U.N., February 14, Valentine's Day, we will see the next presentation from the U.N. weapons inspectors, that is an important day that the White House is looking towards now here -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, Dana Bash, reporting from the White House for us this morning. And one man that will be meeting with Secretary of State Powell is Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, who is the committee chairman of that committee, and he joins us now from Capitol Hill.
Good morning. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
What kind of unanswered questions do you have for Colin Powell today?
SEN. RICHARD LUGAR (R-IN), FOR. REL. CMTE. CHMN.: Well, Secretary Powell has already answered the questions with regard to Iraq. I think the questions we have now, are how American diplomacy is going to meet not only that challenge, and that is the persuasion of security Council members, but handle North Korea simultaneously, and likewise, all of this occurring in the war against terrorism. It's a very daunting task.
But Secretary Powell is up to it and very clearly has a lot of confidence of our members. We look forward to seeing him momentarily.
ZAHN: Let's talk about the Iraqi component of your answer just now. In "The Los Angeles Times" this morning, there is an editorial where they suggest that the U.N. risks irrelevance unless it promptly sets a date on which it will use military force against Iraq if that nation does not disarm. Do you see that happening?
LUGAR: I think Secretary Powell is getting a lot of advice, and most of it very supporting, but his task now is one by one, to work with the Security Council members, to make certain that everybody is aboard. The United Nations can be relevant, it must be relevant, because we have a lot of work to do as a world, not only in the Iraqi situation, but in many other instances.
So I would not be for any specific thought of a date, or a second resolution or any of the prescribed situations. I would leave it to the secretary to work as he did effectively. He got a 15-0 ruling on 1441, this resolution we're dealing with now. I think he's going to be effective. I think he has the president of the United States, and the Congress and people of the United States working with him, now most of the countries of Europe, 10 more signed on yesterday. Very, very important surge of unity throughout the world.
ZAHN: We know that -- you probably wouldn't know this, because you were busy roaming around Capitol Hill, but an hour ago former Defense Secretary William Cohen was a guest here, and it is his belief that you greatly diminish the chances of war if you get the French to align itself with the United States. Do you agree with that?
LUGAR: Of course. The French ought to be with us, and I'm hopeful, even as I speak, that they are moving very closely to that point. I think we need to have each of the major countries -- the French are obviously a Security Council member, strong member of NATO -- we need to forge a strong alliance now.
ZAHN: If it comes to war, though, Senator Joseph Biden says that one think he does not think President Bush has done a very good job of, or his administration, is helping prepare the American public for a long-term commitment in Iraq. Do you share those same concerns?
LUGAR: I have some concern, and this why we're going to have a hearing on next Tuesday on that very point, To find out from hour government, the United States government, what plans we have. They do have some plans at state and in defense, maybe at NSC, but the American people need to know about them, they need to have some idea of time commitment and the money, and I believe these are critical elements we want to lay before the American public next Tuesday.
ZAHN: How much convincing is there to do in Congress right now that while disarming -- the desire to disarm may be strong, the case for going to war is not so strong?
LUGAR: I suspect that there are still members of the Senate who would agree that Secretary Powell made an irrefutable case yesterday, but still are reticent to think about war. I think we also sympathize with that position.
But the fact is, without American troops in the area, there would not be any negotiations going on with Saddam at all, without American military force for in harm's way, there is no possibility Saddam will disarm voluntarily. So if there is still a chance of moving through this without war, it comes really through American strength, American solidarity. I think we all have to show that now.
ZAHN: Senator Richard Lugar, thank you for your time this morning. We know you have a one-on-one meeting with Secretary Powell, right after you get off camera here, and I hope you don't mind the intrusion of our cameras in your hearing room. We will be covering your hearing live.
LUGAR: We're grateful to you.
ZAHN: Thank you for your time 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 6, 2003 - 09:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: For more reaction, let's check in with Dana Bash, who's standing by at the White House for us this morning.
Good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, the president followed what the White House hopes will end up being a pivotal day yesterday. He followed it today by attending the Annual National Prayer Breakfast. He spoke there just with in the past hour, talking to a large crowd there, and he made no direct allusion to the Iraq situation, but he did call these times decisive times, and he talked about sharing prayer in these tough times.
Now the president yesterday watched the speech, at least most of the speech that Secretary Powell made at the U.N. in his private dining room here at the White House with some of his top aides. And officials say that the president was quite pleased with the secretary's performance.
Now, of course, Paula, the intense diplomacy begins. Here at the White House, they're saying they're not all that concerned with the fact that France, and Russia and China weren't immediately changed in terms of their thinking on this issue. They understand that it's going to take time, but they were heartened by the recent comments, at least by the French, kind of leaving the door open a bit.
Now, what next? Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, spoke to "LARRY KING LIVE," last night, and she did make clear that although the U.S. believes that under the existing resolution 1441, they do have all of the power they need to use military action against Saddam Hussein, they understand that the world wants perhaps another resolution, and they're leaving the door open to that here at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATL. SECURITY ADVISER: We are, of course, listening to our partners. We are in a diplomatic phase here in which we want to hear from others, and I think we are open to the idea that the international community may wish to express itself again, but it would need this time to express that this is the time for action to be taken, for serious consequences. This cannot be another delaying tactic.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BASH: Now, a second resolution is what a lot of folks on Capitol Hill want to see at the U.N. Secretary Powell, as you mentioned before, is going to go before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and get peppered with questions there. And in terms of the next phase at the U.N., February 14, Valentine's Day, we will see the next presentation from the U.N. weapons inspectors, that is an important day that the White House is looking towards now here -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks so much, Dana Bash, reporting from the White House for us this morning. And one man that will be meeting with Secretary of State Powell is Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, who is the committee chairman of that committee, and he joins us now from Capitol Hill.
Good morning. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
What kind of unanswered questions do you have for Colin Powell today?
SEN. RICHARD LUGAR (R-IN), FOR. REL. CMTE. CHMN.: Well, Secretary Powell has already answered the questions with regard to Iraq. I think the questions we have now, are how American diplomacy is going to meet not only that challenge, and that is the persuasion of security Council members, but handle North Korea simultaneously, and likewise, all of this occurring in the war against terrorism. It's a very daunting task.
But Secretary Powell is up to it and very clearly has a lot of confidence of our members. We look forward to seeing him momentarily.
ZAHN: Let's talk about the Iraqi component of your answer just now. In "The Los Angeles Times" this morning, there is an editorial where they suggest that the U.N. risks irrelevance unless it promptly sets a date on which it will use military force against Iraq if that nation does not disarm. Do you see that happening?
LUGAR: I think Secretary Powell is getting a lot of advice, and most of it very supporting, but his task now is one by one, to work with the Security Council members, to make certain that everybody is aboard. The United Nations can be relevant, it must be relevant, because we have a lot of work to do as a world, not only in the Iraqi situation, but in many other instances.
So I would not be for any specific thought of a date, or a second resolution or any of the prescribed situations. I would leave it to the secretary to work as he did effectively. He got a 15-0 ruling on 1441, this resolution we're dealing with now. I think he's going to be effective. I think he has the president of the United States, and the Congress and people of the United States working with him, now most of the countries of Europe, 10 more signed on yesterday. Very, very important surge of unity throughout the world.
ZAHN: We know that -- you probably wouldn't know this, because you were busy roaming around Capitol Hill, but an hour ago former Defense Secretary William Cohen was a guest here, and it is his belief that you greatly diminish the chances of war if you get the French to align itself with the United States. Do you agree with that?
LUGAR: Of course. The French ought to be with us, and I'm hopeful, even as I speak, that they are moving very closely to that point. I think we need to have each of the major countries -- the French are obviously a Security Council member, strong member of NATO -- we need to forge a strong alliance now.
ZAHN: If it comes to war, though, Senator Joseph Biden says that one think he does not think President Bush has done a very good job of, or his administration, is helping prepare the American public for a long-term commitment in Iraq. Do you share those same concerns?
LUGAR: I have some concern, and this why we're going to have a hearing on next Tuesday on that very point, To find out from hour government, the United States government, what plans we have. They do have some plans at state and in defense, maybe at NSC, but the American people need to know about them, they need to have some idea of time commitment and the money, and I believe these are critical elements we want to lay before the American public next Tuesday.
ZAHN: How much convincing is there to do in Congress right now that while disarming -- the desire to disarm may be strong, the case for going to war is not so strong?
LUGAR: I suspect that there are still members of the Senate who would agree that Secretary Powell made an irrefutable case yesterday, but still are reticent to think about war. I think we also sympathize with that position.
But the fact is, without American troops in the area, there would not be any negotiations going on with Saddam at all, without American military force for in harm's way, there is no possibility Saddam will disarm voluntarily. So if there is still a chance of moving through this without war, it comes really through American strength, American solidarity. I think we all have to show that now.
ZAHN: Senator Richard Lugar, thank you for your time this morning. We know you have a one-on-one meeting with Secretary Powell, right after you get off camera here, and I hope you don't mind the intrusion of our cameras in your hearing room. We will be covering your hearing live.
LUGAR: We're grateful to you.
ZAHN: Thank you for your time 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
