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U.S. Hits Roadblock Involving Troops in Turkey

Aired February 10, 2003 - 10:10   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: Let's check in now from the White House and see what the view is there this morning, either on that or what other matter happens to be on the table there. Suzanne Malveaux checks in.
We've got to imagine that this rift among the NATO members that broke this morning a couple hours ago has got to be the big topic there this morning, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Leon.

Just moments ago, Secretary of State Colin Powell meeting with Australia's Prime Minister John Howard, one of the U.S.'s staunchest allies, actually commented about that, really urging NATO members to come to Turkey's defense, to protect Turkey in the event of a war. Really some very harsh words over the weekend from Secretary Powell, as well as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, saying it's inexcusable.

The scenario here is really that the administration has put a great deal of political capital in trying to get Turkey to commit to resources in the event of a war with Iraq. So far, Turkey has agreed to allow the U.S. to update its bases, as well as ports, but has not agreed to U.S. troops on the ground. That's a decision that is supposed to be made next week.

Well, clearly, it is not likely that Turkey is going to approve that, if they don't at least have the cover of NATO, the protection of NATO, and for the administration, the timing of all of this couldn't be worse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: NATO will now realize that they have an obligation to assist a NATO member who asks for help. And I hope that article IV will produce a solution, and we can make sure Turkey is not put at any risk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, you may recall, Leon, it was back in November, when President Bush went before NATO at the NATO summit. He did not expect that he was going to be able to win the consensus of NATO for military action, but he did get a declaration for support for the resolution 1441, requiring Saddam Hussein to disarm. He also got some commitments from individual NATO members, but one thing the administration was really hoping for is that they would get this kind of protective cover, that NATO would say, we will go to the defense of one of our own members, if Turkey comes under attack in the case of a war, that they would supply missiles, as well as equipment and planes and that type of thing. The fact that this may not happen, of course, putting the United States in a very precarious situation here, really hoping they can get those troops on the ground in Turkey, as you know, a critical ally for the administration.

If they can get those troops there, they can squeeze out Saddam Hussein from the north. They may have to come up with a different plan -- Leon.

HARRIS: Suzanne, any sense at all that there's going to have to be some other outreach, to France at least, on this? Because it seems as though we're seeing the French are reacting to them feeling as though they're being isolated by the U.S., reaching out to other members of the European community, and you know, and that seems to be something setting up a bit of a rift there between Washington and Paris, and Germany is there as well pretty much on the same side of the table there with Paris. But is there any attempt, any thinking there about a different outreach?

MALVEAUX: Well, what they're doing is they're keeping a very close eye on the developments out of NATO, because what they see this as is perhaps a pretty good indication of what may follow later in the week on Friday, when the inspectors go before the U.N. Security Council, and as you mentioned, Leon, of course, that rift with the French, with the Germans, the Russians and so forth.

What you're going to see in the days and weeks to come, we're told is intense diplomacy from the Bush administration, meeting with these world leaders, those allies that are willing to go along with military action if necessary. Also, of course, pushing again for a second resolution that may end up being a weak resolution allowing cover for France, for Britain and other allies to say, yes, you're in material breach of previous resolutions, but doesn't necessarily say we will go ahead and authorize the use of military force. The administration feels that it definitely already has that authority to do so through previous resolutions. A lot of work ahead, Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, no doubt, no doubt at all.

Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thanks much. Enjoy the snow. We'll see you later on.

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 10, 2003 - 10:10   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check in now from the White House and see what the view is there this morning, either on that or what other matter happens to be on the table there. Suzanne Malveaux checks in.
We've got to imagine that this rift among the NATO members that broke this morning a couple hours ago has got to be the big topic there this morning, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Leon.

Just moments ago, Secretary of State Colin Powell meeting with Australia's Prime Minister John Howard, one of the U.S.'s staunchest allies, actually commented about that, really urging NATO members to come to Turkey's defense, to protect Turkey in the event of a war. Really some very harsh words over the weekend from Secretary Powell, as well as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, saying it's inexcusable.

The scenario here is really that the administration has put a great deal of political capital in trying to get Turkey to commit to resources in the event of a war with Iraq. So far, Turkey has agreed to allow the U.S. to update its bases, as well as ports, but has not agreed to U.S. troops on the ground. That's a decision that is supposed to be made next week.

Well, clearly, it is not likely that Turkey is going to approve that, if they don't at least have the cover of NATO, the protection of NATO, and for the administration, the timing of all of this couldn't be worse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: NATO will now realize that they have an obligation to assist a NATO member who asks for help. And I hope that article IV will produce a solution, and we can make sure Turkey is not put at any risk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, you may recall, Leon, it was back in November, when President Bush went before NATO at the NATO summit. He did not expect that he was going to be able to win the consensus of NATO for military action, but he did get a declaration for support for the resolution 1441, requiring Saddam Hussein to disarm. He also got some commitments from individual NATO members, but one thing the administration was really hoping for is that they would get this kind of protective cover, that NATO would say, we will go to the defense of one of our own members, if Turkey comes under attack in the case of a war, that they would supply missiles, as well as equipment and planes and that type of thing. The fact that this may not happen, of course, putting the United States in a very precarious situation here, really hoping they can get those troops on the ground in Turkey, as you know, a critical ally for the administration.

If they can get those troops there, they can squeeze out Saddam Hussein from the north. They may have to come up with a different plan -- Leon.

HARRIS: Suzanne, any sense at all that there's going to have to be some other outreach, to France at least, on this? Because it seems as though we're seeing the French are reacting to them feeling as though they're being isolated by the U.S., reaching out to other members of the European community, and you know, and that seems to be something setting up a bit of a rift there between Washington and Paris, and Germany is there as well pretty much on the same side of the table there with Paris. But is there any attempt, any thinking there about a different outreach?

MALVEAUX: Well, what they're doing is they're keeping a very close eye on the developments out of NATO, because what they see this as is perhaps a pretty good indication of what may follow later in the week on Friday, when the inspectors go before the U.N. Security Council, and as you mentioned, Leon, of course, that rift with the French, with the Germans, the Russians and so forth.

What you're going to see in the days and weeks to come, we're told is intense diplomacy from the Bush administration, meeting with these world leaders, those allies that are willing to go along with military action if necessary. Also, of course, pushing again for a second resolution that may end up being a weak resolution allowing cover for France, for Britain and other allies to say, yes, you're in material breach of previous resolutions, but doesn't necessarily say we will go ahead and authorize the use of military force. The administration feels that it definitely already has that authority to do so through previous resolutions. A lot of work ahead, Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, no doubt, no doubt at all.

Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thanks much. Enjoy the snow. We'll see you later on.

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