Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Not Backing Off Iraq

Aired February 11, 2003 - 05:02   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: A big diplomatic crisis among NATO allies over Iraq -- that is the big story this morning. This NATO stalemate involves the decision by France, Germany and Belgium. They vetoed efforts to begin planning to defend fellow ally, Turkey, in the event of a war with Iraq.
The disagreement within the NATO alliance is unprecedented. President Bush says he is disappointed by the veto. An emergency meeting is now under way at NATO headquarters on this complicated matter.

While the White House closely watches those negotiations in Brussels, President Bush is not backing off on his criticism of Saddam Hussein.

John King has the president's reaction to the NATO matter and Baghdad's decision to allow U.S. spy planes to fly over Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president said the United States should not be fooled by Iraq's sudden decision to allow weapons inspectors to use U-2 surveillance planes.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a man who is trying to stall for time. He's trying to play a diplomatic game. He's been successful at it for 12 years. But no, the question is: Will he disarm?

KING: Australia is a close friend. Prime Minister John Howard offering support on a day of pointed differences with other traditional allies.

JOHN HOWARD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: The president has shown very strong leadership on a difficult issue.

KING: A very different view in Paris. France and Russia issued a joint statement saying inspectors deserve more time. And France, Germany and Belgium once again defied Washington by blocking NATO from deploying resources to help defend Turkey in case of war in Iraq.

BUSH: That decision affects the alliance in a negative way. I think it affects the alliance in a way negative way when you're not able to make a statement of mutual defense.

KING: Mr. Bush said he hopes NATO reconsiders, but will not be held back if it doesn't.

Earlier in Tennessee, the president told religious broadcasters Iraq's preparation for war now includes moving troops into residential areas, so it could blame high civilian casualties on the United States.

BUSH: Saddam Hussein regards the Iraqi people as human shields, entirely expendable, when their suffering serves his purposes.

KING: Mr. Bush's strategy faces critical tests in the week ahead. The chief weapons inspectors report to the Security Council on Friday. They say Baghdad is cooperating more, but still not fully, and the White House is prepared to argue Iraq is out of time. The administration's goal is a second resolution authorizing military force.

(on camera): But if France and others refuse to go along, some in the administration believe the best approach might be a simple council declaration that Iraq is in material breach of its promise to disarm. The United States would then argue previous resolutions allow the use of military force, and Mr. Bush would proceed with organizing what he calls the "growing coalition of the willing."

John King, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 11, 2003 - 05:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A big diplomatic crisis among NATO allies over Iraq -- that is the big story this morning. This NATO stalemate involves the decision by France, Germany and Belgium. They vetoed efforts to begin planning to defend fellow ally, Turkey, in the event of a war with Iraq.
The disagreement within the NATO alliance is unprecedented. President Bush says he is disappointed by the veto. An emergency meeting is now under way at NATO headquarters on this complicated matter.

While the White House closely watches those negotiations in Brussels, President Bush is not backing off on his criticism of Saddam Hussein.

John King has the president's reaction to the NATO matter and Baghdad's decision to allow U.S. spy planes to fly over Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president said the United States should not be fooled by Iraq's sudden decision to allow weapons inspectors to use U-2 surveillance planes.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a man who is trying to stall for time. He's trying to play a diplomatic game. He's been successful at it for 12 years. But no, the question is: Will he disarm?

KING: Australia is a close friend. Prime Minister John Howard offering support on a day of pointed differences with other traditional allies.

JOHN HOWARD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: The president has shown very strong leadership on a difficult issue.

KING: A very different view in Paris. France and Russia issued a joint statement saying inspectors deserve more time. And France, Germany and Belgium once again defied Washington by blocking NATO from deploying resources to help defend Turkey in case of war in Iraq.

BUSH: That decision affects the alliance in a negative way. I think it affects the alliance in a way negative way when you're not able to make a statement of mutual defense.

KING: Mr. Bush said he hopes NATO reconsiders, but will not be held back if it doesn't.

Earlier in Tennessee, the president told religious broadcasters Iraq's preparation for war now includes moving troops into residential areas, so it could blame high civilian casualties on the United States.

BUSH: Saddam Hussein regards the Iraqi people as human shields, entirely expendable, when their suffering serves his purposes.

KING: Mr. Bush's strategy faces critical tests in the week ahead. The chief weapons inspectors report to the Security Council on Friday. They say Baghdad is cooperating more, but still not fully, and the White House is prepared to argue Iraq is out of time. The administration's goal is a second resolution authorizing military force.

(on camera): But if France and others refuse to go along, some in the administration believe the best approach might be a simple council declaration that Iraq is in material breach of its promise to disarm. The United States would then argue previous resolutions allow the use of military force, and Mr. Bush would proceed with organizing what he calls the "growing coalition of the willing."

John King, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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