Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: Will NATO Dispute Affect U.S. Plans in Iraq?
Aired February 11, 2003 - 06:04 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: As for how that rift among friends is playing in Washington, we've placed a "Wake-Up Call" to our State Department producer, Elise Labott.
Good morning -- Elise.
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: You know, Elise, many feel NATO is sort of not very important anymore anyway. When this is all said and done, how will this rift among friends affect NATO?
LABOTT: Well, Carol, diplomats say that this dispute is indicative of the deeper rift brewing for some time. And that both sides have been asking themselves: What does this alliance do for them?
Since the Cold War ended, NATO has been trying to find a way to redefine itself to meet the new challenges of the world; terrorism, for instance. The U.S. is really starting to think its European allies are becoming useless to the way it responds to the national security problems of today. Many countries in Europe feel the U.S. continues to thumb its nose.
And so, the potential danger for the U.S. interests is that in just like areas of trade, the U.N., support for a post-Saddam Iraq, the U.S. may find itself a little isolated. You may see the U.S. beginning to rely a little more on its allies in the Middle East, in Asia and less on Europe, a shifting of alliances here.
COSTELLO: Well, there are many in this country who feel that would be OK; that America should act in its own interests to protect itself.
LABOTT: That's true, and certainly the U.S. is starting to look at new allies in Europe. Of course, the comments by Secretary Rumsfeld last week about an old Europe certainly caused a lot of waves as the U.S. looks to new countries like Poland.
But at the end of the day, the U.S. really needs those traditional alliances, such as France, such as Germany, especially just with the issue of Iraq, for instance, the U.S. is really going to need a lot of support to build a post-Saddam Iraq. It's going to have its cup out, so to speak, support us, give us funding. And it may find itself a little alone at the table for awhile. COSTELLO: It will be interesting to see what happens. Elise Labott, thank you very much -- reporting live from Washington by phone. 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.
Iraq?>
Aired February 11, 2003 - 06:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: As for how that rift among friends is playing in Washington, we've placed a "Wake-Up Call" to our State Department producer, Elise Labott.
Good morning -- Elise.
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: You know, Elise, many feel NATO is sort of not very important anymore anyway. When this is all said and done, how will this rift among friends affect NATO?
LABOTT: Well, Carol, diplomats say that this dispute is indicative of the deeper rift brewing for some time. And that both sides have been asking themselves: What does this alliance do for them?
Since the Cold War ended, NATO has been trying to find a way to redefine itself to meet the new challenges of the world; terrorism, for instance. The U.S. is really starting to think its European allies are becoming useless to the way it responds to the national security problems of today. Many countries in Europe feel the U.S. continues to thumb its nose.
And so, the potential danger for the U.S. interests is that in just like areas of trade, the U.N., support for a post-Saddam Iraq, the U.S. may find itself a little isolated. You may see the U.S. beginning to rely a little more on its allies in the Middle East, in Asia and less on Europe, a shifting of alliances here.
COSTELLO: Well, there are many in this country who feel that would be OK; that America should act in its own interests to protect itself.
LABOTT: That's true, and certainly the U.S. is starting to look at new allies in Europe. Of course, the comments by Secretary Rumsfeld last week about an old Europe certainly caused a lot of waves as the U.S. looks to new countries like Poland.
But at the end of the day, the U.S. really needs those traditional alliances, such as France, such as Germany, especially just with the issue of Iraq, for instance, the U.S. is really going to need a lot of support to build a post-Saddam Iraq. It's going to have its cup out, so to speak, support us, give us funding. And it may find itself a little alone at the table for awhile. COSTELLO: It will be interesting to see what happens. Elise Labott, thank you very much -- reporting live from Washington by phone. 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.
Iraq?>
