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CNN Live At Daybreak
Saddam Hussein Challenges President Bush to Debate
Aired February 25, 2003 - 06:02 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: We want to hit the highlights of that interview Dan Rather had with Saddam Hussein. In it, the Iraqi leader says, and I'm quoting here: "I am ready to conduct a direct dialogue, a debate with your president. I will say what I want, and he will say what he wants."
The Iraqi leader goes on to say, "I call for this because war is not a joke."
No, war is not a joke, but many Americans feel this latest twist is not funny, but rather bizarre. So, we take you to the center of things, Baghdad, and Rym Brahimi.
Rym -- Saddam Hussein is really serious about having a televised debate with George Bush.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, from what we understand from that interview that President Saddam Hussein conducted with CBS, he did say that this was not a joke. He was making this proposal, he said, very earnestly.
This is not the first time, Carol, that Iraqi officials have come forward to say that they are not opposed to any form of dialogue with the United States.
Now, in this particular case, President Saddam Hussein seemed to indicate that the reason would be to offer both of them an opportunity to talk to a worldwide audience, offering as well President Bush an opportunity, he said, to make his case for war in front of the world if he were really committed to war.
Now, that's not the first time. Back in August, President Saddam Hussein in a major speech said there was another way to solve issues, and that way could be diplomacy. Again, about a month ago when he did an interview with former British parliamentarian Tony Benn, President Saddam Hussein suggested that instead of what he sees as this U.S. aim to dominate the region, cooperation could be a solution. So, there have been a few events around that.
And, of course, the other big issue was the Al Samoud missile, that the president said he didn't have any missiles -- Iraq did not have any missiles that went beyond the 150-kilometer range -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And, of course, Saddam Hussein is supposed to destroy those missiles by March 1, according to Hans Blix, but he may not do that. We'll just have to see.
Rym Brahimi reporting live from Baghdad 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 25, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to hit the highlights of that interview Dan Rather had with Saddam Hussein. In it, the Iraqi leader says, and I'm quoting here: "I am ready to conduct a direct dialogue, a debate with your president. I will say what I want, and he will say what he wants."
The Iraqi leader goes on to say, "I call for this because war is not a joke."
No, war is not a joke, but many Americans feel this latest twist is not funny, but rather bizarre. So, we take you to the center of things, Baghdad, and Rym Brahimi.
Rym -- Saddam Hussein is really serious about having a televised debate with George Bush.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, from what we understand from that interview that President Saddam Hussein conducted with CBS, he did say that this was not a joke. He was making this proposal, he said, very earnestly.
This is not the first time, Carol, that Iraqi officials have come forward to say that they are not opposed to any form of dialogue with the United States.
Now, in this particular case, President Saddam Hussein seemed to indicate that the reason would be to offer both of them an opportunity to talk to a worldwide audience, offering as well President Bush an opportunity, he said, to make his case for war in front of the world if he were really committed to war.
Now, that's not the first time. Back in August, President Saddam Hussein in a major speech said there was another way to solve issues, and that way could be diplomacy. Again, about a month ago when he did an interview with former British parliamentarian Tony Benn, President Saddam Hussein suggested that instead of what he sees as this U.S. aim to dominate the region, cooperation could be a solution. So, there have been a few events around that.
And, of course, the other big issue was the Al Samoud missile, that the president said he didn't have any missiles -- Iraq did not have any missiles that went beyond the 150-kilometer range -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And, of course, Saddam Hussein is supposed to destroy those missiles by March 1, according to Hans Blix, but he may not do that. We'll just have to see.
Rym Brahimi reporting live from Baghdad 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.
