Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: Showdown Iraq
Aired February 25, 2003 - 06:33 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: Now back to that debate -- proposed debate. Saddam Hussein is reportedly making a challenge to President Bush. CBS News is reporting the Iraqi leader in an interview with Dan Rather said, and I quote: "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. I call for this because war is not a joke."
Well, the White House was quick to say were not taking this debate seriously at all. There will be no debate with Saddam Hussein.
But we want to take some time now to pause, to talk more about that idea of a debate between the American president and Saddam Hussein. We've placed a "Wake-Up Call" to our senior White House correspondent, John King.
Good morning -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: It sounds more like a "Saturday Night Live" skit than something that could actually happen.
KING: Remember, the last time Saddam Hussein issued a challenge to President Bush it was for a duel, to settle this the old-fashioned way. So, maybe this is a sign of some diplomatic progress.
But they don't take this seriously here at the White House. They view it as a public relations gimmick by Saddam Hussein. And in the words of one senior official, they say there is no debating what Saddam Hussein has to do.
COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about the public relations angle of this, because Saddam Hussein seems to be playing that angle very well.
KING: Well, he's made himself available to a common U.S. anchor. That is significant, more than a decade. White House officials certainly will analyze the CBS interview quite closely.
Their early reaction, though, is that they see in that interview something that might help them make their case at the United Nations. Saddam Hussein indicates and CBS says that he will not destroy those Al Samoud 2 missiles. If that is the case, if Saddam directly defies an order from the inspectors, that might help the United States at the United Nations.
COSTELLO: Yes, but will it change France's mind? KING: Well, France says that's still not enough, but we will see.
Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security advisor, telling reporters yesterday she thinks in two weeks when the White House wants this vote, by then you will have more evidence from the inspectors that Saddam is not cooperating. She says it will be very difficult. She essentially frames this vote as, you side with the United States or you side with Saddam Hussein. That's the case the administration will make.
COSTELLO: You know, something interesting. I know that America has people out talking to the folks in Russia and China, but not France. Is the United States purposely ignoring France through all of this?
KING: No, President Bush spoke to President Chirac, oh, it was about two weeks ago now, was the last conversation, and there were some lower-level conservations, certainly consultations at the United Nations. Do not be surprised if later this week or early next week, President Bush and President Chirac speak again.
The one call I would not expect at the presidential level would be a Bush to Schroeder, Bush to the chancellor of Germany. Still a lot of tension there because of the tough things Gerhard Schroeder said last year when running for reelection. The White House believes it will never get the German vote.
So, I think you will see Bush and Chirac disagree on a lot of things, but they have a pretty good personal relationship, because when they're going to say something tough about the other one, they tip each other off privately first.
COSTELLO: OK, John King, thanks for waking up early with DAYBREAK 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 - 06:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to that debate -- proposed debate. Saddam Hussein is reportedly making a challenge to President Bush. CBS News is reporting the Iraqi leader in an interview with Dan Rather said, and I quote: "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. I call for this because war is not a joke."
Well, the White House was quick to say were not taking this debate seriously at all. There will be no debate with Saddam Hussein.
But we want to take some time now to pause, to talk more about that idea of a debate between the American president and Saddam Hussein. We've placed a "Wake-Up Call" to our senior White House correspondent, John King.
Good morning -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: It sounds more like a "Saturday Night Live" skit than something that could actually happen.
KING: Remember, the last time Saddam Hussein issued a challenge to President Bush it was for a duel, to settle this the old-fashioned way. So, maybe this is a sign of some diplomatic progress.
But they don't take this seriously here at the White House. They view it as a public relations gimmick by Saddam Hussein. And in the words of one senior official, they say there is no debating what Saddam Hussein has to do.
COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about the public relations angle of this, because Saddam Hussein seems to be playing that angle very well.
KING: Well, he's made himself available to a common U.S. anchor. That is significant, more than a decade. White House officials certainly will analyze the CBS interview quite closely.
Their early reaction, though, is that they see in that interview something that might help them make their case at the United Nations. Saddam Hussein indicates and CBS says that he will not destroy those Al Samoud 2 missiles. If that is the case, if Saddam directly defies an order from the inspectors, that might help the United States at the United Nations.
COSTELLO: Yes, but will it change France's mind? KING: Well, France says that's still not enough, but we will see.
Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security advisor, telling reporters yesterday she thinks in two weeks when the White House wants this vote, by then you will have more evidence from the inspectors that Saddam is not cooperating. She says it will be very difficult. She essentially frames this vote as, you side with the United States or you side with Saddam Hussein. That's the case the administration will make.
COSTELLO: You know, something interesting. I know that America has people out talking to the folks in Russia and China, but not France. Is the United States purposely ignoring France through all of this?
KING: No, President Bush spoke to President Chirac, oh, it was about two weeks ago now, was the last conversation, and there were some lower-level conservations, certainly consultations at the United Nations. Do not be surprised if later this week or early next week, President Bush and President Chirac speak again.
The one call I would not expect at the presidential level would be a Bush to Schroeder, Bush to the chancellor of Germany. Still a lot of tension there because of the tough things Gerhard Schroeder said last year when running for reelection. The White House believes it will never get the German vote.
So, I think you will see Bush and Chirac disagree on a lot of things, but they have a pretty good personal relationship, because when they're going to say something tough about the other one, they tip each other off privately first.
COSTELLO: OK, John King, thanks for waking up early with DAYBREAK 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.
