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CNN Live At Daybreak
British Prime Minister to Speak Before House of Commons
Aired February 25, 2003 - 06:31 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: Many pundits are saying the first regime change, though, in this Iraqi crisis may be the prime minister in Britain. Tony Blair on the hot seat again today, speaking before the House of Commons in about an hour.
We take you live to London now and chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour.
Good morning.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, you know the president of the United States doesnt necessarily want a second resolution, believing that the existing ones provide the authority he needs. However, Britain, his key ally, absolutely desperately needs a second resolution, not only to keep Tony Blair's own people and public support on side, and they're not right now, but to give this potential war international legitimacy, which right now it is perceived not to have.
So, Blair, he's meeting with Tommy Franks, the commander of any war effort who will be based there in the Persian Gulf, and then in about an hour, as you say, he's going before the House of Commons to deliver a speech. It will be a general speech. He is not going to risk putting up a specific vote on a war with Iraq, or indeed on this second resolution. He's simply going to give a general speech as part of his campaign to try to get more public support for a potential military action.
At the same time, the British are insisting that the window between now, when this draft text is being tabled at the U.N. and about two weeks or so before a vote on that, this window that the U.K. is insisting is for Saddam Hussein to finally come out and do this peacefully.
In the meantime, there is a great deal of division at the Security Council, exemplified by what's going on in Europe. The French and the Russians and the Germans have put out their competing plan, calling for the inspections to be bolstered, for more time to be given and for no war now.
So, this is going to be a very difficult two weeks, while the U.S. and the U.K. try to get a majority of the Security Council on their side.
Back to you -- Carol. COSTELLO: Difficult may be an understatement. Christiane Amanpour reporting live from London for us 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 - 06:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Many pundits are saying the first regime change, though, in this Iraqi crisis may be the prime minister in Britain. Tony Blair on the hot seat again today, speaking before the House of Commons in about an hour.
We take you live to London now and chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour.
Good morning.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, you know the president of the United States doesnt necessarily want a second resolution, believing that the existing ones provide the authority he needs. However, Britain, his key ally, absolutely desperately needs a second resolution, not only to keep Tony Blair's own people and public support on side, and they're not right now, but to give this potential war international legitimacy, which right now it is perceived not to have.
So, Blair, he's meeting with Tommy Franks, the commander of any war effort who will be based there in the Persian Gulf, and then in about an hour, as you say, he's going before the House of Commons to deliver a speech. It will be a general speech. He is not going to risk putting up a specific vote on a war with Iraq, or indeed on this second resolution. He's simply going to give a general speech as part of his campaign to try to get more public support for a potential military action.
At the same time, the British are insisting that the window between now, when this draft text is being tabled at the U.N. and about two weeks or so before a vote on that, this window that the U.K. is insisting is for Saddam Hussein to finally come out and do this peacefully.
In the meantime, there is a great deal of division at the Security Council, exemplified by what's going on in Europe. The French and the Russians and the Germans have put out their competing plan, calling for the inspections to be bolstered, for more time to be given and for no war now.
So, this is going to be a very difficult two weeks, while the U.S. and the U.K. try to get a majority of the Security Council on their side.
Back to you -- Carol. COSTELLO: Difficult may be an understatement. Christiane Amanpour reporting live from London for us 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.
