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CNN Live At Daybreak

Wake-Up Call: Bush on Saddam

Aired February 26, 2003 - 06:36   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: President Bush is downplaying something else he allegedly said. Republican Senator Peter Fitzgerald says President Bush told him he'd take out Saddam if the U.S. got a clear shot. A good topic for an early-morning "Wake-Up Call."
Our Chris Burns, who is on the phone with us now from Washington.

Good morning -- Chris.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So, did President Bush really say this or not?

BURNS: Well, Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, says that he can't recall, he can't confirm that he said that, but he did note that there is an executive order prohibiting the assassination of foreign leaders. But on the other hand, Ari Fleischer also admitted that if there is a war, that the U.S. would be attacking command and control, and that commanders and top generals will not be safe, including Saddam Hussein, if there is a war.

COSTELLO: Gotcha. So, a military person could do that, and it would be legal.

BURNS: Well, that according -- yes, according to Ari Fleischer, but he is obviously saying that there is an executive order that you can't assassinate foreign leaders. That, of course, has been lifted for the No. 1 wanted man in the world, Osama bin Laden. But he says that does not apply to Saddam Hussein; that the executive order does remain in place for him.

COSTELLO: Chris Burns, 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 26, 2003 - 06:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is downplaying something else he allegedly said. Republican Senator Peter Fitzgerald says President Bush told him he'd take out Saddam if the U.S. got a clear shot. A good topic for an early-morning "Wake-Up Call."
Our Chris Burns, who is on the phone with us now from Washington.

Good morning -- Chris.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So, did President Bush really say this or not?

BURNS: Well, Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, says that he can't recall, he can't confirm that he said that, but he did note that there is an executive order prohibiting the assassination of foreign leaders. But on the other hand, Ari Fleischer also admitted that if there is a war, that the U.S. would be attacking command and control, and that commanders and top generals will not be safe, including Saddam Hussein, if there is a war.

COSTELLO: Gotcha. So, a military person could do that, and it would be legal.

BURNS: Well, that according -- yes, according to Ari Fleischer, but he is obviously saying that there is an executive order that you can't assassinate foreign leaders. That, of course, has been lifted for the No. 1 wanted man in the world, Osama bin Laden. But he says that does not apply to Saddam Hussein; that the executive order does remain in place for him.

COSTELLO: Chris Burns, 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.