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CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: Say You Want Resolution
Aired March 05, 2003 - 06:05 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're going to talk about the United Nations right now. Secretary of State Colin Powell has expressed optimism that the U.S. will be able to unite the U.N. Security Council for a vote on Iraq, but the Bush administration says while the vote is desirable, it is certainly not necessary.
Posing the biggest obstacle when it comes to the new resolution: France, China and Russia. All three countries are permanent members of the Security Council with veto power.
Also, about a half-dozen members are still on the fence, including Chile, Mexico and Pakistan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're not talking a long period of time. I don't want to get pinned down on days or weeks or a week, but certainly I think next week we would have to give very serious consideration as to what the next step should be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Yes, let's talk more about those crucial nine votes at the United Nations, a good topic for a "Wake-Up Call" to our State Department producer, Elise Labott, in Washington.
Good morning.
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: It sounds like many voting countries are flexing their egos. Will the United States win?
LABOTT: Well, Secretary Powell said in a few interviews yesterday that he's optimistic the U.S. will have the votes, but you know, that optimism in Washington is changing as fast as the wind blows, Carol.
A few days ago, the U.S. seemed confident that Russia wouldn't veto this resolution; that it would abstain. Now, the Russian foreign minister said yesterday Russia doesn't support a war and could use the veto. And then as you mentioned, you have France and China's veto.
And the U.S. is worried enough now that officials say they may not even introduce the resolution at all. So, it's kind of like a game like musical chairs. COSTELLO: Boy, it looks like a game of chicken. It's very strange.
Talk a little bit more about this Canadian proposal at the United Nations that we've been hearing about.
LABOTT: Well, it's something that the Canadians have been talking about with various council members and other European countries, and it takes into account both points of view. The U.S. believes that inspectors can't go on forever, because that takes the pressure off Iraq. And the other crowd, like Russia, France and Germany, who say inspectors have provided some positive results and should continue.
The Canadians say, let the inspectors come up with a list of key remaining tasks, maybe put a date a month or so from now where Iraq must comply, and if it doesnt, that's it.
Now, the U.S. says Iraq has been given a lot of deadlines and hasn't done anything, so one more isn't going to make a difference.
But I've got to tell you, Carol, the idea has slowly been gaining steam. Canadian Prime Minister Chretien has been working the phones, speaking, we're told, with leaders from Security Council countries. He even traveled to Mexico recently to discuss his proposal with President Fox.
But the idea of giving Iraq one last final deadline could be seen as an alternative to some countries who dont want to rush to war.
COSTELLO: Well, we'll see. Elise Labott, thanks very much for waking up early with DAYBREAK.
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 March 5, 2003 - 06:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to talk about the United Nations right now. Secretary of State Colin Powell has expressed optimism that the U.S. will be able to unite the U.N. Security Council for a vote on Iraq, but the Bush administration says while the vote is desirable, it is certainly not necessary.
Posing the biggest obstacle when it comes to the new resolution: France, China and Russia. All three countries are permanent members of the Security Council with veto power.
Also, about a half-dozen members are still on the fence, including Chile, Mexico and Pakistan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're not talking a long period of time. I don't want to get pinned down on days or weeks or a week, but certainly I think next week we would have to give very serious consideration as to what the next step should be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Yes, let's talk more about those crucial nine votes at the United Nations, a good topic for a "Wake-Up Call" to our State Department producer, Elise Labott, in Washington.
Good morning.
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: It sounds like many voting countries are flexing their egos. Will the United States win?
LABOTT: Well, Secretary Powell said in a few interviews yesterday that he's optimistic the U.S. will have the votes, but you know, that optimism in Washington is changing as fast as the wind blows, Carol.
A few days ago, the U.S. seemed confident that Russia wouldn't veto this resolution; that it would abstain. Now, the Russian foreign minister said yesterday Russia doesn't support a war and could use the veto. And then as you mentioned, you have France and China's veto.
And the U.S. is worried enough now that officials say they may not even introduce the resolution at all. So, it's kind of like a game like musical chairs. COSTELLO: Boy, it looks like a game of chicken. It's very strange.
Talk a little bit more about this Canadian proposal at the United Nations that we've been hearing about.
LABOTT: Well, it's something that the Canadians have been talking about with various council members and other European countries, and it takes into account both points of view. The U.S. believes that inspectors can't go on forever, because that takes the pressure off Iraq. And the other crowd, like Russia, France and Germany, who say inspectors have provided some positive results and should continue.
The Canadians say, let the inspectors come up with a list of key remaining tasks, maybe put a date a month or so from now where Iraq must comply, and if it doesnt, that's it.
Now, the U.S. says Iraq has been given a lot of deadlines and hasn't done anything, so one more isn't going to make a difference.
But I've got to tell you, Carol, the idea has slowly been gaining steam. Canadian Prime Minister Chretien has been working the phones, speaking, we're told, with leaders from Security Council countries. He even traveled to Mexico recently to discuss his proposal with President Fox.
But the idea of giving Iraq one last final deadline could be seen as an alternative to some countries who dont want to rush to war.
COSTELLO: Well, we'll see. Elise Labott, thanks very much for waking up early with DAYBREAK.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
