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CNN Live Today
Bush Meets With Top Brass
Aired March 05, 2003 - 10:02 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to begin at the nerve center of the international stalemate: the United Nations. Just a few hours from now, chief inspector Hans Blix is due to come out and hold a briefing on Iraqi disarmament and the progress report that he is going to be delivering on Friday, but there have been other developments to talk about this morning as well, and our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth is at his post.
Let's go to him right now and get the very latest. Before we talk about this press conference that inspector Blix is going to have this afternoon, what is the latest word on what we're hearing now from Russia, France and Germany?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: All right. Well, you talk about a showdown in Iraq. First of all, let's deal with the showdown in the Security Council. This Friday, we're expecting, now, Colin Powell, the secretary of state, France's foreign minister and Germany's foreign minister, and they will be speaking following Hans Blix's report to the Security Council. So this is definitely going to be a huge diplomatic event on Friday, maybe the last blowout before possible military conflict.
And, already a preview as the big three: France, Germany, and Russia, their foreign ministers holding a press conference today, a joint press conference, in which they made it clear their views that they would not accept at this time the proposed U.S., U.K., Spain resolution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): We will not accept a draft resolution which would authorize the use of force. Russia and France, as permanent members of the Security Council, will take all their responsibilities in this respect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): I guess some of you may ask me a question today if Russia is going to use its veto right. I can tell you, frankly, that we actually never discussed this issue today.
When it comes to the vote, each state is entitled to make a decision on its own. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: All right. Well, there's a mistake there, because that was yesterday's press conference held by Russian foreign minister Ivanov, though his views tell the same for today's press conference. He thinks that the United States' resolution should not pass because it, in effect, authorizes the use of force.
Now, those on the U.S. side can say that France, Germany, and Russia are using language now to placate opponents at home who oppose the war. They're going to look to be seen as agreeing to cracking down on Iraq, but not necessarily authorizing the use of force. The U.S. says their language in the resolution, the new one, is just simply saying Iraq has missed an opportunity. It doesn't implicitly say we're going to war. It's all in the diplomatic jargon. Hans Blix will hold a bit of a news conference today, but he is still rewriting his report. Maybe he will explain exactly what he plans to say about the Al Samoud 2 recent destruction by Iraq, and the timing of Iraq's speed up of cooperation in conjunction with Security Council meetings -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Richard, now we know this is a significant step backwards now for the Bush administration, which was hoping at least to get those other three countries with France, Germany, and Russia to at least stay on the sidelines, and not come out and say they will not allow this vote to pass. What happens now with the behind the scenes diplomacy that had been underway to change the minds of the countries that have been sitting on the fence?
ROTH: Well, they could still change their minds and go to abstention, or they may not have even made up their minds. They very well may be just threatening the U.S. to try to either have that resolution not pass at all, and so they can look as if they didn't authorize war, though some will say the other resolution already does that, or they can just dig in their heels and get better terms in the second resolution, or come up with some new deadline for Saddam Hussein.
Eventually, if the U.S. feels this veto is looming in the way, they would withdraw the resolution. All options are being considered.
HARRIS: All right. And with this administration saying things are full steam ahead for them no matter what, perhaps what Hans Blix comes out and says on Friday may all come down to a moot point, but is there any sign at all right now about what he may be saying in his report?
ROTH: He's probably going to say that Iraq, because of the Al Samoud 2 missiles, has started to cooperate, and that he would like more time, as he has consistently said, which infuriates the U.S., and is virtually welcomed with applause by the European bloc. He's going to say that Iraq has not cooperated enough, probably, on VX and anthrax, so there are some new technical talks, and that, as he said in his written report, Iraq could have done more at the beginning which could have borne fruit now. HARRIS: All right. We have got a heck of a morning shaping up for you this morning, Richard. We'll let you get back -- Richard Roth at the U.N. -- Daryn, over to you.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And that we do. We mentioned this a few minutes ago that the Bush administration has been conducting its informal briefing this hour, called the gaggle. Our Suzanne Malveaux attended it, and she is with us right now with a new view from the White House -- Suzanne, hello.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Daryn. The White House really dismissing Jacques Chirac's statement, that joint statement from the French as well as the Germans and the Russians saying that they will take responsibility that they're not going to allow this second U.N. resolution to pass, they're use their full responsibilities, that also including the power to veto.
But the White House really saying that this is more of talk of what they've heard before. This is not the final conclusion. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer just wrapped up his briefing. I am going to quote a couple of things here. He says that you will continue to hear various statements, that the president continues to consult with allies. That in the end, that he is confident of the ultimate outcome that that resolution will pass.
It goes on to say, specifically, that President Chirac on October 16 said almost identical statements talking about assuming responsibility, but he goes on to say that history shows this is not the final answer, that still the administration is confident they're going to try to get that second U.N. resolution passed through the Security Council. Of course, administration officials also indicating that if they don't get that support next week, that they very likely will withdraw that resolution. But still displaying a certain sense of confidence, if you will, that they think the diplomatic route is the way to go -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Any word today about this visit from the envoy from the Vatican, the cardinal who is coming?
MALVEAUX: Well, yes, it's happening this afternoon, and Ari Fleischer -- as well as the president earlier -- indicating that the president has very different views on all of this. The envoy of the pope coming with the very clear message saying there is no justification for war, either legally or morally. The president, being a devout Christian, sees it in very different terms. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer saying that it would be immoral for it to allow Saddam Hussein to go ahead and attack Americans again, or perhaps even pass on his weapons of mass destruction to terrorists who would harm or kill Americans, that this president does see it as a moral issue, and he believes that he is morally justified in using military action.
KAGAN: And there is no shortage of high-level meetings taking place today at the White House. Tell us about this one involving General Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command. MALVEAUX: Absolutely, Daryn. It is an extremely important day for the Bush administration. You are seeing the top brass at the Pentagon who arrived here earlier today. Also Secretary of State Colin Powell, the head of the CIA, George Tenet, all of them meeting here at the White House.
We have been told that General Franks, who is head of the U.S. Central Command, as well as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld will be meeting with the president in the situation room. They're going to go over the details of the war plan.
One possibility that's being floated at this time is possibly giving Saddam Hussein an ultimatum, what he needs to do to avoid war. This would also signal to those on the ground -- Iraqi citizens, journalists, and inspectors -- that they may have as little as 72 hours to get out of the country if they do choose to do so, that this attack would be imminent.
But again, I have to stress that the administration is saying that the president has not yet made that final determination. We do not expect that to happen until sometime next week, after the U.N. Security Council either votes on that resolution, or after the administration concludes that it doesn't have the support, and they withdraw that resolution and decide to go without the U.N.
KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you for that complete report there.
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 - 10:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to begin at the nerve center of the international stalemate: the United Nations. Just a few hours from now, chief inspector Hans Blix is due to come out and hold a briefing on Iraqi disarmament and the progress report that he is going to be delivering on Friday, but there have been other developments to talk about this morning as well, and our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth is at his post.
Let's go to him right now and get the very latest. Before we talk about this press conference that inspector Blix is going to have this afternoon, what is the latest word on what we're hearing now from Russia, France and Germany?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: All right. Well, you talk about a showdown in Iraq. First of all, let's deal with the showdown in the Security Council. This Friday, we're expecting, now, Colin Powell, the secretary of state, France's foreign minister and Germany's foreign minister, and they will be speaking following Hans Blix's report to the Security Council. So this is definitely going to be a huge diplomatic event on Friday, maybe the last blowout before possible military conflict.
And, already a preview as the big three: France, Germany, and Russia, their foreign ministers holding a press conference today, a joint press conference, in which they made it clear their views that they would not accept at this time the proposed U.S., U.K., Spain resolution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): We will not accept a draft resolution which would authorize the use of force. Russia and France, as permanent members of the Security Council, will take all their responsibilities in this respect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): I guess some of you may ask me a question today if Russia is going to use its veto right. I can tell you, frankly, that we actually never discussed this issue today.
When it comes to the vote, each state is entitled to make a decision on its own. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: All right. Well, there's a mistake there, because that was yesterday's press conference held by Russian foreign minister Ivanov, though his views tell the same for today's press conference. He thinks that the United States' resolution should not pass because it, in effect, authorizes the use of force.
Now, those on the U.S. side can say that France, Germany, and Russia are using language now to placate opponents at home who oppose the war. They're going to look to be seen as agreeing to cracking down on Iraq, but not necessarily authorizing the use of force. The U.S. says their language in the resolution, the new one, is just simply saying Iraq has missed an opportunity. It doesn't implicitly say we're going to war. It's all in the diplomatic jargon. Hans Blix will hold a bit of a news conference today, but he is still rewriting his report. Maybe he will explain exactly what he plans to say about the Al Samoud 2 recent destruction by Iraq, and the timing of Iraq's speed up of cooperation in conjunction with Security Council meetings -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Richard, now we know this is a significant step backwards now for the Bush administration, which was hoping at least to get those other three countries with France, Germany, and Russia to at least stay on the sidelines, and not come out and say they will not allow this vote to pass. What happens now with the behind the scenes diplomacy that had been underway to change the minds of the countries that have been sitting on the fence?
ROTH: Well, they could still change their minds and go to abstention, or they may not have even made up their minds. They very well may be just threatening the U.S. to try to either have that resolution not pass at all, and so they can look as if they didn't authorize war, though some will say the other resolution already does that, or they can just dig in their heels and get better terms in the second resolution, or come up with some new deadline for Saddam Hussein.
Eventually, if the U.S. feels this veto is looming in the way, they would withdraw the resolution. All options are being considered.
HARRIS: All right. And with this administration saying things are full steam ahead for them no matter what, perhaps what Hans Blix comes out and says on Friday may all come down to a moot point, but is there any sign at all right now about what he may be saying in his report?
ROTH: He's probably going to say that Iraq, because of the Al Samoud 2 missiles, has started to cooperate, and that he would like more time, as he has consistently said, which infuriates the U.S., and is virtually welcomed with applause by the European bloc. He's going to say that Iraq has not cooperated enough, probably, on VX and anthrax, so there are some new technical talks, and that, as he said in his written report, Iraq could have done more at the beginning which could have borne fruit now. HARRIS: All right. We have got a heck of a morning shaping up for you this morning, Richard. We'll let you get back -- Richard Roth at the U.N. -- Daryn, over to you.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And that we do. We mentioned this a few minutes ago that the Bush administration has been conducting its informal briefing this hour, called the gaggle. Our Suzanne Malveaux attended it, and she is with us right now with a new view from the White House -- Suzanne, hello.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Daryn. The White House really dismissing Jacques Chirac's statement, that joint statement from the French as well as the Germans and the Russians saying that they will take responsibility that they're not going to allow this second U.N. resolution to pass, they're use their full responsibilities, that also including the power to veto.
But the White House really saying that this is more of talk of what they've heard before. This is not the final conclusion. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer just wrapped up his briefing. I am going to quote a couple of things here. He says that you will continue to hear various statements, that the president continues to consult with allies. That in the end, that he is confident of the ultimate outcome that that resolution will pass.
It goes on to say, specifically, that President Chirac on October 16 said almost identical statements talking about assuming responsibility, but he goes on to say that history shows this is not the final answer, that still the administration is confident they're going to try to get that second U.N. resolution passed through the Security Council. Of course, administration officials also indicating that if they don't get that support next week, that they very likely will withdraw that resolution. But still displaying a certain sense of confidence, if you will, that they think the diplomatic route is the way to go -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Any word today about this visit from the envoy from the Vatican, the cardinal who is coming?
MALVEAUX: Well, yes, it's happening this afternoon, and Ari Fleischer -- as well as the president earlier -- indicating that the president has very different views on all of this. The envoy of the pope coming with the very clear message saying there is no justification for war, either legally or morally. The president, being a devout Christian, sees it in very different terms. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer saying that it would be immoral for it to allow Saddam Hussein to go ahead and attack Americans again, or perhaps even pass on his weapons of mass destruction to terrorists who would harm or kill Americans, that this president does see it as a moral issue, and he believes that he is morally justified in using military action.
KAGAN: And there is no shortage of high-level meetings taking place today at the White House. Tell us about this one involving General Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command. MALVEAUX: Absolutely, Daryn. It is an extremely important day for the Bush administration. You are seeing the top brass at the Pentagon who arrived here earlier today. Also Secretary of State Colin Powell, the head of the CIA, George Tenet, all of them meeting here at the White House.
We have been told that General Franks, who is head of the U.S. Central Command, as well as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld will be meeting with the president in the situation room. They're going to go over the details of the war plan.
One possibility that's being floated at this time is possibly giving Saddam Hussein an ultimatum, what he needs to do to avoid war. This would also signal to those on the ground -- Iraqi citizens, journalists, and inspectors -- that they may have as little as 72 hours to get out of the country if they do choose to do so, that this attack would be imminent.
But again, I have to stress that the administration is saying that the president has not yet made that final determination. We do not expect that to happen until sometime next week, after the U.N. Security Council either votes on that resolution, or after the administration concludes that it doesn't have the support, and they withdraw that resolution and decide to go without the U.N.
KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you for that complete report there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
