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CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: President Bush's Plan
Aired March 11, 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It's March Madness on a global level. The Bush administration is putting on a full court press to win over Security Council members before a key vote on Iraq.
Let's get an update in this White House "Wake-Up Call" from our correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux.
Good morning -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fred (ph).
WHITFIELD: Well, it seems pretty tight indeed. The White House says that it may likely push this vote to later on in the week. But is it a possibility that if they don't get the support they need by the end of this week that maybe even this vote could trickle on into the next week, even though that proposed deadline is Monday?
MALVEAUX: Fred (ph), that's a really good question. I know one thing that administration officials are saying, is that they are insistent that this vote on this resolution happen this week. That is one thing that they do not want to have to deal with next week.
But, yes, this March 17 deadline seems to be more flexible than some initially suspected, or at least what administration officials were saying publicly that perhaps it be extended a few days, perhaps up to a week. But it is certainly not going to be for weeks or even months, as some of these U.N. Security Council members have called for.
WHITFIELD: So, I wonder how flexible, because doesn't that really weaken this proposed resolution by now saying, well, wait a minute, maybe not Monday, maybe we need a little bit more time; OK, Iraq, it's going to be the following week?
MALVEAUX: Well, I think the administration is really weighing two things. On the one side, what does this resolution look like and the credibility of the United States and the United Nations in extending the deadline? But on the other hand, certainly they want those votes from those members. And even if France vetoes or Russia vetoes, the thinking behind the Bush administration is at least if they get this majority, if they get those nine votes, they have the majority support of the council, and really that they can stand -- take a moral stand on this in saying we have the international body, the majority of the international body behind us, even if this resolution fails.
WHITFIELD: All right, Suzanne, thanks for the "Wake-Up Call."
MALVEAUX: Sure, thanks.
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 11, 2003 - 06:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It's March Madness on a global level. The Bush administration is putting on a full court press to win over Security Council members before a key vote on Iraq.
Let's get an update in this White House "Wake-Up Call" from our correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux.
Good morning -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fred (ph).
WHITFIELD: Well, it seems pretty tight indeed. The White House says that it may likely push this vote to later on in the week. But is it a possibility that if they don't get the support they need by the end of this week that maybe even this vote could trickle on into the next week, even though that proposed deadline is Monday?
MALVEAUX: Fred (ph), that's a really good question. I know one thing that administration officials are saying, is that they are insistent that this vote on this resolution happen this week. That is one thing that they do not want to have to deal with next week.
But, yes, this March 17 deadline seems to be more flexible than some initially suspected, or at least what administration officials were saying publicly that perhaps it be extended a few days, perhaps up to a week. But it is certainly not going to be for weeks or even months, as some of these U.N. Security Council members have called for.
WHITFIELD: So, I wonder how flexible, because doesn't that really weaken this proposed resolution by now saying, well, wait a minute, maybe not Monday, maybe we need a little bit more time; OK, Iraq, it's going to be the following week?
MALVEAUX: Well, I think the administration is really weighing two things. On the one side, what does this resolution look like and the credibility of the United States and the United Nations in extending the deadline? But on the other hand, certainly they want those votes from those members. And even if France vetoes or Russia vetoes, the thinking behind the Bush administration is at least if they get this majority, if they get those nine votes, they have the majority support of the council, and really that they can stand -- take a moral stand on this in saying we have the international body, the majority of the international body behind us, even if this resolution fails.
WHITFIELD: All right, Suzanne, thanks for the "Wake-Up Call."
MALVEAUX: Sure, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
