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CNN Live Sunday

Bush Contemplates Future Moves in Bid to Win International Support on Iraq

Aired September 28, 2003 - 10:00   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.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story at this hour: President Bush is now contemplating future moves in a bid to win more international support for rebuilding Iraq. His summit with Vladimir Putin drew to a close without a commitment from the Russian president for money or troops. So what is next for Mr. Bush?
We now go to the White House and CNN's Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sean, President Bush returns from Camp David really facing a critical week ahead. This the week when Congress is expected either to pass or not pass an $87 billion war supplemental. A big debate over the reconstruction portion of that.

Who is going to pay for it? Is it American taxpayers, is it going to be a loan to the Iraqi people? Or are other countries going to pick up that tab?

President Bush wrapped up his two-day summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And he did not walk away with a commitment from Russia for either troops or funds.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I recognize that some countries are inhibited from participation because of the lack of a U.N. resolution. We're working to get a satisfactory resolution out of the U.N. We spent some time discussing that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke with our own Judy Woodruff just moments ago. He talked about some of the frustrations that the White House is having with generating some of the support from international leaders. He said, of course, they're looking for support from Turkey, as well as India and Pakistan. He announced that they did not expect to get troops from India. That is breaking news.

Secretary Powell trying to explain what is the holdup here when it comes to moving forward on that U.N. Security Council resolution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The president has always said that he wanted the U.N. to play a vital role. And he said in his speech that he encouraged international efforts. So I wouldn't call it a question of giving up.

It is a question of finding a resolution that satisfies the needs of some of our partners in the international community. But, at the same time, makes clear that the future of the Iraq is in the hands of the Iraqi people through their Governing Council and their cabinet ministers, and recognizing the obligation and the responsibility the United States has as the leader of the Coalition Provisional Authority.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So, Sean, really the sticking point here is the language in the resolution that deals with how quickly will the coalition turn over power back to the Iraqi people. France, Germany want to see it happen right away. Secretary Powell and others, and even Putin, suggesting that it needs to be done on a gradual basis, a step by step plan. That perhaps you'd have elections that would happen within six months or so -- or constitution, rather, followed by elections. But Secretary Powell indicating that this may take more than a year and a half, perhaps up to two years before you have the Iraqi government in place -- Sean.

CALLEBS: Wow, indeed, two years. Let's get back to the news conference yesterday of Vladimir Putin and President Bush yesterday at Camp David. Mr. Bush asked specifically if he was disappointed that he didn't win any support while at the U.N. this past week, or during the week in discussions with Vladimir Putin for getting either more commitment of troops or money on the reconstruction, the stability of Iraq. And clearly, Colin Powell being very frank today.

Do you think that we're going to hear more from the administration in their efforts to try and generate any kind of support and the fact that they simply haven't been able to?

MALVEAUX: Well, of course, Sean, they're going to keep pushing over the next couple of weeks. But there are two things that are still in play here that the administration talked about. There's this conference in Madrid, where they're going to be outright asking these world leaders for funds. They say that they're hoping that something comes, develops out of that.

Also, of course, you've got this U.N. Security Council resolution. They are still tweaking, working on language. What they are hoping is, by lobbying all 15 members of the U.N. Security Council, not just the permanent five, they can get as many people as possible on board and perhaps provide the kind of political cover some of these nations need to give anything, whether or not it's just a small contingency or even a small amount funds.

That is what they're banking on. But still a lot of work ahead, Sean. And I think the administration recognizing that this morning.

CALLEBS: Indeed. Busy couple weeks ahead. Suzanne Malveaux, at the White House, thanks very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Support on Iraq>


Aired September 28, 2003 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story at this hour: President Bush is now contemplating future moves in a bid to win more international support for rebuilding Iraq. His summit with Vladimir Putin drew to a close without a commitment from the Russian president for money or troops. So what is next for Mr. Bush?
We now go to the White House and CNN's Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sean, President Bush returns from Camp David really facing a critical week ahead. This the week when Congress is expected either to pass or not pass an $87 billion war supplemental. A big debate over the reconstruction portion of that.

Who is going to pay for it? Is it American taxpayers, is it going to be a loan to the Iraqi people? Or are other countries going to pick up that tab?

President Bush wrapped up his two-day summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And he did not walk away with a commitment from Russia for either troops or funds.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I recognize that some countries are inhibited from participation because of the lack of a U.N. resolution. We're working to get a satisfactory resolution out of the U.N. We spent some time discussing that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke with our own Judy Woodruff just moments ago. He talked about some of the frustrations that the White House is having with generating some of the support from international leaders. He said, of course, they're looking for support from Turkey, as well as India and Pakistan. He announced that they did not expect to get troops from India. That is breaking news.

Secretary Powell trying to explain what is the holdup here when it comes to moving forward on that U.N. Security Council resolution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The president has always said that he wanted the U.N. to play a vital role. And he said in his speech that he encouraged international efforts. So I wouldn't call it a question of giving up.

It is a question of finding a resolution that satisfies the needs of some of our partners in the international community. But, at the same time, makes clear that the future of the Iraq is in the hands of the Iraqi people through their Governing Council and their cabinet ministers, and recognizing the obligation and the responsibility the United States has as the leader of the Coalition Provisional Authority.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So, Sean, really the sticking point here is the language in the resolution that deals with how quickly will the coalition turn over power back to the Iraqi people. France, Germany want to see it happen right away. Secretary Powell and others, and even Putin, suggesting that it needs to be done on a gradual basis, a step by step plan. That perhaps you'd have elections that would happen within six months or so -- or constitution, rather, followed by elections. But Secretary Powell indicating that this may take more than a year and a half, perhaps up to two years before you have the Iraqi government in place -- Sean.

CALLEBS: Wow, indeed, two years. Let's get back to the news conference yesterday of Vladimir Putin and President Bush yesterday at Camp David. Mr. Bush asked specifically if he was disappointed that he didn't win any support while at the U.N. this past week, or during the week in discussions with Vladimir Putin for getting either more commitment of troops or money on the reconstruction, the stability of Iraq. And clearly, Colin Powell being very frank today.

Do you think that we're going to hear more from the administration in their efforts to try and generate any kind of support and the fact that they simply haven't been able to?

MALVEAUX: Well, of course, Sean, they're going to keep pushing over the next couple of weeks. But there are two things that are still in play here that the administration talked about. There's this conference in Madrid, where they're going to be outright asking these world leaders for funds. They say that they're hoping that something comes, develops out of that.

Also, of course, you've got this U.N. Security Council resolution. They are still tweaking, working on language. What they are hoping is, by lobbying all 15 members of the U.N. Security Council, not just the permanent five, they can get as many people as possible on board and perhaps provide the kind of political cover some of these nations need to give anything, whether or not it's just a small contingency or even a small amount funds.

That is what they're banking on. But still a lot of work ahead, Sean. And I think the administration recognizing that this morning.

CALLEBS: Indeed. Busy couple weeks ahead. Suzanne Malveaux, at the White House, thanks very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Support on Iraq>