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Bush Speaks After Meeting with Congressional Leaders
Aired September 18, 2002 - 08:13 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's listen to what the president had to say a little bit earlier this morning to them and to reporters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We talked about defense appropriations. We talked about the appropriations process and -- but we also talked about Iraq. We talked about the fact that Saddam Hussein has stiffed the United Nations for 11 long years and that once again he said, you know, made some kind of statement trying to take the pressure off of himself, a statement about unconditional inspections, which is something he's made in the past.
He deceives, he delays, he denies and the United States and, I'm convinced the world community, aren't going to fall for that kind of rhetoric on, by him again. The, we talked about a resolution out of Congress and how it is important for us to work with Congress to pass a strong resolution. I told the members that within the next couple of days this administration will develop language as, that we think is necessary, and we look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get a resolution passed.
I want to thank the leadership for its commitment to get a resolution done before members go home for the election break. I think it's an important signal. It's an important signal for the country. But as importantly, it's an important signal for the world to see that this country is united in our resolve to deal with threats that we face. And so thank you all for coming.
We can take a couple of questions.
Yes, I'm pointing to Kyle (ph).
QUESTION: Like it or not, is it (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to say that Saddam's waited to move his (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
BUSH: Do what now?
QUESTION: Does Saddam's latest move help make the allies (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
BUSH: Oh, I, this is, all they've got to do is look at the record. It's his latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for defying the United Nations. He's not going to fool anybody. I mean he's, we've seen him before and we'll remind the world that by defying the United Nations he is becoming more and more a threat to world peace. And I'm convinced that the world understands the ploy. And one of the jobs the United States has is to remind people about not only the threat, but the fact that his defiance has weakened the United Nations and the United Nations, in order for the world to be a more peaceful place, must rise up and deal with this threat and hold him to account. And that's what we expect out of the Security Council today.
QUESTION: Mr. President, if I may follow up Kyle's question, do you think that you'll be able to persuade France and Russia to go along with us on whatever resolution that you and Congress decide to do? (UNINTELLIGIBLE) go it alone (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
BUSH: Well, listen, I, you know, we're speculating about what nations are going to do. I'm convinced that when we continue to make the case about his defiance, his deception, his, the fact that time and time again, dozens of times he has told the world, oh, I will comply and he never does, that the nations which long for peace and care about the validity of the United Nations will join us.
And so we're going to work hard to continue to make the case. I think reasonable people understand this man is unreasonable and reasonable people understand that this is just a ploy. This is a tactic. This is a way to try to say to the world, oh, I am a wonderful, peaceful fellow when, in fact, he not only kills his own people, he's terrorized his neighborhood and he's developing weapons of mass destruction. And we must deal with him.
Thank you all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, thank you all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: The president's strong war of words against Iraq continue. The president saying that Saddam Hussein has stiffed the U.S. for 11 years now. Going on to say that the U.S. isn't going to fall for his rhetoric this time.
The president also expressing optimism that Congress will somehow get a resolution together that he might find acceptable. The problem is the president is actually, that is, asking for broad authority that some Democrats simply don't want to give him. They want a more limited measure. Nevertheless, you just heard Senator Daschle say that he believes that before the midterm elections, before Congress goes out on break, that they will get a resolution to the president and it ultimately might pass.
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 September 18, 2002 - 08:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's listen to what the president had to say a little bit earlier this morning to them and to reporters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We talked about defense appropriations. We talked about the appropriations process and -- but we also talked about Iraq. We talked about the fact that Saddam Hussein has stiffed the United Nations for 11 long years and that once again he said, you know, made some kind of statement trying to take the pressure off of himself, a statement about unconditional inspections, which is something he's made in the past.
He deceives, he delays, he denies and the United States and, I'm convinced the world community, aren't going to fall for that kind of rhetoric on, by him again. The, we talked about a resolution out of Congress and how it is important for us to work with Congress to pass a strong resolution. I told the members that within the next couple of days this administration will develop language as, that we think is necessary, and we look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get a resolution passed.
I want to thank the leadership for its commitment to get a resolution done before members go home for the election break. I think it's an important signal. It's an important signal for the country. But as importantly, it's an important signal for the world to see that this country is united in our resolve to deal with threats that we face. And so thank you all for coming.
We can take a couple of questions.
Yes, I'm pointing to Kyle (ph).
QUESTION: Like it or not, is it (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to say that Saddam's waited to move his (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
BUSH: Do what now?
QUESTION: Does Saddam's latest move help make the allies (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
BUSH: Oh, I, this is, all they've got to do is look at the record. It's his latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for defying the United Nations. He's not going to fool anybody. I mean he's, we've seen him before and we'll remind the world that by defying the United Nations he is becoming more and more a threat to world peace. And I'm convinced that the world understands the ploy. And one of the jobs the United States has is to remind people about not only the threat, but the fact that his defiance has weakened the United Nations and the United Nations, in order for the world to be a more peaceful place, must rise up and deal with this threat and hold him to account. And that's what we expect out of the Security Council today.
QUESTION: Mr. President, if I may follow up Kyle's question, do you think that you'll be able to persuade France and Russia to go along with us on whatever resolution that you and Congress decide to do? (UNINTELLIGIBLE) go it alone (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
BUSH: Well, listen, I, you know, we're speculating about what nations are going to do. I'm convinced that when we continue to make the case about his defiance, his deception, his, the fact that time and time again, dozens of times he has told the world, oh, I will comply and he never does, that the nations which long for peace and care about the validity of the United Nations will join us.
And so we're going to work hard to continue to make the case. I think reasonable people understand this man is unreasonable and reasonable people understand that this is just a ploy. This is a tactic. This is a way to try to say to the world, oh, I am a wonderful, peaceful fellow when, in fact, he not only kills his own people, he's terrorized his neighborhood and he's developing weapons of mass destruction. And we must deal with him.
Thank you all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, thank you all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: The president's strong war of words against Iraq continue. The president saying that Saddam Hussein has stiffed the U.S. for 11 years now. Going on to say that the U.S. isn't going to fall for his rhetoric this time.
The president also expressing optimism that Congress will somehow get a resolution together that he might find acceptable. The problem is the president is actually, that is, asking for broad authority that some Democrats simply don't want to give him. They want a more limited measure. Nevertheless, you just heard Senator Daschle say that he believes that before the midterm elections, before Congress goes out on break, that they will get a resolution to the president and it ultimately might pass.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
