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CNN Live Saturday
Bush Administration Meets With Iraqi Opposition
Aired August 10, 2002 - 17:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: Developments on the question of Iraq today. High-level discussions for the Bush administration this weekend, with one aim in mind -- the ousting of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Now, President Bush, on a working vacation at his Texas ranch, is looking at a number of different options. Let's talk about this with a CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. She joins us now live from Crawford, Texas. So, Suzanne, of course, no specific timetable or plan of action?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. There is no timetable, no specific plan of action today. President Bush stepping up the pressure on Saddam Hussein, calling Iraq "an enemy until proven otherwise," and then top-level Bush administration officials met with the Iraqi opposition.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): President Bush outside his Crawford, Texas, ranch for a round of golf takes a swing at Saddam Hussein.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'd describe him as an enemy until proven otherwise.
MALVEAUX: Reaffirms that the administration has no timetable for deciding on a military strike against Iraq.
BUSH: I have no timetable, but I do believe the American people understand is that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of leaders such as Saddam Hussein are very dangerous for ourselves, our allies.
MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush says he's consulting with those international allies and members of Congress on what would be the best course of action to topple Saddam.
In Washington, Iraqi opposition leaders met with Vice President Dick Cheney, through a video link to his home in Wyoming. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld briefly met with the Iraqi delegation in person to show the high level of the administration's support. The discussions focused on establishing cooperation between the Bush administration and Hussein's nemesis.
The opposition leaders pledged to work together to build a post- Saddam regime, and in return they asked for U.S. support and protection from retribution.
SHARIF ALI BEN HUSSEIN, IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS: Part of the requests that we asked for was that the protection of the liberated zones in northern Iraq be reiterated and re-confirmed, and that -- and that we -- that measures will be taken to prevent Saddam from taking any pre-emptive action.
MALVEAUX: But the White House recognizes the greater challenge may come after Saddam Hussein is stripped from power. The danger of an Iraq split apart by warring factions.
SHIBLEY TELHAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: Most of these groups have one thing in common. They would like to get rid of Saddam Hussein. But they have different agendas, and obviously their neighbors have different agendas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And to what those differences, Iraqi opposition groups say that their next step is to send a delegation to Iraq's neighbors to try to win their support in toppling Saddam Hussein -- Kris.
OSBORN: Well, Suzanne, I wanted to ask you about those opposition groups. Despite their optimism today, some experts have suggested, perhaps somewhat humorously, that the only real opposition to Saddam Hussein is in Washington. What are you hearing from administration sources as to how unified or strong it actually is, in terms of what a military initiative might run into?
MALVEAUX: Well, the administration officials are saying they are taking these opposition group leaders at their word, at their face value right now, but they really want to see the action. And really, that is going to be a difficult situation, because on the one hand, you have the Kurds that are absolutely against any type of U.S. attack. They're worried about losing their autonomy. You have other groups that want to see a return to the monarchy, not a democracy at all. And then even other opposition groups that aren't particularly happy with turning over weapons of mass destruction.
So they say on the one hand, we are hearing a lot of good words, unity among these groups, but, at the same time, they are just going to have to wait and see.
OSBORN: Suzanne Malveaux, live from Crawford, Texas, thanks so much.
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