Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

More Voices Weigh In on War With Iraq

Aired August 31, 2002 - 17:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On the subject of Iraq, more voices are weighing in about how to deal with Saddam Hussein. From a former president, words of caution. From Britain's prime minister, concern. And from a congressional leader, doubt. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us from Crawford, Texas, where the president is enjoying the last day of his so-called working vacation -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. The president and his aides certainly listening to those voices, growing criticism around the world and in the United States. And that is why the administration is stepping up its efforts to make the case for possible military action. But convincing the American people and skeptical U.S. allies will not be easy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Saddam Hussein gets a briefing from top aides who had just returned from China, Syria and Lebanon, trying to build opposition to a possible U.S. attack. Bush advisers dismiss the Iraqi diplomatic offensive, but can't dismiss growing concerns at home. The latest urging caution: former President Clinton, who says if the U.S. invades Iraq, Saddam could be more inclined to unleash chemical and biological weapons.

WILLIAM CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If he knows we're coming to take him out, does he have more incentive to use them against our friends, or to give them to other terrorist groups? Probably so, because he knows we can take him out.

WALLACE: President Bush will have to do some convincing of the American people. According to a new CNN/"TIME" poll, support for sending U.S. ground troops into Iraq dropped from 73 percent in December to 51 percent now. The White House has started a PR campaign, with Vice President Cheney this week making the administration's most forceful case yet for a preemptive attack, arguing Iraq fairly soon will obtain nuclear weapons.

RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These are offensive weapons for the purpose of inflicting death on a massive scale.

WALLACE: Cheney says the president has made no decisions, but some lawmakers worry he has.

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: I can hardly believe that the vice president of the United States would go out and make two very declaratory, defining war speeches on why we must invade Iraq, unilaterally, if we must, without the knowledge and the approval of the president of the United States.

WALLACE: Political analysts say the president has got to make the case himself on why war is necessary.

STU ROTHENBERG, POLITICAL ANALYST: You can't fight a two-front war. You can't be fighting the Iraqis and the American public at the same time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: So far, President Bush has said little, recently, about Iraq. His aides, though, debating whether he should start making the argument about preemptive action, or wait until he decides exactly what he wants to do -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Kelly, is President Bush expected to perhaps say anything more on Iraq, specifically on 9/11 speeches or, perhaps, September 12, when he's expected to address the U.N.?

WALLACE: Not clear if he'll say anything specifically about Iraq on September 11. More likely, he'll use that day, of course, Fredricka, to remember all those people who lost their lives. September 12, though, as you noted, he speaks before the United Nations General Assembly, and that's where it is possible he could make a broader case for preemptive action and talk again about how he wants to go forward and how he wants to build international support for his belief in regime change in Iraq -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kelly Wallace, thank you 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