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CNN Live Saturday

Bush Calls on U.N. to Show Backbone

Aired September 14, 2002 - 17:15   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is calling on the United Nations to show backbone and resolve when it comes to dealing with Iraq. That was one of the points the president made at Camp David today, where he is meeting with Italy's prime minister. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is at the White House. And Kelly, is President Bush satisfied that the prime minister said that he is hoping to find some common solutions?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, White House officials are pleased. They say this was a very good meeting. And if you look at the prime minister's comments, he praised President Bush for working through the United Nations.

The prime minister, though, did not say publicly what he has said before, and that is he definitely does not want this president to go it alone. But Mr. Bush, in some of his toughest talk yet, challenging the U.N. to act, saying if it doesn't, he will take matters into his own hands.

You see the two men there speaking to reporters before going behind closed doors for about two hours. The president saying that Saddam Hussein has defied the U.N. 16 times since the Gulf War. He said now is the time to deal with the Iraqi leader. He said the institutions' entire credibility is on the line.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The U.N. will either be able to function as a peacekeeping body, as we head into the 21st century, or it will be irrelevant. And that's what we're about to find out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: But the president and his top aides are also making the case that while they believe it would be preferable to have international support for any action, including military force, they do not believe it is essential. Here's what Vice President Cheney had to say in an interview with Robert Novak for a very special program, the 20th anniversary edition of "NOVAK, HUNT & SHIELDS."

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DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it was pretty clear that we'd prefer to do this on an international basis, with the approval and cooperation and support of other nations, but that this is deemed to be such an important issue and such an important problem, that we will address it by ourselves if we have to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Meantime, top Iraqi officials are speaking out. The Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, you see him there, he had a news conference on this day. He said the only way his country would allow U.N. weapons inspectors back in is if Iraq had a guarantee there would be no U.S. attack and if U.N. sanctions on Iraq would be lifted.

Well, White House officials quickly pouring cold water on that idea, saying those comments show that Iraq has something to hide and that Saddam Hussein knows what he needs to do, and that is to comply with U.N. resolutions and rid his country of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

I can tell you also, U.S. officials believe the president is making great progress, convincing world leaders and U.S. lawmakers that Saddam Hussein must be dealt with. But he still faces a big challenge convincing them military action might be necessary -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kelly Wallace from the White House, thank you.

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