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CNN Live Saturday
Iraqis Agree to U.N. Weapons Inspectors
Aired October 12, 2002 - 14:24 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Americans now speak with one voice on Iraq, at least that's the message from President Bush after getting approval from Congress to use force against Iraq. Mr. Bush used his radio address today to send Iraq another tough message: It must disarm or face the consequences. To Washington now and CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace.
And Kelly, since last you and I spoke, President Bush hadn't responded to this supposed letter coming from an Iraqi presidential adviser saying come on in with the inspections. What now is President Bush saying since last you and I spoke?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, still no formal reaction, I'm sorry to say, Fredricka, from the White House to this development. Of course, I can tell you White House officials over the past several days have been very skeptical of anything the Iraqis are saying. The development now, U.N. officials confirming that they have received a second letter from the Iraqis, indicating that Iraq is saying it will now allow weapons inspectors back inside the country, this after the Iraqis sent a letter on Thursday to Hans Blix, he's head of the U.N. weapons inspections team, and it seems that in the letter, the Iraqis did not respond to specific demands from Hans Blix that inspectors get unrestricted access to all weapons sites.
Well, a spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency telling CNN, quote, "this letter today is clearly an attempt to set the record straight," and U.S. officials believe the second letter was meant to confirm that they see eye-to-eye with us on the agreements that were reached. Iraqis are saying inspectors can come in as early as October 19, but U.S. officials very much want inspectors to stay out of the country until they get a tough, new U.N. resolution passed up at the U.N. -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Kelly, France and Russia are both agreeing that they want a two-tiered resolution, one that would say tougher restrictions or inspections, I should say, first, and then military action last. Is the Bush White House putting any expectations as to when there might be a U.N. resolution that everyone will agree upon?
WALLACE: Well, it's a real uphill battle still for this White House. Some U.S. officials I have spoken with say they hope it's not more than a week away, but they still don't have definite agreement, and as you pointed out, the French in particular, very much want to have this two-tier resolution, the first resolution on what Iraq must do and then down the road, if Iraq does not comply, another resolution spelling out the consequences.
There is some discussion of a possible compromise that all sides might be happy with, and that is one resolution calling for Iraq to do a number of things, saying Iraq will face consequences if it doesn't do those things, but not using the words "military force" in that resolution. That might, and I emphasize might, might be a way to get the French to support that new resolution -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Kelly Wallace from the White House.
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 October 12, 2002 - 14:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Americans now speak with one voice on Iraq, at least that's the message from President Bush after getting approval from Congress to use force against Iraq. Mr. Bush used his radio address today to send Iraq another tough message: It must disarm or face the consequences. To Washington now and CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace.
And Kelly, since last you and I spoke, President Bush hadn't responded to this supposed letter coming from an Iraqi presidential adviser saying come on in with the inspections. What now is President Bush saying since last you and I spoke?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, still no formal reaction, I'm sorry to say, Fredricka, from the White House to this development. Of course, I can tell you White House officials over the past several days have been very skeptical of anything the Iraqis are saying. The development now, U.N. officials confirming that they have received a second letter from the Iraqis, indicating that Iraq is saying it will now allow weapons inspectors back inside the country, this after the Iraqis sent a letter on Thursday to Hans Blix, he's head of the U.N. weapons inspections team, and it seems that in the letter, the Iraqis did not respond to specific demands from Hans Blix that inspectors get unrestricted access to all weapons sites.
Well, a spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency telling CNN, quote, "this letter today is clearly an attempt to set the record straight," and U.S. officials believe the second letter was meant to confirm that they see eye-to-eye with us on the agreements that were reached. Iraqis are saying inspectors can come in as early as October 19, but U.S. officials very much want inspectors to stay out of the country until they get a tough, new U.N. resolution passed up at the U.N. -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, Kelly, France and Russia are both agreeing that they want a two-tiered resolution, one that would say tougher restrictions or inspections, I should say, first, and then military action last. Is the Bush White House putting any expectations as to when there might be a U.N. resolution that everyone will agree upon?
WALLACE: Well, it's a real uphill battle still for this White House. Some U.S. officials I have spoken with say they hope it's not more than a week away, but they still don't have definite agreement, and as you pointed out, the French in particular, very much want to have this two-tier resolution, the first resolution on what Iraq must do and then down the road, if Iraq does not comply, another resolution spelling out the consequences.
There is some discussion of a possible compromise that all sides might be happy with, and that is one resolution calling for Iraq to do a number of things, saying Iraq will face consequences if it doesn't do those things, but not using the words "military force" in that resolution. That might, and I emphasize might, might be a way to get the French to support that new resolution -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Kelly Wallace from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
