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White House Skeptical of Iraqi Offer to Allow Weapons Inspections
Aired October 12, 2002 - 17:45 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Earlier today in his weekly radio address, President Bush leveled more strong language at Iraq: Disarm or face the consequences. White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has reaction from Washington to the latest letter from Iraq -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, White House officials continue to be very skeptical of everything. The Iraqis are saying today, no different as senior administration official asked about this latest Iraqi letter to U.N. officials, saying, you know, the Iraqis keep saying different things. This official going on to say, they're playing their same old games of denial and deception.
Now, of course, Iraq is saying that inspectors could come back to Iraq as early as a week from today. The administration, though, definitely does not want inspectors to go back inside Saddam Hussein's Iraq until there is a tough new U.N. resolution in place. So the White House strategy now, try to highlight as much as possible the votes in the House and in the Senate, giving the president the authority to wage war against Iraq if necessary, and try and use that congressional support as leverage to convince skeptical allies to support this tough new U.N. resolution.
And that's exactly what President Bush seemed to be trying to do in his weekly radio address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This week, both the House and Senate passed strong bipartisan measures authorizing the use of force in Iraq, if it becomes necessary. Our country and our Congress are now united in purpose. America is speaking with one voice. Iraq must disarm and comply with all existing U.N. resolutions, or it will be forced to comply.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Now, U.S. officials say they are cautiously optimistic in the not-too-distant future they will get agreement on this new U.N. resolution. But it is still an uphill battle. Countries like France, Russia and China still have not signed on. It appears a possible compromise, a possible way to get all sides to agree is to have a resolution spelling out what Iraq must do, and say that Iraq will face consequences, but possibly not use the words "military force" in that resolution. Anderson, back to you. COOPER: All right. Kelly Wallace, thanks 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
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Aired October 12, 2002 - 17:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Earlier today in his weekly radio address, President Bush leveled more strong language at Iraq: Disarm or face the consequences. White House correspondent Kelly Wallace has reaction from Washington to the latest letter from Iraq -- Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, White House officials continue to be very skeptical of everything. The Iraqis are saying today, no different as senior administration official asked about this latest Iraqi letter to U.N. officials, saying, you know, the Iraqis keep saying different things. This official going on to say, they're playing their same old games of denial and deception.
Now, of course, Iraq is saying that inspectors could come back to Iraq as early as a week from today. The administration, though, definitely does not want inspectors to go back inside Saddam Hussein's Iraq until there is a tough new U.N. resolution in place. So the White House strategy now, try to highlight as much as possible the votes in the House and in the Senate, giving the president the authority to wage war against Iraq if necessary, and try and use that congressional support as leverage to convince skeptical allies to support this tough new U.N. resolution.
And that's exactly what President Bush seemed to be trying to do in his weekly radio address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This week, both the House and Senate passed strong bipartisan measures authorizing the use of force in Iraq, if it becomes necessary. Our country and our Congress are now united in purpose. America is speaking with one voice. Iraq must disarm and comply with all existing U.N. resolutions, or it will be forced to comply.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Now, U.S. officials say they are cautiously optimistic in the not-too-distant future they will get agreement on this new U.N. resolution. But it is still an uphill battle. Countries like France, Russia and China still have not signed on. It appears a possible compromise, a possible way to get all sides to agree is to have a resolution spelling out what Iraq must do, and say that Iraq will face consequences, but possibly not use the words "military force" in that resolution. Anderson, back to you. COOPER: All right. Kelly Wallace, thanks 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
Inspections>
