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CNN Live Saturday
White House Responds to Handover of Iraq's Weapons Declaration
Aired December 07, 2002 - 15:10 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The White House is now responding to the handover of this massive report. Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House. Suzanne, what are they saying?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll just read the document that was just released from the White House, the official response to the Iraqi declaration. It states: "The Iraqi regime today submitted today to the United Nations monitoring, verification and inspection commission what it claims is a declaration of its programs to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and other delivery systems. A currently accurate, full and complete declaration is required by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. The U.S. government will analyze this declaration with respect to its credibility and compliance.
With that resolution, we will continue to work with other countries to achieve the ultimate goal of protecting the peace by any of Saddam Hussein's pursuits and accumulation of weapons of mass destruction."
Very much the statement that echoed what the president said in his radio address that was delivered today. That they will take their time to look over the documents, that they will reserve judgment until they do so, that they are skeptical, however, that Saddam Hussein's document is truthful, that the administration believes that Saddam Hussein does have weapons of mass destruction. They will back that up by U.S. intelligence, but, again, they've allowed those inspectors to go forward with the process.
But as my colleague had mentioned before, if it does not square with the information the administration has, a real tough decision to make in the weeks, the months to come in terms of what actions to take next -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Declaration>
Aired December 7, 2002 - 15:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The White House is now responding to the handover of this massive report. Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House. Suzanne, what are they saying?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll just read the document that was just released from the White House, the official response to the Iraqi declaration. It states: "The Iraqi regime today submitted today to the United Nations monitoring, verification and inspection commission what it claims is a declaration of its programs to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and other delivery systems. A currently accurate, full and complete declaration is required by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. The U.S. government will analyze this declaration with respect to its credibility and compliance.
With that resolution, we will continue to work with other countries to achieve the ultimate goal of protecting the peace by any of Saddam Hussein's pursuits and accumulation of weapons of mass destruction."
Very much the statement that echoed what the president said in his radio address that was delivered today. That they will take their time to look over the documents, that they will reserve judgment until they do so, that they are skeptical, however, that Saddam Hussein's document is truthful, that the administration believes that Saddam Hussein does have weapons of mass destruction. They will back that up by U.S. intelligence, but, again, they've allowed those inspectors to go forward with the process.
But as my colleague had mentioned before, if it does not square with the information the administration has, a real tough decision to make in the weeks, the months to come in terms of what actions to take next -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Declaration>
