Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Bush Administration Skeptical About Iraq's Arms Declaration
Aired December 14, 2002 - 17:09 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: President Bush's skepticism of Iraq's willingness to come clean about its weapons is creating quite the political juggling act. The White House is closely watching the events in Baghdad while rallying U.S. allies. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux says the president's refusal to budge on his position is generating a whole lot of criticism -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Fred. President Bush is spending his weekend at Camp David, but the administration keeping a very close eye on the developments in Iraq. As Nic had mentioned, U.N. weapons inspectors hitting at least a dozen sites in and around Baghdad, the heaviest inspections day to day since it began, resuming two and a half weeks ago.
Also today, as well, Iraqi dissidents are meeting in London. They are already talking about strategy of a post-Saddam regime. All of this while the White House says that it will release its completed assessment of the Iraq declaration on its weapons programs perhaps as early as this week, but already U.S. officials saying that their initial assessment shows that it fails to show -- or demonstrate that Saddam Hussein has gotten rid of his weapons program.
All of this, the White House says, however, will not mean military action is imminent. The White House has come under a growing criticism both at home as well as abroad. We saw some protests out of London today. The White House strategy really is to show that it is not eager to go to war, but rather it will push for those tough inspections, push to talk to those Iraqi scientists to get as much information as possible in those inspections process.
But again, U.S. officials admitting that they believe this process will take weeks. But again, Bush administration officials believe that if they let this process play out, that ultimately, if President Bush decides that military action is necessary, that he will have international support -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Suzanne Malveaux, 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
Declaration>
Aired December 14, 2002 - 17:09 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's skepticism of Iraq's willingness to come clean about its weapons is creating quite the political juggling act. The White House is closely watching the events in Baghdad while rallying U.S. allies. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux says the president's refusal to budge on his position is generating a whole lot of criticism -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Fred. President Bush is spending his weekend at Camp David, but the administration keeping a very close eye on the developments in Iraq. As Nic had mentioned, U.N. weapons inspectors hitting at least a dozen sites in and around Baghdad, the heaviest inspections day to day since it began, resuming two and a half weeks ago.
Also today, as well, Iraqi dissidents are meeting in London. They are already talking about strategy of a post-Saddam regime. All of this while the White House says that it will release its completed assessment of the Iraq declaration on its weapons programs perhaps as early as this week, but already U.S. officials saying that their initial assessment shows that it fails to show -- or demonstrate that Saddam Hussein has gotten rid of his weapons program.
All of this, the White House says, however, will not mean military action is imminent. The White House has come under a growing criticism both at home as well as abroad. We saw some protests out of London today. The White House strategy really is to show that it is not eager to go to war, but rather it will push for those tough inspections, push to talk to those Iraqi scientists to get as much information as possible in those inspections process.
But again, U.S. officials admitting that they believe this process will take weeks. But again, Bush administration officials believe that if they let this process play out, that ultimately, if President Bush decides that military action is necessary, that he will have international support -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Suzanne Malveaux, 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
Declaration>
