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CNN Live Saturday

Will Iraqi Arms Report Satisfy U.S.?

Aired December 14, 2002 - 18:04   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.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It could be some time before we see a full analysis of the Iraqi weapons report. Early indications are that it is not enough to satisfy the White House or the U.N.
CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux says the Bush Administration is facing criticism over its Iraqi battle cry. Is that true, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is, Carol.

Now President Bush is spending his weekend at Camp David, but his administration is keeping a very close eye on the developments in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): U.N. weapons inspectors hit a dozen sites in and around Baghdad on Saturday in the heaviest day of inspections since they resumed two and a half weeks ago.

While Saddam Hussein hunkered down with his cabinet over the weekend, Iraqi dissidents, hoping to topple him, converged in London, already drawing up a blueprint for a post-Saddam regime.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After the overthrow of the Saddam regime, then there will be a transition of government, based on the components of all the united people.

MALVEAUX: The White House says it will release its detailed assessment of Iraq's declaration of its weapons program perhaps as early as this week. But U.S. officials and U.N. diplomats have already said Iraq's 12,000-page declaration fails to prove Saddam has destroyed his nuclear capabilities.

Still, the White House says it's holding off on taking any possible military action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, four, we don't want your oil war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, four, we don't want your oil war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, four, we don't want your oil war. MALVEAUX: The Bush Administration is facing growing criticism, both at home and abroad, from protesters in London, former President Jimmy Carter in Oslo, to actor Sean Penn in Baghdad.

The White House strategy now is to convince allies the United States is not eager to go to war. For now it will push for aggressive weapons inspections and press Iraq to hand over its list of scientists linked to Iraq's weapons programs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now all those administration sources say it could take weeks, but the hope is that by waiting, by letting this process play out, that it is more likely that Mr. Bush will win international support, if he decides to use military action -- Carol.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Suzanne Malveaux, live at 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 December 14, 2002 - 18:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It could be some time before we see a full analysis of the Iraqi weapons report. Early indications are that it is not enough to satisfy the White House or the U.N.
CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux says the Bush Administration is facing criticism over its Iraqi battle cry. Is that true, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is, Carol.

Now President Bush is spending his weekend at Camp David, but his administration is keeping a very close eye on the developments in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): U.N. weapons inspectors hit a dozen sites in and around Baghdad on Saturday in the heaviest day of inspections since they resumed two and a half weeks ago.

While Saddam Hussein hunkered down with his cabinet over the weekend, Iraqi dissidents, hoping to topple him, converged in London, already drawing up a blueprint for a post-Saddam regime.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After the overthrow of the Saddam regime, then there will be a transition of government, based on the components of all the united people.

MALVEAUX: The White House says it will release its detailed assessment of Iraq's declaration of its weapons program perhaps as early as this week. But U.S. officials and U.N. diplomats have already said Iraq's 12,000-page declaration fails to prove Saddam has destroyed his nuclear capabilities.

Still, the White House says it's holding off on taking any possible military action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, four, we don't want your oil war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, four, we don't want your oil war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, four, we don't want your oil war. MALVEAUX: The Bush Administration is facing growing criticism, both at home and abroad, from protesters in London, former President Jimmy Carter in Oslo, to actor Sean Penn in Baghdad.

The White House strategy now is to convince allies the United States is not eager to go to war. For now it will push for aggressive weapons inspections and press Iraq to hand over its list of scientists linked to Iraq's weapons programs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now all those administration sources say it could take weeks, but the hope is that by waiting, by letting this process play out, that it is more likely that Mr. Bush will win international support, if he decides to use military action -- Carol.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Suzanne Malveaux, live at 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