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CNN Live Saturday
What Is White House's Reaction to Anti-War Protesters?
Aired February 15, 2003 - 18:22 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: All the president has to do is turn on his television to see his name plastered over placards around the world with these demonstrations. Could millions of angry people, hundreds of thousands right here in the United States, change his mind about war.
Suzanne Malveaux, who covers the White House, gives us a sense of how the president is handling the pressure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Across the world hundreds of thousands of anti-war protesters reacting to this.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The American people are strong and resolute. The American armed forces are brave and ready. And in freedom's cause we will prevail.
(APPLAUSE)
MALVEAUX: President Bush putting the world on notice that the U.S. could very well go to war with Iraq.
But responding to the massive weekend protests, the White House insists Mr. Bush still wants peace. A spokeswoman saying, "The president views force as a last resort. He still hopes for a peaceful resolution and that it is up to Saddam Hussein. The president is a strong advocate of freedom and democracy. And one of the democratic values that we hold dear is the right of people to peacefully assemble and express their views."
But American's views are overwhelming on taking any immediate action against Saddam Hussein. A new poll shows that 37 percent of Americans want to act soon. But 59 percent want to give inspectors more time. While 38 percent want the U.S. to act now, 56 percent want to wait for the support of allies.
President Bush's staunchest ally, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is facing even greater opposition from his own country. But he continues to make the case, more time for inspectors means more time for Iraq to build up its weapons arsenal.
TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER, GREAT BRITAIN: The menace, and not just from Saddam, will grow, the authority of the U.N. will be lost. And the conflict, when it comes, will be even more bloody. Administration sources say the U.S. and Britain plan to introduce a second U.N. resolution midweek. It would likely declare that Iraq continues to be in material breach of resolutions requiring it to disarm. And it would set a deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply.
The administration says the next important test is to see if Iraq complies with U.N. demands to destroy it's forbidden missiles, recently discovered by the inspection team.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And administration sources say if President Bush does not get the support of the members of the U.N. Security Council for a second resolution in the next couple of weeks, he'll then make the critical decision whether to move forward without them -- Carol.
LIN: 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 February 15, 2003 - 18:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: All the president has to do is turn on his television to see his name plastered over placards around the world with these demonstrations. Could millions of angry people, hundreds of thousands right here in the United States, change his mind about war.
Suzanne Malveaux, who covers the White House, gives us a sense of how the president is handling the pressure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Across the world hundreds of thousands of anti-war protesters reacting to this.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The American people are strong and resolute. The American armed forces are brave and ready. And in freedom's cause we will prevail.
(APPLAUSE)
MALVEAUX: President Bush putting the world on notice that the U.S. could very well go to war with Iraq.
But responding to the massive weekend protests, the White House insists Mr. Bush still wants peace. A spokeswoman saying, "The president views force as a last resort. He still hopes for a peaceful resolution and that it is up to Saddam Hussein. The president is a strong advocate of freedom and democracy. And one of the democratic values that we hold dear is the right of people to peacefully assemble and express their views."
But American's views are overwhelming on taking any immediate action against Saddam Hussein. A new poll shows that 37 percent of Americans want to act soon. But 59 percent want to give inspectors more time. While 38 percent want the U.S. to act now, 56 percent want to wait for the support of allies.
President Bush's staunchest ally, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is facing even greater opposition from his own country. But he continues to make the case, more time for inspectors means more time for Iraq to build up its weapons arsenal.
TONY BLAIR, PRIME MINISTER, GREAT BRITAIN: The menace, and not just from Saddam, will grow, the authority of the U.N. will be lost. And the conflict, when it comes, will be even more bloody. Administration sources say the U.S. and Britain plan to introduce a second U.N. resolution midweek. It would likely declare that Iraq continues to be in material breach of resolutions requiring it to disarm. And it would set a deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply.
The administration says the next important test is to see if Iraq complies with U.N. demands to destroy it's forbidden missiles, recently discovered by the inspection team.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And administration sources say if President Bush does not get the support of the members of the U.N. Security Council for a second resolution in the next couple of weeks, he'll then make the critical decision whether to move forward without them -- Carol.
LIN: 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
