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CNN Live Saturday
Bush to Attend Summit With Allies in Azores
Aired March 15, 2003 - 18:29 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 faces a crucial day tomorrow, when he huddles with key allies, Britain and Spain. Much is riding on his hastily-called summit in the Azores.
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash has a look at what could emerge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At a naval base on this tiny island of Terceira in the middle of the Atlantic, preparations are under way for a hastily arranged summit, one that could mark the diplomatic finale with Iraq.
In Washington, anti-war protesters marched, as the President at Camp David engaged in last minute preparations of his own. Telephoning British Prime Minister Tony Blair to compare notes before their meeting. Also calling an ally he won't see at the summit, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, to shore up his support.
In his weekly radio address, the President braced Americans for war.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is little reason to hope that Saddam Hussein will disarm. If force is required to disarm him, the American people can know that our armed forces have been given every tool and every resource to achieve victory.
BASH: Despite weeks of lobbying, prospects are bleak, sources say, for a U.N.-backed ultimatum that could pave the way for military action against Iraq. At their face-to-face meeting in the Azores, co- sponsors of that resolution, President Bush, Britain's Blair and Jose Maria Aznar of Spain, must make some crucial decisions.
Can they find compromise that will lead to a break though at the U.N.? If not, will the leaders call for a vote doomed to fail to force countries to quote "show their cards or will the abandon further action at the U.N. and move forward with a smaller coalition>
And there are other reasons for the 11th hour summit. A show of unity.
KEN POLLACK, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I think that would they would like to do is to give Blair and Aznar some political cover by demonstrating that the United States is listening to what Spain and Britain have to say. BASH (on camera): Symbolic event or not, the President made clear, after the summit, it will be time for other countries to decide whether they're on board with the U.S. and a military campaign that could start very soon.
Dana Bash, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 March 15, 2003 - 18:29 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 faces a crucial day tomorrow, when he huddles with key allies, Britain and Spain. Much is riding on his hastily-called summit in the Azores.
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash has a look at what could emerge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At a naval base on this tiny island of Terceira in the middle of the Atlantic, preparations are under way for a hastily arranged summit, one that could mark the diplomatic finale with Iraq.
In Washington, anti-war protesters marched, as the President at Camp David engaged in last minute preparations of his own. Telephoning British Prime Minister Tony Blair to compare notes before their meeting. Also calling an ally he won't see at the summit, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, to shore up his support.
In his weekly radio address, the President braced Americans for war.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is little reason to hope that Saddam Hussein will disarm. If force is required to disarm him, the American people can know that our armed forces have been given every tool and every resource to achieve victory.
BASH: Despite weeks of lobbying, prospects are bleak, sources say, for a U.N.-backed ultimatum that could pave the way for military action against Iraq. At their face-to-face meeting in the Azores, co- sponsors of that resolution, President Bush, Britain's Blair and Jose Maria Aznar of Spain, must make some crucial decisions.
Can they find compromise that will lead to a break though at the U.N.? If not, will the leaders call for a vote doomed to fail to force countries to quote "show their cards or will the abandon further action at the U.N. and move forward with a smaller coalition>
And there are other reasons for the 11th hour summit. A show of unity.
KEN POLLACK, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I think that would they would like to do is to give Blair and Aznar some political cover by demonstrating that the United States is listening to what Spain and Britain have to say. BASH (on camera): Symbolic event or not, the President made clear, after the summit, it will be time for other countries to decide whether they're on board with the U.S. and a military campaign that could start very soon.
Dana Bash, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
