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CNN Live Saturday
President Bush Speaks To U.N. Next Week
Aired September 20, 2003 - 14:11 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And President Bush will push his Iraq strategy at the United Nations next week. Let's talk about that with White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.
Hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. It's really a critical week for the president. He is going to be having his diplomatic skills put to the test. He's going before the U.N. General Assembly seeking greater international support for his war on terror, but specifically for the reconstruction efforts inside of Iraq.
Today, earlier, the big three talks wrapped up in Berlin involving British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, as well as French President Jacques Chirac. It was really more of a symbolic show of unity. They were trying to come up with a way to agree on contributing to the coalition inside of Iraq. They admitted, however, they're still far apart on some issues; namely, the timetable over which the United States turns power back to the Iraqi people.
Now, Tuesday, President Bush is going to be going before the U.N. General Assembly. This is the same international body that he did not successfully get a war resolution from about a year ago. Now, what we are told is that he is going to acknowledge the differences. He is going to say, let's move on, and then he's going to make a plea for help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of the things I must do and will continue to do is make the case that a peaceful and secure Iraq is not only in the interest of the neighborhood, certainly in Jordan's interest, that there be a nation that is peaceful and prosperous, but it's in Europe's interest as well, and the Americans' interest. You see, freedom in Iraq will change the nature of the neighborhood in a positive way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, the president, Heidi, is also still trying to convince the American people that he is handling the situation inside of Iraq well. There is a latest poll here showing -- a "Newsweek" poll that shows Americans are essentially evenly split on the issue, 46 percent saying that they approve of the job he is doing, 47 percent saying they disapprove. So a very important week for the president, Heidi. He's going to be meeting with world leaders one on one Tuesday in New York. He is also on Friday going to be hosting Russia's President Vladimir Putin, where he's going to be making a plea for his assistance as well -- Heidi.
COLLINS: A busy week indeed. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Thanks so much, Suzanne.
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 September 20, 2003 - 14:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And President Bush will push his Iraq strategy at the United Nations next week. Let's talk about that with White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.
Hi, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. It's really a critical week for the president. He is going to be having his diplomatic skills put to the test. He's going before the U.N. General Assembly seeking greater international support for his war on terror, but specifically for the reconstruction efforts inside of Iraq.
Today, earlier, the big three talks wrapped up in Berlin involving British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, as well as French President Jacques Chirac. It was really more of a symbolic show of unity. They were trying to come up with a way to agree on contributing to the coalition inside of Iraq. They admitted, however, they're still far apart on some issues; namely, the timetable over which the United States turns power back to the Iraqi people.
Now, Tuesday, President Bush is going to be going before the U.N. General Assembly. This is the same international body that he did not successfully get a war resolution from about a year ago. Now, what we are told is that he is going to acknowledge the differences. He is going to say, let's move on, and then he's going to make a plea for help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of the things I must do and will continue to do is make the case that a peaceful and secure Iraq is not only in the interest of the neighborhood, certainly in Jordan's interest, that there be a nation that is peaceful and prosperous, but it's in Europe's interest as well, and the Americans' interest. You see, freedom in Iraq will change the nature of the neighborhood in a positive way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, the president, Heidi, is also still trying to convince the American people that he is handling the situation inside of Iraq well. There is a latest poll here showing -- a "Newsweek" poll that shows Americans are essentially evenly split on the issue, 46 percent saying that they approve of the job he is doing, 47 percent saying they disapprove. So a very important week for the president, Heidi. He's going to be meeting with world leaders one on one Tuesday in New York. He is also on Friday going to be hosting Russia's President Vladimir Putin, where he's going to be making a plea for his assistance as well -- Heidi.
COLLINS: A busy week indeed. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux. Thanks so much, Suzanne.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
