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CNN Live Saturday

Libya's Nuclear Program Farther Along Than Publically Thought

Aired December 20, 2003 - 12:06   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.


HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, our other top story today, Libya and the decision to abandon its weapons of mass destruction program. CNN's David Ensor has just left a background briefing from U.S. intelligence officials, and from that briefing we have learned that Libya's nuclear enrichment program was, quote, "farther along than publicly known before," end quote.
Also, Libya possessed, quote, "tens of tons of sulfur mustard agent," unquote. That mustard agent is a deadly chemical weapon. Now, for more information and the White House's reaction, let's go to White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux.

Hello Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well hi, Holly. This is really a dramatic and historic shift of policy, here in Libya giving up its weapons programs. It really is the culmination of nine months of quiet diplomacy and negotiations behind the scenes involving U.S. as well as Libyan officials and the British, as well. We are also told that intelligence agents were on the ground visiting sites, at least ten different sites on two occasions where they took samples and photos from those weapons programs. Now, we're getting more details about what they've actually discovered. A senior administration official saying that, yes, Libya acknowledges that it worked with North Korea in its scud missile program and that it also was provided some technology for that program. And we're also told, as well, that the officials said that none of these components that were found are believed to come from Iraq or Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction program. And, yesterday, President Bush saying that the world can learn from Libya's example.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Leader who is abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States and other free nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, the message to world leaders is that it is not worth it to pursue weapons of mass destruction and also another message, of course, many people talking about this, whether or not Gadhafi looked at the situation in Iraq and said, "well, maybe this is time to give up my weapons program." Gadhafi actually made some overtures on the eve of the war with Iraq and here's Hans Blix who gives his own assessment of what he believes happened. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANS BLIX, FMR. CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: I can only speculate, but I would imagine that Gadhafi could have been scared by what he saw happen in Iraq, while the Americans would have a difficulty, I think, in doing the same thing in Iran and in North Korea as they have done in Iraq, Libya would be more exposed. So, maybe he would have reasons to be worried.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: A senior administration officials said the U.S. certainly is not ready to discuss lifting sanctions. They're waiting to see whether or not Libya is actually going to deliver on its promises. Overall, the reaction here, democrats and republicans widely praising this saying that this is welcome news. On democrat, however, Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts criticizing the Bush administration saying he believes this is a flip-flop in policy on the one hand these inspections are good enough for Libya, but on the other hand when it came to Iraq that it was not -- Holly.

FIRFER: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Thought>


Aired December 20, 2003 - 12:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, our other top story today, Libya and the decision to abandon its weapons of mass destruction program. CNN's David Ensor has just left a background briefing from U.S. intelligence officials, and from that briefing we have learned that Libya's nuclear enrichment program was, quote, "farther along than publicly known before," end quote.
Also, Libya possessed, quote, "tens of tons of sulfur mustard agent," unquote. That mustard agent is a deadly chemical weapon. Now, for more information and the White House's reaction, let's go to White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux.

Hello Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well hi, Holly. This is really a dramatic and historic shift of policy, here in Libya giving up its weapons programs. It really is the culmination of nine months of quiet diplomacy and negotiations behind the scenes involving U.S. as well as Libyan officials and the British, as well. We are also told that intelligence agents were on the ground visiting sites, at least ten different sites on two occasions where they took samples and photos from those weapons programs. Now, we're getting more details about what they've actually discovered. A senior administration official saying that, yes, Libya acknowledges that it worked with North Korea in its scud missile program and that it also was provided some technology for that program. And we're also told, as well, that the officials said that none of these components that were found are believed to come from Iraq or Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction program. And, yesterday, President Bush saying that the world can learn from Libya's example.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Leader who is abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States and other free nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, the message to world leaders is that it is not worth it to pursue weapons of mass destruction and also another message, of course, many people talking about this, whether or not Gadhafi looked at the situation in Iraq and said, "well, maybe this is time to give up my weapons program." Gadhafi actually made some overtures on the eve of the war with Iraq and here's Hans Blix who gives his own assessment of what he believes happened. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANS BLIX, FMR. CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: I can only speculate, but I would imagine that Gadhafi could have been scared by what he saw happen in Iraq, while the Americans would have a difficulty, I think, in doing the same thing in Iran and in North Korea as they have done in Iraq, Libya would be more exposed. So, maybe he would have reasons to be worried.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: A senior administration officials said the U.S. certainly is not ready to discuss lifting sanctions. They're waiting to see whether or not Libya is actually going to deliver on its promises. Overall, the reaction here, democrats and republicans widely praising this saying that this is welcome news. On democrat, however, Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts criticizing the Bush administration saying he believes this is a flip-flop in policy on the one hand these inspections are good enough for Libya, but on the other hand when it came to Iraq that it was not -- Holly.

FIRFER: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Thought>