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CNN Live At Daybreak
Richard Butler Talks about Biological Weapons
Aired November 06, 2001 - 07:38 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: As you said, earlier this hour we heard from President Bush on terrorism and the latest poll results show there is still widespread support for Mr. Bush, but there are some signs that public support for the war may be weakening.
For some perspective on that and many other things, let's turn to former Chief United Nations Weapons Inspector in Iraq, Ambassador Richard Butler of the Council of Foreign Relations. He joins us once again. We call him our ambassador in residence.
Good morning, welcome.
RICHARD BUTLER, FORMER CHIEF UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Good morning, Paula.
ZAHN: Let's go back to the president's speech. Dr. Kissinger and I talked about...
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: ... a section of it but we didn't get to the point where the president accused al Qaeda of exporting terrorist -- terrorism around the world. And he said -- quote -- "They are seeking chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Given the means, our enemies would be a threat to every nation and eventually to civilization itself." That is the first time he has specifically accused the organization of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
BUTLER: That's right, Paula.
ZAHN: What does that mean that he's saying this publicly...
BUTLER: That's right.
ZAHN: ... for the first time?
BUTLER: That's right, and it's very important. We know this, that in the '90s, Osama bin Laden attempted to get the core material that you need for an atomic bomb. We don't think he succeeded. We know that he has also attempted to make/acquire biological and chemical weapons.
And, Paula, we've just got to listen to the man. Only six weeks ago in a public statement he said it is his sacred duty to acquire weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical and biological, and to use them on us. So I mean just listen, that's what he has done and that's what he has said. So it was very important, I think, that the president put that squarely on the table. These people want nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and if they get them, they'll use them.
ZAHN: All right. Put the president's speech today into the context of this broader framework the administration has created now to better react to what Osama bin Laden is spewing. They've set up offices in London now, Washington and Pakistan...
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: ... to more quickly react to al Qaeda's statements.
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: Is this too part of the motivation behind the speech today also to address some of those European nations,...
BUTLER: I think so.
ZAHN: ... some of which are losing some patience?
BUTLER: I think so. There is a major battle for public opinion, which, alongside the military battle, has to be waged at all times, and I think the president made an important speech today. It was very clear; it was very strong. These moves that are being made to set up information offices are very important. You can -- you can be absolutely certain it is inevitable that as this war goes on, as it must, that we will hear from the other side propaganda claims that are simply not true. And inevitably they will, you know, reach an audience in Europe and elsewhere and in the Arab world, in particular, and we've got to be able to fight that and win that battle.
ZAHN: But didn't the administration expect that and why does it take six, seven weeks to create this kind of office? I know that the administration said quite proudly over the weekend that they actually got someone out there very quickly...
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: ... after Osama's...
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: ... second statement. Isn't that something that should have been anticipated?
BUTLER: I guess so. Anticipated, sure. Should they have acted more quickly, maybe, but you know it's time and it's happening now and I think it's going to be a very important part of the objectives that the president spoke of today.
ZAHN: But realistically, how much impact does it have to have Colin Powell get on Al-Jazeera, which of course is that satellite news channel that predominately speaks to the Arab world?
BUTLER: Yes, (INAUDIBLE), yes.
ZAHN: Condoleezza Rice has made the rounds.
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: What difference is it going to make?
BUTLER: Well,...
ZAHN: Will it move public opinion?
BUTLER: How far, we can't be sure. But you can be sure of this, if we were to remain silent, if the other side's propaganda were to go unanswered, if we didn't take opportunities to explain over and over again that it's about terrorists, it's not against Arabs, it's not against Muslims and so on, we will lose and that's why these actions are being taken. How far it will succeed, we have to wait and see, but silence by us would be absolutely the wrong thing to do.
ZAHN: Before we let you go this morning, provide some context for Russia's greater involvement now in these actions in Afghanistan. Russia apparently providing a lot of very important intelligence about the location of the al Qaeda network...
BUTLER: Right.
ZAHN: ... underground.
BUTLER: Two things, in practical terms, it's terrific. They were there for 10 years, they know a lot about where these caves and hiding places are and that will help us. Now the other thing, the deeper thing I find absolutely fascinating, this is Russia coming back into the world as a, wouldn't call it co-equal superpower with the Untied States, it's not that strong anymore, but as a co-participate with the United States in the management of really important global affairs. And I think Russia is seizing this opportunity with great enthusiasm. It's 10 years since the end of the Cold War, and in that time, they lost their place on the world's stage and now they're coming back alongside us, and I think that should be welcomed.
ZAHN: Do you have any skepticism about this new role?
BUTLER: No, but I want to see it develop further. I think we've got to look to the meeting in Crawford, Texas in a few week's time, and in particular, the issue of nuclear weapons and the related one of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
ZAHN: That's a tricky one.
BUTLER: Big ones, and let's see where President Bush and President Putin take that and see if in this new relationship we can get some progress there as well. It's going to be very interesting.
ZAHN: Ambassador Butler, as always, it's good to have you with us.
BUTLER: Thanks, good to see you.
ZAHN: Almost the same time every morning, you can count on this man and his insights.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Like clockwork.
ZAHN: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right.
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