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Person in Charge of Looking for Banned Weapons in Iraq Reports to Congress
Aired September 29, 2003 - 05:21 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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The person in charge of looking for banned weapons in Iraq reports to Congress this week. The report comes as the administration fends off criticism of the intelligence information the White House relied on in deciding to go to war.
Suzanne Malveaux has more on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush working on his golf swing this weekend, but the White House is gearing up to face much tougher shots in the week ahead. A progress report on the search for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction will be released, concluding so far the U.S. has flailed to find any weapons, forcing the administration to go on the defensive.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The president went in and conducted this war because there was every reason to believe, and I still believe, that there were weapons of mass destruction and weapons programs to develop weapons of mass destruction.
MALVEAUX: While the Bush administration remains empty-handed, it's going with hands open back to the U.N. to try to persuade world leaders to contribute money and troops in Iraq. So far, India has said no. Other countries, like Turkey, Bangladesh, Pakistan and South Korea have yet to decide.
REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D-MS), MINORITY LEADER: It's unconscionable to me that this president has not gotten us more help in terms of people and money than he's been able to get so far.
MALVEAUX: In the next few days, Secretary Powell will circulate a second draft of its U.N. Security Council resolution, aimed at broadening international support. This week on the Hill, Congress will be dissecting Mr. Bush's $87 billion war supplemental to decide how to pay for Iraqi reconstruction. And the White House will be lobbying hard to get the full amount.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The key here is that you cannot put a price tag on security.
MALVEAUX: This week's developments come amid new accusations that the White House's war on Iraq was based on shabby intelligence. The House Intelligence Committee's Republican Chairman, Porter Goss, and ranking Democrat, Jane Harman, sent a letter to CIA Director George Tenet, stating that conclusions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction were based on intelligence that was circumstantial and fragmentary.
(on camera): Secretary Powell defends the CIA and says they stand by their intelligence assessment. He says the fear was is that after September 11, weapons of mass destruction could get in the hands of terrorists.
Suzanne Malveaux, 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
Reports to Congress>
Aired September 29, 2003 - 05:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The person in charge of looking for banned weapons in Iraq reports to Congress this week. The report comes as the administration fends off criticism of the intelligence information the White House relied on in deciding to go to war.
Suzanne Malveaux has more on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush working on his golf swing this weekend, but the White House is gearing up to face much tougher shots in the week ahead. A progress report on the search for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction will be released, concluding so far the U.S. has flailed to find any weapons, forcing the administration to go on the defensive.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The president went in and conducted this war because there was every reason to believe, and I still believe, that there were weapons of mass destruction and weapons programs to develop weapons of mass destruction.
MALVEAUX: While the Bush administration remains empty-handed, it's going with hands open back to the U.N. to try to persuade world leaders to contribute money and troops in Iraq. So far, India has said no. Other countries, like Turkey, Bangladesh, Pakistan and South Korea have yet to decide.
REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT (D-MS), MINORITY LEADER: It's unconscionable to me that this president has not gotten us more help in terms of people and money than he's been able to get so far.
MALVEAUX: In the next few days, Secretary Powell will circulate a second draft of its U.N. Security Council resolution, aimed at broadening international support. This week on the Hill, Congress will be dissecting Mr. Bush's $87 billion war supplemental to decide how to pay for Iraqi reconstruction. And the White House will be lobbying hard to get the full amount.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The key here is that you cannot put a price tag on security.
MALVEAUX: This week's developments come amid new accusations that the White House's war on Iraq was based on shabby intelligence. The House Intelligence Committee's Republican Chairman, Porter Goss, and ranking Democrat, Jane Harman, sent a letter to CIA Director George Tenet, stating that conclusions that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction were based on intelligence that was circumstantial and fragmentary.
(on camera): Secretary Powell defends the CIA and says they stand by their intelligence assessment. He says the fear was is that after September 11, weapons of mass destruction could get in the hands of terrorists.
Suzanne Malveaux, 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
Reports to Congress>
