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Bush Will Make Iraq Case to Congress

Aired September 04, 2002 - 14:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: After weeks of criticism at home and abroad of President Bush's perceived intentions to go it alone on Iraq, Mr. Bush today vowed to plead his case to Congress and the United Nations.
CNN's Kelly Wallace is live from the White House with the latest from there -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, senior officials continue to stresses that President Bush has not made any decision, but what we are seeing, an aggressive public relations campaign by this administration for any possible military action against Iraq. Number one, when it comes to Congress, the president inviting Republican and Democratic House and Senate leaders to the White House today, his message there that he will seek a resolution of Congressional support authorizing the use of a number of options, including the possibility of military action to deal with Saddam Hussein.

Now White House lawyers told the president legally he did not need Congressional approval. The message from the president, though, is he will seek it and wants to hear from lawmakers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: At the appropriate time, this administration will go to the Congress to seek approval for -- necessary to deal with the threat. At the same time, I will work with our friends from the world. I have invited Prime Minister Blair to come to Camp David on Saturday, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I look forward to talking with him about our mutual concerns about how to make the world more secure and safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And as part of the administration's PR strategy, you heard the president say he would meet Saturday at Camp David, the presidential retreat, with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He will be meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, working the phones to reach out to other U.S. allies.

You also have administration officials expected to testify before members of Congress. In fact, on date, just about a half-hour from now, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is going to before senators behind closed doors. This was a previously scheduled meeting, expected, though, to have a lot of discussion about Iraq. And one thing coming particularly from Democrats after this meeting at the White House today, Democrats say this administration has not yet provided any new information about the nature of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.

Here is one Democrat, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY WHIP: I'd like to have traveled throughout the country politically in this past five weeks, and I think the American people, people you see in airports -- I am not talking about people you see at political events, just people who come up to you on the street are just wondering what is the case for our putting our young people in harm's way.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) ... the threat is imminent?

PELOSI: I have not seen the intelligence that would indicate that the threat is imminent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Again, to that, administration officials say the president, his top aides, will continue consulting with Congress. The president, in fact, sent this letter to House and State Republican and Democratic leaders, hoping a copy gets to every lawmaker. The president's message, that he wants to hear from Congress, that he want as Congressional resolution.

And an interesting side note, Kyra, U.S. officials saying the president wants Congress to work on this resolution over the next several weeks, before lawmakers recess, sometime in October, for the November elections, and that this resolution could come even before the president decides ultimately what he wants to do -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly, this speech that the president is going to make to the UN September 12, is this a very pivotal day? Is it possible that that day we may find out if indeed we will attack Iraq?

WALLACE: Well, aides would not really say exactly what we are going to get from the president on that speech other than to say that is an opportunity. He will be speaking before the United Nations General Assembly. In essence, he will be speaking to the world community, he will talk about the threat posed by Hussein; how he will say that Saddam Hussein has been -- quote -- "stiffing the world community" -- not abiding by UN resolutions, not allowing inspectors inside that community; that the world community must act.

So the message, the president will articulate the threat, but just not clear if during that speech the president will really articulate how he wants to deal with Saddam Hussein -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kelly Wallace, at the White House. Thanks, Kelly.

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