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Bush Administration Continues to Push Case Against Iraq
Aired September 18, 2002 - 2:02 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with President Bush's attempt to maintain momentum in favor of tough UN action on Iraq. Momentum generated by the president's speech last Thursday seemed to dissipate when Iraq offered to readmit inspectors. Mr. Bush says that's just a ploy and no one should be fooled.
CNN's John King is live at the White House -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra, the administration insisting that its private diplomacy is showing more progress than those public statements, but if you look at those public statements uphill diplomatic battle for the president. Russia, Arab nations, and others saying they see no need now for a new UN Security Council resolution confronting Iraq because of Saddam Hussein's offer to let those weapons inspectors back in.
Here at the White House this morning Mr. Bush, claiming progress, and working with the Congress, Congress putting a resolution as you noted on the fast track supporting the president's position on Iraq. But the president making clear his frustrations with United Nations. He says after a decade of deceiving and defying the United Nations, Mr. Bush making the case no one should believe Saddam Hussein's sudden offer to let those inspectors back in now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's his latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for defying the United Nations. He's not going to fool anybody. I mean he is -- he is -- we've seen him before. And we will remind the world that -- about defying the United Nations. He is becoming more and more a threat to world peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: The administration says its continues to work with key members of the Security Council, it continues to voice optimism here that ultimately it will carry the day and get that tough new resolution, that Vice President Cheney, echoing the president today, he says Saddam Hussein has not been trusted, Mr. Cannot Be Trusted. Mr. Cheney says the administration very much wants to work through the United Nations, but Mr. Cheney also serving notice and making clear the White House has a backup plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The president has made our position very clear. We want to work with the United Nations to meet our common challenge. The Security Council resolutions ought to be enforced or action will be unavoidable. We must and we will take whatever steps are necessary to defend our freedom, and our security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Defense Secretary Rumsfeld also among those out making the case today. He told key members of Congress they could help the president a great deal by passing resolution backing the president's posture on Iraq including the possibility of military strikes. Secretary Rumsfeld, echoing the president this morning, saying such a resolution by the Congress would show Saddam Hussein and the United Nations there is a great deal of solidarity here in the United States at this moment -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: John King, 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
Aired September 18, 2002 - 2:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with President Bush's attempt to maintain momentum in favor of tough UN action on Iraq. Momentum generated by the president's speech last Thursday seemed to dissipate when Iraq offered to readmit inspectors. Mr. Bush says that's just a ploy and no one should be fooled.
CNN's John King is live at the White House -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra, the administration insisting that its private diplomacy is showing more progress than those public statements, but if you look at those public statements uphill diplomatic battle for the president. Russia, Arab nations, and others saying they see no need now for a new UN Security Council resolution confronting Iraq because of Saddam Hussein's offer to let those weapons inspectors back in.
Here at the White House this morning Mr. Bush, claiming progress, and working with the Congress, Congress putting a resolution as you noted on the fast track supporting the president's position on Iraq. But the president making clear his frustrations with United Nations. He says after a decade of deceiving and defying the United Nations, Mr. Bush making the case no one should believe Saddam Hussein's sudden offer to let those inspectors back in now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's his latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for defying the United Nations. He's not going to fool anybody. I mean he is -- he is -- we've seen him before. And we will remind the world that -- about defying the United Nations. He is becoming more and more a threat to world peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: The administration says its continues to work with key members of the Security Council, it continues to voice optimism here that ultimately it will carry the day and get that tough new resolution, that Vice President Cheney, echoing the president today, he says Saddam Hussein has not been trusted, Mr. Cannot Be Trusted. Mr. Cheney says the administration very much wants to work through the United Nations, but Mr. Cheney also serving notice and making clear the White House has a backup plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The president has made our position very clear. We want to work with the United Nations to meet our common challenge. The Security Council resolutions ought to be enforced or action will be unavoidable. We must and we will take whatever steps are necessary to defend our freedom, and our security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Defense Secretary Rumsfeld also among those out making the case today. He told key members of Congress they could help the president a great deal by passing resolution backing the president's posture on Iraq including the possibility of military strikes. Secretary Rumsfeld, echoing the president this morning, saying such a resolution by the Congress would show Saddam Hussein and the United Nations there is a great deal of solidarity here in the United States at this moment -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: John King, 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
