Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
White House Adds Language to Resolution on Iraq
Aired September 26, 2002 - 14:44 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: Meanwhile, I'm getting word now that a resolution on the Hill -- new wording, we're told, in a resolution on the use of force in Iraq,
Kate Snow joins us with more on that -- Kate.
KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, CNN has been able to obtain a White House discussion draft.
It's just a discussion draft, but it is the language, the latest language, being floated around here on Capitol Hill. I have it in my hand. This was written yesterday afternoon, but we understand this is what is now on the table.
They are going to be talking about this at meeting at 4:00 Eastern time this afternoon among Senate Democrats with Senator Tom Daschle. Other parts of the Hill here also looking this over. Speaker Hastert's office, Leader Gephardt's office and Senator Lott's office all looking closely at this language.
A couple of key things that they have changed here that are important to note: Number one, you know these documents are always full, these resolutions are full of "whereas" statements. They've added a number of "whereas" statements, setting up the case against Iraq and Saddam Hussein. They've added language to clarify that President Bush is committed to going to the United Nations Security Council. They cite the speech that he gave on September 12, 2002. They've added language to say that Congress supports the efforts by the president to enforce the U.N. Security Council resolutions referenced above in the resolution here. They reference many of those that they say have been broken by Saddam Hussein. And they urge the Congress, urges the Security Council, the U.N. Security Council to -- quote -- "Act promptly and decisively to ensure that Iraq complies with the Security Council resolutions."
Now, they go on, Kyra, to talk about what the president would be authorized to do. And this language is very important. The original version sent over by the White House last week had about a paragraph. I don't know if you see, but this is now about a half page long. What they're saying in this new language is the president would be authorized to take -- use force or take action against Iraq for two reasons: one, to defend the national security of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq; and two, to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions, Again, another reference to the U.N., which is what many Democrats here on the Hill have been pushing for, to add that kind of language, showing that they're not just going it alone. And finally, Kyra, there is one other thing that they have added here: they've added that the president, before he can use such force, would have to come to the Congress, and say to the Congress, to the Senate Pro Tem, who's the leader of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House, leader of the House, that number one, such force is necessary and appropriate to defend the national security interests of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq, and number two, the president would have to tell the Congress, that there are no other diplomatic routes. The exact language is that: "reliance on further diplomatic means alone will not adequately protect the national security of the United States."
So, again, Kyra, very specific language here. This is still in the process of being negotiated, but clearly some changes being made by the White House, or least being discussed here on Capitol Hill, in order to clarify exactly what the president has to do before he could use any kind of force against Iraq -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So Kate, just quickly on your last point there, that means Congress is expecting close consultation from the president, not necessarily an approval?
SNOW: Exactly. It's called a "determination" in here and it's similar, Kyra, it's similar to language that was in 1991 Gulf War resolution. Remember that resolution over 10 years ago? It says "the president shall, prior to exercising his option to use force, make available his determination to the Congress that the use of force is necessary, and appropriate," and, again, that there is no other way, that there are no diplomatic means alone that could protect the national security of the United States -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kate Snow from the Hill. Thanks a lot, Kate.
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 26, 2002 - 14:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, I'm getting word now that a resolution on the Hill -- new wording, we're told, in a resolution on the use of force in Iraq,
Kate Snow joins us with more on that -- Kate.
KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, CNN has been able to obtain a White House discussion draft.
It's just a discussion draft, but it is the language, the latest language, being floated around here on Capitol Hill. I have it in my hand. This was written yesterday afternoon, but we understand this is what is now on the table.
They are going to be talking about this at meeting at 4:00 Eastern time this afternoon among Senate Democrats with Senator Tom Daschle. Other parts of the Hill here also looking this over. Speaker Hastert's office, Leader Gephardt's office and Senator Lott's office all looking closely at this language.
A couple of key things that they have changed here that are important to note: Number one, you know these documents are always full, these resolutions are full of "whereas" statements. They've added a number of "whereas" statements, setting up the case against Iraq and Saddam Hussein. They've added language to clarify that President Bush is committed to going to the United Nations Security Council. They cite the speech that he gave on September 12, 2002. They've added language to say that Congress supports the efforts by the president to enforce the U.N. Security Council resolutions referenced above in the resolution here. They reference many of those that they say have been broken by Saddam Hussein. And they urge the Congress, urges the Security Council, the U.N. Security Council to -- quote -- "Act promptly and decisively to ensure that Iraq complies with the Security Council resolutions."
Now, they go on, Kyra, to talk about what the president would be authorized to do. And this language is very important. The original version sent over by the White House last week had about a paragraph. I don't know if you see, but this is now about a half page long. What they're saying in this new language is the president would be authorized to take -- use force or take action against Iraq for two reasons: one, to defend the national security of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq; and two, to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions, Again, another reference to the U.N., which is what many Democrats here on the Hill have been pushing for, to add that kind of language, showing that they're not just going it alone. And finally, Kyra, there is one other thing that they have added here: they've added that the president, before he can use such force, would have to come to the Congress, and say to the Congress, to the Senate Pro Tem, who's the leader of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House, leader of the House, that number one, such force is necessary and appropriate to defend the national security interests of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq, and number two, the president would have to tell the Congress, that there are no other diplomatic routes. The exact language is that: "reliance on further diplomatic means alone will not adequately protect the national security of the United States."
So, again, Kyra, very specific language here. This is still in the process of being negotiated, but clearly some changes being made by the White House, or least being discussed here on Capitol Hill, in order to clarify exactly what the president has to do before he could use any kind of force against Iraq -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So Kate, just quickly on your last point there, that means Congress is expecting close consultation from the president, not necessarily an approval?
SNOW: Exactly. It's called a "determination" in here and it's similar, Kyra, it's similar to language that was in 1991 Gulf War resolution. Remember that resolution over 10 years ago? It says "the president shall, prior to exercising his option to use force, make available his determination to the Congress that the use of force is necessary, and appropriate," and, again, that there is no other way, that there are no diplomatic means alone that could protect the national security of the United States -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kate Snow from the Hill. Thanks a lot, Kate.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
